The Westport Independent

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?

68%Game Brain Score

gameplay, story

monetization, stability

75% User Score Based on 264 reviews

Critic Score 61%Based on 9 reviews

Platforms

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About

The Westport Independent is a single player turn-based strategy game. It was developed by Double Zero One Zero and was released on January 21, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

The Westport Independent is a censorship simulator about the last weeks on an independent newspaper which is to be dismantled according to a new government bill. You play an editor in charge of choosing what will be printed in the paper, making sure that the content is nice and proper according to the government guidelines. With rebellions against the government rising slowly amongst the public,…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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75%

Audience ScoreBased on 264 reviews

gameplay22 positive mentions

monetization5 negative mentions

The game effectively critiques censorship in dictatorships, making a strong statement about the influence of media.
The art style and music are well-executed, creating an engaging atmosphere that complements the game's themes.
For a free game, it offers a unique experience with multiple endings based on player choices, encouraging replayability.

The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks depth, with limited mechanics that do not evolve over time.
The game is very short, with most playthroughs lasting under an hour, leading to a lack of substantial content.
Character development is minimal, making it difficult for players to form emotional connections with the journalists or care about their fates.

gameplay
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
67%
7%
The gameplay of "The Westport Independent" is characterized by its simplicity and accessibility, drawing comparisons to "Papers, Please" in its thematic focus on censorship and government control. However, many players find it repetitive and lacking depth, with limited mechanics and a short playtime that fails to fully explore its intriguing concepts. While the game offers some interesting moral dilemmas and a unique atmosphere, it ultimately feels rushed and underdeveloped, leaving players wanting more complexity and engagement.
- “The gameplay is very interesting and screams 'Papers, Please'.”
- “The mechanics are simple, but they work, and the potential scenarios you may create are tantalizing.”
- “The Westport Independent brings interesting and unique mechanics to the table that are really only ever seen in 'Papers, Please'.”
- “The gameplay is boring and uneventful.”
- “The westport independent has an interesting concept but it isn't backed up by its gameplay.”
- “Gameplay was random, the politics were laughably simplistic, and the delivery was awkward.”
story
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
70%
6%
The game's story revolves around themes of government oppression and media censorship, presenting a compelling premise that unfortunately falls short in execution. While some players appreciate the character backstories and the dual perspectives on the narrative, many criticize the story for being rushed, lacking depth, and offering limited replay value due to repetitive content. Overall, the storytelling is seen as charming yet insufficiently developed, leaving players wanting a more engaging and complex narrative experience.
- “Great storytelling.”
- “I have never seen a game do something like this with the plot before, and I absolutely love this small indie game.”
- “Regardless of the fact that this is very small, it has freedom of choice, quite a rich branched storyline, and colorful characters.”
- “The story just feels rushed, and the simple gameplay doesn't do anything to hide this fact, and clearly feels rushed as well.”
- “There isn't anything that ropes you into the game's story; it simply isn't interesting.”
- “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.”
graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
50%
10%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro pixel art style reminiscent of titles like "Papers, Please," featuring a monochrome color palette that enhances its atmospheric and thematic elements. While many players appreciate the aesthetic and find it visually appealing, some criticize it for lacking originality and depth, suggesting that the graphics serve as a substitute for more engaging gameplay. Overall, the art style is seen as a strong point, though it may not fully compensate for the game's execution and gameplay potential.
- “The graphics are in the same retro style as 'Papers, Please', but with a more monochrome color palette, which I found suits it very well.”
- “The art style, however, is beautiful, and the work on lore and background is great.”
- “Very atmospheric, with an old-school vibe of newspapers from 80 years ago, simple yet effective pixelated graphics, and a nice soundtrack.”
- “Again, just like Papers, Please, a choice was made to use obsolete retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “The graphics are not intensive at all, with pixelated text being 99.9% of the game; running this game would take only the most basic of graphics cards.”
- “It's an interesting premise mixed with a tried and true Papers, Please art style, although the choice to emulate that might not have been in the game's favor.”
replayability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
65%
12%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players noting that while there are multiple play styles and endings to explore, the overall experience remains relatively shallow and repetitive. Many reviews highlight that the short playtime limits replay value, and while some enjoy the challenge of achieving different outcomes, others feel that the lack of significant changes between playthroughs diminishes the incentive to replay. Overall, the game offers some replay potential, particularly for those interested in exploring different strategies, but it may not satisfy players seeking deep, varied experiences across multiple runs.
- “It has a bit of replay value since there are 3 main styles of playing this game.”
- “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.”
- “I think this game has a good amount of replayability and decisions actually seem to matter.”
- “I really wish they would have fleshed this game out more to create more replay value.”
