Thirty Flights of Loving

About

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,031 reviews

story294 positive mentions

replayability14 negative mentions

Unique and experimental storytelling approach that engages players' imagination.
Visually appealing with a charming art style and great soundtrack.
Includes the prequel 'Gravity Bone', adding value to the overall experience.

story
1,149 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
71%
3%
The story of "Thirty Flights of Loving" is characterized by its experimental and non-linear narrative style, often described as disjointed and surreal, requiring players to piece together the plot through environmental storytelling and visual cues. While some players appreciate its unique approach and depth within a short runtime, others find it confusing and lacking in coherence, leading to mixed feelings about its overall effectiveness as a narrative experience. Ultimately, it serves as a notable example of how video games can explore storytelling in unconventional ways, though it may not resonate with everyone.
- “The weird indie game that inspired countless others, it's worth experiencing this experimental and radically different approach to video game storytelling, one that feels as unique and fresh as ever.”
- “Yes, it's short - less than 20 minutes long - but it tells a surprisingly deep story for that 20 minutes, and makes you feel fully involved in it and the fates of the characters.”
- “An honest to god masterpiece, no game story has done so much with so little as tfol.”
- “The story is lost on me, the gameplay is boring, and there is nothing deep to think about.”
- “I understood the story and it still disappointed me and left me feeling ripped off.”
- “The game skips through the story, making it inconsistent and hard to follow, and it's never really involving.”
gameplay
242 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
83%
7%
The gameplay of this title has been widely criticized for its extreme lack of depth and interactivity, often described as little more than a linear walking simulator with minimal player choice. Many reviewers noted that the game consists of about 10-20 minutes of gameplay, primarily involving moving from point to point without any meaningful mechanics or challenges, leading to a perception that it fails to deliver a traditional gaming experience. While some appreciate its artistic storytelling approach, the consensus is that those seeking engaging gameplay should look elsewhere.
- “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.”
- “A very interesting use of first person mechanics and non-linear storytelling.”
- “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.”
- “The gameplay consists of moving through a one-way corridor with no branching paths to explore.”
- “There's no gameplay, just a 'walk from point A to point B' story which isn't very good, unique, or interesting.”
graphics
125 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
62%
8%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique and charming art style that draws inspiration from retro aesthetics and old-school espionage films, though they are often described as simplistic and reminiscent of 90s graphics engines. While some players appreciate the quirky visuals and the way they contribute to the storytelling, others criticize them for being lazy or poorly executed, with mentions of graphical glitches and a lack of depth. Overall, the visuals evoke a mixed response, balancing between endearing charm and technical shortcomings.
- “The art style is unique, and even without any actual dialogue, the game tells an entire story.”
- “A crazy and immersive story with a fantastic art style.”
- “The graphics, lights, colors, and music are really cool, but it was not enough to make me enjoy.”
- “It's very short (I've beaten it multiple times), 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 certainly isn't a visual experience since the graphics and animation are absolute rubbish.”
music
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
26%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting its epic quality, unique personality, and ability to enhance the overall experience. Composed by notable artists, the soundtracks are described as fitting perfectly with the game's narrative and visuals, often evoking strong emotions and memorable moments. Overall, the music stands out as one of the game's strongest aspects, contributing significantly to its charm and appeal.
- “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 brilliant though.”
- “The soundtrack and the sound design are great, as well as its graphical presentation.”
- “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.”
emotional
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game delivers a powerful emotional experience in a remarkably short playtime, often leaving players in tears while also evoking laughter. Its minimalistic storytelling and character montages effectively convey deep emotional narratives that rival those of larger AAA titles. Despite its brevity, the emotional impact resonates long after the game ends, making it a memorable and touching experience.
- “Still can't get over how the character montage sequences made me feel...”
- “I cannot believe how many emotions this game made me feel in under 10 minutes.”
- “Out of the 40 times I've played this game, it has made me cry almost every time I've played it. It is just such a good game; I cannot stress this enough, I need another one of these games.”
humor
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
94%
6%
The humor in the game is described as quirky, unique, and often puzzling, blending elements of hilarity with emotional depth and artistic references. Players appreciate the clever storytelling and snappy editing that create a fast-paced, engaging experience, though some note that the humor can be strange and may leave them confused. Overall, the game is recognized for its witty and original approach, making it a memorable, albeit brief, experience.
- “Hilarious, touching, true.”
- “Very stylish, smart and funny with lots of references to classic works of art, literature and cinema.”
- “It's a genuinely brilliant demonstration of how you can use snappy editing in games to tell a story that is thrilling, violent, funny, romantic, tense, wistful and tragic - and somehow manage all of that in ten minutes.”
- “It's not nice and it's not funny.”
- “It's not nice and it's not funny.”
replayability
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
43%
47%
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 players find value in experiencing the game once for its storytelling or sharing it with friends for reactions, the consensus is that there is minimal incentive to replay it. A few comments suggest that the game's humor and visual appeal may provide some limited replay value, especially at a lower price point.
- “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.”
- “You can literally beat this in 20 minutes and there is no replayability.”
- “With no challenge or choices, there is no replayability.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
21%
21%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its joyful and adventurous tone, effectively drawing players into its immersive world despite its brief duration. Reviewers highlight the creative visuals and the indie charm, noting how the atmosphere enhances the narrative experience and conveys various moods. Overall, it is described as a fantastic and engaging environment that leaves a lasting impression, even in a short playtime.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “There's plenty of fun ideas here, neat visuals and quality atmosphere, but you hardly get into it before it's suddenly all over.”
- “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.”
- “It's a 10 minute story that really draws an atmosphere.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been 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.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization has been criticized for issues such as non-functional fullscreen mode, persistent stuttering, long loading times, and the requirement to restart the game when changing settings.
- “Fullscreen didn't work, I experienced constant stuttering. Changing the settings restarts the game, and the loading times are long.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is notably lacking, with players highlighting a linear gameplay structure that offers no opportunities for growth or exploration. This absence of depth contributes to an overall sense of unoriginality and boredom.
- “Gameplay is entirely linear, there are no secrets to find, no character development, plus unoriginal and boring gameplay elements.”