The Room
- July 28, 2014
- Fireproof Games
- 3h median play time
The Room is a unique puzzler on the Nintendo Switch
"The Room" is a 3D puzzler game that takes you through a series of intricate boxes with hidden mechanics and secrets. You will need to solve puzzles and find clues to unlock and reveal the mysteries within each box. The game features a captivating storyline, immersive atmosphere, and challenging puzzles that require logical thinking and attention to detail.
Reviews
- graphics4,038 mentions
- 74 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of "The Room" series have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and intricate detail, enhancing the overall immersive experience. Players have noted the game's ability to create a captivating atmosphere through its beautiful art style, realistic textures, and effective use of lighting, which contribute significantly to the puzzle-solving experience. Many reviews highlight the impressive graphical upgrades in the PC version compared to its mobile origins, making it a visually appealing choice for fans of the genre.
“Its beautifully crafted puzzles, immersive atmosphere, and stunning visuals kept me hooked from start to finish.”
“The graphics are stunning, the variety of puzzles is impressive, and the blasting soundtrack creates an immersive experience.”
“The graphics run well and the lighting give the feeling of being a detective.”
“My graphics were set just a little too low and the game was lit like a gas station bathroom.”
“The graphics were so dark on my laptop that anytime I played I had to open my monitor settings and crank the gamma all the way up so that everything else was washed out just so I could see enough in the game to easily discern colors and where things were.”
“The graphics are low quality as the game originally was for iPhone, then ported to Android and then a few years later ported to PC.”
- story3,999 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story in "The Room" is generally described as minimal and somewhat vague, primarily conveyed through notes and letters found throughout the game. While some players appreciate the atmospheric and mysterious elements of the narrative, many feel it lacks depth and resolution, often serving more as a backdrop to the engaging puzzles rather than a central focus. Overall, the story is intriguing enough to keep players interested, but it leaves much to be desired in terms of development and closure, especially as it sets the stage for sequels.
“The story focuses on the mystery of an element known as 'null.' The power of this element, its discovery, and the main details of the story are revealed through notes and messages locked behind the various layers of the safe.”
“The story is an engaging little cosmic horror mystery.”
“The puzzles are quality, the story is interesting, and the environments are stunning.”
“The story, although relevant to the levels, is negligible.”
“The game's story is relatively light, with further narrative developments likely to take place in later games.”
“The story is sparse and leaves room for your own imagination, which is a plus in my opinion.”
- atmosphere2,346 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and haunting qualities, often described as eerie, mysterious, and beautifully crafted. Players appreciate the combination of stunning visuals, atmospheric sound design, and a compelling, albeit subtle, narrative that enhances the overall experience. While the puzzles may vary in difficulty, the captivating ambiance keeps players engaged and intrigued throughout their journey.
“Its beautifully crafted puzzles, immersive atmosphere, and stunning visuals kept me hooked from start to finish.”
“The game's stunning visuals, coupled with its hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack, create an ambiance that keeps you engaged from start to finish.”
“The atmosphere is mysterious and immersive.”
“I didn't like the atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is not my favorite, I wish it leaned away from the spooky and more into the mysterious, so I wait to play it during the daytime, haha.”
“The game's atmosphere feels highly depressing.”
- gameplay1,714 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "The Room" series is characterized by its intuitive mechanics and intricate mechanical puzzles that blend creativity with a satisfying sense of discovery. Players engage in a point-and-click format, manipulating beautifully designed puzzle boxes that often require keen observation and logical thinking to solve. While the puzzles are generally not overly difficult, they provide a rewarding experience, though some players note the gameplay can feel short, typically lasting around 2-4 hours, with a few mechanics feeling repetitive or less engaging over time.
“The puzzles in this game aren't necessarily difficult, thanks to a non-punishing tip/hint mechanic that usually provides just enough information to help you carry on.”
“Each puzzle felt like a unique challenge, blending the mechanical with the mystical in a way that was both satisfying and thought-provoking.”
“The gameplay is unique and intriguing and completely changed the way I thought about puzzles.”
“The gameplay is easy, the puzzles are not.”
“Sometimes the game will just throw out puzzles that don't particularly make sense and you either figure it out no thanks to the game or figure it out by accident without even understanding the mechanic.”
