The River

About

The River is a single player action game. It was developed by bokchoi and was released on June 9, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

The River is a monochrome visual novel where you awaken in a void with no memory except a haunting feeling of past trauma. Navigate a limbo filled with mature themes as you attempt to find your way back to the living and confront what happened. The game features hand-drawn backgrounds and a dynamic soundtrack across twelve immersive scenes.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 37 reviews

story14 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features stunning graphics and a beautiful black and white art style that enhances the emotional storytelling.
The narrative explores deep themes of life, death, and self-discovery, providing a touching and contemplative experience.
Despite its short length, the game effectively engages players with its intriguing story and atmospheric music.

The story is somewhat predictable and lacks complexity, with many players anticipating the ending early on.
Gameplay is limited, resembling more of a visual novel with no real choices or puzzles, which may disappoint those seeking interactive elements.
The sound design has issues, particularly with the music volume resetting and being too loud compared to the dialogue.

story
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
39%
11%
The game's story is a poignant exploration of life, death, and human nature, presented in a visually striking black-and-white style. While many players found the narrative engaging and emotionally resonant, some criticized its predictability and lack of depth in character backstories. Overall, it is a short but impactful experience that leaves a lasting impression, despite some narrative shortcomings.
- “A wonderful short story about life, death, and the cycle of harm.”
- “A somber story that maybe doesn't end in forgiveness, but helps us understand the kind of people we are.”
- “I truly feel that this game is the epitome of art and while it is linear, I never wanted to wander away from the next beat of the story.”
- “The story beats are obvious and not really interesting, the bulk of the plot having occurred off-screen and told to you second hand.”
- “I think the characters had more potential, but I do feel the story came across a little rigid and telegraphed because you largely focused on the details of the plot and not the nuances of the characters.”
- “The river is really a narrative dark story rather than an actual game, with excellent and very atmospheric monochrome pixel graphics and sound.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a striking monochromatic art style that effectively complements its narrative depth, creating a somber and atmospheric experience. While some users note the simplicity of the visuals, they appreciate how this choice enhances the storytelling without overstaying its welcome. Overall, the animations and scene composition are praised for their creativity, contributing to a unique aesthetic in the adventure game genre.
- “Wow, the graphics, the animation, the music - the whole work is very touching and effective for such a short title.”
- “Graphics are really simple, but for this format it works very well.”
- “The river is really a narrative dark story rather than an actual game, with excellent and very atmospheric monochrome pixel graphics and sound.”
- “The art style stands out with its monochromatic simplicity, the soundtrack is quietly somber, and the game ends before wearing out its welcome.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
The music in the game is generally praised for its emotional impact and fitting atmosphere, with variations that enhance encounters. However, some users noted issues with volume control, as the music resets to maximum volume during scene transitions. Overall, the soundtrack complements the game's art style, contributing to a somber yet engaging experience.
- “Wow, the graphics, the animation, the music - the whole work is very touching and effective for such a short title.”
- “The music and art are a big plus for the game; I especially appreciate every encounter including a variation of the game's main theme depending on who you met and when you met them.”
- “The art style stands out with its monochromatic simplicity, the soundtrack is quietly somber, and the game ends before wearing out its welcome.”
- “Get used to it... no matter what you set your music slider to, it simply reverts to maximum volume once the next scene loads (including if you mute it).”
- “It's too loud in relation to the music.”
- “The soundtrack is quietly somber, and the game ends before wearing out its welcome.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its touching graphics, animation, and music, which effectively enhance the emotional impact of its short narrative. Despite some predictability, players find the story about memories and death to be deeply resonant and moving. Overall, it delivers a powerful emotional experience within its brief runtime.
- “Wow, the graphics, the animation, the music - the whole work is very touching and effective for such a short title.”
- “Felt emotional while reading through the story.”
- “Short, but really emotional visual novel game about memories and death.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The gameplay is criticized for its complete absence, leaving players feeling that there is no interactive experience to engage with.
- “There's no gameplay.”
- “The mechanics feel clunky and unresponsive.”
- “The game lacks depth and variety in its gameplay.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of "The River" is characterized by its dark narrative, enhanced by excellent monochrome pixel graphics and immersive sound design, creating a compelling and haunting experience rather than a traditional gameplay focus.
- “The river is really a narrative dark story rather than an actual game, with excellent and very atmospheric monochrome pixel graphics and sound.”