The Rewinder

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The Rewinder is an adventure puzzle game based on Chinese mythology. You play as Yun, the last known Rewinder, who can communicate with spirits and explore other people's memories to alter the past.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 311 reviews

story97 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

The game features a captivating story steeped in Chinese mythology, with emotional depth that resonates with players.
The puzzles are well-designed, offering a good balance of challenge without being overly frustrating, and the unique rewind mechanic adds an interesting twist to gameplay.
The art style and music are beautifully crafted, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.

The game is relatively short, leaving players wanting more content and a more developed narrative.
Some puzzles can be poorly explained, leading to confusion and frustration, particularly for players unfamiliar with the mechanics.
The English localization has some issues, including minor spelling errors and awkward phrasing that can detract from the overall experience.

story
186 mentions
52 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its engaging narrative, rich cultural references, and emotional depth, particularly in its exploration of Chinese mythology and folklore. While many players appreciate the well-developed characters and the intertwining plotlines, some note that the pacing can be slow and certain elements feel underdeveloped or rushed. Overall, the story is seen as a compelling and integral part of the gameplay experience, enhanced by beautiful visuals and music.
- “I highly recommend this game not only for the beautiful graphics, but for its exposition of folklore and for its compelling story.”
- “The story is so cool that all the characters are interrelated and the DLC is also so worthy.”
- “The story, the art style, the puzzle mechanics - all of it is sublime.”
- “The storytelling is too slow and doesn't grip you; your character moves slowly, you need to try clicking on everything to see if you can interact with it, the puzzles are basic, and the memories mechanic is poorly done.”
- “The overall experience can be completed in 3-4 hours, and I think some parts of the story fall a bit short.”
- “However, the story is a bit short and a bit weak, but it sure has its moments.”
music
60 mentions
62 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it repetitive and annoying, while others praise it as beautiful and immersive, enhancing the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack's cultural elements, particularly its connection to Chinese music and poetry, which adds depth to the narrative and atmosphere. Overall, the music is often described as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and emotional impact.
- “Gorgeous art style and beautiful music.”
- “The music is wonderful and adds to the immersion.”
- “Beautiful graphics, lovely music, unique gameplay, and a nice variety of puzzles that are just the right level of difficulty.”
- “Music is very repetitive and annoying as it plays on the shortest loop one can think of and the scenes drag on.”
- “Music and the slow replay of each scene is what made me lose my interest and patience.”
- “The soundtrack reminds me of ancient Chinese melody.”
gameplay
56 mentions
50 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a unique time-rewind mechanic that adds depth to the puzzle-solving experience, though opinions on its execution vary. While many players appreciate the straightforward point-and-click style and the balance of puzzle difficulty, some find the gameplay too linear or simplistic. Overall, the combination of engaging story, beautiful art, and innovative mechanics creates a compelling experience, despite some critiques regarding the complexity and pacing of certain elements.
- “Relatively simple gameplay, but the puzzles are challenging and there's a completionist aspect to the game.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are great too—the rewinding mechanism really brings the story to life—and the puzzles are just hard enough that you have to pause and think instead of floundering about, completely lost.”
- “Beautiful graphics, lovely music, unique gameplay, and a nice variety of puzzles that are just the right level of difficulty.”
- “Yet, gameplay is not at all what I would expect in such a game.”
- “The storytelling is too slow and doesn't grip you, your character moves slowly, you need to try clicking on everything to see if you can interact with it, the puzzles are basic, and the memories mechanic is so poorly done.”
- “I guess the art is pretty and the mechanics are innovative, but the game is way too linear and easy to be fun.”
graphics
45 mentions
67 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning art style, beautiful pixel graphics, and atmospheric visuals that enhance the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the harmonious blend of graphics, music, and storytelling, particularly appreciating the incorporation of Chinese mythology. While some critiques mention minor flaws, the overall consensus is that the game's visuals are captivating and contribute significantly to its charm and engagement.
- “I highly recommend this game not only for the beautiful graphics, but for its exposition of folklore and for its compelling story.”
- “Beautiful graphics, music, and a very interesting story.”
- “What really makes it stand out though, is the excellent art style and artistic direction.”
- “I was hesitant at first because (1) I find some pixel graphic games to be an excuse to be lazy with the art (even as someone who played original pixel graphic games from way back when).”
- “I originally played the demo and thought it was alright although aesthetically pleasing, but after playing the entire game I really had fun figuring out the puzzles and seeing the character development!”
- “Visuals were engrossing.”
emotional
