The Next Door

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

49%

Audience ScoreBased on 283 reviews

graphics7 positive mentions

story4 negative mentions

The game features some cool and unique imagery that can be visually appealing.
It offers a surreal experience that may intrigue players who enjoy abstract concepts.
The game includes trading cards, which can be a positive for those looking to farm them.

The gameplay is short, taking less than an hour to complete, and lacks depth.
There are numerous technical issues, including poor optimization, bugs, and a lack of settings or controls.
The puzzles are often unintuitive and confusing, leaving players frustrated with little guidance.

graphics
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
67%
15%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the unique 3D visuals and artistic approach, while others criticize the poor optimization, lack of customization options, and numerous graphical errors. Many users note that the overall quality is inconsistent, with some scenes being visually appealing but marred by glitches and awkward art design. Overall, the graphics are seen as below average for a modern title, failing to meet the expectations set by higher-budget games.
- “Very good graphics; it's a chill game.”
- “Though the next door did not create much of a fulfilling story or a conclusion, upon the game’s completion, the art and graphics were definitely an eye-catcher for me and any other player(s).”
- “Entire game is made with interesting 3D graphics.”
- “No graphics options, it's badly optimized and lacks overall polish.”
- “There's no way for gamers to try to improve the low quality graphics.”
- “Then there's the awful, poorly optimized and ugly graphics & ear-shattering sounds.”
story
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
68%
18%
The story aspect of the game is largely criticized for its lack of depth and coherence, with many reviewers noting that it feels almost non-existent or abstract. While some elements touch on themes of self-development and identity, the overall narrative fails to provide a fulfilling experience, leaving players confused and unsatisfied. The game is described as surreal, but without a concrete plot, it detracts from the overall gameplay experience.
- “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.”
- “From the intro itself, the game’s entire plot seems to revolve around self-development and identity, though we do not know who our character is or what they look like.”
- “When you intertwine life, religion, and science, the story has to be a miracle never seen before to be intriguing, but in fact, it's an everlasting mess.”
- “Story 3/10 - almost non-existent.”
- “The lack of plot really destroys the experience, as the entire gameplay itself was short even if you were to do zilch.”
- “There's no tutorial, information, or plot to speak of.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
67%
17%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its smooth and jazzy elements while others find it repetitive and annoying. A significant drawback noted is the lack of audio controls, forcing players to use external methods to adjust or mute the music. Overall, while there are moments of pleasantness, the soundtrack is often described as a frustrating aspect of the gameplay experience.
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “The music is smooth and jazzy.”
- “Interesting, sometimes pleasant musical score.”
- “Bewilderingly, the game doesn't include proper audio controls, so you can't turn off the annoying audio tracks; you'll need to alt+tab out and stop the music using the Windows sound mixer.”
- “Boring, the music is repetitive as well.”
- “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.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The gameplay has been criticized for being dull, poorly executed, and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting a mismatch between the artistic presentation and the quality of the gameplay itself. While some appreciate certain mechanics, like the floor flip puzzle, the overall experience is marred by a lack of engaging content and a weak narrative.
- “Floor flip, where the other part or the whole puzzle is located on the ceiling, is an interesting mechanic.”
- “Gameplay 5/10: nice concept, somehow poorly executed and a little short but nice.”
- “For 1€... hmm, I guess it corresponds to the gameplay.”
- “But the difference is they put a thin veneer of 'art' in the presentation... and suddenly it doesn't matter that all the assets are comically mismatched with utter garbage gameplay and quality, because now it's 'art'.”
- “Dull and senseless gameplay.”
- “The lack of plot really destroys the experience, as the entire gameplay itself was short even if you were to do zilch.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
75%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with users reporting poor graphics performance, lack of options, and overall lack of polish. Many players experienced significant performance issues, including eye strain and discomfort due to harsh visuals and sound design. While some found it playable on mid-range systems, the general consensus is that the game suffers from severe optimization flaws.
- “The game has a unique mystery factor that kept me intrigued throughout the entire playtime, despite some performance issues.”
- “While there are some bright colors that can be overwhelming, I was able to overlook the performance hiccups because the gameplay was so engaging.”
- “Despite a few performance challenges, the overall experience was captivating and kept me invested in the game.”
- “No graphics options, it's badly optimized and lacks overall polish.”
- “Overall, this game just doesn't deliver a satisfactory performance.”
- “Then there's the awful, poorly optimized and ugly graphics & ear-shattering sounds.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay and progression. Players report a lack of direction and a non-intuitive experience, which detracts from its unique concept. Overall, the stability concerns overshadow the game's potential.
- “Buggy and non-intuitive game without any aim.”
- “It's interesting but also buggy.”
- “Glitches everywhere.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is minimal, with a completion time of around 25 minutes, making it suitable for quick farming sessions. However, players express frustration with the game's jarring audio and overall experience, leading some to uninstall after brief play.
- “The game is incredibly short, taking approximately 25 minutes to complete, which makes the grinding feel pointless.”
- “The grinding aspect is more suited for farming than actual gameplay enjoyment.”
- “The high-pitched jarring noises and screeching create a grinding pain that detracts from the overall experience.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its beauty and serenity, with each new environment enhancing the experience. However, some players feel that the background music could be more prominent, and the overall simplicity and brevity of the game detract from its immersive qualities. Comparisons to titles like "The Beginner's Guide" and "The Stanley Parable" highlight its trippy aesthetic, though some find it lacks a more engaging gameplay experience.
- “It does change with each new environment that you approach, creating a serene atmosphere for the player.”
- “The game is clearly modeled after 'The Beginner's Guide'; it has the trippy elements and Stanley Parable-looking atmosphere without that playable feel.”
- “Atmosphere was beautiful, but the game was simple and very quick.”
- “The game is clearly modeled after 'The Beginner's Guide'; it has the trippy elements and a Stanley Parable-like atmosphere without that playable feel.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The humor in the game is described as inconsistent, with some players finding the game-breaking bugs unintentionally amusing, while others criticize the misleading language information as a poor joke. Overall, the humor seems to stem more from the game's flaws than intentional comedic elements.
- “However, all the game-breaking bugs were pretty funny, and just about the only enjoyable part of the game, so please don't fix them :D”
- “Funny, the store page says the only language is English, but the developer's description is in Portuguese...”
- “The price feels like some kind of unfunny joke.”
- “The humor in this game falls flat and feels forced.”
- “I expected a lot more laughs, but the jokes just didn't land.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional connection to the game's narrative, with moments that evoke tears and deep reflection on stakes involved. Despite performance issues and visual discomfort, the game's intriguing mystery element helps maintain engagement and emotional investment throughout the experience.
- “Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
- “The game had a mystery factor that kept me intrigued even throughout the entire playtime.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization practices of Labory/sa industry have been criticized for exploiting others' work and releasing it on Steam as low-quality cash grabs, raising ethical concerns among users.
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it prioritizes profit over player experience.”
- “It seems like every feature is locked behind a paywall, making it frustrating for those who don't want to spend extra money.”
- “The game is riddled with microtransactions that detract from the overall enjoyment and immersion.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is considered fairly short and lacks significant replayability, limiting players' motivation to revisit it after completion.
- “The game is fairly short and does not offer much replayability.”
- “Once you complete the game, there isn't much incentive to play through it again.”
- “The lack of varied endings or choices makes replaying the game feel unnecessary.”