The Sundew

About

The Sundew is a single player puzzle game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Clemenc - 2054 - Video game studio and was released on October 14, 2021. It received very positive reviews from players.

You are Anna Isobe, a cyborg cop abandoned by progress and thrust into the midst of a global conspiracy. Experience classic point and click gameplay as you travel across the dark future, and make choices that will seal the fate of the world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 53 reviews

story17 positive mentions

stability1 negative mentions

The pixel art and atmosphere are beautifully crafted, creating an immersive cyberpunk world that enhances the gameplay experience.
The puzzles are generally logical and well-designed, providing a satisfying challenge without excessive pixel hunting.
The game features a compelling story with meaningful choices, engaging characters, and a unique setting that keeps players interested throughout.

The game is relatively short, with a runtime of about 4-6 hours, leaving some players wanting more depth and development in the story.
There are several bugs and gameplay issues, including unclear puzzle triggers and some graphical glitches that can disrupt the experience.
The narrative can feel rushed at times, with some plot points and character arcs left underdeveloped or unresolved, leading to confusion.

story
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
67%
5%
The story in the game is engaging and features interesting themes typical of the cyberpunk genre, but it suffers from a lack of clarity and coherence, often relying on heavy exposition and abrupt information dumps that can confuse players. While some characters and plot elements show promise, they are underdeveloped due to the game's short runtime, leaving many threads unresolved and hindering emotional connection. Overall, the narrative has potential but feels rushed and disjointed, making it a mixed experience for players.
- “The sundew has a great story, and while the only real character developed is your own, the others are interesting enough in their own right to make for an engaging gaming experience.”
- “The story is obtuse at times, but in a very traditionally cyberpunk manner where it contributes to the paranoid conspiratorial atmosphere.”
- “The sundew is classic cyberpunk; it's telling a familiar story, but the story is told well, hitting all of the right beats from start to end.”
- “The whole plot gets resolved basically entirely during a massive lore-dump carried through a poorly written conversation at the end of the game.”
- “Sadly, the writing is quite hopeless, with overworked, heavy-handed dialogue, a hard-to-follow plot with paper-thin characters and some weird tone shifts that don't really work within the otherwise serious story.”
- “It would have been much more satisfying to learn bits and pieces throughout the entire game and let it slow burn into a player’s heart instead of suddenly informing about the reason to go through everything in the first place, all the while leaving some story threads purposeless in a head-scratching way.”
graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
47%
16%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their decent quality and engaging pixel art style, effectively creating a moody and atmospheric cyberpunk setting. While some minor graphical glitches were noted, the overall aesthetic, complemented by a strong soundtrack, immerses players in a vibrant neo-Japan environment. Reviewers appreciate the artwork's ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, despite some inconsistencies in character design and writing.
- “The atmosphere of this cyberpunk world is well supported by the pixel-art graphics and the sound design.”
- “A stunning aesthetic, a throbbing soundtrack, and a neon-soaked future Japan to puzzle around in.”
- “The game is set in a neo-Japan, takes us from an urban Tokyo-like city to the snowy ruins of Hokkaido, and features a top-notch aesthetic that had me oohing and aahing every other screen.”
- “The artwork is decent, pretty standard quality for this type of game.”
- “The visuals are, just to follow the overall pattern, exactly what cyberpunk games tend to look like in their textbook variety.”
- “There were some pixels that had the wrong color or were missing in the graphics, but there were very few of them, because the game as a whole is awesome.”
atmosphere
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
13%
20%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive cyberpunk setting, enhanced by solid pixel-art graphics and effective sound design. Reviewers appreciate the moody visuals and atmospheric music, which contribute to a unique and engaging experience, despite some narrative complexities. Overall, the game's aesthetic and auditory elements create a compelling and immersive environment that resonates well with fans of the genre.
- “The atmosphere of this cyberpunk world is well supported by the pixel-art graphics and the sound design.”
- “The pixel graphics are moody and atmospheric.”
- “You feel really well immersed in the atmosphere, thanks to the graphics and the narration.”
- “The story is obtuse at times, but in a very traditionally cyberpunk manner where it contributes to the paranoid conspiratorial atmosphere.”
- “I think one of the key elements of this game is its overall atmosphere, supported by its graphic design and soundtrack.”
- “I could complain about things that I haven't liked in other cyberpunk games that I've played or watched videos of, but it's all down to personal taste with a genre that is so steeped in atmosphere.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
The music in the game is a mix of nostalgic chip tunes and atmospheric synth sounds, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience. While some players appreciate the refreshing lack of overwhelming music, others feel that the sporadic tracks can be unmemorable, with a desire for more ambient music to enhance the overall atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is generally well-received, complementing the game's aesthetic and narrative.
- “The music is a blend of neat chip tunes and classic arpeggiated synth stuff.”
- “A stunning aesthetic, a throbbing soundtrack, and a neon-soaked future Japan to puzzle around in.”
- “I think one of the key elements of this game is its overall atmosphere, supported by its graphic design and soundtrack.”
- “Music is very sporadic, and whenever it is present it’s a rather 'unmemorable but nice' sort of techno deal.”
- “:) I think the only thing missing for me would be some more ambient music throughout the game.”
- “Lack of music also turned out to be refreshing, since the music in these types of games tends to be annoying and overdone more often than not.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The gameplay has been described as interesting, particularly with unique mechanics like the eyephone, but it is hindered by a cumbersome interface and some gameplay weaknesses, making it less enjoyable overall. Fans of the Tex Murphy series may find familiar elements, enhancing their experience.
- “The gameplay and art-wise, the Sundew feels most similar to the Tex Murphy games, and fans of that series will feel very at home here.”
- “Interesting mechanic with the eyephone.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay is a bit weak in my opinion.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is subtle and often ironic, with players appreciating the serious tone over the typical attempts at comedy found in many indie titles. While there are moments of levity, such as a humorous glitch, the focus remains on engaging storytelling rather than overt jokes, allowing players to enjoy the narrative without distraction.
- “There isn’t a voice-over here (apart from a hilarious glitch where Anna starts speaking French for a few seconds), but it works.”
- “You get involved in the story and can't wait to progress, risking losing all the funny side 'bonuses' and the irony of many dialogues.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Character development is well-balanced, providing enough depth to keep players engaged without overwhelming them, making it enjoyable rather than skippable.
- “The character development is perfectly balanced; there's enough depth to keep you engaged without overwhelming you.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful.”
- “The growth of the characters feels natural and rewarding, enhancing the overall storytelling experience.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I found the character arcs predictable and uninspired, leaving me wanting more complexity.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices in character development made my decisions feel irrelevant.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is noted as being somewhat limited due to its short length, which hinders the story's development and emotional impact. However, reviewers appreciate the developer's resilience in overcoming challenges to deliver a polished and enjoyable experience.
- “I know the project has faced some heartbreaking setbacks and some high hurdles in its path, so it's wonderful to see that the developer was able to so gracefully overcome those obstacles and release such an enjoyable, polished game.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report that the game exhibits good stability, with only a few minor graphical glitches noted, none of which significantly impact gameplay.
- “There are a few bugs, mostly graphical glitches, but none are major.”