The Plague Doctor of Wippra

About

In "The Plague Doctor of Wippra," players step into the role of a plague doctor in a small medieval town, solving puzzles and making choices to uncover the truth behind a mysterious illness. Interactions with townsfolk and the environment drive the narrative, with multiple endings based on the player's decisions. Atmospheric visuals and a haunting soundtrack enhance the game's immersive, historical horror experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 310 reviews

story84 positive mentions

grinding10 negative mentions

The game features beautiful pixel art and a captivating atmosphere that immerses players in the medieval setting.
The story is engaging and thought-provoking, addressing themes of morality and the struggles of a plague doctor during a dark time in history.
Puzzles are mostly logical and provide a satisfying challenge, with some requiring thought and exploration to solve.

The game is very short, typically taking only 1-2 hours to complete, which many players feel does not justify the price.
Some puzzles can be frustrating due to their specific requirements and linearity, leading to moments of confusion and reliance on walkthroughs.
The lack of character development and emotional connection can make the story feel less impactful, especially given its abrupt ending.

story
168 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
48%
2%
The story of "The Plague Doctor of Wippra" is praised for its compelling atmosphere and historical depth, immersing players in a dark narrative set during the Black Death. While many reviewers appreciate the intriguing plot and character development, they also note that the game is quite short, lasting only 1-2 hours, which leaves players wanting more and raises concerns about its value relative to its price. Overall, the game is recommended for those seeking a brief yet engaging story, though some feel it could benefit from a longer runtime and more impactful choices.
- “This game is neat and tells a compelling story.”
- “For me, the story has always been the most important aspect of the games I play, and The Plague Doctor of Wippra doesn't fail to deliver.”
- “The story is captivating and the characters have a lot of personality.”
- “But to not only make the story linear, but to also make it only last 1-2 hours is blasphemous!”
- “The game is preposterously short for the price, and the story is half modern axe-grinding.”
- “Was done in two hours and it's simply not enough time to develop a deep story or characterization.”
music
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
36%
5%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beautiful and atmospheric compositions, particularly the piano and violin pieces that enhance the overall mood and immersion. Many players recommend purchasing the soundtrack, noting that it complements the pixel art and storytelling effectively. However, some users expressed a desire for more frequent music play to avoid moments of silence, suggesting that the soundtrack could benefit from greater variety and duration in different areas of the game.
- “The music is lovely, I highly recommend getting the soundtrack along with the game!”
- “The atmosphere and soundtrack make it very immersive.”
- “The music is amazing and captures the feeling of the game really well.”
- “My only issue is I wish the music played more often as I sometimes found myself listening to silence or ambient sound when all I wanted to hear was more of the impactful soundtrack.”
- “I was surprised by the soundtrack, with dramatic and moody piano and string pieces it really made the dreary reality of living in a plagued village apparent.”
- “Though maybe in future games or patches in this one or such, that the background music can go on longer in a room and have more variety in each room?”
atmosphere
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
34%
7%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive quality, enhanced by beautiful pixel art and a compelling soundtrack that effectively captures the historical context of the plague era. Reviewers highlight the strong storytelling and emotional depth, making it a standout experience despite its short length. Overall, the combination of visual and auditory elements creates a moody and engaging environment that resonates with players.
- “Super atmospheric game and the soundtrack.”
- “The atmosphere and soundtrack make it very immersive.”
- “Great little game with beautiful pixel art, a likeable protagonist, engrossing atmosphere, which probably reflected the direness of those times pretty well.”
- “The atmosphere is still heavy.”
- “The game manages to create a tense atmosphere: illness and wounds are laughable today but at that time they could easily end in the death of people.”
- “For real though: the moody atmosphere is the main attraction in this game.”
graphics
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
63%
8%
