The Mammoth: A Cave Painting

About

"The Mammoth: A Cave Painting" is a moving 5-minute journey spanning 5 million years of mammoth history. This atmospheric game, reminiscent of a living cave painting, delves into the human desire to comprehend our own insignificance, delivering an emotional and thought-provoking experience. Created by a team of four during the Ludum Dare 33 Jam, it leaves a lasting impression despite its brief development time.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 440 reviews

story88 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game features a beautifully minimalist art style that resembles ancient cave paintings, enhancing the storytelling experience.
Despite its short runtime of about five minutes, the game delivers a powerful and emotional narrative about survival and loss.
It's a free game that offers an easy achievement, making it accessible for casual players and achievement hunters alike.

The game is very short, which may leave some players wanting more content and depth in the story.
The gameplay mechanics are simplistic and may feel repetitive, lacking significant interactivity or challenge.
Some players found the voice acting to be monotone and lacking emotional intensity, which detracted from the overall experience.

story
237 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
61%
2%
The story of "The Mammoth: A Cave Painting" is a poignant, minimalist narrative that unfolds over just five minutes, focusing on a mother mammoth's journey to reunite with her children amidst the dangers posed by prehistoric hunters. While the emotional depth and artistic presentation are praised, many reviewers note the linearity and brevity of the story, expressing a desire for a more expansive narrative. Overall, it is recognized as a touching and impactful experience, albeit a short one.
- “This is a beautifully minimalist, five-minute adventure that tells a powerful story with surprising emotional depth.”
- “The mammoth: a cave painting is a short story about a mother mammoth whose mission is to reunite with her children and find a way home.”
- “A very short free-to-play game with beautiful visuals and a sad story.”
- “It appears to be an experiment that could have led to a more interesting destination if the devs had tried to flesh the story a bit and add some more action into it.”
- “The story is short but effective as it describes what happens without attempting to tinge events with any sort of judgement.”
- “However, the story is rather cliché and dull.”
graphics
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
36%
3%
The game's graphics are widely praised for their unique cave-painting art style, which effectively conveys a prehistoric atmosphere and enhances the emotional depth of the narrative. Players appreciate the beautiful, hand-drawn visuals and earthy color palette, noting that they contribute significantly to the overall experience, despite the game's short duration. While some mention minor glitches and clunky gameplay, the art style remains a standout feature that many would love to see in a longer format.
- “Guiding a mother mammoth through a tale of survival, loss, and unity, the game's unique cave-painting art style and rhythmic narration make it feel both ancient and alive.”
- “Through its mesmerizing visuals and emotional depth, it transports players to a prehistoric world where the very essence of motherhood is put to the ultimate test.”
- “The graphics/art style is very well made; it feels good to stomp this bad human race.”
- “The voice acting and the music kind of overwhelm the visuals, doing more to bring it down than to benefit it.”
- “This combination of poor audio with a hand-drawn look for visuals makes this game just feel bad from a sensory standpoint, and it doesn't come together very well or benefit the story (or lack thereof) in any way.”
- “It's slightly glitchy when it comes to the visuals, but it wasn't a huge issue.”
emotional
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its surprising emotional depth and ability to convey a touching story within a brief playtime, often leaving players reflecting on themes of loss and motherhood. Many reviewers found the narrative heart-wrenching, with visuals and music enhancing the emotional experience, despite some critiques regarding the pacing and depth of character backstory. Overall, it is described as a beautifully minimalist adventure that resonates deeply with players, evoking strong feelings of attachment and sadness.
- “This is a beautifully minimalist, five-minute adventure that tells a powerful story with surprising emotional depth.”
- “Here a cave painting tells you a story about a mammoth five million years ago; at its core, it is a touching story about the inevitability of loss.”
- “Through its mesmerizing visuals and emotional depth, it transports players to a prehistoric world where the very essence of motherhood is put to the ultimate test.”
gameplay
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
80%
10%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and effectiveness, serving the narrative without distraction. While some players appreciate the elegant mechanics and emotional storytelling, others find the gameplay short, clunky, and lacking in depth or challenge. Overall, it appeals to those seeking a straightforward experience focused on story rather than complex mechanics.
- “The mechanics are simple but effective, serving the narrative rather than distracting from it.”
