The Painting

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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 23 reviews

story6 positive mentions

gameplay1 negative mentions

The game delivers a powerful and emotional narrative within a very short playtime, making it impactful despite its brevity.
The hand-drawn art style and piano music create a beautiful atmosphere that enhances the storytelling experience.
The writing effectively conveys deep emotions, leaving a lasting impression on players.

Character development and narrative depth feel somewhat shallow due to the game's word limit.
The short duration of the game may leave some players feeling it lacks the substance of a fully fleshed-out experience.
A lack of voice acting could have further enriched the emotional impact of the story.

story
12 mentions
50 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The story is a self-contained, beautifully crafted narrative that explores themes of longing and grief, leaving a profound emotional impact on players. Enhanced by lovely visuals, it is described as both heartbreaking and cathartic, resonating deeply with those who experience it. Overall, the cohesive storytelling and artistic design contribute to a memorable and poignant experience.
- “The story is quite self-contained and it weaves a cohesive narrative.”
- “A beautifully sad story enhanced by lovely art.”
- “A short visual novel type story about longing and grief.”
- “The story is definitely a stab in the heart, but leaves a cathartic end.”
- “☐ no story”
emotional
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The Painting is a poignant visual novel that explores a father's grief over his daughter's loss, delivering a heartbreaking narrative complemented by beautiful artwork. Players have noted its profound emotional impact, often leading to tears, and praise its ability to convey deep feelings within 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
0 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is notably brief, lasting only around 5 minutes, which may leave players wanting more content and depth.
- “Only around 5 minutes of gameplay.”
graphics
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The graphics received positive feedback, with users highlighting their quality and visual appeal, which complemented the emotional depth of the story.
- “This was a really sad story and the visuals were great.”
grinding
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat excessive, with some describing it as "a bit grindy" and suggesting that it may require a significant time investment, likening it to needing a "second life" to fully engage with it.
- “It can be a bit grindy sometimes, but the rewards make it worth it.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding, but the sense of achievement is incredible.”
- “It can be a bit grindy at times.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its evocative piano music and charming hand-drawn art style, creating an immersive and engaging experience for players.
- “The piano music and hand-drawn painting style enhances the overall atmosphere.”
- “The immersive sound design and stunning visuals create a captivating atmosphere.”
- “The haunting ambiance and intricate details in the environment draw you into the game's world.”
music
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The piano music, combined with the hand-drawn painting style, significantly enhances the game's overall atmosphere, creating an immersive experience for players.
- “The piano music and hand-drawn painting style enhances the overall atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, creating an immersive experience.”
- “The diverse range of musical styles keeps each level feeling fresh and engaging.”
character development
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
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.”