The Night is Grey
- January 5, 2024
- Whalestork Interactive
- 11h median play time
Get on Steam"The Night is Grey" is a point-and-click adventure game set in a forest filled with strange wolves. As Graham, you must help a lost girl find safety while solving puzzles and uncovering a mysterious storyline. The game boasts traditional frame-by-frame character animations, digitally painted animated backgrounds, and a studio recorded music score. But remember, not everything is as it seems.
Reviews
- The game features stunning hand-drawn art and a beautiful soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere.
- The story is engaging and filled with unexpected twists, keeping players invested throughout the experience.
- Puzzles are well-designed, providing a good level of challenge without being overly frustrating.
- The pacing can be slow, with long loading times and tedious dialogue that disrupts the flow of gameplay.
- Some puzzles are poorly designed or overly cryptic, leading to frustration and confusion for players.
- The protagonist is often unlikable, which can detract from the emotional connection to the story and characters.
- story161 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "The Night is Grey" is a complex and often polarizing narrative that blends psychological horror with themes of trauma and redemption. While many players found the plot engaging and filled with unexpected twists, others criticized its pacing and coherence, feeling that it sometimes meandered without clear direction. Overall, the storytelling is noted for its depth and emotional impact, though opinions vary on its execution and the effectiveness of the ending.
“The night is grey offers a captivating blend of psychological horror and mystery, perfect for those who love dialogue or story-driven games.”
“The story is compelling and worth a run through.”
“The plot was amazing, and the storytelling kept me hooked and wondering, what is Graham doing there; where is and what happened to Hannah's mother; what will happen to that amusing kid; and most of all, what the hell are those wolves all about?!”
“The trajectory of the thought-provoking story itself and the final reveal left a very bad taste in my mouth.”
“I expected to feel a sense of accomplishment near the end of the story but instead I was left hating the entire experience.”
“Unfortunately frustrations along the way with the current mechanics of the game that seem to have not learned from the evolution of adventure games over the last twenty years, and a plot that feels like a reductive version of The Last of Us coupled with a slapped-on pointless 'shocker plot twist' have left me with a sour feeling upon completing it, and thereby make it hard to recommend in its current state.”
- music47 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its haunting and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to complement the game's visuals and narrative, with many describing it as mesmerizing and beautifully composed. While some players noted that the music loops during gameplay, it remains a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's mood and setting.
“A chilling horror tale with beautiful art and a haunting soundtrack.”
“From the hauntingly beautiful melodies that set the atmospheric tone to the subtle tunes that accompany each puzzle, the music enhances the overall experience.”
“The soundtrack, composed of dark and haunting melodies, enhances the oppressive and mysterious atmosphere.”
“The music is moody, ominous without being overly imposing, and manages to stay fresh despite looping during your laborious slogs through the world.”
“It's a shame, because I do really love the art style, music, and general aesthetic of the game, but it's bogged down by mediocrity and terrible mechanics.”
- graphics40 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the stunning art style, crisp line work, and immersive visuals that enhance the overall atmosphere. While some players noted that the gameplay could be slow and tedious, the beautiful artwork and aesthetic elements were often highlighted as the game's strongest features, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of visually appealing indie titles. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout aspect, contributing significantly to the game's charm and storytelling.
“Thoroughly enjoyed the story & the puzzles & my word the visuals & art style are some of the best I've seen in a 2D point & click for a very long time!”
“Amazing graphics and a riveting storyline that kept me transfixed the entire time.”
“The hand-drawn aesthetics and animations are not only visually appealing but also contribute to the game's unique charm.”
“The art style is about the only saving grace for this game, being that the puzzles and the dialogue can drag on and get tedious or downright slow down the experience.”
“It's a shame, because I do really love the art style, music, and general aesthetic of the game, but it's bogged down by mediocrity and terrible mechanics.”
“Decent puzzles, and okay graphics but wished there was a voice over.”
- gameplay29 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it slow and tedious, particularly due to frustrating mechanics and excessive backtracking. While the puzzles are noted as a highlight, elevating the experience, the overall execution suffers from outdated design choices and a lack of engaging interactions. Despite its beautiful art and music, the gameplay mechanics detract from the enjoyment, leading to a recommendation for potential players to consider other options.
