The Sundew

About

"The Sundew" is a dark adventure game set in a dystopian future Shibukawa, Japan in 2054. As cybernetically enhanced cop Anna Isobe, you must navigate a world where cyborgs like you have become obsolete, and protect and serve in a society that has left you behind after a devastating war. With a blend of cyberpunk and noir themes, you'll uncover a lonely and suspenseful journey.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 48 reviews

story16 positive mentions

stability1 negative mentions

The game features a well-produced cyberpunk atmosphere supported by stunning pixel-art graphics and immersive sound design.
Puzzles are generally logical and well laid out, providing a comfortable level of challenge without excessive pixel-hunting.
The story offers meaningful choices and character development, making it engaging for fans of the genre despite some narrative shortcomings.

The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 3-6 hours, leaving some players wanting more content and depth.
There are several bugs and inconsistencies, including issues with character sizes, trigger points for events, and translation errors that detract from the overall experience.
The plot can be confusing at times, with abrupt information dumps and unresolved story threads that may leave players feeling unsatisfied.

story
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
68%
5%
The story is generally considered interesting and engaging, with meaningful decisions and a classic cyberpunk vibe, but it suffers from pacing issues, abrupt info dumps, and underdeveloped characters. Many reviewers noted that while the plot has potential, it feels rushed and lacks depth, leaving some threads unresolved and making it hard to connect with the characters. Overall, the narrative offers a decent experience, but it could benefit from more development and refinement to fully realize its intriguing concepts.
- “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 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.”
- “An engaging story, interesting characters, nice artwork, a workable game interface that doesn't get in the way, a great soundtrack, and a game world with a lot of potential.”
- “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
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
44%
17%
The graphics of the game are praised for their beautiful pixel art style, effectively creating a moody and atmospheric cyberpunk world. While there are minor graphical glitches, the overall aesthetic, complemented by a strong soundtrack, immerses players in a vibrant neo-Japan setting that enhances the gameplay experience. Many reviewers highlight the art as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's engaging atmosphere.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “The visuals are, just to follow the overall pattern, exactly what cyberpunk games tend to look like in their textbook variety.”
- “Graphically, it hits my sweet spot.”
atmosphere
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
13%
20%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive cyberpunk aesthetic, 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 atmosphere stands out as a key element, drawing players into its intriguing world.
- “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.”
- “The atmosphere of this cyberpunk world is well supported by the pixel-art graphics and the sound design.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
11%
33%
The music in the game is characterized by a mix of chip tunes and classic synth sounds, creating an atmospheric and immersive experience that complements the pixel graphics and overall aesthetic. While some players find the soundtrack engaging and integral to the game's atmosphere, others describe it as sporadic and occasionally unmemorable, suggesting a desire for more ambient music throughout. Overall, the soundtrack is generally well-received, enhancing the game's intriguing world and narrative.
- “The music is a blend of neat chiptunes and classic arpeggiated synth sounds.”
- “A stunning aesthetic, a throbbing soundtrack, and a neon-soaked future Japan to puzzle around in.”
- “Music is very sporadic, and whenever it is present, it’s a rather 'unmemorable but nice' sort of techno deal.”
- “I think one of the key elements of this game is its overall atmosphere, supported by its graphic design and soundtrack.”
- “I think the only thing missing for me would be some more ambient music throughout the game.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The gameplay has received mixed feedback, with some finding it weak, while others appreciate the interesting mechanics, particularly the eyephone feature. Additionally, fans of the Tex Murphy series may find familiar elements in both gameplay and art style.
- “Interesting mechanic with the eyephone.”
- “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.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay is a bit weak in my opinion.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is subtle yet effective, with players appreciating the irony in the dialogues and the amusing moments, such as a glitch where a character unexpectedly speaks French. Despite the absence of voice-over, the engaging story keeps players invested, enhancing the comedic elements throughout the gameplay.
- “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.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional impact of the game is somewhat limited due to its short length, which hinders the story's development and the buildup to a more profound emotional climax. However, players appreciate the developer's resilience in overcoming challenges, which adds a layer of admiration and connection to the overall 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.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
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 just enough to keep you engaged without feeling overwhelmed.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful.”
- “The depth of the characters and their growth over time really enhances the overall experience.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful growth in the characters throughout the game.”
- “The characters seem to remain static, with little to no evolution in their personalities or story arcs.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with only a few minor graphical glitches reported, none of which significantly impact gameplay.
- “There are a few bugs, mostly graphical glitches, but none are major.”