This Bed We Made
- December 20, 2023
- Lowbirth Games
- 4h median play time
This Bed We Made is a great game without any major drawbacks that features an amazing story and a hopeful and important message. A must-buy for any fan of titles like Life is Strange.
"This Bed We Made" is a narrative-driven RPG set in the low fantasy world of Orience. Players assume the role of a mercenary captain, navigating complex relationships and making difficult moral choices in a story that explores themes of power, loyalty, and consequence. With a focus on branching dialogue and multiple endings, each playthrough offers unique experiences and replayability.
Reviews
- Engaging story with multiple endings that encourage replayability.
- Beautiful graphics and immersive 1950s atmosphere.
- Clever gameplay mechanics that blend cleaning and mystery-solving.
- Short playtime, typically around 4-6 hours, which some players feel is not worth the price.
- Limited character interactions and some characters feel underdeveloped.
- Some technical issues, including stiff animations and unskippable cutscenes, can detract from the experience.
- story1,525 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "This Bed We Made" is a captivating blend of mystery and personal narrative, set in a 1950s hotel where players assume the role of a maid uncovering secrets through exploration and choices. While many players praised its engaging storytelling and character development, some expressed disappointment over its brevity and linearity, wishing for a more expansive plot and deeper character interactions. Overall, the game is noted for its intriguing themes, including LGBTQ+ representation, and offers multiple endings based on player decisions, enhancing its replayability.
“Even though it's a short play, I genuinely look forward to the developers one day pushing out a longer title with the same compelling storytelling, inclusion, and branching dialogue options as this one.”
“The story is very intriguing and full of mysteries, making it a very addictive experience.”
“The story is captivating and well thought out.”
“The game does start with that creepy feeling of someone stalking you but once progressing into new rooms and unraveling the story you quickly find it has nothing to do with you.”
“Without posting spoilers, the game just takes a weird turn in the last 30 minutes of the story for no reason and shoots itself in the head.”
“The story is too short as well.”
- gameplay326 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "This Bed We Made" is characterized by its engaging mechanics that blend exploration, puzzle-solving, and a unique cleaning system, allowing players to uncover clues while navigating a captivating narrative. While many players appreciate the immersive atmosphere and intriguing story, some critique the gameplay for being somewhat simplistic and short, with a playtime of around 4 hours, and express a desire for more depth and variety in mechanics. Overall, the game offers a satisfying experience for mystery enthusiasts, though it may leave some players wanting more in terms of gameplay complexity and pacing.
“Excellently presented, engaging gameplay and replayability makes this a great game for anyone who likes a strongly story-based game.”
“The gameplay mechanics are intuitive yet challenging, offering a perfect balance for players of all skill levels.”
“With its captivating narrative, immersive atmosphere, and unique gameplay mechanics, this bed we made is a mystery masterpiece that invites players to delve into the hidden lives of strangers.”
“The gameplay being 90% reading makes for a really poor experience.”
“I was expecting more of a crime investigation mystery, but the truth is that the actual crime only happens at the very end of the gameplay and there isn't much to investigate about it (you'll be done in 15 minutes).”
“For me it felt unfinished with clunky animations and not that much gameplay overall.”
- graphics309 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received praise for their beautiful aesthetics, detailed environments, and immersive 1950s atmosphere, making it a standout indie title. However, some reviews noted issues with stiff animations and occasional graphical bugs, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite these shortcomings, the visuals are generally considered impressive for a low-budget game, contributing significantly to the game's charm and storytelling.
“Incredible graphics with amazing details, especially all the people.”
“The graphics and atmosphere of the game are really beautiful.”
“The game's visuals are top-notch, immersing you completely in that retro 50's atmosphere.”
“The graphics look fine but the animation is stiff and wooden.”
“As to issues, two I noticed: cutscenes are not skippable even after a load which means trying out different things is tiresome and the graphics for me looked pretty jarring with extremely white eyes for all the characters.”
“There are a lot of graphical bugs, for example, global illumination is noisy, and textures are loading late.”