“The gameplay is classic, in the line of traditional point-and-click, but it is modernized by intuitive interactions and stimulating puzzles.”
“It is an excellent game with a very engaging story, a cool art style, and fun gameplay.”
“Expect semi-challenging puzzles, and remember to utilize all game mechanics, including character interactions and mouse clicks, to progress.”
“I paid full price, 16 bucks, for 11 hours of gameplay that was slow and uninviting.”
“This game is visually and musically gorgeous, but the gameplay gets very tedious very quickly.”
“The night is grey is a serviceable point-and-click adventure with a very dark core; the mechanics and puzzles are bare bones and can be very frustrating at times, constantly making you retrace steps and retalk to NPCs.”
- atmosphere20 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive qualities, combining stunning visuals, haunting music, and a rich narrative to create an engaging experience. Reviewers highlight the eerie and oppressive ambiance, likening it to titles like "Oxenfree," while noting that the art style and sound design significantly enhance the overall mood. Despite some critiques regarding pacing and game mechanics, the atmospheric elements remain a standout feature that captivates players throughout their journey.
“Lovely atmosphere, music, graphics, dialogue, story-line.”
“Personally thought it did a good job of immersing me in the setting every chapter between the visuals and the atmospheric music.”
“The soundtrack, composed of dark and haunting melodies, enhances the oppressive and mysterious atmosphere.”
“I'm only a few hours into the game (Act 4), but I'm already charmed by the eerie atmosphere.”
“This game also gets relatively dark and has a very eerie and creepy atmosphere, which I didn't mind!”
- grinding11 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and drawn-out, with many puzzles and dialogues feeling unnecessarily slow and repetitive. While the art and music are praised, the gameplay suffers from excessive backtracking and loading times, leading to a frustrating experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the story. Despite some engaging moments, the grinding nature of the gameplay often overshadows the narrative's potential.
“Grinding, derivative, thankless trudging through mud toward an overdone tropey conclusion.”
“The game is very tedious to read through and way slower than it needs to be.”
“Either make load times between screens immediate or go back to the drawing board as a developer, because between the tedious puzzle solving and the shuffling about between loading screens, I had my fill of it before the story even became somewhat interesting.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its self-awareness and clever nods to the point-and-click genre, featuring genuinely funny moments and witty dialogues that enhance the experience. It skillfully blends dark humor with emotional depth, creating a unique atmosphere that keeps players engaged and curious about the unfolding narrative. Overall, the humor adds a rich layer to the game's storytelling, despite some minor flaws.
“It's very self-aware that it's a point-and-click adventure with many humorous nods to the genre.”
“There were some genuinely funny laugh-out-loud moments.”
“In-text dialogues between characters were witty and funny, which makes it feel like you're a part of a play.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of dark humor and psychological depth, particularly through the character of Graham, who grapples with guilt and loneliness. While the game attempts to explore a heartwarming father-daughter relationship, players feel that the interactions lack focus and depth, leaving Graham's emotional responses feeling unearned and disconnected from his relationship with Hannah. Overall, the emotional narrative evokes a mix of discomfort and intrigue, prompting players to question the characters' motivations and connections.
“Graham, tormented by dark memories and latent guilt, carries the weight of a heartbreaking loneliness and a troubled past.”
“I like the mix of dark humor, genuine emotional depth, and psychological suspense, and I'm constantly wondering what's going to happen next.”
“I like that it took a different spin on the heartwarming father-daughter coincidental relationship.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability, typical for adventure titles, as it is designed for a single immersive experience rather than endless playthroughs.
“The game offers a variety of choices that significantly impact the story, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
“With multiple endings and different character paths, I found myself coming back to explore every possible outcome.”
“The dynamic gameplay mechanics and random events keep the experience exciting, encouraging me to replay it multiple times.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Many users express dissatisfaction with the game's monetization, citing misleading advertising that led them to feel deceived about the product they purchased. This has resulted in negative reviews and down-votes, as players feel they were not adequately informed before making their purchase.
“I'm down-voting this game because I feel lied to; the advertising is misleading, and I wouldn't have bought this if I knew what I was getting into.”
“The monetization system is incredibly aggressive, making it feel like the game is designed to squeeze money out of players rather than provide a fun experience.”
“I was excited to play, but the constant push for in-game purchases ruined the experience for me.”
