The Westport Independent

59%
Game Brain Score Based on 223 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • replayability
The Westport Independent Game Cover
As the Editor at The Westport Independent, you have 12 weeks to decide whether you will support the radicalised government or join the rebels at the risk of your newspaper being closed or death threats in the mail. Where will your allegiance lie?
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The Westport Independent is a single-player, turn-based strategy game about censorship, corruption, and newspapers in a post-war country. As the editor of one of the last independent papers, you must censor articles to shape public opinion of the government and rebels while dealing with employee reactions and public figures' correspondence. Your actions adapt the stories and outcomes in this 2-hour playtime game.

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  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

59%
Audience ScoreBased on 223 reviews
gameplay23 positive mentions
monetization6 negative mentions
  • The game presents an intriguing concept of censorship and media influence, allowing players to explore moral choices in a dystopian setting.
  • The art style and presentation are well-executed, creating an engaging atmosphere that complements the game's themes.
  • There is a good level of replayability, as players can choose different paths and endings based on their editorial decisions.
  • The game is very short, with a single playthrough lasting only about 30-70 minutes, which limits its overall value and replayability.
  • Gameplay can feel repetitive and shallow, with limited mechanics and a lack of meaningful consequences for player choices.
  • Many players found the narrative and character development lacking, making it difficult to become invested in the story or the characters.
  • gameplay91 mentions

    The gameplay has been described as having potential but ultimately falls short due to its simplicity and lack of depth, with many reviewers noting a need for more complex mechanics and clearer explanations. While the concept of managing a newspaper in troubled times is intriguing, the execution is often seen as shallow and repetitive, leading to a gameplay experience that feels limited and unengaging. Comparisons to "Papers, Please" highlight the desire for a richer, more varied gameplay experience, but many feel this game does not deliver on that promise.

    • “You get an hour or so of some interesting gameplay if you try out multiple paths.”
    • “Its simple premise of 'what if I was in charge of a newspaper in troubled times?' along with its rather well-chosen game mechanics really did make it quite easy to get into.”
    • “The mechanics are simple, but they work, and the potential scenarios you may create are tantalizing.”
    • “Wherever it is some sort of statement or just a gameplay imbalance siding with the rebels in this game lends you a quick game over.”
    • “Lacks proper balance and game mechanics refinement.”
    • “Gameplay is boring and uneventful.”
  • story45 mentions

    The game's story is characterized by a rich, albeit brief narrative set in an oppressive regime, offering a mix of suspense and choice. However, players note that the plot lacks depth and logical progression, leading to a feeling of detachment from the outcomes of their actions. While the presentation is praised for its personality, many feel that the limited content and repetitive nature of the story diminish its overall impact.

    • “It has a ton of personality with a fantastic story and presentation.”
    • “Regardless of the fact that this is very small, it has freedom of choice, quite a rich branched storyline, and colorful characters.”
    • “Many games with big budgets for dialogues and storylines by renowned authors couldn't give me a comparably good experience.”
    • “The biggest problem is that game results don't really follow logically from your actions, which means you never feel invested in the story of what you're 'doing' as the editor.”
    • “You can beat the main (and only) story in less than an hour and there just isn't enough content in repeated playthroughs to make it worth it.”
    • “These cutscenes are ignorable and don't really carry a lot of plot or character.”
  • replayability32 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while many players note a high potential for replay due to different endings and changing elements in each playthrough, others feel that the overall experience remains largely the same, limiting depth and variety. The short length of the game, with playthroughs taking less than 30 minutes, further detracts from its replay value, leading some to suggest the addition of an endless mode. Overall, while there are opportunities for varied outcomes, the lack of significant changes between playthroughs leaves some players wanting more.

