Thirty Flights of Loving

67%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,014 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Thirty Flights of Loving Game Cover
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Thirty Flights of Loving is a first-person narrative-driven game that takes players on a journey through the world of high-flying schemes, lovelorn criminals, and stray kittens. The game features a unique storyline, immersive gameplay, and an original soundtrack by Chris Remo. Thirty Flights of Loving was an IGF 2013 nominee for Excellence in Narrative, and received honorable mentions for the Seumas McNally Grand Prize and Nuovo Award, as well as being featured at IndieCade 2013. The game also includes developer commentary and a bonus game, Gravity Bone.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

67%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,014 reviews
story147 positive mentions
replayability7 negative mentions
  • Unique and innovative storytelling that uses non-linear narrative techniques.
  • Visually striking with a charming art style and great soundtrack.
  • Offers a memorable experience that encourages multiple playthroughs to piece together the story.
  • Extremely short, lasting only about 10-15 minutes, which may not justify the price.
  • Lacks traditional gameplay elements, making it feel more like an interactive movie than a game.
  • The story can be confusing and disjointed, leaving players unsure of what just happened.
  • story573 mentions

    The story of "Thirty Flights of Loving" is characterized by its experimental and non-linear narrative style, often described as a short interactive story rather than a traditional game. While some players appreciate its unique approach to storytelling through jump cuts and environmental cues, others find the plot disjointed and difficult to follow, requiring multiple playthroughs to piece together the narrative. Overall, it is praised for its artistic ambition and emotional impact, despite its brevity and minimal gameplay.

    • “It's a short, punchy story that doesn't stop rolling along once you've set it in motion, and it delivers its disjointed narrative in steady beats - kind of like a music video.”
    • “This game tells a better story in 15 minutes than others do in 10 hours.”
    • “An amazing game that tells its entire story through filmic language.”
    • “The story is lost on me, the gameplay is boring, and there is nothing deep to think about.”
    • “The game is 10 minutes long, the story makes no sense, and the only gameplay is walking.”
    • “I was bewildered by the sloppy non-linear storytelling.”
  • gameplay121 mentions

    The gameplay of this title is widely criticized for being minimal and linear, often described as little more than a walking simulator with no meaningful interaction or exploration. Many reviewers note that the game lasts only about 10 to 20 minutes, lacking depth and traditional gameplay mechanics, which leads to a perception that it fails to justify its price. Overall, it is recommended primarily for those interested in narrative-driven experiences rather than conventional gameplay.

    • “This is a rifling gameplay experience, which manages to develop more intrigue and suspense in fifteen minutes than most games do in ten hours.”
    • “Melding elements of film into gameplay is rare and I really appreciated it.”
    • “Though it might seem a bit short of gameplay, it does a great job of piecing together an interesting story without relying on heavy text or dialogue.”
    • “And, on top of featuring no gameplay (as such) and zero exploration, the game only lasts about 10 minutes!”
    • “The gameplay is horrid, the unique visuals tire very quickly, and there's no enjoyment to be had out of this.”
    • “There's no gameplay, just a 'walk from point A to point B' story which isn't very good, unique, or interesting.”
  • graphics64 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique and charming art style that draws inspiration from retro aesthetics and simple designs, which some players find refreshing and enjoyable. However, many reviews also highlight technical issues such as graphical glitches and a lack of depth in the visuals, leading to mixed feelings about the overall presentation. While the simplistic graphics may appeal to fans of indie games, they may not satisfy those seeking a more polished visual experience.

    • “The art style is unique, and even without any actual dialogue, the game tells an entire story.”
    • “Aesthetically, I love this, with both its references to old-school espionage films and reliance on simple modular design.”
    • “The graphics, lights, colors, and music are really cool, but it was not enough to make me enjoy.”
    • “It's very short, has virtually no gameplay, and uses a graphics engine from the 90s, any of which will be deal-breakers for some people.”
    • “There are also some sound issues and graphical glitches which hinder the game.”
    • “It attempts to play off its poor, blocky graphics as 'stylized.' I would be fine with paying this much money for a 15-minute game if it featured a meaningful, elaborate narrative.”
  • music53 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its quality, uniqueness, and ability to enhance the overall experience. Several comments highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, often comparing it favorably to cinematic scores and noting its emotional impact. While some critiques mention other aspects of the game as lacking, the music consistently emerges as a strong point that contributes significantly to the game's charm and atmosphere.

