The Night is Grey
- January 5, 2024
- Whalestork Interactive
- 11h median play time
"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 haunting soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere.
- The story is engaging and offers surprising twists, keeping players invested in the characters and their journey.
- Puzzles are generally well-designed, providing a good level of challenge without being overly frustrating.
- The pacing is slow, with long loading screens and tedious dialogue that can detract from the overall experience.
- Some puzzles are poorly explained or overly cryptic, leading to frustration and reliance on guides.
- The protagonist is often unlikable, which can make it difficult for players to connect with the story.
- story321 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "The Night is Grey" is a complex blend of psychological horror and mystery, featuring a dark narrative centered around themes of trauma and survival as the main characters navigate a treacherous environment. While many players found the storytelling engaging and filled with unexpected twists, some criticized the pacing and coherence of the plot, feeling that it struggled to maintain clarity and direction. Overall, the game is noted for its captivating visuals and atmosphere, but opinions vary on the effectiveness of its narrative execution, particularly regarding 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 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 synergy between its captivating music, stunning design, challenging puzzles, and a compelling mystery-filled story creates an immersive experience that is hard to forget.”
“I expected to feel a sense of accomplishment near the end of the story but instead I was left hating the entire experience.”
“The trajectory of the thought-provoking story itself and the final reveal left a very bad taste in my mouth.”
“However, the story itself didn't seem to know where it was going.”
- music94 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its haunting and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the immersive experience and complementing the stunning hand-drawn visuals. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to evoke suspense and emotion, with many considering it a standout feature that elevates the overall gameplay. While some mention minor issues with gameplay mechanics, the consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's charm and appeal.
“The soundtrack of 'The Night is Grey' is nothing short of mesmerizing.”
“From the hauntingly beautiful melodies that set the atmospheric tone to the subtle tunes that accompany each puzzle, the music enhances the overall experience.”
“It's clear that the developers put thought into every note, creating a soundtrack that perfectly complements the mysterious and immersive world of the game.”
“The soundtrack, composed of dark and haunting melodies, enhances the oppressive and mysterious atmosphere.”
“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.”
“The music is moody, ominous without being overly imposing, and manages to stay fresh despite looping during your laborious slogs through the world.”
- graphics80 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 4 % 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 the puzzles less engaging, the beautiful artwork and aesthetic elements were consistently highlighted as standout features that elevate the experience. Overall, the game's visuals are considered its strongest aspect, making it a recommended choice for fans of creative indie projects.
“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.”
- gameplay58 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 5 % 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 feels outdated and lacks the polish expected from modern adventure games. Despite its beautiful art and engaging story, the gameplay mechanics detract from the overall 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.”
“Unfortunately, frustrations along the way with the current mechanics of the game 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, making it hard to recommend in its current state.”
“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.”
- atmosphere40 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 8 % 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 tone, enhanced by a muted color palette and well-crafted soundtracks, reminiscent of titles like "Oxenfree." While some note that pacing can affect immersion, the overall consensus is that the atmosphere is a standout feature that captivates players throughout the adventure.
“Lovely atmosphere, music, graphics, dialogue, story-line.”
“The pixel art is simply stunning, and the muted color palette perfectly captures the game's atmosphere.”
“The soundtrack, composed of dark and haunting melodies, enhances the oppressive and mysterious atmosphere.”
“Sure, there was some tension, but the game mechanics in this chapter kill off much of the atmosphere.”
“I understand that the pacing is used to drive in the atmosphere, but I honestly think you could speed things up.”
- grinding22 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is characterized by tedious puzzles and slow dialogue, which can detract from the overall experience despite the game's visual and musical appeal. Players noted excessive backtracking and loading times, leading to a sense of frustration, particularly in certain sections. While some puzzles are engaging, others feel like a chore, contributing to a derivative and drawn-out gameplay experience.
“Grinding, derivative, thankless trudging through mud toward an overdone tropey conclusion.”
“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.”
“This game is visually and musically gorgeous, but the gameplay gets very tedious very quickly.”
- humor14 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 witty dialogues and laugh-out-loud moments. It effectively blends dark humor with emotional depth, creating a unique experience that oscillates between sweetness, sadness, and psychological suspense. Overall, players appreciate the mix of genuine character expression and the humorous take on typical adventure game tropes.
“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.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is marked 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 complex father-daughter relationship, some players feel that the emotional connections are underdeveloped, leading to a dissonance between Graham's turmoil and his interactions with the little girl, Hannah. Overall, the game evokes a mix of empathy and discomfort, leaving players intrigued yet unsettled.
“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 at the heartwarming father-daughter coincidental relationship.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability, typical for adventure titles, as players may not find significant new experiences upon revisiting.
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % 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 a sense of betrayal among players.
“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.”