The Red Stare

About

The Red Stare is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Play:D and was released on July 31, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

Spy on your neighbours from your apartment window in an attempt to uncover a crime plot.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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89%

Audience ScoreBased on 402 reviews

story20 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The Red Stare offers a unique and immersive experience, effectively utilizing VR technology to create a captivating spy narrative set in the 1950s.
The game is free, providing excellent value with engaging gameplay mechanics that encourage deduction and observation.
Players appreciate the attention to detail, such as the ability to interact with the environment, take notes on a chalkboard, and the overall atmosphere that enhances the spy experience.

Many players report technical issues, including crashes, lag, and problems with the game freezing or not functioning properly on certain hardware setups.
The game lacks a save feature, leading to frustration when progress is lost due to unexpected exits or crashes.
Some players find the gameplay repetitive and the missions too short, expressing a desire for more content and clearer instructions on objectives.

story
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
65%
9%
The game's story is generally well-received, with players appreciating its engaging spy narrative and immersive atmosphere, though many express disappointment over the limited content, featuring only two missions. While the first mission is praised for its length and suspense, the second is considered weaker, leading to a desire for more missions and updates. Technical issues, such as crashes and unclear mission instructions, detract from the overall experience, but the potential for a compelling story keeps players hopeful for future expansions.
- “With its compelling story, immersive atmosphere, and innovative gameplay, The Red Stare is a standout title that deserves a place in any detective game enthusiast's library.”
- “This game pulls you into a really well-crafted spy story, with a lot for you to do, interact with, and remember.”
- “Story: feels like being in a who-done-it mystery novel.”
- “Just wish it had more content, as there's only 2 missions.”
- “Sadly, I felt that the second mission fell short.”
- “The story is alright but the gameplay is boring.”
gameplay
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
54%
7%
The gameplay of "The Red Stare" is characterized by its innovative blend of deduction, espionage, and resource management, creating an engaging experience that stands out in the detective genre. While many players appreciate the immersive atmosphere and unique mechanics, some criticize the clunky controls and lack of depth in missions, leading to mixed feelings about replayability. Overall, the game offers a compelling concept with solid graphics and interactive elements, though it may not fully meet the expectations for top-tier gameplay.
- “But what truly sets The Red Stare apart is its innovative gameplay mechanics, which blend elements of deduction, espionage, and resource management into a seamless and engaging experience.”
- “The gameplay involves being on a stakeout in an apartment, receiving information from a handler via telephone and fax, with instructions concerning observing your neighbors, in order to ultimately figure out which of them is the communist spy.”
- “The design is visually pleasing, well considered, and fully interactive, which makes the gameplay more immersive, allowing you to get into character if you wish to, with the ability to play the radio or light a cigarette with the lighter whilst you are on your stakeout.”
- “Played through once and don't have interest in coming back mainly because of the clunky mechanics.”
- “Gameplay itself is not very exciting, but atmosphere and immersion make up for it.”
- “Gameplay a little slow.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
28%
11%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising their quality and detail, especially for a free VR title, while others note that they show signs of age and lack polish compared to modern standards. Many players appreciate the immersive atmosphere created by the visuals, particularly in relation to the game's 1950s aesthetic and noir themes. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered decent to good, they are not the standout feature of the game, which relies more on its engaging gameplay and narrative.
- “The game's meticulously crafted narrative, coupled with its noir-inspired visuals and atmospheric soundtrack, creates a sense of immersion that is second to none.”
- “The graphics are really good and there are a surprising number of hours of gameplay and detail for a free game.”
- “Fun, solid graphics, immersive, everything I want from a VR title.”
- “Though the graphics aren't the greatest, the gameplay and story were really fun and actually had me pacing around my room trying to figure it out.”
- “Visuals and animations are very basic; the game looks a lot like a slightly worse version of Fallout 3.”
- “The graphics are rather simple but effective, and the environment is well crafted, but it's not that immersive.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive narrative, noir-inspired visuals, and atmospheric soundtrack, which collectively create a captivating experience. Players appreciate the strong sense of immersion and character, often highlighting the atmosphere as the standout feature, even when gameplay may not be as exciting. Overall, it is regarded as a fantastic atmospheric detective adventure that resonates well with fans of the genre.
