Thing-in-Itself

About

Thing-in-Itself is a single player casual simulation game with romance and drama themes. It was developed by Party for Introverts and was released on January 5, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Thing-in-Itself" is a single-player Romance Interactive Fiction game with an intriguing story and good graphics, exploring the struggles of understanding another person in a relationship. This 15-minute game, based on Immanuel Kant's concept, has no win or lose conditions and features inspired voice acting, aiming to connect the mediums of game and short story. The game presents a thought-provoking, emotional journey with a modern relationship theme.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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73%

Audience ScoreBased on 148 reviews

story14 positive mentions

replayability4 negative mentions

Great voice acting that enhances the emotional experience.
Interesting concept that explores philosophical themes in a relatable way.
Minimalistic design and atmosphere effectively convey the mood of the story.

Extremely short gameplay, lasting only about 15 minutes, which feels insufficient for the price.
The choices made in the game have little impact on the overall story, leading to a lack of replayability.
Graphics and overall presentation are considered poor, detracting from the experience.

story
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
82%
3%
The game's story is a brief, philosophical exploration centered around the relationship struggles of the characters Teddy and Molly, set primarily in an apartment. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and voice acting, many criticize the story for being too short, lacking significant choices that impact the narrative, and feeling incomplete. Overall, it offers a unique experience but may not satisfy those seeking a more substantial or engaging storyline.
- “Very nice, short dive into philosophy with a relatable story.”
- “Thing-in-itself is a lovely experience that uses its story to give meaning to its main concept, and both are richer because of it.”
- “You follow the story of Teddy and Molly, a couple (starting out what seems to be an okay relationship) that falls apart right in front of you.”
- “There isn't much of a storyline, and the decisions you make change very little, if anything at all in the game.”
- “The story itself is too short.”
- “What a waste of money (even if it was just $2); there's no story, just an introduction to a premise of a story.”
emotional
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is described as a profound and touching experience, with many players feeling a strong connection to the story, particularly in relation to personal experiences like break-ups. While some appreciate the philosophical depth, others feel that the emotional elements could be more prominently explored. Overall, the game is noted for its intimate mood and soft voice acting, contributing to its emotional impact.
- “Just be prepared for an emotional ride.”
- “It certainly made me feel something, 'cause it was a wee bit close to a real-life break-up I once had.”
- “The soft voice acting and intimate mood make this a touching game.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
31%
19%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many noting a deliberately one-dimensional and minimalistic art style that some find charming, while others criticize it as poorly designed. Despite the graphics being considered a minor issue, they serve their purpose in complementing the game's philosophical themes and strong voice acting. Overall, while improvements could be made, the visuals do not detract significantly from the overall experience.
- “Great voice acting, cool visuals, and some moments got me like I was there. It's haunting how cool it is to have a philosophy game... I want more!”
- “I loved the art style, sound design was good, and the voice acting was well done.”
- “Though, considering this is an indie game, I will not criticize the art style (which is facade-esque).”
- “The game is a text adventure, with point and click elements, which relies a lot on philosophical issues - the game revolves around a couple who's on the verge of breaking up - and way less on the graphics, since everything's flat and awfully designed.”
- “The deliberately one-dimensional art style certainly is.”
- “Also, the graphics are... they could be better (anyway, this is not much relevant).”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The gameplay is characterized by a minimalistic and short experience, lasting around fifteen minutes, which some players found impressive in its ability to convey deep ideas and emotions. However, others felt it lacked depth and variety, especially when compared to games with multiple endings and impactful player choices. The mechanics are basic, resembling an entry-level point-and-click setup, leading to mixed feelings about its value relative to the price.
- “This game offers a unique gameplay experience and story.”
- “It is really impressive how the 'thing-in-itself' is able to convey so many ideas and emotions in such minimalistic and short gameplay.”
- “I was expecting more out of it, but that may be because I am getting spoiled by games that have so many different endings and where our decisions really make a difference in gameplay and the endings.”
- “I was expecting more out of it, but that may be because I am getting spoiled by games that have so many different endings and games where our decisions really make a difference in gameplay and the endings.”
- “I'm not sure if the price tag is a bit too much, given that one gameplay session is fifteen minutes tops, but I got it on sale anyhow; so if it's on sale, grab it.”
- “Gameplay consists of basic head cam point-and-click in an entry-level 'I just downloaded Unity for the first time' setting.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The music in the game is highly praised for its fittingness and ability to enhance the atmosphere, effectively reflecting the characters' emotions and situations throughout the story. Coupled with excellent voice acting and sound mixing, the soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's melancholic tone and immersive experience, reminiscent of short films. Overall, the combination of music and voice work is seen as a standout feature that brings the narrative to life.
- “The game has fitting music and excellent voice acting that brings Molly and Ted to life.”
- “The sound effects and music change throughout the story to reflect Ted's situations, and there is a great addition of color lighting and item descriptions to portray Ted's mood and state of mind.”
- “It focuses on a concept that I knew nothing about and brings it to life via a realistic script and melancholic tone that is set by the subtle yet powerful voice acting and perfectly matched music.”
- “The sound effects and music change throughout the story to reflect Ted's situations, and there is a great addition of color lighting and item descriptions to portray Ted's mood/state of mind.”
- “Party for Introverts has really got everything down well; the music, voice acting, and general sound mixing were great, and the 2.5D style was new and interesting.”
- “I enjoy this game for several reasons, the biggest being the music, atmosphere, and the voice acting; often this game reminded me of short films in such ways.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The game's replayability is mixed; while it offers 10 achievements tied to different choices that encourage multiple playthroughs, its short duration and limited setting may lead to a lack of interest after a few runs. Players who enjoy the experience may find enough incentive to replay, but others may feel that the confined nature of the game diminishes its long-term appeal.
- “The journey has 10 achievements that unlock based on your choices, providing replayability to what would otherwise be a 15-minute short story experience.”
- “If you enjoy it enough, there's sufficient replayability and achievements to justify another couple of playthroughs.”
- “As I said, the game is rather short and it has of course no replayability - it takes place in the same room, and after some hours you'll have explored every possible scenario.”
- “On the other hand, it sure is short and it lacks replayability (or maybe after a month or so it will have a similar effect as during your first playthrough).”
- “The 'journey' has 10 achievements which unlock as you choose Ted's actions/choices; this does give replayability to what would otherwise be a 15-minute short story experience.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting the impactful music and voice acting that contribute to a cinematic experience reminiscent of short films.
- “I enjoy this game for several reasons, the biggest being the music, atmosphere, and the voice acting; often this game reminded me of short films in such ways.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is consistently praised for its cleverness and wit, providing players with a lighthearted experience that enhances overall enjoyment. Many users appreciate the comedic timing and the quirky dialogue, which contribute to memorable moments throughout gameplay. Overall, the humor is a standout feature that adds charm and personality to the game.