“The game's biggest weakness is that it's too short, and I don't normally mind short games, but there are too many different mechanics on display, a lot of them are very complicated and require you to think in ways that the game didn't give itself enough time to teach you to consider, and by the end I was solving puzzles before I fully understood how they worked, which led to the ending itself feeling incredibly unsatisfying.”
- music1,438 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game is often described as atmospheric and haunting, effectively enhancing the eerie ambiance and immersive experience. While some players find the soundtrack beautiful and fitting, others note that it can become repetitive or less memorable over time. Overall, the combination of music and sound design contributes significantly to the game's mysterious and engaging atmosphere, making it a key element of the gameplay experience.
“The spine-tingling music perfectly complements the eerie environment, keeping you on edge and thoroughly engaged.”
“The game's stunning visuals, coupled with its hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack, create an ambiance that keeps you engaged from start to finish.”
“The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack and subtle sound effects contribute significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere.”
“My two complaints were the lack of music throughout the levels; there's just a few different eerier tones and the occasional footsteps or cough.”
“Having to listen to the background 'music' was harder than solving the puzzles.”
“The music is merely fine; nothing to write home about.”
- replayability368 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits very low replayability, with most players noting that once the puzzles are solved, there is little incentive to play again. While some suggest that waiting a significant amount of time may allow for a fresh experience, the consensus is that the game is primarily a one-time playthrough, making it best suited for casual gamers or those looking for a brief, enjoyable experience. Many recommend purchasing it on sale due to its short length and minimal replay value.
“While 'the room' may not have extensive replay value once the puzzles are solved, its intricate design and attention to detail make it a memorable and worthwhile experience.”
“Not only are the puzzles excellent, the story is excellent too, and there's a lot of secrets and hidden details that you might miss in your first playthrough, adding to the game's replayability.”
“This is such a beautiful and challenging game and I enjoy it a lot even though I keep getting frustrated every time I get stuck - at least it's very replayable since I never remember how in the world I completed the rooms in the first place!”
“The price (dollar/hour of gameplay) is just a tad excessive for a 3 to 4-hour-long game with zero replayability.”
“It has no replay value which means it has showed you all content within an hour (at least it did for me).”
“There is no replayability with this game; it's pretty much a one-shot deal.”
- grinding122 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 16 % neutral mentions
- 77 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game can be hit or miss; while some players find certain tasks and puzzles tedious and frustrating, others appreciate the challenge and engagement they provide. Many agree that while some mechanics can feel clunky or repetitive, the overall experience is enjoyable and serves as a refreshing break from more demanding games. The hint system is often highlighted as a helpful feature to alleviate some of the tedium associated with searching for objects or solving puzzles.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“No grinding or constant resetting of things.”
“There was a point (hard to tell where) when it stopped being fun, and just became a tedious slog.”
“As tedious and pointless as an escape room but without the company of friends.”
“For one, the game controls only with the mouse, but mouse sensitivity is super slow and can't be adjusted, which genuinely made it physically tedious to play.”
- stability80 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 65 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many users reporting a smooth experience and minimal bugs or glitches. However, some players encountered occasional issues, particularly when minimizing the game or with mouse controls, which could lead to freezing or minor glitches. Despite these hiccups, the game is considered well-polished and performs well even on low-end hardware.
“The game feels polished, well-executed, and bug-free.”
“Overall, no glitches, smooth story and puzzle execution, and something I play over and over again.”
“I've heard this was a port from a tablet game, but unlike a lot of cross-platform ports, this has worked really well - no glitches that I could find as a result of the transfer.”
“My only qualm is that sometimes there were glitches within the game.”
“Good game for a good price, however, I found the menu buggy and one time I accidentally tabbed out causing the game to crash.”
“The main thing that is turning me off from playing it is the fact that anytime you try to minimize the game from fullscreen to message people on Discord or Xbox app, it freezes up after like the 2nd time.”
- emotional78 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a complex mix of feelings, primarily centered around the satisfaction of solving puzzles that challenge the player's intellect while simultaneously evoking feelings of frustration and self-doubt. Players report a sense of pride and cleverness upon completing puzzles, yet also experience moments of feeling "dumb" when faced with simpler challenges. The atmospheric elements, including eerie music and tactile interactions, enhance the overall experience, creating a unique blend of emotional engagement that is both rewarding and occasionally unsettling.
