The Night Cafe

About

The Night Cafe is a single player action game. It was developed by Borrowed Light Studios and was released on June 3, 2016. It received very positive reviews from players.

The Night Cafe is an environment that allows you to explore the world of Vincent van Gogh first hand. Take a moment to enjoy his iconic sunflowers in 3 dimensions or walk around the chair he painted in his bedroom to see it from another angle. Step into the vivid colors straight from his palette.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 204 reviews

graphics9 positive mentions

story2 negative mentions

The Night Cafe offers a beautiful and immersive experience that brings Van Gogh's art to life in a unique way.
It's a free experience that is visually stunning, making it a great introduction to VR for art lovers and newcomers alike.
The attention to detail and atmosphere create a calming and emotional environment, making it a memorable experience for many users.

The experience is very short, lasting only about 10 minutes, and lacks significant content or interactivity.
Navigation can be clumsy, with limited movement options and issues like wall clipping, which detracts from immersion.
Many users feel that it is misleading to categorize this as a game, as it lacks meaningful gameplay and interaction.

graphics
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
56%
11%
The graphics in this VR experience are highly praised for their impressive art style, effectively bringing Vincent van Gogh's iconic works to life in an immersive environment. Reviewers commend the colorful and stylistic representation of his paintings, creating a captivating atmosphere that appeals to art lovers. Many express a desire for more diverse artistic representations and detailed implementations, but overall, the visuals are described as beautiful and innovative.
- “Reimagining Van Gogh's art style in virtual reality can't be an easy task to pull off successfully, but the colorful approach to the night cafe with its many references to the works of the Dutch master manages it spectacularly.”
- “The art style literally comes to life once you're in it (as it intends).”
- “Absolutely amazing visuals.”
- “Not the whole picture of Van Gogh implemented (original artwork vs 3D environment).”
- “More artists, from all epochs, and a more accurate implementation of 'all' the details of the artwork.”
- “There's some animations along with the stylistic art style on a loop.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
39%
23%
The music in the game is widely praised for its relaxing and atmospheric qualities, particularly the lovely piano compositions that enhance the immersive experience of exploring a VR cafe inspired by Van Gogh's art. While the soundtrack effectively complements the visuals and evokes nostalgia, some players noted a desire for more variety and less repetitiveness in the music. Overall, the combination of music and art creates a captivating tribute to the artist, making it a worthwhile addition to any library, especially given its free-to-play status.
- “From the classical piano setting a calm musical tone to the intense attention to detail put into translating Van Gogh's 2D paintings into a navigable 3D space, this proves to be a passionate, thoughtful tribute to the artist.”
- “The music and atmosphere are nostalgic and curious - definitely a must-have in your library - and free to play at that...”
- “The colors and the music create a great atmosphere; it really brings the painting to life!”
- “Can't complain because the game is free, but I really would like to be able to go outside to see the full starry night and less repetitive music.”
- “One room over is Van Gogh (I guess?) enjoying his pipe and some very, very haunting music.”
- “Juxtaposed against the melancholic music, it had a profoundly 'Gone Home' vibe to it that hit me pretty hard.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its nostalgic and immersive qualities, enhanced by beautiful graphics and evocative music. Users appreciate how it effectively transports them into a vibrant, artistic world, making it a delightful and engaging experience despite its short playtime. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its appeal.
- “The music and atmosphere are nostalgic and curious - definitely a must-have in your library - and free to play at that...”
- “Polished artistic experience with great colors and atmosphere.”
- “The colors and the music create a great atmosphere; it really brings the painting to life!”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes strong emotional responses, with players reporting feelings of joy and sadness, often leading to tears. Its heartfelt simplicity and relaxing nature create a deeply immersive experience, making it a must-have for those seeking emotional depth in gaming. Additionally, a touching tribute within the game enhances its emotional impact.
- “It made me cry.”
- “This game emotionally got me....”
- “Heartfelt and yet so simple, I think everyone needs this in their library....”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The story aspect of the game is not explicitly discussed in the provided text, but the user expresses enthusiasm for the overall experience, describing it as an "amazing little gem" that is enjoyable and accessible. The focus seems to be more on gameplay mechanics and user experience rather than a detailed narrative.
- “---{story}---”
- “☐ story?”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The gameplay is criticized for lacking meaningful interactions and structured gameplay loops, leading to a perception of it as an unengaging experience. Overall, players feel that it fails to deliver any substantial gameplay elements.
- “There are no gameplay loops in this rejected art school dropout exhibition, no 'gameplay', no meaningful game-like interaction.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or additional lives to progress effectively.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers limited replayability, with many users noting that there isn't much incentive to play through it multiple times.
- “Not a ton of replayability.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs that render the experience nearly unusable.
- “While this short free experience seems like a great idea, it is so buggy as to be unusable.”