- atmosphere174 mentions
- 72 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive 1950s setting, enhanced by beautiful graphics, compelling sound design, and engaging music that draws players into the narrative. Many reviewers highlight the cozy yet suspenseful ambiance of the hotel, which effectively complements the mystery elements of the story. While some note minor flaws, the overall consensus is that the atmosphere significantly elevates the gaming experience, making it a standout feature.
“Loved the narrative, characters, suspense, and also loved the atmosphere - being stranded in a hotel essentially during a snowstorm while solving a murder mystery.”
“The game's atmospheric setting is a standout feature, immersing players in the charm and secrecy of the 1950s era.”
“Well-written storyline with a captivating 1950s atmosphere, great music, and exceptional voice acting.”
“It starts out strong in atmosphere, and then kind of ends on a whimper.”
“La Noir has a much better story and atmosphere.”
“It's not a bad game, it really isn't; the atmosphere and 50's aesthetics are delightful, the game mechanics are fun, and yes the plot is inclusive - but that's everything I can say, sadly.”
- replayability113 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the multiple endings and paths that encourage exploration, despite its relatively short playtime of around 4-5 hours. While some reviewers highlight the potential for high replay value through different choices and achievements, others feel that prior knowledge from a first playthrough diminishes the incentive to replay. Overall, the interactive narrative and various outcomes provide enough motivation for multiple playthroughs, though some players express disappointment in the limited differences between runs.
“Yes, it's short, but with apparently nine possible endings and two very different allies to play alongside, there is a high replayability factor.”
“Despite being a bit short, the various paths and endings provide ample replay value.”
“I love that there are different paths to choose from and that the replayability is high, so I'll probably play multiple times.”
“The replayability of this game is zero.”
“This game had potential but it was incredibly short and the build-up to the mystery was lame, kind of predictable halfway through. I know it somewhat has replay value due to different endings, but it almost isn't intriguing enough to play again.”
“There might be a little replay value, but I was so disappointed after the first go I passed on a second round.”
- music97 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the storytelling and setting a nostalgic 1950s tone. While many players find the soundtrack delightful and well-composed, some note that the overall presence of music is limited, leading to moments of silence that detract from the experience. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's ambiance, though a desire for more varied tracks and engagement during gameplay is expressed by some reviewers.
“The soundtrack is simply mesmerizing, enhancing the atmosphere and immersing me even further into the experience.”
“The music is delightful and it does go according to what's going on with the story.”
“The dreamy and well-orchestrated soundtrack adds to the overall allure of this captivating story, which is set in the 1950s.”
“Music: there's not much music, or at least I didn't have much impression.”
“There's little cutscenes where you can turn TVs and radios on but they don't actually play any music, so your experience is mostly silent, which is not good.”
“Alas, after one radio song, the game's radio dies in a snowstorm with all the hotel occupants conveniently snowed out of the building, and so I played music myself outside the game to help pass the time in my explorations.”
- emotional67 mentions
- 94 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its complex and heartfelt narrative, which weaves themes of love, loss, and self-discovery, often evoking strong feelings of empathy and nostalgia. While many players found the story touching and thought-provoking, some criticized the abrupt ending for undermining the emotional build-up. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to create a captivating and bittersweet experience, particularly resonating with LGBTQ+ themes and social commentary.
“The story is both heartfelt and thought-provoking, weaving themes of love, loss, and self-discovery into a tapestry of emotions.”
“As you delve deeper into the lives of the guests, you'll discover the intricacies of their connections, creating a sense of empathy and understanding that adds emotional weight to the overall experience.”
“The emotional gravity of the themes hit you in the stomach, especially when you contemplate how they depict just how oppressive society has been and how this still lingers as a dark legacy felt even today.”
“I would give this one a miss - boring story and gameplay - essentially a walking sim.”
“Very slow, and boring storyline.”
“Very slow, and boring storyline.”
