The Room Syndrome

About

The Room Syndrome is a single player casual puzzle game. It was developed by Jessymphony and was released on November 1, 2019. It received very positive reviews from players.

Explore the mysterious room by traversing time, while you watch a man succumb to the room syndrome.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 270 reviews

story38 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

The game features an intriguing story with multiple endings that keeps players engaged and encourages exploration.
The unique time travel mechanics and puzzle-solving elements provide a fresh and challenging experience.
It's a free game with a charming retro aesthetic, making it accessible and enjoyable for a wide audience.

The lack of a save feature can be frustrating, requiring players to replay sections to achieve different endings.
Some players found the controls, particularly for the radio, to be clunky and unintuitive, leading to confusion.
The game can be overly complex and may require external guides to fully understand the mechanics and progress.

story
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
31%
5%
The game's story is described as dark, mysterious, and beautifully crafted, with an intriguing narrative that unfolds through exploration and puzzle-solving. While many players appreciate the depth and multiple endings, some find the characters less compelling and the initial understanding of the plot challenging without guidance. Overall, the combination of immersive storytelling and engaging mechanics makes it a captivating experience for fans of mystery and puzzles.
- “The story is so dark, mysterious, and beautiful.”
- “I can't say enough good things about this game; it is a masterpiece in puzzle solving combined with an immersive storyline and some light horror elements.”
- “The atmosphere building is quite interesting, and while some dialogue does feel somewhat cheesy at times, the overall feeling I experienced from this was quite intense; the story-building really did strike a chord with me.”
- “The story is fascinating, but I don't find the characters that compelling.”
- “Sure, it wasn't that fancy or the highest graphics and there's no large focus on the story.”
- “And in the end, the story isn't worth that level of effort.”
gameplay
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
48%
9%
The gameplay features unique time travel mechanics that, while initially confusing and clunky, become engaging as players progress and understand the system. The game offers multiple endings and intriguing puzzles, enhanced by clever use of radio mechanics, though some players noted that the controls could be streamlined for a smoother experience. Overall, it presents a compelling narrative and enjoyable gameplay, making it a worthwhile short puzzle game for those who appreciate a challenge.
- “Starts slow and it's very confusing if you don't pay attention to the papers, but it really catches you as the mechanics are easy, the goal is pretty clear and the best part, there are multiple endings!”
- “It's free, it's not too long, it has multiple endings, it makes you use your brain, there's no reason not to play it if you're looking for a nice, quick puzzle game with interesting mechanics.”
- “Interesting story and mechanics, different endings depending on what you do... what more can you ask for?”
- “The time travel mechanics are a bit clunky and tedious.”
- “I liked the concept and time travel gameplay, but it's held back by poor design and unnecessary complications.”
- “There's really only so much in the way of puzzle mechanics in this game.”
graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
50%
10%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a simplistic, retro aesthetic that resonates well with players, often compared to the style of Undertale. While some find the visuals basic and reminiscent of old arcade games, many appreciate how they effectively contribute to the game's eerie atmosphere and immersive experience. Overall, the minimalist design is seen as a strength, enhancing the gameplay without detracting from the intriguing storyline.
- “The graphics are absolutely perfect for the eerie feeling and have an old arcade vibe.”
- “With a beautifully retro art style, the room syndrome is intriguing, eerie, and mind-bending.”
- “The spaced-pixel art style is absolutely stunning, and only heightens the game's already gripping atmosphere; in my opinion, it stands out among other, similar games.”
- “The graphics are about as basic as it gets, mostly black and white pixels, but it doesn't bring the game down at all.”
- “It has very simple graphics, and not the best dialogue, but it is simple and doesn't require much brain power to do.”
- “The aesthetic, while simple, only adds to the bareness of the situation.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
11%
