The Painting

About

The Painting is a single player simulation game. It was developed by Tymedust Games and was released on September 27, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

A short, emotional visual novel following a grieving man who relives memories of days long gone. An exploration of loss presented honestly and kinetically.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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98%

Audience ScoreBased on 47 reviews

story8 positive mentions

gameplay2 negative mentions

The Painting offers a deeply emotional narrative about grief and loss, resonating with players and often evoking tears.
The art style is beautiful and enhances the storytelling, creating a poignant atmosphere that complements the themes of the game.
Despite its short length, the game effectively conveys a powerful message about valuing time and memories, making it a worthwhile experience.

The game is criticized for being too short, with some players feeling it doesn't qualify as a complete game due to its minimal gameplay and brief duration.
Many reviews highlight the lack of substantial character development and depth in the narrative, given the constraints of its word limit.
Some players feel that the game is miscategorized as a game rather than an e-book, leading to disappointment for those expecting traditional gameplay.

story
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
52%
13%
The story is a poignant exploration of grief and loss, presented through a short yet impactful narrative that resonates emotionally with players. It effectively combines art and storytelling, creating a rich atmosphere that evokes deep feelings of longing and nostalgia. Many reviewers express a desire for a longer version, highlighting the potential for further development of its compelling characters and themes.
- “This is a short and simple story of grief and loss.”
- “A gentle, yet sad, short story about loss is always a breath of fresh air wrapped in barbed wire.”
- “The story is definitely a stab in the heart, but leaves a cathartic end.”
emotional
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is profoundly impactful, with many players reporting tears and deep feelings of grief as they engage with the story of a father mourning his daughter. The combination of a heartfelt narrative and beautiful artwork creates a short yet powerful experience that resonates strongly, prompting repeated emotional responses from players. Overall, it is praised for its ability to evoke strong feelings in a brief playtime.
- “The painting is a short, emotional visual novel game about the grief of a father who lost his daughter.”
- “The story is good and heartbreaking, and the paintings are lovely.”
- “It packs an incredible emotional load in a very short runtime.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The gameplay of this visual/interactive novel is minimal, primarily consisting of clicking through poorly written dialogue, with users questioning its quality and suitability for publication. Overall, it offers only about five minutes of interactive experience.
- “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
- “Only around 5+ minutes of gameplay.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game can feel tedious, particularly in visual novel formats where players must click through text at a slow pace, detracting from the overall experience. This slow progression can lead to frustration, especially when the narrative lacks depth or expertise in its themes.
- “The game can feel a bit grindy at times, but the rewards make it worth it.”
- “Grinding is a necessary part of the experience, and it adds depth to character progression.”
- “While there are moments of grinding, the sense of achievement when leveling up is incredibly satisfying.”
- “Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best... imagine the best novel you ever read, be that Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or 2001: A Space Odyssey or Twilight (if you have terrible taste in literature), but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
- “It's a bit grindy sometimes.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is perceived as somewhat shallow, likely due to constraints in narrative depth, which some users find understandable given the limitations.
- “The character development and narrative feel a bit shallow overall, but it's understandable considering the word limit.”
- “I found the character arcs to be predictable and lacking depth, which made it hard to connect with them.”
- “The characters seem one-dimensional, and their growth throughout the game is minimal at best.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is praised for its quality and affordability, with piano compositions enhancing the atmosphere. Additionally, the hand-drawn art style complements the overall experience, contributing to the game's immersive storytelling.
- “The piano music and hand-drawn painting style helps further the overall atmosphere.”
- “These are affordable with good quality music, art, story, and writing.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its mysterious and immersive atmosphere, enhanced by a haunting piano soundtrack and a unique hand-drawn art style. It effectively explores themes of art, memory, and hidden secrets, contributing to a captivating experience.
- “A mysterious and atmospheric indie game that dives into themes of art, memory, and hidden secrets.”
- “The piano music and hand-drawn painting style help enhance the overall atmosphere.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics received high praise for their quality, enhancing the emotional impact of the story. Users noted that the visuals were a standout feature, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
- “This was a really sad story and the visuals were great.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its sharp wit and clever observations, often highlighting absurdities in a way that resonates with players. One notable example is a tongue-in-cheek comment about the minimal demand for a fictional book, showcasing the game's ability to blend humor with social commentary. Overall, the humor is both clever and engaging, adding a unique charm to the experience.
- “The funny thing is, if you wanted to print this book, you'd only need to print 3 copies to satisfy the entire world's demand for it.”