- stability28 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
The game exhibits a range of stability issues, including visual glitches, lag, and occasional bugs that can disrupt gameplay, particularly during save operations. While many players found these issues to be minor and not game-breaking, some experienced significant problems at launch, such as black screens. Overall, despite the bugs, the game is generally enjoyable and runs well on various platforms.
“The game runs great on deck; it's a pretty chilled-out experience with a gripping story and enjoyable performances.”
“I will say, loading saves and making saves can get really glitchy and buggy.”
“It is incredibly laggy and buggy.”
“I encountered a couple of glitches when the game was released; it wasn't launching and kept giving me a black screen.”
- optimization26 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is commendable, with smooth performance and no significant bugs reported, particularly on the Steam Deck. While some character models exhibit stiffness and occasional lip-sync issues, the strong voice acting and engaging performances effectively enhance the experience, grounding players in the game's 1950s Montreal setting. Despite minor technical hiccups, the gameplay remains enjoyable and immersive.
“On the tech side, smooth sailing, no bugs or performance issues.”
“Performance-wise, I had zero issues, and gameplay-wise, I found it very enjoyable!”
“Also, well optimized for Steam Deck.”
“Had just some performance issues but nothing too bad.”
“Funnily enough, background voice actors' performances also tended to sound much more natural than the lead actors'.”
“It would have worked, but not as well as it does with these solid performances.”
- grinding25 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 52 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, particularly when it comes to replaying for missed endings or achievements, as there are limited options to skip dialogue and sequences. While some mechanics, like cleaning, are noted to be satisfying and less frustrating than in older games, the overall experience can feel like a chore, requiring significant time investment. Many reviewers suggest that a second playthrough may feel overly burdensome due to these design choices.
“Time for grinding will be required.”
“You'll be grinding a lot.”
“But seriously, actual cleaning was not tedious, very fast and a bit satisfying if you are wondering about that mechanic.”
“The story isn't bad, but getting through the motions is quite tedious.”
“This design choice means you cannot backtrack for missed clues, leading to a potentially tedious brute-force approach.”
“As far as I know - and I looked it up on the all-knowing internet - there's no option to skip dialogue and sequences, which makes a second playthrough just tedious and time-consuming.”
- character development18 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its richness and depth, particularly in the context of a compelling narrative and strong voice acting. However, others criticize it as relatively weak, noting that while the character designs are visually appealing, they do not compensate for a lackluster story. Additionally, there are concerns about inconsistencies in character design quality, particularly between male and female characters.
“The experience offers a highly intriguing narrative, complete with rich character development, red herrings, and suspense.”
“Fantastic visual mystery novel, with great character design and backgrounds.”
“The voice acting is top-notch, and the character development is incredibly solid.”
“Character development is relatively weak.”
“However stunning graphics cannot carry a game that has a poor story and character development.”
“Some character designs are unpolished.”
- humor14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently praised for its wit and charm, with dialogues described as natural, engaging, and funny. Players appreciate the blend of humor with other elements like horror and flirting, creating a compelling narrative backdrop. Overall, the humor enhances the game's cozy atmosphere and enriches the storytelling experience.
“Absolutely adore the humor in this one and loved unraveling the story in itself.”
“An incredibly lovely, funny, and smart game.”
“The dialogues are funny, yet sincere, topped with great voice acting.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy for the game heavily relies on engaging advertisements, particularly on platforms like TikTok, which emphasize the maid theme and the mystery element. Users appreciate the creative use of period-specific beauty ads and flyers, suggesting that the promotional content enhances the overall experience, though there is a desire for more immersive audio and visual elements from the era.
Critic Reviews
This Bed We Made Review
This Bed We Made is a great game without any major drawbacks that features an amazing story and a hopeful and important message. A must-buy for any fan of titles like Life is Strange.
90%This Bed We Made review
A short but sweet amateur detective game with a wonderful attention to detail.
82%This Bed We Made | UNITING PLAYER VOICES
This Bed We Made is a remarkable addition to the mystery game genre. It successfully combines neo-noir aesthetics, immersive storytelling, and interactivity, creating an experience that draws players into the shadows of the Clarington Hotel.
90%