The graphics of the game are predominantly praised for their nostalgic pixel art style, which effectively creates an atmospheric experience reminiscent of classic adventure games like King's Quest. While many players appreciate the retro aesthetic and its distinctiveness, some critique the lack of animation and depth in the visuals, suggesting that the game could benefit from a more modern graphical overhaul. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's charm, though opinions vary on their execution and the game's value relative to its length.
- “I love adventure games and this one has everything I'm looking for: good story, graphics, and music.”
- “Adored the pixel art style, gave me old King's Quest vibes.”
- “I really enjoyed the old school pixel art; everything was distinct and easy to tell what was what, so old school aesthetic without the old school pixel hunting!”
- “I’d love to see this remade with real graphics rather than pixels.”
- “I really disliked how the devs hide the lack of animation and art production by having pixelated graphics.”
- “Bugless, and while the graphics are at almost King's Quest 3-level (but 256 colors), the music is actually better than in many (e.g. Wadjet Eye) titles.”
gameplay
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
64%
14%
The gameplay is characterized as a classic point-and-click adventure that combines engaging puzzles with a nostalgic feel reminiscent of "King's Quest." While the mechanics can initially be confusing, they become enjoyable as players learn to interact with the environment, though some find the puzzles too easy and the overall experience somewhat tedious. The game's brevity and lack of character depth detract from its potential, leading to mixed feelings about its value despite an intriguing setting and narrative.
- “This is classic click-on-everything-multiple-times gameplay, but it requires some thought.”
- “On top of this, the puzzles were intriguing but not too hard, which made gameplay very engaging but not demotivating.”
- “The gameplay is very intuitive and may be defined as a pure point-and-click adventure game.”
- “Its major downfall is the brevity of the gameplay.”
- “It is a 15-minute game that is stretched to an hour because of poor mechanics.”
- “Overall the game is good, but the tediousness of some puzzles (which feel like they're trying to pad out the gameplay time), the sudden ending, and the base price make me need to downvote it.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
83%
The grinding aspect of the game is criticized for its tedious and often frustrating puzzles, which some players feel are designed to artificially extend gameplay time. While the game offers a mix of easy and complex challenges, many reviewers find the repetitive nature of certain tasks detracts from the overall enjoyment, especially given the game's short length relative to its price.
- “The grinding in this game is short enough to keep the replayability fun and not tedious.”
- “The grind feels rewarding and keeps me engaged without becoming a chore.”
- “I love how the grinding mechanics are designed to be enjoyable, making each session feel worthwhile.”
- “The puzzles and challenges are tedious and just not fun.”
- “My biggest gripe with the game is it can be a bit tedious to solve some of the puzzles. For example, you have to chase a bird from the garden to the front of the building and back to the garden again just to get a feather, which is then used to place some blood on the crack in the wall to draw out the leeches. It feels like you could just dip your finger in the blood and place it on the wall instead, which is frustrating.”
- “Overall, the game is good, but the tediousness of some of the puzzles makes it feel like they're trying to pad out the gameplay time. The sudden ending and the base price also contribute to my need to downvote it.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The humor in the game is primarily derived from its clever, medicine-based puzzles that align with its doctor theme, providing a fun and engaging experience. Players appreciate the lighthearted approach to a serious historical setting, enhancing the overall enjoyment despite the short story length. The well-crafted atmosphere of the plague era further complements the comedic elements, making for a memorable gameplay experience.
- “I really had a lot of fun playing this game! The puzzles are medicine-based, which is really funny considering it's a game about a doctor. The atmosphere of the plague era in Europe is very well built, and that's probably what I loved the most about the game!”
- “The humor in this game is fantastic! It cleverly intertwines medical themes with comedic elements, making the experience both entertaining and educational.”
- “I found myself laughing out loud at the witty dialogue and humorous situations throughout the game. It's a refreshing take on the serious subject matter!”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Many users express a lack of emotional connection to the game's faceless characters, which detracts from their overall experience. This absence of relatable or defined personalities makes it difficult for players to engage on a deeper emotional level.