The Test
- February 24, 2020
- Randumb Studios
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"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.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- emotional1,452 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 the game presents a spooky atmosphere, it ultimately delivers a heartwarming and personalized message that many found comforting and uplifting, especially during difficult times. Overall, players expressed gratitude for the emotional support and validation they received, highlighting the game's ability to evoke genuine feelings and self-reflection.
“This game made me feel good in a time where I feel lost and hopeless.”
“I want to cry, now, because it felt like the game was speaking to me and my issues, and my life.”
“The message at the end was really kind and heartwarming.”
- atmosphere654 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively blending elements of horror with introspective questioning. Players report feeling a mix of tension and comfort, as the unsettling ambiance enhances the experience of self-reflection, often leading to surprising emotional outcomes. While some found the atmosphere to be overly contrived at times, the overall consensus is that it successfully captivates and engages players throughout the gameplay.
“Very fun experience, managed to create an extremely eerie atmosphere with only a still image and questions.”
“The atmosphere was great, and it was an unexpectedly good time going through the whole thing, let alone the results I got...”
“The atmosphere, the probing questions, the delightfully accurate summary at the end; all very good!”
“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.”
- humor630 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 moments of introspection. While some critiques mention that the humor can feel juvenile or forced, the overall consensus is that the game successfully balances lightheartedness with deeper psychological themes, making for an entertaining experience.
“I loved this game and it honestly made me laugh in most parts.”
“Amazing game, definitely gave me a laugh or two, loved the punching a nun bit, had me laughing my ass off.”
“This game was actually kinda entertaining and funny.”
“Pretentious and unfunny, but worth playing for its low price.”
“Not funny... cried...”
- music306 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to create an eerie and immersive atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience with its unsettling tones and ambient soundscapes. While some players found the music to be a bit distracting or overly creepy, many appreciated how it complemented the introspective and psychological nature of the questions posed. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant element that contributes to the game's unique vibe, making it both thought-provoking and occasionally spine-chilling.
“The music was superb, and the questions were very interesting.”
“The music was also a very good fit, not too distracting and helped set the right atmosphere.”
“The combination of eerie music and questions pertaining to spiders, someone watching me, and what not had left me with a beating heart through my chest.”
“Music: no real music aside from some looping ambiance.”
“The background music is especially creepy and I will be honest, I muted it.”
“I didn't really like the whole 'spooky gotcha' vibe so I just turned off the music.”
- graphics148 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 contribute to the game's horror aesthetic, though some felt that the graphics were not sufficient to deliver a truly scary experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as charming and fitting for the game's concept, but improvements in uniqueness and quality could enhance the experience.
“The actual graphics are much more sinister than screenshots on the store page.”
“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.”
“The music and graphics were also super charming and was fun to interact with!”
“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 shitty 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.”
- gameplay130 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 89 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a series of questions that create a personalized experience for each player, but many reviewers note the lack of traditional mechanics or narrative, likening it more to a quiz than a game. While some found the experience engaging and introspective, others criticized its brevity and simplicity, suggesting it lacks substantial gameplay elements. Overall, the game is seen as an interesting concept with potential, but it may not satisfy those seeking a more conventional gaming experience.
“Even though the gaming style is simplistic and the mechanics are simple choice-based styles, the game brought euphoria in its conclusions, at least for me.”
“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.”
“The atmosphere created just from the questions itself is great and really went well with the simplistic background and gameplay.”
“Overall, I have decided to not recommend the test due to its lack of mechanics and any sort of interesting narrative.”
“No story, no gameplay; honestly just seems like a basic online personality/psychology quiz.”
“I can't talk about mechanics, or story, or gameplay, because there essentially isn't any.”
- story118 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. While some appreciated the introspective nature of the personality quiz format, others felt misled by tags suggesting a rich story or horror elements, noting that the game lacks a coherent plot or character development. Overall, it seems to serve more as a self-reflection tool than a story-driven experience.
“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 internal storytelling I felt was really cool, and how the game makes you think about circumstances you would never think of yourself is great!”
“The writers are very gifted storytellers, creating suspense interjected with light humor.”
“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.”
“No story, no gameplay; honestly, it just seems like a basic online personality/psychology quiz.”
- replayability42 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has been criticized for its low replayability, with many users noting that it feels like a one-time experience. While some mention minor variations in responses that could encourage a second playthrough, the consensus is that the game lacks substantial content to warrant repeated plays. Players generally find it enjoyable but agree that its value diminishes significantly after the initial run.
“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.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed it and I love the replayability (the same way you might retake the MBTI tests).”
“Nice puzzles for replay value if you are a completionist.”
“There is really no replayability.”
“Very interesting, but also very short and I'm not sure about any sort of replay value once you go through it honestly once.”
“There's not much in the way of replay value, as far as I can see; after maybe 2 or 3 playthroughs, the only value I can see holding on to this game is showing it to friends, and considering the personal nature of some of the questions, the only way you're going to get answers is by a group playing by committee.”
- monetization20 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with players feeling they paid for a superficial experience akin to a glorified survey, lacking meaningful content or rewards. While there are no intrusive ads during gameplay, users express disappointment over the presence of advertisements for other titles and a general sense of unfulfilled promise regarding the game's value. Overall, the monetization strategy has left many players skeptical and unsatisfied.
“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.”
“I will revise if the developer comes out with new content, but until then I am somewhat suspicious that the 'game' simply may be an unfulfilled promise (or worse yet, a quick 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.”
- grinding14 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 manage the repetitive tasks. While some find the grind tedious, others suggest it detracts from the overall enjoyment and entertainment value of the game.
“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.”
- optimization10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is generally praised, with users reporting smooth performance and no significant issues. The graphics and atmosphere contribute positively to the overall experience, making it entertaining.
“Performance: no issues.”
“Atmospheric, runs smoothly, entertaining to say the least.”
“Performance: no issues.”
- stability8 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 is still considered unacceptable. Users express concern over potential glitches, leading to a reluctance to restart the game. Overall, the experience may require troubleshooting to ensure smoother gameplay.
“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 development4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the character designs and personalities, noting that they resonate with their own beliefs and experiences. This connection suggests that character development is influenced by the player's personal journey within 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.”
