The Grandfather

About

"The Grandfather" is a haunting point-and-click puzzle/horror game with a hand-drawn comic book art style. Players uncover the story of an old man tormented by his cold wife, featuring unique puzzles, a procedural soundtrack, and full narration. This collaboration between the creators of "The Lady" and "The Moon Sliver" offers a chilling experience based on true events.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

55%

Audience ScoreBased on 107 reviews

story25 positive mentions

gameplay5 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and original experience, appealing to fans of absurd media and bizarre narratives.
The hand-drawn art style and eerie atmosphere effectively contribute to the game's unsettling story.
For a free game, it provides a short but engaging experience with some challenging puzzles.

The audio quality is poor, with the narrator's voice being hard to hear and lacking subtitles, making it difficult to follow the story.
The puzzles are often nonsensical and lack clear instructions, leading to frustration and confusion during gameplay.
The game is very short, typically lasting only 20-30 minutes, which may leave players wanting more substance and depth.

story
93 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
70%
3%
The story of "The Grandfather" is a dark and surreal exploration of neglect and emotional turmoil, centered around a lonely grandfather haunted by his unloving wife. While the unique art style and eerie atmosphere enhance the narrative, many players find the storytelling shallow and repetitive, with puzzles that often feel disconnected from the plot. Overall, the game offers a brief but poignant experience, appealing to those who appreciate abstract and unsettling narratives, despite its shortcomings in gameplay and depth.
- “The story is really dark and twisted, and the audio complements that perfectly, as it reminds me a lot of space funeral.”
- “The dark story is really what is the draw; it's hard to explain it without giving something away from the plot, but for the price, I would suggest picking it up.”
- “The game is a very short play but has a rather satisfying climax in the story.”
- “The story is stylishly told through a series of little repeated vignettes, but in the end the story's too thin to even sustain interest into the first repetition.”
- “The game is horribly repetitive: there's a bit of storytelling, a zoom into the house, a small tunnel leading up to one of the grandfather's body parts, a simple puzzle, and...repeat.”
- “The story is a straight line from start to finish, with no conflict to speak of.”
graphics
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
53%
8%
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, with a unique hand-drawn art style that some players find aesthetically pleasing and fitting for the dark narrative, while others criticize the inconsistency in quality between characters and environments. Many appreciate the creative and creepy illustrations, though some feel the overall execution is rough and detracts from the experience. Overall, the visuals are seen as a highlight, despite the game's other shortcomings.
- “I did enjoy this game for the dark atmosphere and creepy art style.”
- “The visuals are very aesthetically pleasing and feel like a storybook or comic.”
- “The illustrations of the grandfather are done by the talented saintyak, the art is very well done and characters have a nice art style going on, objects in puzzles look sort of sketchy like if they were drawn quickly, really adds to the creepy atmosphere of the game.”
- “Graphically, the game is extremely hit or miss.”
- “The art ranges from MS Paint quality to professional grade graphics.”
- “There is no part of me that would recommend this short lazy little game other than its well drawn visuals.”
gameplay
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
70%
19%
The gameplay has received largely negative feedback, with many players finding it confusing, poorly executed, and overly simplistic, often leading to boredom. While some appreciate the game's visual storytelling and the potential for interesting puzzles, the mechanics are criticized for being cryptic and tedious, resulting in a frustrating experience that fails to enhance the narrative. Overall, the gameplay is described as short, linear, and lacking depth, making it more suitable for those interested in abstract storytelling rather than challenging mechanics.
- “There's only half an hour's gameplay here, but the varied approach to storytelling does show promise for Szymanski's future projects.”
- “This game is a beautiful device for storytelling and has some really interesting, albeit simple, puzzles that use the mechanics very well.”
- “Yes, the gameplay can be frustrating and confusing without instruction, but once you finish the first puzzle, it is easy to understand how the rest works.”
- “The gameplay is not very good, for multiple reasons; first of all, it's really cryptic on what you have to do.”
- “The gameplay is basic and poorly executed, resulting in boring puzzles that are occasionally far too difficult.”
