The Test
- February 24, 2020
- Randumb Studios
- 4h median play time
"The Test" is a psychological-simulation game with horror elements, where players answer a series of personal questions to explore their subconscious. This atmospheric social experiment aims to reveal hidden truths and provide new insights about the self, while creating unique content for YouTubers and Streamers. The game features uncomfortable questions, encouraging players to confront their inner selves to unlock their mind.
Reviews
- emotional726 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has resonated deeply with many players, often leading to unexpected tears and introspection. While initially presenting a spooky atmosphere, the game concludes with heartfelt and uplifting messages that many found to be precisely what they needed to hear, providing comfort and validation during difficult times. Overall, players describe the experience as a surprising blend of eerie and wholesome, leaving them feeling seen, understood, and emotionally uplifted.
“This game made me feel good in a time where I feel lost and hopeless.”
“I never expected to get so emotional at the end, and just what I was told reverberated how I have been feeling lately about my life, I don't know how it was done, but it hit me hard.”
“The message at the end was really kind and heartwarming.”
- atmosphere327 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its ability to create a captivating and eerie experience, often blending elements of horror with introspective questioning. Players appreciate the effective use of music and minimal visuals to enhance the mood, leading to a mix of tension and comfort throughout the gameplay. While some found the atmosphere to be overly ambitious or inconsistent, many enjoyed the unique blend of spookiness and self-reflection it offered.
“The atmosphere was amazing and so was the review at the end, I felt it was very true to how I perceive myself and feel.”
“The atmosphere is incredible, especially for something as simple as yes or no questions.”
“The atmosphere was built well and the ending hit the mark, which was creepy but it hooked me and I want to try the other games.”
“The game tries to build a tense atmosphere, creating an expectation of 'where are we going with this?', but the end is simply disappointing.”
“I feel like the game tried too hard to create an atmosphere that it didn't deliver on, and honestly I sped through the answers, once or twice accidentally hitting the wrong one, and felt nothing.”
“The ambience, the atmosphere, and the questions themselves all invoked a looming sense of dread and discomfort.”
- humor315 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with many players finding it both funny and unexpected, particularly due to its absurd questions like "Have you ever punched a nun?" This blend of humor and creepiness creates a unique atmosphere that keeps players engaged, often eliciting laughter alongside introspection. While some critiques mention that the humor can feel juvenile or forced, the overall consensus is that the game successfully balances lighthearted moments with deeper, thought-provoking content.
“I loved this game and it honestly made me laugh in most parts.”
“The game was funny with its sudden and unrelated questions, even predicting outcomes (all I will say is nun).”
“This game was actually kind of entertaining and funny.”
“Pretentious and unfunny, but worth playing for its low price.”
“Not funny... cried...”
- music153 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its eerie and atmospheric qualities that enhance the overall experience. While some found the ambient soundtrack to be unsettling and fitting for the game's psychological themes, others criticized it for being repetitive or distracting. Overall, the music effectively contributes to the game's mood, creating a blend of tension and introspection that resonates with players.
“I enjoyed the atmosphere of the game and the music.”
“The music was superb, and the questions were very interesting.”
“The music and graphics were also super charming and was fun to interact with!”
“Music: no real music aside from some looping ambiance.”
“The background music is especially creepy and I will be honest, I muted it.”
“The only thing I actually disliked about the game was the ending when you get your word-- it was full of encouragement and joy but creepy, atmospheric music is still playing in the background and the unnerving old man was still staring at me and I was unable to take any of it seriously-- I distrusted the game!”
- graphics74 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the simple, retro pixel art style and its ability to create a captivating atmosphere, while others criticize it for being basic and reminiscent of RPG Maker assets. Many users noted that the visuals, although minimal, effectively complement the game's horror aesthetic and engaging questions, but some felt that the graphics could benefit from more uniqueness and detail. Overall, the graphics serve their purpose in enhancing the experience, but opinions vary widely on their quality and impact.
“The actual graphics are much more sinister than screenshots on the store page.”
“Good game, good atmosphere, good graphics, and good music.”
“I love the pixel graphics and the design of the guy asking questions, and I also liked the few questions about life/death, and what you'd consider beautiful.”
“This isn't scary or anything... I mean... it's a program, with motionless pixel art graphics... just writing 'if I were behind you, would you get scared?' is not enough to create an entertaining, scary experience.”
“Don't be fooled by the 'overwhelmingly positive' score, this is just a glorified BuzzFeed quiz with terrible graphics and awful attempts at scaring you.”
“My first gripe with the game is that the graphics look very reminiscent of those supplied by the engine used to make this (RPG Maker MV). I think it would be of great benefit to make your own graphics that look more unique, or find someone to do so, just to make it stand out more.”
- gameplay65 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 88 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily centered around answering a series of questions, creating a unique personal experience for each player, but lacks traditional mechanics or narrative depth. While some players found the experience engaging and introspective, many criticized it for being overly simplistic and not offering substantial gameplay, often likening it to a personality quiz rather than a game. Overall, the minimalist approach has garnered mixed reactions, with some appreciating the psychological insights while others felt disappointed by the lack of interactive elements.
