The Gallery

About

"The Gallery" is a live-action game/interactive film set in 1981 and 2021 Britain, where a captor holds an art curator hostage. Gameplay includes choice-based mechanics with 150 decision paths and 18 unique endings, as well as a relationship-tracking and success/fail tracking mechanic that affects the wider story. The game offers two modes: "Timed Choices" for a more immersive and pressured experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 86 reviews

story21 positive mentions

gameplay2 negative mentions

The cinematography is top-notch, rivaling most Hollywood films, and the acting performances are strong.
The game features an interesting dual narrative structure with two timelines, allowing for replayability and multiple endings.
It offers engaging gameplay mechanics where player choices significantly impact the story, making it feel like a proper interactive movie.

The execution of the storylines is lacking, with many choices feeling inconsequential and leading to predictable outcomes.
The pacing is slow, and some players found the narratives to be dull and uninteresting, lacking depth or meaningful content.
Despite the potential of its premise, the game fails to deliver a compelling experience, with some players considering it one of the worst in the FMV genre.

story
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
64%
5%
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it engaging and well-crafted, particularly appreciating the multiple endings and character development. However, others criticized it for being dull or predictable, with some narratives feeling repetitive or lacking depth. Overall, while the interactive elements and acting quality were praised, the story's execution varied significantly between different arcs and eras.
- “Excellent plot and its twists!”
- “The story is written and performed very well and finally there are multiple endings.”
- “Well-crafted characters, a spit-fire protagonist, and a fresh mystery plot line are combined with a dash of Gatsby and mythology to make for a truly intriguing read.”
- “The stories, though 40 years apart, are the same story, but just different time periods.”
- “The story is kind of obvious from how people behave or talk.”
- “From there on it's all about people complaining they are oppressed - essentially the story is pretty bad (cops bad, rich people bad, government is also bad etc..).”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The gameplay is centered around traditional interactive movie mechanics, where players make choices that influence the story's progression. However, some users feel that the execution and writing fall short, leading to a lack of clarity and meaning in the narrative connections between characters.
- “The game uses the traditional mechanics of interactive movies: a scene plays until the player is asked for a decision between 2-3 choices, and the player's choice determines how the story progresses.”
- “Well, that wasn't quite right but it was an interesting approach that they did, just didn't pan out so well due to a lack of good execution, writing, or meaning of why those stories are parallel or why the protagonists get switched, etc. I guess it's just for gameplay purposes which is fine.”
- “The game uses the traditional mechanics of interactive movies: a scene plays until the player is asked for a decision between 2-3 choices, the player's choice determines how the story goes on.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization aspect of the game is generally lacking, with users noting that while the performances of the main actors are commendable, they do not compensate for the game's shortcomings in story and runtime. Overall, the focus on strong acting does not enhance the game's overall optimization.
- “The best part of this game is the amazing performance of the actors, which covered the shortcomings of the story and made up for the short runtime of the game.”
- “The male lead gives a striking performance as the intruder and a good one as the hostage.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its humor, which is effectively woven into the narrative inspired by true events from the 1920s. Reviewers highlight the engaging prose and the main character's spunky personality, which contribute to the overall comedic tone and enjoyment of the experience.
- “This is such a funny game!”
- “Inspired by true events described in the author’s fascinating note, the gallery is a 1920s caper told with humor and spunk that readers will love.”
- “Laura Marx Fitzgerald draws her reader in with delicious prose and perfect amounts of humor sprinkled in at just the right times.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The game's graphics are praised for their visually appealing aesthetics, particularly the dynamic color effects on the main menu and the creative presentation of the start screen, which features paint splotches that enhance the overall visual experience.
- “While I usually don't find the aesthetics of menu screens worth mentioning, I really liked the effect of wafting colors flowing into each other on the main menu, as well as the way the start screen gets built by splotches of paint falling down.”
- “The graphics are outdated and lack the detail expected from modern games.”
- “Character models look flat and lifeless, making it hard to connect with the game.”
- “The environments feel bland and uninspired, lacking the vibrancy and depth that would enhance the overall experience.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers two intertwining stories that, while sharing similarities, provide enough variation to maintain player interest and encourage replayability.
- “It's got two different stories going on, and even though they share a bunch of similarities (it's on purpose), it still keeps the game interesting for replayability.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The emotional aspect of the game is described as highly impactful and resonant, evoking strong feelings in players.
- “The game is emotionally charged, pulling at my heartstrings with every decision I made.”
- “I was deeply moved by the characters' journeys; their struggles felt so real and relatable.”
- “The emotional depth of the story left me in tears, making me reflect on my own experiences.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The music in this game is considered inferior to that of "I Saw Black Clouds," which features a standout ending song that significantly enhances the replay value. Overall, the soundtrack does not leave a strong impression compared to other titles.
- “The music in this game is absolutely captivating, enhancing the overall experience and immersing you in the world.”
- “Each track perfectly complements the gameplay, creating an emotional connection that keeps you engaged.”
- “The soundtrack is a masterpiece, with each song adding depth and atmosphere to the game's narrative.”