The Next Door
- March 21, 2016
- Labory
Get on Steam"The Next Door" is an artistic, surrealist adventure game that explores the boundary between dreams and reality. Through its beautiful graphics and intriguing puzzles, players will uncover the mysteries of the subconscious mind, while questioning the nature of existence and self. This immersive experience, part game and part journey, offers a fresh perspective on storytelling and gameplay.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and surreal experience that can evoke joy and hope, as noted by players who found it uplifting during tough times.
- It has interesting artistic elements and environments that some players found immersive and worth exploring.
- Despite its short length, the game is considered intriguing and can provide a good way to spend some time, especially for fans of similar titles like The Stanley Parable.
- The game suffers from poor optimization, with reports of lag and low frame rates, making it frustrating to play.
- Many puzzles are seen as overly complicated or lacking logic, leading to confusion and reliance on external guides.
- There is no save system, which forces players to restart from the beginning if they exit the game, adding to the overall frustration.
- graphics10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are criticized for being poorly optimized and lacking polish, with no options to adjust settings. Many users report a floaty feel and noticeable lag, which detracts from the overall experience. However, some players acknowledge that the visuals can look appealing at times, despite the technical issues.
“+ looks pretty good with graphics”
“No graphics options, it's badly optimized and lacks overall polish.”
“The graphics are very floaty and seem to have some lag; this isn't comfortable at all and sort of detaches me from the game somehow. Maybe it's intentional, but I don't like it.”
“Most of the puzzles in the game are little more than 'looking at some graphic that shows the pattern/sequence you need to walk over to and input at a separate station by sitting there and holding E until it rotates to the proper one to match the graphic.' You could have an equal amount of fun bashing your stereo until it emits some kind of shrill static or warbling noise, buying a combination lock, and rotating its numbers a few times to unlock it.”
- story6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as lacking a traditional narrative, with many users noting its surreal nature and absence of a clear storyline. However, some reviewers highlight a moral theme about perseverance and the unpredictability of life, suggesting that personal growth can emerge from challenging circumstances.
“Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“This is not a story-based game; it is very surreal and has no real storyline as far as I can tell.”
“This is not a story-based game; it is very surreal and has no real storyline as far as I can tell.”
“This is not a story-based game; it is very surreal and has no real storyline as far as I can tell.”
- music4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it relaxing for short periods, while others describe it as nauseating and repetitive. Overall, it seems to detract from the experience due to its looping nature and lack of variety.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“Listing the flaws of the next door could indeed be a game in and of itself; incredibly uncomplicated puzzles, nauseating music that resounds in cursory loops, terribly designed and piercingly bright areas that burn out your retinae, awful player movement and interaction, the worst optimization imaginable and it takes thirty minutes to complete, due to the harsh content however, this is a blessing.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from severe optimization issues, with no graphics options available and a lack of overall polish. Players report poor movement mechanics, harshly designed environments, and a generally frustrating experience, making it one of the worst-optimized titles encountered.
“No graphics options, it's badly optimized and lacks overall polish.”
“Listing the flaws of the next door could indeed be a game in and of itself; incredibly uncomplicated puzzles, nauseating music that resounds in cursory loops, terribly designed and piercingly bright areas that burn out your retinae, awful player movement and interaction, the worst optimization imaginable and it takes thirty minutes to complete, due to the harsh content however, this is a blessing.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally view grinding positively, particularly for its effectiveness in farming resources and enhancing gameplay. It is often recommended as a strategy for maximizing in-game rewards and progression.
- gameplay2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for being dull and lacking meaningful engagement, leading to a sense of senselessness in player interactions.
“Dull and senseless gameplay.”
