The Grandfather

About

The Grandfather is a single player puzzle game with a horror theme. It was developed by David Szymanski and was released on May 2, 2016. It received neutral reviews from players.

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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56%

Audience ScoreBased on 113 reviews

story25 positive mentions

gameplay5 negative mentions

The game features a unique and striking art style that enhances the dark and surreal atmosphere.
The narrative, while dark and unsettling, is engaging and thought-provoking, providing a deep exploration of themes like trauma and neglect.
As a free game, it offers a short but interesting experience that can be appreciated by fans of experimental and artistic storytelling.

The gameplay is often confusing and the puzzles lack clear logic, leading to frustration and a sense of aimlessness.
Audio issues, such as low volume for the narrator and lack of subtitles, detract from the overall experience and accessibility.
The game is very short, typically lasting only 20-30 minutes, which may leave players wanting more substance and depth.

story
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
70%
3%
The story of "The Grandfather" is characterized by its dark and unsettling themes, focusing on a neglected protagonist grappling with feelings of despair and isolation. While the unique art style and atmospheric audio enhance the narrative experience, many players find the storytelling shallow and repetitive, with a lack of clarity and depth that detracts from engagement. Overall, the game is seen as more of an interactive narrative than a traditional game, appealing to those who appreciate surreal and abstract storytelling despite its shortcomings.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “While the idea is somewhat original and has a unique art style, I do not enjoy this game at all due to (1) lack of subtitles, (2) certain voice lines being repeated many times, (3) nonsensical puzzles, (4) walking through the same tunnel multiple times, and (5) a shallow story.”
- “The story is stylishly told through a series of little repeated vignettes, but in the end, it's too thin to even sustain interest into the first repetition.”
- “The story is trying to be sad but just comes off as a teenager trying to make an artsy emotional story.”
graphics
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
58%
7%
The graphics of "the grandfather" are a mixed bag, featuring a unique hand-drawn art style that some players find striking and atmospheric, while others criticize the overall quality as inconsistent, with environments appearing lower quality than character designs. While the artwork is appreciated for its creativity and ability to enhance the dark narrative, many reviewers express disappointment in the lack of polish and coherence in the visuals, suggesting that the game feels more like an artistic experiment than a fully realized gaming experience. Overall, the graphics evoke a strong emotional response, but their execution leaves room for improvement.
- “The graphics are beautiful and the story is strange and weird.”
- “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.”
- “The game features really lackluster 2D visuals (does the developer not know 3D graphics became mainstream in the mid-1990s?).”
- “Gamers don't spend thousands of dollars on gaming rigs and the latest 3D graphics cards to play 2D games.”
- “The art ranges from MS Paint quality to professional grade graphics.”
gameplay
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
70%
19%
The gameplay has received largely negative feedback, with many users 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 a challenging sell despite its low price point.
- “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%
34%
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 users noted the lack of options to adjust sound levels, leading to a frustrating experience where important narrative elements are drowned out. Overall, while the art complements the story well, the music's execution has detracted from the overall enjoyment for some players.
- “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%
28%
43%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a dark, eerie ambiance that enhances the unsettling narrative and the protagonist's troubled mindset. Users appreciate the creepy art style and intentionally "bad" sound design, which together create an immersive experience that draws players into its oppressive world. The combination of well-executed illustrations and a gritty aesthetic contributes significantly to the game's disturbing atmosphere.
- “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%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is often perceived as tedious and repetitive, with some players finding it boring and lifeless. The obscure puzzles contribute to the frustration, making the experience feel unnecessarily prolonged despite a relatively short overall playtime.
- “Probably the most boring and tedious acid trip I’ve ever taken; super freaky and weird, but definitely not in a good way.”
- “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 a layer of depth, emphasizing the emotional toll of neglect and mistreatment.
- “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'.”
- “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.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
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 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.”
- “The grandfather also 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 which doesn't require much effort to play through, but it's also short and has low replayability.”
- “No replayability at all.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 adds a bizarre comedic element to the experience.
- “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 situations entertaining.”