“The puzzles themselves were all quite well done, and it made me feel proud each time I completed one.”
“Performance and the overall unspeakable atmosphere is also very touching, at least for me.”
“The room made me feel alone, but it was the peaceful kind of alone.”
“I spent 2 or 3 hours clicking on screws and levers; I read some letters that told a boring story and then it was over.”
“I spent 2 or 3 hours clicking on screws and levers; I read some letters that told a boring story and then it was over.”
- optimization68 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag, with some players praising its smooth performance and atmospheric design, while others report issues such as stuttering, frame rate drops, and poor optimization for PC controls. Many users recommend ensuring the game runs on a dedicated GPU for optimal performance, and while the graphics are generally well-received, there are calls for further optimization, especially for PC users. Overall, the experience varies significantly depending on hardware and settings.
“Not a single issue or performance problem.”
“The puzzles are perfectly optimized; it is possible to finish the whole game without using the hint once just by relying on your experience and logic.”
“I am impressed with the optimization on PC through Steam.”
“Very suboptimized for it to take the space it does and looking at the sequels, it gets worse, with the last title being over 10GB.”
“The game seems to be poorly optimized; my $3000 PC was heating up playing it on normal.”
“My biggest problem being that it is not optimized for PC.”
- humor39 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players enjoying funny puzzles, amusing character interactions, and humorous dialogue that enhance the overall experience. Many found themselves laughing at unexpected moments, including quirky bugs and comical endings, which added to the game's charm despite some mixed feelings about the narrative payoff. Overall, the blend of humor and engaging gameplay makes it a delightful experience for those who appreciate a lighthearted approach.
“The dude with the notes was hilarious though.”
“Good characters, pages of funny dialogue, and an actual narrative flow all made you want to spend time exploring.”
“I actually thought the ending was kind of comical, not because it's actually funny, but more because of how much effort you put into getting there....and while I know this probably doesn't make much sense reading it, it will totally make sense once you actually experience the ending.”
- monetization10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game is praised for being straightforward and fair, with no predatory techniques, in-game purchases, or advertisements. Players appreciate the absence of additional costs, highlighting it as a well-designed puzzle game that prioritizes player experience over profit.
“Also, no predatory monetization techniques, just a straightforward, well-designed puzzle game for a bit of money.”
“At last a perfectly balanced game, with no ads, no DLCs, nor in-app purchases, just a plain old good game developed for the players.”
“I've paid 60 bucks for games and only played 5 minutes because they have poor mechanics, or the advertisements/walkthroughs were misleading.”
“An excellent port of an excellent mobile game, the room is a point and click puzzler (with the emphasis on the puzzler part) from a time in which mobile gaming was an exciting new horizon rather than the cash grab laden waste it is today.”
“There are no in-game purchases or rewards.”
- character development6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development is notably minimal in this game, with the primary focus placed on puzzles and mystery-solving rather than on storytelling or character arcs. Reviewers suggest that the game successfully engages players without relying on traditional character development elements.
“The focus is primarily on the puzzles and the unraveling of the mystery, with less emphasis on character development.”
“There isn't any character development, drawn-out plots, pixel hunting, or hidden object nonsense.”
“A game able to do this without any kind of prominent story or character development is doing something right.”
Critic Reviews
The Room (Switch) Review
When I was a boy, I used to have nightmares about spaces that didn’t make sense. It’s hard to explain what was so terrifying about these dreams, hard to find words, but the main thing is they were incomprehensible; vast but small, slippery under the eye. I used to wake up in a sweat, and for a few minutes it felt like the walls of my bedroom were impossible to understand.
80%The Room Review
The quality of The Room and the atmosphere it conjures is undeniable, and it’s certainly worth checking out if you haven’t played before. It’s a pleasure to see some well-implemented pointer controls added to a classic touchscreen title, and the fact that this seminal release is now available on a dedicated gaming device is cause for celebration. Be aware that it’s a slight offering by home console standards, though – it’s crying out to be part of a compilation release with its three sequels. Perhaps one for the Wishlist, then, but it’s a winner while it lasts.
70%The Room Review
A great game, but with no value added it isn’t worth buying over the mobile version. Too expensive for a game that’s best played on a mobile screen anyway.
50%