- “The game's meticulously crafted narrative, coupled with its noir-inspired visuals and atmospheric soundtrack, creates a sense of immersion that is second to none.”
- “With its compelling story, immersive atmosphere, and innovative gameplay, The Red Stare is a standout title that deserves a place in any detective game enthusiast's library.”
- “The graphics and mechanics are polished, the music and atmosphere are inspiring!”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited, with some players noting that it can be enjoyable to pursue achievements or explore multiple endings. While it offers a solid experience, many feel it lacks significant replay value beyond these elements, making it more of a one-time play for some.
- “Short and sweet but has good replay value.”
- “There's some replay value if you want to go for all the achievements or if you get the bad ending first and want to go for the good ending.”
- “The game itself is fun and replayable if you want to get the achievements... and it's free.”
- “There's some replay value if you want to go for all the achievements or if you get the bad ending first and want to go for the good ending, but other than that, it's a pretty solid experience you'll get for an hour and put down.”
- “No replayability, not too much fun with friends, but still a good game.”
- “The only thing that could really make it replayable is the achievements, but I'm not one for getting all the achievements I can, so I haven't played since I finished both missions.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is well-received, featuring clever easter eggs and amusing moments that enhance the experience. Players appreciate the thoughtful design and funny finishing touches, making it an enjoyable and entertaining free game. Overall, while it may not be perfect, its humor adds a delightful charm.
- “It may be short, but it's an actual game, with some pretty funny easter eggs hidden inside.”
- “It's funny, well made, and it's free!”
- “The developers obviously put a lot of thought into the game - there are some hilarious finishing touches and some great achievements to strive for.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
40%
20%
The game's music and atmospheric soundtrack are highly praised for enhancing immersion, with a noir-inspired aesthetic and authentic 50s cold war elements, including radio ads and old music. Reviewers highlight the inspiring ambiance created by the meticulously crafted audio, which complements the polished graphics and engaging gameplay.
- “The game's meticulously crafted narrative, coupled with its noir-inspired visuals and atmospheric soundtrack, creates a sense of immersion that is second to none.”
- “The graphics and mechanics are polished, the music and atmosphere are inspiring!”
- “The ambiance is good, even down to the radio that plays old music and commercials (once you turn it on).”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The optimization of the game appears to be inconsistent, with some players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering, while others report smooth gameplay without any glitches or bugs. This suggests that performance may vary based on individual system configurations.
- “I found no glitches, bugs, or performance loss on my build.”
- “An insane amount of stuttering for no apparent reason.”
- “The game ran horribly performance-wise for me, but that is probably an issue on my end.”
- “I don't have any issues with the performance of the game, but I know many other people do.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
User experiences with stability vary significantly; some report frequent crashes and freezing issues shortly after starting the game, while others have encountered no glitches or performance problems at all. This inconsistency suggests that stability may depend on individual system configurations.
- “I found no glitches, bugs, or performance loss on my build.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or interruptions.”
- “I've experienced consistent performance throughout my playtime, which is impressive.”
- “The game freezes after I play it for 1 or 2 minutes and then shuts down.”
- “Game crashes after 30 seconds and freezes your view when returning to SteamVR home, also spawns me inside a table so I have to move every time.”
- “I found no glitches, bugs, or performance loss on my build (at the bottom of the review)”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be slow-paced and occasionally tedious, with some noting that it can feel repetitive and drag on at times. While it may not appeal to everyone, it is seen as a necessary part of the gameplay experience.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “This may not be everyone's cup of tea, as it can be slow-paced and tedious at times.”
- “My only criticisms are that at some points time passes a little too slowly, which, although realistic, can be a little tedious, as can the handler, as he is a tad repetitive.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is free to play and stands out among early access VR titles, avoiding the typical cash grab pitfalls. It features an engaging 50s Cold War theme, complete with authentic radio ads and music, alongside enjoyable puzzles and immersive graphics.
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the game evokes strong emotions, even if it sometimes makes them feel inadequate; they appreciate the story's depth and value despite the feeling of missed potential in the missions.
- “Made me feel stupid, but the story is still worth every second of this feeling.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development has been criticized for featuring uninteresting character design, which detracts from the overall engagement and depth of the characters within the game.