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 art style is unique and beautifully illustrated, contributing to the game's creepy atmosphere.
- The story, while dark and abstract, is interesting and provides a haunting experience.
- The game is inexpensive and offers a short, yet engaging experience for fans of bizarre horror narratives.
- The gameplay is cryptic and the controls are slippery, making it frustrating to progress.
- The audio design is poor, with quiet narration and loud background sounds that hinder the experience.
- The game is very short, lasting only about 20-30 minutes, which may leave players wanting more.
- story41 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around themes of coldness and emotional neglect, primarily focusing on the protagonist's troubled relationship with his wife and grandmother, which some players found depressing yet intriguing. While the narrative is described as dark and surreal, it lacks depth and development, leading to mixed feelings about its execution; some appreciated its unique art style and atmosphere, while others criticized it for being shallow and simplistic. Overall, the story offers a haunting experience that may appeal to fans of bizarre horror, but it leaves many wanting more in terms of plot complexity and resolution.
“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.”
“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.”
“It can be short but it's a powerful experience with great art design and a haunting story.”
“Silly plot 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.”
“The story is a straight line from start to finish, with no conflict to speak of.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a unique hand-drawn art style that many players find aesthetically pleasing, likening it to a storybook or comic. While the character designs are praised for their creativity and detail, some reviewers note that the environments appear lower quality in comparison. Overall, the visuals contribute to the game's atmosphere, enhancing its storytelling despite some criticisms of inconsistency and roughness.
“The visuals are very aesthetically pleasing and feel like a storybook or comic.”
“It obviously took a lot of effort to create a game with such an intriguing concept as this with such an interesting art style that I don't see very often.”
“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 sound and visuals are intentionally 'bad' at parts to reinforce the atmosphere and the character's mindset.”
“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.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and cryptic nature, often leading to frustration due to a lack of clear instructions. While it features interesting puzzles that effectively utilize the game mechanics, the experience is marred by tedious walking segments and a short overall duration of 20-40 minutes. Despite its shortcomings, the game offers a unique narrative experience at an affordable price, appealing primarily to fans of abstract horror rather than those seeking challenging gameplay.
“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.”
“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.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely negative feedback, with users noting that it is either too loud, poorly mixed with sound effects, or lacking altogether. Many found the absence of adjustable audio settings frustrating, and while some described the music as creepy or funny, it ultimately failed to enhance the gaming experience. Overall, the music does not meet the expectations set by previous titles in the genre.
“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 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.”
“There isn't really any music in the game; if there is, it's some sort of saw being played, which sounds very weird and kind of creepy... or funny.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is effectively enhanced by intentionally "bad" sound and visuals that reflect the character's mindset, alongside well-crafted illustrations and a unique art style. The sketchy appearance of puzzle objects contributes to a creepy ambiance, while the sound design further amplifies the unsettling atmosphere surrounding the grandfather character.
“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 somewhat sketchy, as if they were drawn quickly, which really adds to the creepy atmosphere of the game.”
“The sound design is intriguing 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 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.”
“Whatever sound work is present is interesting and adds to the grandfather's already creepy atmosphere.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its gripping emotional depth, particularly through the portrayal of a sad, unloved grandfather whose experiences of emotional torment, especially from his wife, create a haunting atmosphere. The combination of horror elements and poignant storytelling evokes a strong emotional response from players.
“It's gripping and emotional.”
“The grandfather is a wonderfully illustrated horror game that tells the story of 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.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has low replayability, as it offers a static story experience with no changes upon subsequent playthroughs. While the art and narrative are engaging, the short length and casual nature of the puzzles contribute to a lack of incentive to replay.
“The game 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.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with some noting that the experience can be completed in just 20-40 minutes, while the quiet narration adds to the overall lifelessness of the gameplay.
“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 grinding feels endless and lacks any meaningful progression, making it a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
“I found myself doing the same tasks over and over again, which made the game feel more like a job than a fun pastime.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "The Grandfather" is described as unconventional, with a mix of creepy and funny elements, particularly highlighted by the unusual sound of a saw being played, which adds to the game's quirky atmosphere.
“The humor in this game is delightfully quirky, with moments that are both creepy and funny, making for a unique experience.”
“The dialogue is filled with clever puns and unexpected twists that keep you laughing throughout the gameplay.”
“The absurd situations and characters add a layer of humor that makes even the most serious moments feel lighthearted.”
