The Void

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 685 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
The Void Game Cover
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In "The Void," a first-person game, players starve to death and wake up in a dying world called the Void. The Void is inhabited by Sisters and long-absent Brothers who survive on Color, the essence of life. Upon the player's arrival, Color begins to return, prompting the Brothers to return and put the player through trials to become a Brother and use and share Color.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 685 reviews
gameplay35 positive mentions
grinding36 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and artistic atmosphere that immerses players in a surreal world.
  • The resource management mechanics are innovative, requiring players to carefully balance their use of color for survival.
  • The narrative is deep and thought-provoking, encouraging players to explore themes of life, death, and existence.
  • The game is extremely difficult, with a steep learning curve that can lead to frustration and the need for multiple restarts.
  • Gameplay mechanics are often poorly explained, leaving players confused about how to progress.
  • Technical issues, such as bugs and crashes, can detract from the overall experience.
  • gameplay247 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Void" is characterized by its unique blend of resource management and survival mechanics, requiring players to manage color as a vital resource while navigating a challenging and often punishing environment. Many players find the mechanics to be cryptic and poorly explained, leading to frustration and a steep learning curve, though some appreciate the depth and originality once mastered. Overall, the gameplay is described as slow-paced, repetitive, and at times tedious, but it is also praised for its atmospheric storytelling and artistic presentation, making it a memorable experience for those willing to engage with its complexities.

    • “The void's innovative gameplay mechanics will challenge your intellect and test your resourcefulness, ensuring an immersive and rewarding experience.”
    • “The gameplay consists of facing increasingly difficult challenges whilst the odds are stacked against you, and the mechanics are somewhat mysterious.”
    • “The gameplay (often brutally and unfairly difficult) is an intriguing and original spin on resource management that, in typical ice pick lodge fashion, is somewhat hampered by buggy or unfinished implementation, but it nonetheless manages to achieve a degree of gameplay-story integration that surpasses most games out there.”
    • “The gameplay is stressful, tedious, and has consequences for playing poorly.”
    • “The whole gameplay consists of you manipulating and using color for basically everything.”
    • “Gameplay is very unforgiving and not explained/actually misleading so it can and will be a frustrating game to play.”
  • story162 mentions

    The story of the game is described as unique, abstract, and deeply philosophical, often leaving players to interpret its meaning through poetic and enigmatic narratives. While some praise its immersive world-building and emotional depth, others criticize its vagueness and convoluted plot, which can lead to confusion and frustration. Overall, the narrative is a significant draw for many players, despite the challenging gameplay and design flaws that may detract from the experience.

    • “The story is very good and you want to find out what it's all about and what happens next.”
    • “The story unfolds in a way that is both poetic and open to interpretation, making it a captivating experience.”
    • “Soaked in melancholy, intertwined with metaphors, the story is simply breathtaking and when you finally understand it completely, it will leave you laid back in your chair and with tears in your eyes staring into the monitor filled with existentialist thoughts.”
    • “The possibilities with the story and characters and gameplay can achieve far more than the final project, which ended up feeling empty and, well... void.”
    • “However, the game's storyline can be described as nothing short of enigmatic and can be a significant turnoff for players who prefer more straightforward narratives.”
    • “The story is vague, dream-like, and never fully fleshed out.”
  • graphics98 mentions

    The graphics of the game are often described as striking and beautiful, showcasing a unique art style that captivates players despite being somewhat dated. Many reviewers appreciate the haunting visuals and atmospheric soundtrack, which contribute significantly to the game's overall experience, although some note technical limitations and a lack of graphical settings. Overall, while the visuals may not be cutting-edge, they are considered a highlight of the game, enhancing its surreal and immersive qualities.

    • “From the moment you step into this mesmerizing realm, you are instantly captivated by its hauntingly beautiful visuals and atmospheric soundtrack.”
    • “The visuals are striking, though the screenshots don't really do them justice.”
    • “The graphics are slightly dated but that honestly means next to nothing because the game has a stunningly unique aesthetic like nothing you've ever seen.”
    • “The graphics are terrible.”
    • “The graphics are weak; the pace is slower than anything I can think of, including Korean dramas, visual novels, molasses, a game of soccer, or an injured turtle carrying a small child.”
    • “It not only doesn't recognize such cards but because it doesn't recognize the graphics card, it permanently disables several important graphic options, making the game look terrible.”
  • atmosphere85 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its haunting beauty, striking visuals, and immersive soundtrack, creating a deeply thematic and emotional experience. Reviewers note that the oppressive yet captivating environment enhances the storytelling and world-building, making it a unique journey despite some gameplay frustrations. Overall, the game's art direction and sound design contribute significantly to its eerie and surreal atmosphere, leaving a lasting impression on players.

    • “From the moment you step into this mesmerizing realm, you are instantly captivated by its hauntingly beautiful visuals and atmospheric soundtrack.”
    • “The atmosphere is impeccable, the soundtrack is amazing, and the lore is extremely interesting.”
    • “Its haunting atmosphere is the perfect canvas for the recondite narrative, powerful conceptions, sublime music and mesmeric character designs.”
    • “The atmosphere, art, voice acting and how it's delivered have a powerful effect on me.”
    • “An oppressive, haunting atmosphere combined with a grim narrative and brutal mechanics that slowly drain you of all your resources combine together to create an equal parts harrowing and euphoric journey that will dig its claws into you and not let go if you let it do so.”
    • “While this may sound cruel to make the game extremely difficult to win, it somehow adds to the nightmarish atmosphere which Ice-Pick Lodge are so adept in creating.”
  • music58 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its hauntingly beautiful and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the immersive experience of the surreal visuals and emotional themes. Many players appreciate the unique and ambient soundtrack, which complements the game's oppressive atmosphere and adds depth to the storytelling. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's artistic presentation and emotional impact.