24 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting its deep, captivating atmosphere and the ability to evoke strong feelings, including tears. The storyline, enriched with traditional Chinese culture and mythology, features multiple plot twists and character arcs that resonate deeply, making players feel invested in the characters' journeys. While some suggest improvements to the storyline, the overall consensus is that the game successfully delivers a touching and heartfelt experience.
- “This is the only game I've ever played that made me cry.”
- “The concise yet touching story unfolds with multiple plot twists and highlights, drawing players deeper into its fantasy world.”
- “A well written, deep, and emotional story that had me totally invested in completing the story and saving as many people as I could.”
atmosphere
21 mentions
86 % positive mentions
10 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its deep emotional resonance, captivating charm, and unique artistic style, creating a memorable experience that blends beauty with mystery. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a range of feelings, from bucolic dreams to eerie undertones, enhanced by a well-crafted soundtrack and engaging storytelling. Overall, the atmosphere is considered the game's strongest aspect, making it a delightful choice for players seeking a relaxing yet immersive puzzle experience.
- “Charming puzzle game with a super unique atmosphere I haven't found anywhere else, truly a gem of a find!”
- “Imbued with various traditional Chinese elements, The Rewinder successfully constructed an atmosphere lingering between a bucolic dream and a diabolic nightmare, in which several underlying romantic stories gradually take their shapes in a simple nonetheless heart-wrenching manner.”
- “Everything together sets a beautiful scenery and atmosphere which is definitely this game's strong suit.”
- “Imbued with various traditional Chinese elements, the rewinder successfully constructed an atmosphere lingering between a bucolic dream and a diabolic nightmare, in which several underlying romantic stories gradually take their shapes in a simple, nonetheless heart-wrenching manner.”
grinding
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game largely tedious, with many puzzles feeling repetitive and disconnected from the story. While some puzzles are cleverly designed and appropriately challenging, the overall experience is marred by slow dialogue and the need to replay scenes, leading to frustration rather than enjoyment.
- “Outside the rewinding, I just got tedious puzzles that were embedded into normal working objects that made no sense.”
- “The rest are mostly tedious classic puzzles like magic squares, counting on an abacus, etc. There are one or two fetch quests that are amusing, but they don't fit into the rest of the story very well.”
- “This was a near miss of a game that could have been great but ended up mostly tedious.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as subtle and well-integrated, enhancing the story's complexity without overshadowing its serious themes. Players appreciate the unexpected comedic elements, which add charm to the narrative, reminiscent of works like "Mushi-Shi." The absence of extensive voice-over allows for a focus on clever sound effects that contribute to the overall comedic experience.
- “The story was funny, mysterious, and reminded me of Mushi-Shi in a big way.”
- “The devs also clearly have a great sense of humor that's subtle and never ruins the more serious themes.”
- “And once it does – you’ll be surprised not just with the overall quality and complexity of the story, but also with unexpected humorous bits and a sudden realization that this whole Chinese reincarnation business sounds really cool, soups of forgetfulness and gigantic spider-women and all.”
replayability
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game offers solid replayability through multiple endings and a collectible flower system, enhancing the experience despite its shorter length. While some players may find the price a bit high for the content, the quality and replayable elements make it worthwhile.
- “A little short but with nice replayability using the multiple endings for the memories, and a cool collectible system in the form of flowers you get through chapters.”
- “The time length feels right and offers great replayability for collectibles.”
- “I can see the price being off-putting for the length and lack of replayability, but when the quality itself is there, I don't really care.”
- “After finishing the game, I felt no urge to play it again. The story was good, but once you know the outcome, there's little incentive to replay.”
- “The game offers a single experience with no real variations in gameplay, making it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
character development
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a standout feature, with players appreciating the impressive character design and the engaging narrative that drives the experience. While the puzzles are considered relatively easy, they complement the story, allowing for enjoyable character growth throughout the gameplay. Overall, the game successfully combines aesthetic appeal with meaningful character progression.
- “The character design is impressive.”
- “The puzzles are relatively trivial, so don't come in expecting to be challenged, as it is a story and character development-driven game.”
- “I originally played the demo and thought it was alright, although aesthetically pleasing, but after playing the entire game, I really had fun figuring out the puzzles and seeing the character development!”
optimization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
100 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is praised for its detailed environmental elements, such as dynamic weather effects and lively NPC interactions, which enhance the immersive experience. However, the performance may vary depending on hardware capabilities, suggesting a need for further optimization for smoother gameplay across different systems.