The Grandfather
- May 2, 2016
- Mikeypoo's Games
Get on Steam"The Grandfather" is a narrative-driven psychological horror game where you play as a grandson uncovering the dark secrets of his grandfather's past. Explore an eerie mansion and its surroundings, gather clues, and solve puzzles to reveal the truth. The game features a unique art style and a haunting atmosphere, offering a chilling and thought-provoking experience.
Mac OS
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The hand-drawn art style is unique and visually appealing, contributing to the game's creepy atmosphere.
- The story, while dark and abstract, is intriguing and offers a different perspective on themes of misery and emotional neglect.
- For its low price, the game provides a brief but interesting experience that may appeal to fans of bizarre horror narratives.
- The audio design is poor, with quiet narration that is often drowned out by louder sound effects and music, making it hard to follow the story.
- Gameplay is cryptic and controls are slippery, leading to frustration as players may struggle to understand objectives and interact with the environment.
- The game is very short, lasting only about 20-30 minutes, which may leave players feeling unsatisfied and wanting more depth and complexity.
- story82 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around themes of coldness and emotional neglect, primarily focusing on the protagonist's troubled relationships with his grandmother and wife, which some players found unsettling and depressing. While the narrative is described as dark and creepy, it lacks depth and development, leading to mixed feelings about its execution; some appreciated its unique storytelling approach and art style, while others criticized it for being shallow and simplistic. Overall, the story offers a haunting experience that may resonate with fans of bizarre horror, but it leaves many wanting more in terms of plot resolution and character development.
“It's definitely some messed up stuff and honestly it was pretty depressing to play, but overall the story was pretty interesting and definitely was worth going through all of it.”
“This game is a beautiful device for storytelling and has some really interesting, albeit simple, puzzles that use the mechanics very well.”
“If you view this as more of a film or story than a puzzle game, it becomes a fascinating story illustrated in a unique form and art style.”
“Silly plot (if I can call it this) with grotesque animation ends up being a waste of time, as usual when writing sucks.”
“The story you're so desperately trying to prove as something good is something most of your players probably have written in first to third grade (if they dared thinking about horror stories, that is).”
“The story is a straight line from start to finish, with no conflict to speak of.”
- graphics34 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a predominantly hand-drawn art style that many players find aesthetically pleasing, likening it to a storybook or comic. However, while the character designs are praised, the environments are often criticized for appearing lower quality, which detracts from the overall visual experience. Some players appreciate the intentional roughness in certain visuals as a means to enhance the game's atmosphere and storytelling.
“The visuals are very aesthetically pleasing and feel like a storybook or comic.”
“If you view this as more of a film or story than a puzzle game, it becomes a fascinating story illustrated in a unique form and art style.”
“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, as if they were drawn quickly, which really adds to the creepy atmosphere of the game.”
“Guys, get a writing tutor, get a programming tutor, get a graphic design tutor, get beta testers and real computers, play some games (preferably, if you want to do a story-full horror game with slice-of-life nuances, play from all genres at least the top games) and then try again.”
“The artwork is so pushing to be creative, it's overdoing it... a lot.”
“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.”
- gameplay26 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and cryptic nature, often leading to frustration and confusion, especially without guidance. Players engage in a series of straightforward puzzles interspersed with tedious walking segments, resulting in a short experience of about 20-40 minutes. While the mechanics support the storytelling, the overall gameplay is deemed lackluster and repetitive, appealing primarily to those who appreciate abstract narratives over challenging gameplay.
“This game is a beautiful device for story-telling 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.”
“However, at just under a dollar, the fact that it has a beginning, middle, and end with gameplay in between makes it at least worth the price of admission.”
“The gameplay is not very good, for multiple reasons; first of all, it's really cryptic on what you have to do.”
“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.”
“The gameplay is very simple, but before each puzzle, there is a boring, unnecessary walking segment that only serves to pad the game between puzzles and narrative sequences.”
- music8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely negative feedback, with players noting that it is often too loud compared to the narration, making it difficult to hear important dialogue. Additionally, the lack of adjustable audio settings has frustrated users, and the overall quality of the music and sound effects has been described as poor and unappealing. Some players found the sparse and unconventional music choices to be either creepy or amusing, but overall, the experience has not met expectations.
“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.”
“There isn't really any music in The Grandfather; if there is, then it's some sort of saw being played on. It's very weird and sounds kind of creepy... or funny.”
“The music in this game creates a chilling atmosphere that enhances the overall experience, making the world feel more immersive and engaging.”
“The music is not very good and the sound effects mix into are just 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.”
“There isn't really any music in the grandfather; if there is, then it's some sort of saw being played on. It's very weird and sounds kind of creepy... or funny.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is effectively enhanced by intentionally "bad" sound and visuals that reflect the character's mindset, creating a creepy ambiance. The well-executed illustrations, particularly of the grandfather, and the sketchy design of puzzle objects contribute to this unsettling environment. Overall, the sound design complements the visuals, further immersing players in the eerie atmosphere.
“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. The objects in puzzles look sort of sketchy, as if they were drawn quickly, which really adds to the creepy atmosphere of the game.”
“The sound work is interesting and enhances the already creepy atmosphere surrounding the grandfather.”
“The sound and visuals are intentionally 'bad' at parts to reinforce the atmosphere and the character's mindset.”
“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, as if they were drawn quickly, which really adds to the creepy atmosphere of the game.”
“Whatever sound work is present is interesting and adds to the grandfather's already creepy atmosphere.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "The Grandfather" is highlighted by its gripping narrative, which explores themes of loneliness and emotional torment, particularly through the portrayal of a sad grandfather who has never experienced love, compounded by his wife's cruel treatment. The game's illustrations enhance this emotional depth, making the experience both haunting and poignant.
“It's gripping and emotional.”
“The grandfather is a wonderfully illustrated horror game that tells you about a sad, miserable grandfather who has never been loved by anyone, including his wife, who enjoys torturing him emotionally by giving him the scariest version of the stink eye ever.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game "The Grandfather" is noted for its low replayability, as it offers no changes in story or experience upon subsequent playthroughs. While the art and narrative are praised, the short length and lack of new content limit its appeal for repeated plays, making it primarily suitable for a one-time experience or for sharing with friends.
“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.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with a lifeless narration that detracts from the experience. Despite being a short playtime of 20-40 minutes, the gameplay can feel drawn out and monotonous.
“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.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "The Grandfather" is described as unconventional, with a mix of creepy and funny elements, primarily stemming from the unusual sound design, which features a bizarre, saw-like noise instead of traditional music. This odd auditory choice contributes to a unique atmosphere that elicits both amusement and discomfort.
“The humor in this game is delightfully quirky, with moments that are both creepy and funny, like the sound of a saw being played.”
“The game's unique blend of humor keeps you on your toes, making even the weirdest moments entertaining.”
“I love how the game mixes creepy elements with humor, creating a bizarre yet enjoyable experience.”
