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The Gallery

80%Game Brain Score
story, music
gameplay, replayability
80% User Score Based on 102 reviews

Platforms

PCPCXboxXboxXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|SPlaystation 5Playstation 5Playstation 4Playstation 4WindowsWindowsPlayStationPlayStationNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchMac OSMac OSXbox OneXbox One
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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
The Gallery screenshot
The Gallery screenshot
The Gallery screenshot
The Gallery screenshot
The Gallery screenshot
The Gallery screenshot
The Gallery screenshot
The Gallery screenshot
The Gallery screenshot

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 102 reviews
story24 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • The game features strong acting performances, particularly from the lead actors, which enhances the overall experience.
  • The dual-narrative structure, with parallel stories set in 1981 and 2021, offers an intriguing premise and ample replayability with multiple endings.
  • The inclusion of a skip feature for previously viewed scenes makes it easier to explore different choices and outcomes without repetitive viewing.
  • The two storylines feel too similar, lacking meaningful contrast and making replaying less engaging.
  • The inability to save progress within a storyline on PC can be frustrating, forcing players to restart the game to explore different choices.
  • Some choices in the game feel inconsequential, leading to a lack of impact on the story and diminishing player engagement.
  • story
    111 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it dull and lacking depth, particularly criticizing its simplistic plot and character development. While some appreciated the interactive nature and multiple endings, others felt that the narrative failed to engage, often feeling repetitive and politically charged without sufficient intrigue. Overall, the game's storytelling is seen as a missed opportunity, with suggestions for improvement including more impactful choices and richer, era-specific narratives.

    • “The storyline has the potential to knock you off your feet.....”
    • “I found them intriguing and entertaining, and I appreciated especially that the plot could develop in very different ways depending on your actions - there are 12 different endings for the 1981 story, 6 different endings for the 2021 story, and many more differences along the way.”
    • “Terrifically engaging story”
    • “The story to me did not really make any sense.”
    • “It was due to this very boring story that I really just didn't care about my choices, the outcomes or the different interactions with the characters, which is a shame really.”
    • “The worst thing of all is the story is bad; there is no twist or plot for that matter.”
  • gameplay
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is centered around meaningful decision-making, typical of FMV and interactive narrative games, where choices significantly influence the story's outcome. While the concept is engaging, some players feel the execution lacks depth and coherence, impacting the overall experience. Fans of narrative-driven games may still find it appealing due to its unique live-action format and branching paths.

    • “From a gameplay perspective, I've always enjoyed games that give you meaningful choices—where the decisions you make actually affect the outcome of the story.”
    • “If you like narrative-oriented games where you make decisions to affect the gameplay, this is definitely a title you should check out.”
    • “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.”
    • “Being an FMV game, the only gameplay is to make decisions.”
    • “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.”
  • music
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is well-received, with the 1981 storyline featuring a nostalgic 80s soundtrack that complements its setting, while the 2021 storyline incorporates contemporary top 20 hits, enhancing its modern feel. However, some users feel that the overall quality of the soundtrack does not match that of other games, such as "I Saw Black Clouds," which is praised for its exceptional ending song.

    • “The soundtrack is appropriate for the time period, where the 1981 storyline had music befitting an old 80’s movie, whereas the 2021 story’s soundtrack sounded like modern top 20 music.”
    • “The soundtrack is appropriate for the time period, where the 1981 storyline had music befitting an old 80’s movie, whereas the 2021 story’s soundtrack sounded like modern top 20 music.”
    • “The soundtrack is appropriate for the time period, where the 1981 storyline had music befitting an old 80’s movie, whereas the 2021 story’s soundtrack sounded like modern top 20 music.”
    • “The soundtrack is also appropriate for the time period too, where the 1981 storyline had music befitting an old 80’s movie whereas the 2021 story’s soundtrack sounded like modern top 20 music.”
  • replayability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability due to its choice-driven narrative, featuring multiple endings and branching scenes that change based on player decisions. With two interconnected stories and a wealth of content, players are encouraged to replay to explore different outcomes and experiences.

    • “It's got two different stories going on, and even though they share a bunch of similarities (it's on purpose), it's still something that keeps the game interesting for replayability.”
    • “Usually the strength is in the storytelling, choice-driven narrative, and replayability to see the multiple endings.”
    • “There are many branches of scenes that change drastically depending on your decisions, so there’s a lot of replayability.”
    • “Ample replayability value with different endings and 150 scenes in each.”
  • optimization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of character development in the game is lacking, with players noting that the protagonists would benefit from more detailed backstories and personal stakes. While the performances, particularly by George Blagden, are commendable and somewhat compensate for the narrative shortcomings, the overall emotional depth and engagement fall short compared to previous versions.

    • “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.”
    • “While Anna Popplewell and George Blagden deliver strong performances, their characters would benefit from more detailed backstories and personal stakes in the conflict.”
    • “While Anna Popplewell and George Blagden deliver strong performances, their characters would benefit from more detailed backstories (beyond mildly corrupt art gallery managers) and personal stakes in the conflict.”
    • “The performances in the older version had more emotional depth, making the experience more immersive and engaging.”
    • “I will say that the two main performers gave above average performances for an FMV production, but other than that... nope.”
  • graphics
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics are highlighted for their engaging and artistic presentation, particularly in the main menu where vibrant colors blend seamlessly. While some scenes may feel prolonged, the overall aesthetic enhances the experience, encouraging players to explore the stories behind various artworks featured in the game.

    • “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.”
    • “Admittedly, some scenes do drag on, but it was genuinely fun to learn more about artwork, for both time periods.”
    • “The game also gives a list of all the artwork in the game, so I looked up the story behind a lot of classic works, as well as recent artists, and it was interesting.”
    • “The graphics are outdated and lack the detail expected from modern games.”
    • “Character models look stiff and lifeless, making it hard to connect with the story.”
    • “The environments feel bland and uninspired, lacking the vibrancy and creativity seen in other titles.”
  • humor
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its humor, with users highlighting its funny narrative and spunky main character. Inspired by true events, it effectively blends humor with engaging storytelling, making it an enjoyable experience for players. Overall, the humor is well-timed and enhances the game's charm.

    • “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 players will love.”
    • “Laura Marx Fitzgerald draws her reader in with delicious prose and the perfect amounts of humor sprinkled in at just the right times.”
  • emotional
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate a mixed emotional response, with some players finding the story and characters lacking depth, leading to indifference towards choices and interactions. In contrast, others appreciated the emotional intensity and immersive performances in the older version, highlighting a disparity in emotional engagement across different iterations of the game.

    • “The performances in the older version had more emotional depth, making the experience more immersive and engaging.”
    • “Emotionally charged.”
    • “I did not enjoy my first playthrough; the story and characters were boring, and perhaps I just don't understand the political climate of England.”
    • “It was due to this very boring story that I really just didn't care about my choices, the outcomes, or the different interactions with the characters, which is a shame really.”
  • atmosphere
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers generally feel that the 1981 version excels in atmosphere, highlighting its superior acting and immersive qualities compared to other iterations.

    • “The 1981 version felt superior in every way imaginable, from the acting to the overall atmosphere.”
    • “To be honest, the 1981 version felt superior in every way imaginable, from the acting to the overall atmosphere.”
  • grinding
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect tedious, particularly due to the lengthy sequences that can exceed 100 scenes in each era. They suggest that a one-button option to skip previously witnessed scenes would significantly improve the experience.

    • “An option to skip all previously witnessed sequential scenes with one button press would be far less tedious, especially with the 100+ scenes in each era.”
    • “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “I spent hours grinding for resources, only to realize it didn't significantly impact my progress.”

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