The Void

About

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,372 reviews

gameplay70 positive mentions

grinding72 negative mentions

The Void offers a unique and artistic experience, blending surreal visuals with a haunting atmosphere.
The gameplay mechanics, while challenging, encourage strategic thinking and resource management, making each decision impactful.
The narrative is deep and open to interpretation, allowing players to engage with the themes of life, death, and creativity.

The game is extremely difficult and punishing, often leading to frustration and the need to restart after significant time investment.
The lack of clear instructions and tutorials can leave players confused about gameplay mechanics and objectives.
Technical issues, such as bugs and slow movement, detract from the overall experience and can make gameplay tedious.

gameplay
494 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
80%
6%
The gameplay of "The Void" is characterized by its unique blend of resource management and survival mechanics, primarily revolving around the management of color as a vital resource. Players often find the mechanics to be cryptic and unforgiving, leading to a steep learning curve that can result in frustration, especially due to the lack of clear instructions and the game's punishing nature. While the gameplay offers a distinct and immersive experience, it can also feel tedious and repetitive, with many players recommending the use of guides to navigate its complexities.
- “The void's innovative gameplay mechanics will challenge your intellect and test your resourcefulness, ensuring an immersive and rewarding experience.”
- “Overall, the void's unique combination of resource management mechanics, haunting ambiance, and unforgiving gameplay make it a challenging and memorable experience.”
- “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 world is dreary and abandoned (for the most part), and the gameplay is stressful, tedious, and has consequences for playing poorly.”
- “Sadly, I also abandoned this run because the gameplay becomes too tedious, and I kind of just really didn't want to start the game up to play it whenever I thought about it.”
- “Gameplay-wise, there are a lot of repetitive movements, and worse of all, extreme obscurity with many of its mechanics.”
story
324 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
62%
4%
The story of the game is described as unique, poetic, and open to interpretation, often delving into themes of death, loss, and existentialism. While some players find the narrative deeply immersive and rewarding, others criticize it for being convoluted, vague, and poorly executed, leading to frustration with the gameplay. Overall, the game's abstract storytelling and rich atmosphere are highlighted as its strongest elements, though they may not appeal to everyone due to their complexity and lack of clarity.
- “The story is very good and you want to find out what it's all about and what happens next.”
- “The story that unfolds is fantastic and the lore is immersive.”
- “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 controls are complicated, the story is senseless and boring, with some girl hiding in the tree and telling you to collect colors and spend it, but also to save it (?!).”
graphics
196 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
54%
7%
The graphics of the game are often described as striking and beautiful, showcasing a unique art style that captivates players with its haunting visuals and atmospheric design. While some reviewers note that the graphics feel dated and lack technical polish, many appreciate the game's artistic direction and the way it contributes to the overall eerie ambiance. Overall, the visuals are a standout feature, providing a memorable experience despite some criticisms regarding performance and graphical options.
- “From the moment you step into this mesmerizing realm, you are instantly captivated by its hauntingly beautiful visuals and atmospheric soundtrack.”
- “The void is striking in its visuals--featuring stark and dreary landscapes contrasted with splashes of vibrant color and otherworldly architecture and characters--but it's more than just visually beautiful.”
- “The visuals are bold and fascinating in their crumbling beauty.”
- “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.”
- “Sadly, the graphics alone can't help overcome the boredom/frustration of wandering around aimlessly.”
atmosphere
170 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
39%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its haunting beauty, striking visuals, and immersive soundtrack, creating a deeply thematic and often oppressive experience. Reviewers highlight the unique art style and world-building, which contribute to a surreal and melancholic ambiance that captivates players, despite some frustrations with gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its strongest aspect, offering a memorable and emotionally resonant journey for those willing to engage with its challenges.
- “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 resource management kind of ends up getting in the way of the atmosphere, especially if you're alt-tabbing to a guide.”
- “This game will make you feel sad or even empty inside for the most part, probably because of its atmosphere, locations, themes... the music is what puts a strong dot at the end of this list.”
- “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.”
music
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
50%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised for its haunting and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience with its ambient tracks and unique sound design. Many players find the soundtrack to be a perfect fit for the game's surreal visuals and emotional themes, contributing to a captivating and immersive atmosphere. While some note a repetitiveness in the music, the overall consensus is that it significantly elevates the game's aesthetic 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?).”
- “This game will make you feel sad or even empty inside for the most part... probably because of its atmosphere, locations, themes... the music is what puts a strong dot at the end of this list.”
grinding
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The grinding aspect of the game is heavily criticized, with players describing it as tedious, stressful, and often punishing, requiring extensive resource farming that detracts from the overall experience. Many reviewers express frustration with the repetitive nature of gameplay, where a significant portion involves traversing the same areas to gather scarce resources, leading to a sense of burnout. While some acknowledge the potential for a compelling story, the overwhelming grind and lack of clear objectives make it difficult to recommend the game without modifications or cheats to alleviate the tedium.
- “Like most strategy games, resource management is incredibly important, but it is not tedious in the void.”
- “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; the bosses have way too much health making them really impractical to kill and expensive in resources; it is also confusing and merciless when it comes to mistakes so make a lot of saves.”
- “80% of gameplay is just traversing the same locations over and over again grinding for resources.”
- “The whole 'farming and micro-manage your supply of paint' was not really what I was hoping for gameplay-wise, which is a shame, because I really think there might be a good story in it, I just find the gameplay clunky, buggy, and generally unenjoyable.”
replayability
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
50%
10%
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 overall replay value. While some find it entertaining enough to revisit, others feel that the lack of variety in outcomes significantly impacts the desire to replay. Overall, opinions range from high replayability due to different paths to low replay value due to repetitive endings.
- “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.”
- “Sure, there are about a dozen possible endings, but replayability isn't the point of the void.”
- “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.”
stability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent crashes, glitches, and soft locks that hinder gameplay. Many players report bugs affecting movement and mechanics, such as getting stuck on stairs and encountering invisible elements, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite its intriguing concept, the game's unfinished implementation and lack of optimization have led to a frustrating and unenjoyable experience for many users.
- “That being said, I also have to add this game has serious terrible crashes, glitches where gray screens will occur, soft locking you in 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.”
emotional
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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, likening it to a heartbreaking journey in a dying world, enhanced by a compelling soundtrack. While the steep learning curve may deter some, the emotional depth and unsettling ambiance make it a must-experience for those willing to engage with its complexities.
- “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 hit me right in the face.”
- “A heartbreaking experience as you strive to survive in a dying world filled with pessimism and fear of change.”
- “Through events, dialogue, and mechanics, the game made me feel confusion, fear, sadness, wistfulness, heroism, anger, and joy.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, leading to stuttering, texture glitches, and freezes, particularly on mid-range PCs. Users suggest enabling mouth smoothing to alleviate some stuttering, but overall, the experience is described as clunky and in need of further optimization.
- “It's clunky and needs optimization.”
- “If we do not care about poor optimization.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The character development is highlighted by vibrant and distinct designs that contribute to a surreal and haunting atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the unique aesthetics and powerful narrative that 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.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”

75%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews

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The Void
$9.99
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27h Median play time

27h Average play time

8-32h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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