    • “The world-building, visual style, and music are all great, and have stuck with me more than games I played for ten times longer.”
    • “The music is just perfect.”
    • “Fantastic little double pack, interesting storytelling ideas, and a fantastic soundtrack.”
    • “Aside from that, the story itself is only really okay, the gameplay is meager at best, and the art, aside from the music, is pretty poor.”
    • “The soundtrack is okay, but the visuals are lazy (look at the cube heads! Just like in Minecraft! You liked Minecraft, right?).”
    • “Thirty Flights of Loving is an experimental story-game which uses bizarre music, weird visuals, crazy level design, and a hyper-confident lack of context or explanation to tell an entire criminal-caper-drama-film's worth of story in something under ten minutes.”
  • emotional18 mentions

    The emotional depth of this short video game has been widely praised, with many players noting its ability to evoke a range of feelings, from laughter to tears, in a brief playtime of around 15-20 minutes. Reviewers highlight the game's poignant storytelling and character montages, which create a powerful narrative experience that rivals traditional AAA titles. Despite its minimalistic approach, the emotional impact resonates long after the game ends, leaving a lasting impression on players.

    • “There is more emotional depth here in this very short video game to rival or even exceed any 'game of the year,' and the best part is, you get to piece it all together, like a broken heart.”
    • “I cannot believe how many emotions this game made me feel in under 10 minutes.”
    • “Blendo Games is a professional miniaturist at arranging an emotional narrative with a very tight design scope resulting in something spectacular that could rival some of the traditional storytelling used by AAA game studios.”
  • humor16 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky, unique style and clever storytelling, blending elements of comedy with emotional depth and artistic references. Players appreciate the snappy editing and innovative narrative structure that deliver a funny and engaging experience, though some note its brevity. Overall, the game is described as a stylish and original take on humor, with a mix of absurdity and poignancy that resonates well with players.

    • “Hilarious, touching, true.”
    • “Very stylish, smart and funny with lots of references to classic works of art, literature and cinema.”
    • “Short enough to not wear out its welcome: witty, poignant, funny, fast-paced.”
    • “It's not nice and it's not funny.”
  • replayability15 mentions

    Overall, the game is criticized for its lack of replayability, with many reviewers noting its short length and linear gameplay as significant drawbacks. While some appreciate the storytelling and humor, they still find little incentive to replay, often suggesting that the experience is only worth a single playthrough, especially at a discounted price. A few users mention enjoying the game with friends for their reactions, but this is seen as the only redeeming aspect of replay value.

    • “Although a short game, it's humorous, fun, and has good replayability.”
    • “I like to have my friends play it to watch their reactions; that's pretty much the only thing that lends to its replayability for me.”
    • “Replayability is limited, but the low price tag and visual flair are incentive enough to try it.”
    • “There is no substance, no depth, no replayability, no anything.”
    • “This is crazily short, and it doesn't have a lot of replay value.”
    • “With no challenge or choices, there is no replayability.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its creativity and engaging visuals, creating a joyful and adventurous experience. Despite its brevity, the game effectively draws players into its immersive environment, showcasing a successful blend of narrative and mood through its unique indie charm. Overall, the atmosphere is described as fantastic and memorable, making a strong impact within a short playtime.

    • “Fantastic atmosphere.”
    • “A fun romp that feels at its heart joyfully adventurous and atmospheric.”
    • “Creative, fun, amazing atmosphere, has that classic homemade feel, and all for a price as small as pocket change.”
    • “There's plenty of fun ideas here, neat visuals, and quality atmosphere, but you hardly get into it before it's suddenly all over.”
    • “It's a 10-minute story that really draws an atmosphere.”
    • “What seems to be a successful experiment in game narrative, and also very telling in how we can use game atmosphere to convey certain moods.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, graphical glitches, and sound problems, which detract from the overall experience. Many users describe it as "buggy" and "overpriced," indicating a lack of polish and reliability.

    • “There are also some sound issues and graphical glitches which hinder the game.”
    • “Overpriced, jarring, buggy, awful.”
    • “Buggy as hell.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game is widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with users urging others not to support what they perceive as a scam.

    • “This isn't even attempting to be art; it's a cash grab.”
    • “Do not support this cash grab scam blindly.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game's optimization has been criticized for issues such as non-functional fullscreen mode, persistent stuttering, lengthy loading times, and the requirement to restart the game when adjusting settings.

    • “Fullscreen didn't work, I experienced constant stuttering, changing the settings restarts the game, and the loading times are long.”
    • “The game is poorly optimized, leading to frequent frame drops and long loading screens that disrupt the experience.”
    • “Even on high-end hardware, the performance is lacking, with noticeable lag and stuttering during gameplay.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The character development in the game is criticized for being nonexistent, with players noting a lack of depth and progression due to the linear gameplay and absence of secrets or engaging elements.

    • “Gameplay is entirely linear, there are no secrets to find, no character development, plus unoriginal and boring gameplay elements.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

90% average critic score

Buy Thirty Flights of Loving

Play time

2hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
2-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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