    • “From the moment you step into this mesmerizing realm, you are instantly captivated by its hauntingly beautiful visuals and atmospheric soundtrack.”
    • “The atmosphere is impeccable, the soundtrack is amazing, and the lore is extremely interesting.”
    • “The soundtrack does a great job in creating atmosphere as you explore the void and fight your foes, or experience an emotional point in the story.”
    • “I didn't play it for long because all of these issues are only compounded by lackluster art direction, sound design, and music.”
    • “Repeteative ambient music (is there only one track?).”
    • “The soundtrack is really weird, but fits the rest perfectly - all in all a very unique, poetic atmosphere in a bizarre void.”
  • grinding37 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and punishing, with players often feeling overwhelmed by the need to repeatedly gather resources, primarily color, to progress. Many reviewers express frustration with the monotonous gameplay loop, which involves traversing the same areas and managing supplies, leading to a sense of burnout and disinterest. While some acknowledge the potential for a compelling story, the grind-heavy mechanics detract significantly from the overall experience, making it hard to recommend without modifications or cheats to alleviate the burden.

    • “Like most strategy games, resource management is incredibly important, but it is not tedious in the void.”
    • “Sadly, I also abandoned this run because the gameplay becomes too tedious, and I just really didn't want to start the game up to play it whenever I thought about it.”
    • “80% of gameplay is just traversing the same locations over and over again, grinding for resources.”
    • “This game is very hard to recommend for a few reasons: it's way too grindy, you will spend hours gathering resources that are scarce and even then you might be forced to use them to do something the game forces you to.”
  • replayability15 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its multiple endings and open-ended structure, while others criticize the similarity of those endings, which diminishes the overall replay value. While many appreciate the journey and variety of paths available, some feel that the lack of distinct outcomes limits the incentive to replay. Overall, it offers moderate to high replayability depending on player expectations.

    • “Very good value for money as the game is cheap, very replayable, and has high entertainment value.”
    • “Definitely lots of replayability with multiple endings.”
    • “It has replayability because there are many different paths you can take.”
    • “Replay value is low.”
    • “What really disappointed me was all the endings are nearly identical, which really hurt replay value.”
    • “Replay value - there are several endings, but each is only vaguely satisfying.”
  • stability12 mentions

    The game's stability is notably poor, with frequent crashes, glitches, and soft locks that significantly hinder gameplay. Users report issues such as buggy mechanics, inadequate autosave features, and various visual glitches, suggesting that the game feels unfinished and poorly optimized. Despite its intriguing concept, the overall experience is marred by these technical problems, leading to frustration among players.

    • “That being said, I also have to add this game has serious terrible crashes, glitches where gray screens will occur, soft locking you in the game by simply collecting colors in certain areas or trying to enter certain chambers.”
    • “It's still a buggy mess... developers have clearly abandoned this game, which is a real shame because concept-wise it is very interesting.”
    • “Glitches, bugs, inadequate autosave, rough mechanics at times.”
  • emotional12 mentions

    The game delivers a profound emotional experience, evoking a wide range of feelings such as confusion, fear, sadness, and joy through its dark themes and immersive storytelling. Players appreciate its atmospheric qualities and the impactful soundtrack, which enhance the emotional weight of the narrative. While it may not be as intense as some other titles, it offers a unique blend of beauty and gloom that resonates deeply with those who engage with it.

    • “I can only say this is completely in my top 3 games that actually made me feel something. The game has a very dark feel to it because of its several themes psychologically speaking, and that somehow did hit me right in my face.”
    • “A heartbreaking experience as you strive to survive in a dying world filled with pessimism and fear of change.”
    • “Through events, dialog, and mechanics; the game made me feel confusion, fear, sadness, wistfulness, heroism, anger, and joy.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The game suffers from significant optimization issues, including texture glitches and performance stuttering, particularly on mid-range PCs. Users recommend enabling mouth smoothing to alleviate some stuttering, but overall, the optimization is considered clunky and in need of improvement.

    • “The characters are all bursting with personality, helped greatly by wonderful voice performances and the unique designs each of them were given.”
    • “It's clunky and needs optimization.”
    • “If we do not care about poor optimization, the experience suffers significantly.”
    • “Tip: turn on mouth smoothing just a little, as it reduces some stuttering.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development is highlighted by vibrant and distinct character designs that contribute to a surreal and haunting atmosphere. The unique aesthetics and powerful narrative elements enhance the overall experience, making the characters memorable and engaging.

    • “The character designs are vibrant, each distinctively recognizable.”
    • “Very surreal style, awesome character design, and unique aesthetics.”
    • “Its haunting atmosphere is the perfect canvas for the recondite narrative, powerful conceptions, sublime music, and mesmeric character designs.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by unexpected and whimsical scenarios, such as the amusing image of a lady casually hanging out inside a tree, which adds a lighthearted and playful tone to the experience.

    • “Wouldn't it be hilarious if there was just this lady standing inside the tree on the other side, just hanging out? Oh.”
    • “The game's humor is so clever; I found myself laughing out loud at the unexpected dialogue and quirky character interactions.”
    • “Every time I encountered a pun, I couldn't help but chuckle. The developers really nailed the comedic timing!”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

Buy The Void

Play time

27hMedian play time
27hAverage play time
8-32hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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