The Guest

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 358 reviews
  • story
  • atmosphere
  • music
The Guest Game Cover
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"The Guest" is a gloomy adventure full of enigmas where the exploration of your surroundings comes to prominence; puzzles, secrets and riddles will help you discover who has locked you in this somber hotel room and most importantly, why.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

70%
Audience ScoreBased on 358 reviews
story42 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game features an engaging atmosphere with well-crafted graphics and sound design that enhances the overall experience.
  • Puzzles are varied and interesting, providing a good balance of challenge without being overly frustrating.
  • The narrative, while not deeply developed, adds a layer of intrigue that motivates players to explore and solve the mysteries.
  • The game is relatively short, typically taking around 2-4 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more content.
  • Some puzzles can feel obscure or illogical, leading to frustration, especially for players who may struggle with certain mechanics.
  • The ending is abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving many questions unanswered and detracting from the overall experience.
  • story148 mentions

    The game's story is often described as intriguing yet underdeveloped, with many players noting its reliance on familiar tropes and a lack of satisfying resolution. While the narrative unfolds gradually through puzzle-solving, it tends to feel vague and disjointed, leaving players wanting more depth and coherence. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop to the puzzle experience rather than a central focus, making it enjoyable for those primarily interested in gameplay rather than a compelling narrative.

    • “The story, which involves elements of mystery and psychological horror, is told in a subtle and engaging way.”
    • “I really liked the ambience and how as the player you get to discover the story slowly with each puzzle.”
    • “The story mystery slowly unfolds as you explore your surroundings.”
    • “The story isn't very well fleshed out, ending abruptly, but the game offers a decent puzzle-solving challenge for a few hours, and it allows you to save your progress at any time, so you don't have to worry about lost progress.”
    • “The attempt at a story doesn't really add much, and the ending is not as clever as it seems to think it is, but if you like escaping rooms, then you should still have an okay time.”
    • “The biggest flaw is the incoherent story.”
  • atmosphere64 mentions

    The atmosphere in "The Guest" is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, combining detailed graphics, effective sound design, and a unique aesthetic that enhances the narrative. Reviewers note the game's ability to create a tense, eerie environment that serves as a character in its own right, contributing to a memorable experience despite its relatively short playtime. Overall, the atmosphere is described as captivating, with a mix of suspense and mystery that keeps players engaged throughout.

    • “With an engaging narrative and a unique aesthetic, 'The Guest' is an example of how independent games can create deep and memorable atmospheres.”
    • “The hotel environment, full of details and clues, serves as a character in its own right, creating an atmosphere that heightens tension and suspense.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game is well-crafted both visually and musically - the rooms are detailed and immersive, with each object well-modeled and rendered.”
    • “I get the developers may have been going for atmosphere to be creepy or the like, but honestly, all this was for me was a disappointing waste of time due to that.”
    • “In some ways, the quotidian atmosphere increases the sense of unease.”
    • “I've played puzzle games before but nothing quite like this: the atmosphere is very chilling, it creates a setting of what you would expect a jumpscare out of, but nothing really happens.”
  • music53 mentions

    The music in "The Guest" is generally described as subtle and atmospheric, effectively enhancing the game's tension and sense of isolation. While many players appreciate the soundtrack for its ability to create an immersive experience, some criticize specific elements, such as the music box puzzle, which can be frustrating and inaccessible for those with hearing difficulties. Overall, the sound design is noted for its quality, though there are mixed opinions on its execution and impact on gameplay.

    • “The soundtrack for 'The Guest' is subtle but effective, creating an atmosphere of tension and unease that perfectly complements the narrative.”
    • “The combination of music and sound helps to keep the player in suspense, reinforcing the feeling of isolation and vulnerability.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game is well-crafted both visually and musically - the rooms are detailed and immersive, with each object well-modeled and rendered.”
    • “The toilet sound in the bathroom was torture, and the screeching music in there led me to turn down the sounds and music for the rest of the playthrough.”
    • “The music box puzzle is a game-breaker, as well as an accessibility omission on the part of the developers.”
    • “Ambient music is truly irritating; it's a pulsing hum that goes nowhere, has no melody, and is exceedingly loud even when turned down to .01.”
  • graphics51 mentions

    The graphics of "The Guest" are generally praised for their stylized design and dark color palette, which effectively enhance the game's atmosphere and narrative. Many reviewers highlight the attention to detail and immersive quality of the visuals, although some note that the graphics could be improved in certain areas. Overall, the game is recognized for its decent to beautiful graphics that contribute positively to the player's experience.