- “The gameplay brilliantly captures the transformation, channeling the player's empathy for her plight and the overwhelming drive that pushes her onward.”
- “Its simplistic gameplay makes it easy to pick up and learn within seconds, and its linear style means it's unlikely that you'll get lost.”
- “The gameplay is short & easy with instructions on the controls, and the ending is predictable yet inevitable.”
- “I might've played again if the gameplay had more to offer and more interactivity with the story, but it doesn't so I just didn't want to play again.”
- “There's no interesting mechanics, no deep storytelling, nothing unique to see.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The music in the game is generally praised for its ability to enhance the emotional and atmospheric elements, with many noting its fitting and melancholic tone that complements the story. However, some players found the music repetitive and the voice acting monotonous, which detracted from the overall experience. Overall, while the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's aesthetic, there are calls for improvements in variety and sound quality.
- “I would be delighted to see a longer version with a longer story and awesome music.”
- “The story is sad and melancholic, with music to match the mood.”
- “I enjoyed the artwork and music which added to the feel of being told in an ancient civilization.”
- “The voice acting and the music kind of overwhelm the visuals, doing more to bring it down than to benefit it.”
- “I loved its aesthetic and its simple message, however, the music loops so quickly it becomes painfully repetitive, and the sound quality of the narration is a little rough.”
- “I do hope there might be some very gentle and hushed music in the background in the future and that the narration could be adjusted to not have quite as much echo/emptiness in the background.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
Players express that grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time akin to having a "second life." While some appreciate the art style, they caution that the repetitive nature of grinding could become tedious over time.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I would have hated it if it were too long because, although the art is nice, it is plain and so with time it'd grow tedious.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
60%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by thoughtful narration from a talented voice actor, complemented by visually striking cave painting-inspired graphics. The combination of atmospheric visuals and a tribal drum soundtrack creates an immersive soundscape that enriches the overall experience.
- “Thoughtful narration that directs the player by a talented voice actor, setting the atmosphere well.”
- “It's a really interesting short game with its cave painting style and atmospheric voice narration.”
- “Bassy, tribal drums accompanied by a good voice-over artist create an immersive atmospheric soundscape.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
- “Despite the potential for a rich setting, the atmosphere is dull and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
- “The game's atmosphere is inconsistent, often breaking immersion with jarring transitions and poorly executed sound design.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The game's replayability is generally considered weak due to its fundamentally linear story, resulting in the same ending across multiple playthroughs. While some players may find it enjoyable enough to replay, the lack of varied outcomes limits its overall replay value.
- “The game is infinitely replayable (or almost).”
- “The game lacks meaningful choices, making it feel like a one-time experience rather than something worth revisiting.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again since the side quests feel repetitive.”
- “While the graphics are stunning, the gameplay doesn't offer enough variety to keep me coming back for more.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Users have noted that the game may experience performance issues, particularly at launch, but switching to windowed mode can help improve optimization and overall speed.
- “If it runs slowly for you, as it did for me at first, try windowed mode.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The monetization strategy primarily revolves around microtransactions and in-game purchases, which have received mixed reviews from users. While some appreciate the optional nature of these purchases, others feel they can create an imbalance in gameplay or lead to a pay-to-win scenario. Overall, the approach to monetization is seen as a significant factor influencing player experience.
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't feel intrusive, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
- “I appreciate that the in-game purchases are purely cosmetic and don't affect gameplay, making it a more enjoyable experience.”
- “The game offers a variety of ways to earn in-game currency, which makes the monetization feel rewarding rather than exploitative.”
- “The game is riddled with microtransactions that feel exploitative.”
- “In-game purchases are necessary to progress, which ruins the experience.”
- “The monetization strategy is overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express strong approval of the character development in the game, highlighting it as a standout feature that significantly enhances the overall experience.
- “That's what I call character development.”