The Space in Between

About

The Space in Between is a single player action game with a romance theme. It was developed by Wei and was released on January 18, 2021. It received positive reviews from players.

What if you could create your own constellations? A love story about Asian American identity, mental health, and stargazing.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 88 reviews

story16 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful artwork and a soothing soundtrack that enhances the emotional experience.
The story is heartfelt and explores important themes such as mental health, identity, and the struggles of being an Asian-American, making it relatable for many players.
The character development and dialogue between June and Miles are well-written, creating a genuine connection that resonates with players.

The gameplay is minimal, with limited interactivity and choices that do not significantly impact the story, leading to a feeling of passivity.
Some players found the pacing slow and the dialogue overly simplistic or predictable, which detracted from their overall enjoyment.
The lack of a save feature and menu options can be frustrating, as players are required to complete the game in one sitting without the ability to pause or revisit previous sections.

story
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
74%
4%
The story is a heartfelt exploration of the relationship between June and Miles, focusing on themes of identity, communication, and personal struggles, particularly within the context of June's Asian-American experience. While the narrative is simple and largely linear, it is enriched by mini-games that reveal deeper memories and emotions, encouraging players to engage with the characters' introspective journeys. Despite some critiques regarding the depth and impact of player choices, many reviewers found the storytelling to be relatable and beautifully complemented by the game's artwork and music.
- “June’s story explores her strained relationship with her mother and the lack of communication between them.”
- “A very deep, well-written story that is somehow packed into a short visual novel.”
- “The story of Miles and June is brought to life through beautiful illustrations, enchanting music, and personal storytelling.”
- “You do make some choices but nothing that will impact the overall outcome of the story.”
- “The plot itself looks more like an overheard random dialogue than a full-fledged script.”
- “Not really thought-out dialogues and plot, in my opinion, expected more.”
music
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
24%
14%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its beauty and ability to enhance the storytelling, while others noted issues such as abrupt transitions and occasional interruptions during gameplay. Some players found the music relaxing and fitting, contributing positively to the overall experience, while a few expressed irritation with its volume and technical execution. Overall, the music is generally appreciated for its quality, though there are suggestions for improvement in its integration with the gameplay.
- “Amazing visual novel with spectacular art and compelling writing with a beautiful music score to boot.”
- “The music was wonderful and fitting.”
- “The story of Miles and June is brought to life through beautiful illustrations, enchanting music, and personal storytelling.”
- “As a result, sometimes the music is interrupted and you have to finish reading in silence until the next scene.”
- “Didn't go far because the choices were irrelevant and the loud music irritated me (even though I brought it down at the beginning to like 30%, but it lasted for like 3 minutes only).”
- “Also, there are a few minor audio technicalities that I'd personally change - the music sometimes ended kind of abruptly, feeling a little clumsy, and the noises that play when you mouse over things were a little clumsy too, and would have suited being a little different.”
graphics
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
17%
18%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning artwork and beautiful art style, with many reviewers highlighting the visuals as a standout feature. While some players felt the story did not match the quality of the graphics, the overall consensus is that the game's artwork is exceptional and a major draw for players.
- “The artwork in this game is gorgeous.”
- “Visually speaking, this game's truly a work of art, with the scenes and artwork display being nothing short of spectacular.”
- “I enjoyed the art style, the music, and the honesty between the characters.”
- “I give a positive review only because of the artwork, which is fantastic, but I didn't like the story at all.”
- “Don't get me wrong, the artwork is 100/10, but the dialogue/story is 2/10.”
- “But I would recommend just for the artwork.”
emotional
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
94%
6%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling and relatable dialogue, evoking a sense of warmth and sincerity. Players appreciate the touching moments and the exploration of intimacy and vulnerability, though some feel the narrative could benefit from deeper character development. Overall, the game is described as wholesome and charming, offering a reflective experience that resonates with players.
- “This game was very heartfelt and real.”
- “The story is heartfelt and the dialogue feels real.”
- “The space in between touches on the many barriers placed between people and intimacy: gender, culture, obligation, exhaustion, etc., championing the power of radical emotional honesty, even with the risk of vulnerability.”
- “3/10 for this short and boring story.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it lacking in engagement due to excessive dialogue and minimal interactive elements. While the constellation mechanics are praised as a creative and enjoyable feature, others feel that the overall gameplay experience is overshadowed by its narrative focus and frustrating mechanics.
- “The mechanics on how the constellations worked was really cool!”
- “The constellation mechanic was a fun, great idea.”
- “The constellation mechanics were such a fun touch!”
- “Unfortunately, I didn't have the patience to finish this game due to how much dialogue there is compared to 'gameplay' (if it can even be considered that) and how frankly boring it was to read.”
- “The mechanic for 'drawing' between stars was frustrating.”
- “The gameplay is for show.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is well-received, with players appreciating its cleverness and ability to provide solace amidst the narrative's challenges. While some found the comedic elements enjoyable, there is a desire for more dynamic changes in the story based on player choices, as the main plot remains largely unchanged despite varying humorous responses. Overall, the humor adds a reflective and poignant layer to the experience.
- “I really enjoyed the humor in this game; some of it was really great.”
- “The space in between is a funny, poignant, and reflective work that offers us solace and the comfort of knowing that we are not as isolated as we feel we are.”
- “It's funny you say that because I felt like meeting you was the universe's way of being like, 'Here's something your way for the shit we've put you through.'”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books tedious, likening the experience to a frustratingly slow reading process where each sentence requires a click to advance, detracting from the enjoyment of the narrative.
- “Grinding in this game feels like reading a great novel, but instead of turning the pages, you have to click your mouse for every single sentence. It's tedious and breaks the flow of the story.”
- “The grinding mechanics are so repetitive that it feels like I'm stuck in a loop, doing the same tasks over and over without any real progress or enjoyment.”
- “Instead of engaging gameplay, the grinding turns the experience into a chore, making it hard to stay motivated to continue.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game's branching storylines and hidden easter eggs significantly enhance its replayability, encouraging players to explore different outcomes and discover new content with each playthrough.
- “The branching story adds significant replay value, and there are secret easter eggs hidden throughout the game.”
- “Each playthrough offers a unique experience, encouraging players to explore different choices and outcomes.”
- “The variety of character builds and strategies keeps the gameplay fresh, making you want to dive back in for more.”
- “The branching story adds replay value, but the lack of meaningful choices makes subsequent playthroughs feel repetitive.”
- “While there are some secret easter eggs, they don't significantly enhance the overall replayability of the game.”
- “After completing the game once, I found little incentive to replay it, as the outcomes felt too similar.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features significant character development driven by player choices, complemented by a beautiful musical score that enhances the overall experience.
- “This is a choice-based game, with lots of character development and beautiful music.”