    • “The graphics, audio, atmosphere, and puzzles are all done really well.”
    • “Awesome graphics and interactive environment, with awesome ambiance.”
    • “The graphics are really good.”
    • “Mega graphics and crash issues.”
    • “Cliche boring puzzles, sub par soundtrack and graphics.”
    • “Graphics: 6/10 - I think this is a pretty standard game graphically; of course, the important things will always shine a little bit brighter than the irrelevant stuff, but everything does look decent.”
  • gameplay42 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Guest" is characterized by exploration and puzzle-solving, featuring a variety of engaging puzzles that require logical reasoning and attention to detail. While many players appreciate the immersive experience and intriguing narrative, some have noted issues with complicated controls, frustrating mechanics, and occasional glitches that can disrupt the flow. Overall, the game offers a solid atmosphere and enjoyable puzzles, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its potential for frustration and limited plot development.

    • “The game stands out for its interaction mechanics and the variety of puzzles that require both logical reasoning and attention to detail.”
    • “The way in which the narrative intertwines with the gameplay and exploration is remarkable, and the game manages to keep players intrigued until the end.”
    • “With engaging gameplay, an intriguing narrative, and a striking visual presentation, the game offers a rich and immersive experience.”
    • “Game controls and mechanics are a bit complicated to use.”
    • “There are loads of glitches, game-breaking gameplay that requires you to restart the whole game if you miss one little detail. It crashes, your controls will freeze up and force you to restart, and the puzzles are just stupid.”
    • “I never felt clever or like I'd learned some new rule, mechanic, or language; all the solutions I found were just brute forcing something or stumbling around turning on/off the lights and reading my 25 pieces of paper in my inventory.”
  • replayability10 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is largely viewed as minimal, with most players noting that it primarily offers value for achievement hunters who may want to revisit it for completion. Many reviews highlight the lack of engaging puzzles and a compelling story, leading to a consensus that the game does not warrant multiple playthroughs. While some players may enjoy watching others experience the game for the first time, the general sentiment is that it lacks significant replay value.

    • “There is replay value if you're an achievement hunter.”
    • “It's a little disappointing to have to replay the game to clean up the achievements, since puzzles don't really have much replay value.”
    • “I can't see there being much replay value in this, except to sweep back through with a guide to get the achievements you don't get in your first run, and maybe to watch your friend experience it for their first time.”
    • “Not really replayable, but that is expected for an escape room.”
    • “Boring, some of the clunkiest controls ever, puzzles are nonsensical, story is nonexistent, zero replay value, flashing lights will give you a headache.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is characterized by unnecessarily tedious and increasingly random puzzles, leading to frustration rather than enjoyment. Players find the long walking sequences and trial-and-error mechanics particularly tedious, detracting from the overall experience despite the game's atmospheric visuals.

    • “But the puzzles in this game became increasingly random and tediously difficult with hardly any clue as to what you're supposed to do.”
    • “It's not fun, just tedious and annoying.”
    • “When you exit the room and get to the endless, apparently random outdoor maze portion, it becomes painfully tedious.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The game's stability is inconsistent, with some players experiencing minimal issues while others face numerous game-breaking glitches that require frequent restarts. Common problems include freezing controls, crashes, and bugs that can hinder progress, significantly impacting the overall experience.

    • “You can be luckier than me and run into no bugs and might enjoy the game; if you're unlucky, then you might be trapped in a buggy mess, unable to move on unless you constantly restart and/or restart the game.”
    • “There are loads of glitches, game-breaking gameplay that requires you to restart the whole game if you miss one little detail. It crashes, your controls will freeze up and force you to restart, and the puzzles are just stupid.”
    • “The game freezes for long seconds sometimes, which kills the mood.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting poor performance even on high-end systems, such as a MacBook Pro with dedicated GPU, which struggled to maintain 20fps on mid settings. Many feel that the optimization is so lacking that it detracts significantly from the overall experience, leading some to suggest it may only be worth purchasing on sale if players are willing to rely on walkthroughs.

    • “I guess if you don't mind terrible performance and completing it with a walkthrough, it might be worth getting on sale.”
    • “Performance is poor for this type of game (MacBook Pro 15" with dedicated GPU, Core i7, and 16GB RAM was running at 20 FPS on 7320p mid-setting).”
    • “Optimization is terrible (I wonder why Crysis 3 on ultra runs better and looks better than this game).”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted to be present but somewhat superficial, with reviewers describing it as "light" despite the overall story being decent.

    • “The story is decent, and the character development is present, although it feels a bit light.”
    • “The characters evolve throughout the game, making their journeys feel meaningful and engaging.”
    • “I appreciate how the game allows for personal growth in each character, adding depth to the overall narrative.”
    • “The story is decent, but the character development feels very light.”
    • “Character development is minimal and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I found the character arcs to be underwhelming and predictable, leaving me wanting more.”
  • humor1 mentions

    Reviewers highlight that the humor in the game is particularly evident in the puzzles, which are described as amusing and entertaining.

    • “The puzzles are really funny.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players appreciate the emotional satisfaction derived from overcoming challenges in the game, particularly when they achieve milestones by solving puzzles independently before receiving hints. This sense of accomplishment enhances their overall gaming experience.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

2hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
2-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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