    • “Each full 12-week playthrough can be done in less than 30 minutes, but each time the elements change enough to keep a replay value.”
    • “It features great replayability.”
    • “I think this game has a good amount of replayability and decisions actually seem to matter.”
    • “Game is fine but very short, which harms its replayability.”
    • “Sadly it offers very little replay value.”
    • “However, the replayability suffers because everything stays pretty much the same...your editors, their cutscenes in between weeks (even though they do refer sometimes to decisions you made, many of them stayed the same the second time I played), the headlines/stories.”
  • graphics26 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro pixel art style reminiscent of classic titles like "Papers, Please" and "Republia Times," which many reviewers found appealing. While the aesthetic is praised for its beauty and effective lore integration, some critics noted that it feels derivative and that the gameplay does not fully capitalize on the visual potential. Overall, the graphics are seen as a strong point, but they are overshadowed by the game's execution and lack of engaging gameplay.

    • “Concept is good, graphics, I like the retro pixel graphics; sounds, it was excellent.”
    • “The art style, however, is beautiful, and the work on lore and background is great.”
    • “[intriguing gameplay and plot ideas, fitting art style and music].”
    • “This game offers a lot of potential in gameplay and while the developers nailed the art style, they sadly left this gameplay potential untapped.”
    • “The aesthetic and theme of 'Papers, Please', but with none of the compelling gameplay or clear cause and effect.”
    • “The old school graphics which look pretty much like a C64 game.”
  • monetization8 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of clarity and functionality, with no ads or optional content present. Players find the advertisement system confusing, as it requires repetitive adjustments each week without saving preferences, leading to uncertainty about the effectiveness of their advertising choices in relation to district interests.

    • “It is also not clear exactly how the advertisement works, and if this even matters.”
    • “Each district has two subjects it cares about, but does that mean you are wasting advertisement points by still placing adverts in a district if your paper doesn't include a subject they like?”
    • “Advertising preferences are not saved, so you have to keep redoing the sliders each week.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its clever tabloid parodies and amusing headlines, which effectively satirize celebrity culture. Players appreciate the balance of simplicity and humor, noting that the comedic elements enhance the overall experience, particularly in how writing about celebrities humorously impacts their fictional lives.

    • “I love the presentation, and the gossip stories are a funny tabloid parody.”
    • “Some headlines are pretty funny.”
    • “It made me laugh that writing about celebrities actually influenced their marriages.”
  • music7 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the nice soundtrack, others find it repetitive and uninspiring. Overall, it is noted to fit well with the game's art style and gameplay.

    • “It's got a nice soundtrack, too.”
    • “[Intriguing gameplay and plot ideas, fitting art style and music].”
    • “The music enhances the overall experience and immerses you in the game world.”
    • “The music is repetitive and uninspiring.”
    • “The music is repetitive and uninspiring.”
    • “While the gameplay and plot ideas are intriguing, the music does not enhance the experience.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game has been reported to have significant stability issues, with multiple users experiencing frequent crashes and glitches that require relaunching. Overall, it appears to be quite buggy, impacting the overall gameplay experience.

    • “The game is buggy; it has crashed a few times, and I have experienced glitches that forced me to relaunch it.”
    • “It seems pretty buggy, at least based on my two playthroughs.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    Players appreciate the optimization of the game, noting that it allows for a more relaxed gameplay experience without the pressure of performance concerns.

    • “These two differences result in a much more relaxed gameplay, where the player doesn't need to worry about their performance that much.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and lacking depth, as a single playthrough lasts about an hour with little incentive for replay due to the absence of meaningful choices, external systems, or engaging narratives.

    • “A single playthrough should not take more than an hour, and I can't see much reason to replay it because it's a bit tedious and empty, with no real sense of control over outcomes, no outside system to affect, no personal life to manage, and no plot.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional impact of the game has been criticized for not meeting expectations, with reviewers noting its brevity and lack of depth in emotional conflict compared to titles like "Papers, Please." Overall, it seems to fall short in delivering a compelling emotional experience.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

61% average critic score

Buy The Westport Independent

Play time

2hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
2-2hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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