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The Plane Effect

Imagine the worst journey home from work you’ve ever had.
The Plane Effect Game Cover
45%Game Brain Score
graphics, music
gameplay, story
61% User Score Based on 23 reviews
Critic Score 47%Based on 5 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
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The Plane Effect Game Cover

About

The Plane Effect is a single player casual simulation game with horror, mystery, thriller and science fiction themes. It was developed by Innovina/StudioKiku and was released on September 23, 2021. It received neutral reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

Players take on the role of Solo, a lonely office worker who's trying to get home to his family after his last day of work. Somewhat worryingly, it seems Solo experiences some trouble remembering his family, and also has to contend with the shifting balance of space and time.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
The Plane Effect screenshot
The Plane Effect screenshot
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61%
Audience ScoreBased on 23 reviews
graphics7 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful art direction and a unique atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
  • The narrative is intriguing and unfolds in a dreamlike, surreal manner, keeping players engaged.
  • The puzzles, while challenging, can be rewarding for those who enjoy brain teasers and problem-solving.
  • Gameplay is hindered by slow movement, clunky controls, and frequent backtracking, making it feel tedious.
  • Many puzzles are obscure and counter-intuitive, often requiring trial and error, which can lead to frustration.
  • Technical issues, such as bugs and lack of clear tutorials, detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
  • graphics
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beautiful atmosphere and artistic design, with many reviewers highlighting the strong visual concept and stylized art style. However, some players feel that the graphics could be improved and that the focus on aesthetics may have come at the expense of gameplay mechanics and intuitive controls. Overall, while the visuals are striking, they may not fully compensate for the game's other shortcomings.

    • “Unlike many games, it does not feel as if an artist was just asked to throw some pretty graphics on top of a game, but rather that the art was always a core consideration when each of the levels was designed.”
    • “I must say, it has really great atmosphere and graphics.”
    • “The art style and the minimalist score are beautiful.”
    • “Only problem is the graphics; it could be a bit better.”
    • “Seems to me like they focused too much on graphics and environment instead of intuitive gameplay and controls.”
    • “[b]Visuals – lacking:[/b][i] At first, the visuals are quite nice, and I enjoyed the stylized cartoon graphics.”
  • gameplay
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it frustrating and clunky due to a focus on aesthetics over intuitive mechanics. Puzzles vary in difficulty but often feel nonsensical, and the slow pace may not appeal to younger audiences. While some appreciate the game's visual appeal, those prioritizing gameplay mechanics may be disappointed.

    • “The gameplay is puzzling and somewhat bugged, as it seems to be inspired by many old-style point-and-click adventure games.”
    • “If you prefer gameplay mechanics over aesthetics and deeper meaning, turn back now; if you love a cinematic, visually arresting journey and don’t mind clunky controls, this might be the surreal commute from another dimension for you.”
    • “It's very pretty and I really tried to like this game, but I couldn't make sense of the gameplay.”
    • “Mechanically speaking, the unveiling of this mystery is done by solving a variety of puzzles which range from downright simplistic to incredibly frustrating.”
    • “But, the clunky gameplay and proliferation of bugs early on got me a little frustrated.”
  • story
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story features a twisted and evolving narrative filled with puzzles and adult themes, evoking strong emotions as players navigate a bizarre world. While some players found the initial setup confusing, many reported becoming invested in the plot's development, particularly as it took unexpected sci-fi turns. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some appreciating the depth and intrigue, while others struggled to connect with the storyline.

    • “There are a number of puzzles to solve, and a twisted and constantly evolving storyline, as you solve constant puzzles to navigate through a bizarre world.”
    • “Tl;dr - after 3 hours, I am invested in the story and dying to find out the rest.”
    • “The story here starts with a montage of our main character, who smiles way more than any person should, to the point where I started to wonder if he is the serial killer.”
    • “The story takes some weird sci-fi turns, and after almost 3 hours, I have an idea of what’s going on, and only the faintest guess as to how it will end.”
    • “I don't know what to think about the story; I think I didn't get it, so there's nothing to say about it.”
  • music
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its quality, featuring beautiful themes and well-crafted incidental cues that enhance the overall experience. Players with backgrounds in math, science, or music particularly appreciate the thoughtful application of musical concepts. Overall, the soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's charm.

    • “Anyone with a math, science, or music background will find some of these to be fun applications of age-old concepts which they were very likely presented with in school.”
    • “Good game and good music.”
    • “Beautiful indie game, music is brilliant.”
  • atmosphere
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning graphics, beautiful artwork, and immersive audio, creating a captivating world that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the variety of environments that contribute to the game's unique ambiance, although some feel that the gameplay itself may not match the atmospheric quality.

    • “The game is superb, it takes you into a world with an exclusive atmosphere.”
    • “You’ll visit a fair number of different environments on your journey home, some of which you might anticipate but a lot you likely won’t, and each brings some nice atmosphere to your time in the game.”
    • “Fantastic atmosphere.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Many users find the grinding aspect of the game to be slow and tedious, particularly as they progress through the content.

    • “However, I'm only about 2/3 through, and it very often feels incredibly slow and tedious.”
    • “The grinding in this game is mind-numbing and feels like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
    • “I find myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which makes the game feel more like a job than a fun pastime.”
  • humor
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by a quirky, comedic character known as the "funny man with glasses," who adds a lighthearted and entertaining element to the gameplay experience.

    • “The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever writing and hilarious character interactions.”
    • “I couldn't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and absurd situations the characters found themselves in.”
    • “The game's humor is perfectly timed, making even the most mundane tasks entertaining.”
  • stability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is marred by frequent clipping errors and visual glitches, which detract from the overall experience. While not critically flawed, it could benefit from additional polish to enhance its performance.

    • “Sadly, the draw of these does wear off fairly soon, and with a good number of clipping errors and visual glitches (outside the ones you are meant to find). While it’s not awful, this one could use some more polish.”
    • “The game frequently crashes, making it frustrating to progress.”
    • “I encountered numerous bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience, which really detracted from the overall enjoyment.”
  • emotional
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players often describe "Inside" as evoking a unique and unsettling emotional response, leaving them with a sense of unease and introspection. This emotional depth is a hallmark of the game's impactful storytelling and atmospheric design.

    • “Inside was one of the first indie games I ever played, and it made me feel... weird.”
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47%Critics’ scoreBased on 5 critic reviews
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Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

The Plane Effect is a casual simulation game with horror, mystery, thriller and science fiction themes.

The Plane Effect is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

The Plane Effect was released on September 23, 2021.

The Plane Effect was developed by Innovina/StudioKiku.

The Plane Effect has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked The Plane Effect for its graphics but disliked it for its gameplay.

The Plane Effect is a single player game.

Similar games include Ether One, The Shore, Between Me and The Night, The Dream Machine, Call of the Sea and others.