- “The gameplay reflects these feelings, as it too is both miserable and sad, being comprised of endlessly spam-clicking until something happens; or until you're able to figure out what it is that you're supposed to be doing.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it fitting and enhancing the atmosphere, while others criticize it for being too loud and overpowering the dialogue. Many noted that the sound effects detract from the overall experience, and the lack of volume control options for the narrator's voice was a significant drawback. Overall, while the art complements the story well, the music and sound design seem to hinder the game's potential.
- “The art is gorgeous and wonderfully complements the story; the music is very fitting.”
- “I bought this game because of the music machine and Moon Sliver, which had sparse narration but still managed to pull off complex characters and a chilling, interesting world that outshone the lower-end graphics.”
- “I liked the sense of dread that the art and music create, and the switch between the 3D and 2D environments gave it some depth as well.”
- “The music is not very good and the sound effects mix into an awful experience.”
- “I couldn't hear anything because the music was too loud compared to the narrating voice, and the game doesn't give you the option to adjust it.”
- “The obnoxious music and sounds, along with the unskippable cutscenes, create a frustrating experience.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
29%
43%
The atmosphere of "The Grandfather" is characterized by its dark, eerie, and unsettling qualities, enhanced by a gritty art style and intentionally poor visuals that reflect the protagonist's troubled mindset. The sound design further immerses players in this oppressive environment, creating a deeply engaging experience that complements the game's disturbing narrative. Overall, the combination of creepy imagery and atmospheric soundscapes effectively draws players into its haunting world.
- “Leaning more to the cinematic world of weird-wave animations, from which it is clearly influenced, The Grandfather is a disturbing and dark short puzzle game, with an eerie atmosphere and unsettling imagery that greatly supplements the story of the depressed protagonist.”
- “The illustrations of The Grandfather are done by the talented saintyak; the art is very well done, and the characters have a nice art style going on. Objects in puzzles look sort of sketchy, as if they were drawn quickly, which really adds to the creepy atmosphere of the game.”
- “With headphones on, you can really get absorbed into the oppressive atmosphere.”
- “The sound and visuals are intentionally 'bad' at parts to reinforce the atmosphere and the character's mindset.”
- “Whatever is there of sound work is interesting and adds to the grandfather's already creepy atmosphere.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often describing it as boring and lifeless. Some mention that it can feel like a chore, with obscure puzzles adding to the frustration, although the game can be completed relatively quickly.
- “Absolute most boring and tedious acid trip I've ever experienced.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It can be completed in only 20-40 minutes; the quiet narration comes across as lifeless, and the gameplay is at times tedious and repetitive.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted through its exploration of complex themes such as abuse and loneliness, conveyed via graphic novel-style cutscenes and voice-overs. Players find the narrative gripping and impactful, though it diverges from traditional gaming experiences. The portrayal of a tormented grandfather adds depth to the emotional landscape, emphasizing feelings of neglect and despair.
- “It's gripping and emotional.”
- “I think a lot went into this emotionally, but it’s not something you would label as your everyday 'game'.”
- “This bloody point-and-click visual novel about an emotionally and physically abusive relationship doesn't show that abuse, but describes it through graphic novel-style cutscenes, voice-overs, and simple first-person sections.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with users noting that the story remains unchanged and the experience is repetitive. While the art and narrative are appreciated, the short length and minimal challenge contribute to a consensus that there is little incentive to play again.
- “The grandfather has zero replay value; unless you want to show it to a friend, there's absolutely no change in the story—it's the same experience over and over again.”
- “The art is good, the narrative is interestingly creepy, and it's a pretty casual puzzle game that doesn't require much effort to play through, but it's also short and has low replayability.”
- “There is no replayability at all.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in "The Grandfather" is described as unconventional, with a mix of creepiness and absurdity, particularly highlighted by the unusual sound of a saw that may evoke laughter in its oddity.
- “The humor in this game is delightfully quirky, blending the absurd with the unexpected.”
- “I found myself laughing out loud at the clever dialogue and hilarious character interactions.”
- “The game's comedic timing is spot on, making even the most mundane tasks entertaining.”