“Overall, a very interesting game with a simple yet very effective mechanic.”
“The gameplay, in and of itself, is simple enough (comprised of 'yes' or 'no' questions), but this format is perfect for myself.”
“Gameplay-wise there's nothing interesting here, but the psychology at play is honestly astounding, and can really get you to think about yourself and your life in ways I don't think any other game has achieved.”
“Overall, I have decided to not recommend the test due to its lack of mechanics and any sort of interesting narrative.”
“There's no actual gameplay here, just a single room with an NPC that asks you a ton of questions.”
“I can't talk about mechanics, or story, or gameplay, because there essentially isn't any.”
- story59 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the lack of a traditional narrative or depth. While some appreciated the introspective and self-reflective elements, describing it as a heartwarming experience, others criticized it for being more of a personality quiz than a story-driven game, leading to confusion about its genre tags. Overall, players seem to agree that while the game has potential for storytelling, it ultimately falls short in delivering a cohesive or engaging plot.
“I was really expecting a cheesy jumpscare between it all and had my guard up, but it speaking to me as if it was someone who listened to my whole life story was heartwarming and kind of opened my eyes. A very well-made self-reflection game; I recommend this game to all and I give you hope and bravery in finding your truth.”
“The writers are very gifted storytellers, creating suspense interjected with light humor.”
“The internal storytelling I felt was really cool, and how the game makes you think about circumstances you would never think of yourself is great!”
“If there was a story, I missed it completely.”
“There is no actual story; we never learn anything about the quizzer, who lives in this weird room with blood smeared everywhere and a creepy doll. We don't know why they live there or what it has to do with administering this test, so I feel like the horror element falls flat, too.”
“However, it is a very lackluster 'game' with no plot or story whatsoever.”
- replayability21 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has been described as having low replayability, with many users noting that it feels like a one-time experience. While some players found enjoyment in the initial playthrough, they expressed that there isn't much incentive to replay, unless for curiosity about different outcomes or to share the experience with others. A few comments suggest that completionists might find some value in revisiting the game for puzzles, but the consensus leans towards a lack of substantial replay value.
“I thoroughly enjoyed it and I love the replayability (the same way you might retake the MBTI tests).”
“It's very straightforward, and given the words are designed to change depending on when you take it, it seems to have some replayability, which is more than I'd expect from a $2 game.”
“Nice puzzles for replay value if you are a completionist.”
“I do wish there was a little more replay value as I found the first run through super fun.”
“There is really no replayability.”
“Not much replay value if you follow the rules of answering the questions honestly.”
- monetization10 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling that they paid for a superficial experience akin to a glorified survey, complete with targeted advertisements for other titles. While some appreciate the absence of intrusive ads during gameplay, many express disappointment over the lack of meaningful content and the presence of promotional material for additional paid games. Overall, the monetization strategy appears to prioritize profit over player engagement.
“At least on this quiz, there are no ads.”
“It's a textbook example of how to make a quick cash grab with minimal effort.”
“Felt like a cash grab.”
“As it is, I have no idea why I paid $2 to be handed a bunch of questions with (a) no real payout and (b) a 'don't call us, we'll call you' kind of hook and (c) an advertisement for another paid title.”
- grinding7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 71 % negative mentions
Players express that grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, likening it to needing a "second life" to complete it. While some find the repetitive tasks tedious, others suggest that the game attempts to inject entertainment through hidden messages, though these efforts often fall flat. Overall, the grinding experience is viewed as a significant drawback, leading to frustration among users.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It also tries to do the thing where it's like 'oh no look out behind you it's me I'm a demon' but that falls flat before it even tries, and that's the only attempt at entertainment other than some 'hidden messages' thrown in for tedious busywork.”
“The test got a little tedious toward the end, but only a little bit.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is generally well-received, with users noting that it runs smoothly and performs without issues, contributing to an enjoyable experience. However, there are mixed feelings about the graphics quality and user interface, which some users rated poorly.
“Atmospheric, runs smoothly, entertaining to say the least.”
“Graphics (quality/UI/performance) – 2/10”
“Performance: no issues.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game exhibits stability issues, particularly freezing after extended periods of inactivity, which may not affect all players but remains a significant concern. Users express frustration over the potential for glitches, leading to a reluctance to restart the game. Overall, the stability of the game requires attention to enhance the user experience.
“The game freezes after some time of leaving the game window inactive.”
“It's not going to happen to the average player, but the fact it freezes for no reason is unacceptable.”
“Not really wanting to start over if glitches are a possibility…”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the character designs and personalities, noting that they resonate with their own self-perceptions, suggesting that the game's character development is reflective and relatable. Overall, the depth of character development enhances player engagement and personal connection to the game.
“I'm pretty obsessed with this game; the character designs and the character personalities are fantastic!”
“There was nothing there I don't already believe about myself, so I guess it also has to do with how far along you are in your character development, lol.”
“There was nothing there I don't already believe about myself, so I guess it also has to do with how far along you are in your character development.”