- “This game is about an hour long, with 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.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
39%
17%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric quality and fitting style, particularly highlighting standout tracks like "Choices and Regrets." While some players appreciate the nostalgic and immersive soundscapes, others find the music repetitive and uninspiring, suggesting a lack of variety. Overall, the soundtrack is generally seen as a strong point, enhancing the game's aesthetic despite some criticisms of its limited range.
- “Also, choices and regrets is so good, easily the best soundtrack in the game.”
- “The art and choice of music are both very good for a free game from a small studio.”
- “Sounding like something straight out of Casablanca, this song quietly hums in the background and helps set a nice tone for the game.”
- “There’s not much else to speak of beyond that light soundtrack, though the production values for the intro propaganda reel are great.”
- “The soundtrack consists of a single derivative 1940’s jazz track.”
- “Music is repetitive and uninspiring.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its satirical take on serious themes, such as a "blatantly evil government" and the absurdity of a newspaper being shut down prematurely. Players appreciate the clever tabloid parodies and amusing headlines, which contribute to a lighthearted experience despite the darker narrative elements. Overall, the blend of humor with gameplay offers a unique and entertaining perspective.
- “Funny, really cool.”
- “Also love the presentation, and the gossip stories are a funny tabloid parody.”
- “It made me laugh that writing about celebrities actually influenced their marriages.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
The monetization aspect of the game is largely ad-free, focusing instead on a unique advertising mechanic that influences gameplay and player decisions. While the system allows for creative engagement with propaganda and district preferences, it lacks clarity on the effectiveness of ad placements, and players must repeatedly adjust settings each week due to the absence of saved preferences. Overall, the approach is straightforward but could benefit from improved clarity and user experience.
- “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.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its stunning visual and audio presentation, effectively enhancing the themes and setting. Reviewers note its immersive old-school newspaper vibe, complemented by simple yet effective pixelated graphics and a fitting soundtrack, making it a compelling experience for fans of atmospheric storytelling.
- “The visual and audio presentation is stunning as well, and contributes perfectly to both the themes and the atmosphere.”
- “If you liked 'Papers, Please' and its oppressive Orwellian atmosphere in particular, you'd really enjoy this one.”
- “Very atmospheric, with an old-school vibe of newspapers from 80 years ago, simple yet effective pixelated graphics, and a nice soundtrack.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game falls short, as players feel little to no attachment to the characters or the consequences of their choices, leading to a lack of genuine emotional investment. Unlike other titles that effectively evoke feelings of guilt or empathy through impactful decisions, this game fails to create a meaningful connection, resulting in a disconnection from the narrative and its characters. Overall, the emotional engagement is minimal, leaving players indifferent to the outcomes of their actions.
- “In other games, such as 'Papers, Please' or 'Bioshock,' when you are allowed a choice, one of the expectations is that your decision will have a tangible, noticeable impact on the world around you. This decision should provoke such an emotional response that you feel bad for the people who are affected by your choices.”
- “If this game had made my choices feel more important and made me feel more attached to my reporters, I probably would have gotten much more into it.”
- “Yes, I know it didn't live up to expectations; it's short and isn't as emotionally conflicting as 'Papers, Please.'”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits several glitches and bugs, with some players reporting crashes that necessitate a relaunch. While these issues are notable, they are generally not considered game-breaking.
- “It seems pretty buggy, at least based on my two playthroughs.”
- “The game is buggy; it has crashed a few times, and I have experienced glitches that forced me to relaunch it.”
- “It has a handful of glitches, but they're not game-breaking.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers express a desire for more interactive conversations and additional notes from co-workers to enhance character development, suggesting that these elements could deepen the narrative and provide greater insight into the characters.
- “I just wish the conversations included you from time to time, and that there were more notes you receive from your co-workers, as it would also enhance their character development.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
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. The absence of meaningful choices, external systems, or engaging narratives contributes to a sense of emptiness and frustration.
- “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.”
- “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
- “I found myself doing the same tasks over and over again, which made the experience feel more like a chore than fun.”

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61%Critics’ scoreBased on 9 critic reviews

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7h Median play time

6h Average play time

5-8h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Westport Independent is a turn-based strategy game.

The Westport Independent is available on PC, Mac OS, Phone, iPad and others.

On average players spend around 6 hours playing The Westport Independent.

The Westport Independent was released on January 21, 2016.

The Westport Independent was developed by Double Zero One Zero.

The Westport Independent has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its monetization.

The Westport Independent is a single player game.

Similar games include HEADLINER, Headliner: NoviNews, Yes, Your Grace, Through the Darkest of Times, Beholder and others.

The Westport Independent

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It’s about ethics in journalism