33%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its captivating blend of simple yet fitting music, stunning pixel art, and an intriguing setting that evokes a sense of being "stuck in time." While some dialogue may come off as cheesy, the overall experience is intense and immersive, effectively enhancing the storytelling and puzzle-solving elements. Collectively, these features create a remarkable and memorable atmosphere that distinguishes the game within its genre.
- “The idea is incredibly interesting, the setting is great, the atmosphere is very well made; it's awesome!”
- “An atmospheric puzzle game with a unique take on the indie pixel art style.”
- “The spaced-pixel art style is absolutely stunning, and only heightens the game's already gripping atmosphere; in my opinion, it stands out among other, similar games.”
- “The music is simple and repetitive after some time, but it suits the atmosphere and highlights the feeling of being 'stuck in time.'”
- “Some parts of the writing are a little cheesy, but the majority of it establishes the atmosphere really well.”
- “The spaced-pixel art style is absolutely stunning and only heightens the game's already gripping atmosphere; in my opinion, it stands out among other similar games.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
15%
14%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its atmospheric quality that complements the visuals and enhances the feeling of being "stuck in time." While some find it simple and repetitive over time, others enjoy the background music and sound effects, particularly during conversations, contributing to an engaging overall experience. Overall, the music is seen as a strong element that supports the game's intriguing themes and mechanics.
- “This game was not what I was expecting it to be; I love the mechanic of the radio, the style, effects, music, gameplay, everything!”
- “I adore the background music and the concept is interesting... I love a good paradoxical, supernatural mystery.”
- “Music, story, puzzles, I thought it was great!”
- “The music is simple and repetitive after some time, but like the graphics, it suits the atmosphere and highlights the feeling of being 'stuck in time.'”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly when trying to achieve better endings, which require significant time investment. The slow dialogue delivery and clunky time travel mechanics contribute to a frustrating experience, making it difficult to stay engaged. While some players appreciate the intriguing elements, the overall sentiment leans towards the grind feeling unnecessary and overly time-consuming.
- “This game has a couple of things I didn't like, such as: to get any of the latter/better endings is quite a grind that takes like 10 minutes each and feels really repetitive, so getting all of the endings is just tedious.”
- “Dialogues appear slowly, which becomes tedious because players will see the same messages over and over. The typewriter-style text is not necessary and adds nothing but delay to the game, and anticipating a command like 'open drawer' will close it, because 'do nothing' is the default.”
- “The time travel mechanic gets tedious after a while, but there's a pattern to it that saves a good bit of time once you catch on to it.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it fun and challenging with opportunities for exploration, many feel that once all endings are achieved, the experience becomes repetitive and lacks incentive to replay, as most endings require similar actions with minimal variation.
- “Good game, replayable and quite tricky.”
- “This allows for deep, open-ended exploration, as well as extended replayability.”
- “I'd say it doesn't really have any replayability after you get all the endings, but it's really fun regardless.”
- “The replay value is low after you figure out the 'right' way to escape, because all the other endings require you to do pretty much the same things, making it a chore to get all the endings.”
- “Not much replayability; it seems like the endings are shoehorned in and most of them required the player to do the same thing at the beginning of the game and change one small factor like annoying David or changing all of the TVs.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its gripping narrative and a deeply touching true ending that evokes strong feelings, even leading some players to tears. While the inclusion of horror elements can create moments of irritation, the overall experience is described as heartfelt and thought-provoking, making it a memorable journey for players.
- “Confusing yet heartfelt, the true ending drove me to tears. 10/10.”
- “The narrative is gripping, and the reward for following it to the end is one of the most touching and thought-provoking scenes I've ever experienced playing a video game.”
- “Very nice game; I got emotional at the true ending.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted for its variety, with seven distinct endings that include a lighthearted, non-achievement ending that adds a touch of fun. However, some players have reported experiencing visual discomfort after extended play, which may detract from the overall enjoyment of the humor.
- “There are 7 total endings, with another one you don't get an achievement for; it is just a little funny but not important.”