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 and well-written story with multiple endings that encourage replayability.
- Beautiful graphics and immersive atmosphere that captures the 1950s setting.
- Unique gameplay mechanics that combine cleaning tasks with mystery-solving.
- Short playtime, typically around 3-6 hours, which may not justify the full price for some players.
- Limited character interactions and some characters feel underdeveloped.
- Some gameplay mechanics, like unskippable cutscenes and slow character movement, can detract from the overall experience.
- story925 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "This Bed We Made" is a captivating blend of mystery and character-driven narrative set in the 1950s, focusing on a maid who uncovers the secrets of hotel guests. While many players praised its engaging plot, rich themes, and emotional depth, some felt the story was too short and linear, leaving them wanting more exploration and character interaction. Overall, the game is noted for its strong storytelling, replayability through different choices, and a unique perspective on LGBTQ+ themes, though it occasionally suffers from pacing issues and underdeveloped side characters.
“The story is captivating and well thought out.”
“The game ties its themes together very well - without spoiling, I think that the hotel setting and time period are very relevant to the overall story.”
“This bed we made beautifully combines the gameplay, story, and atmosphere that makes the player reflect on various things during the 50s of Canada while also enjoying a great gameplay.”
“Despite the game's claims that your actions—or inactions—would shape the story, the impact felt limited.”
“The story was really captivating from the beginning and there's some guilty pleasure of snooping secrets from guests to be able to reconstruct the story.”
“The story is very thought out, but the gameplay can be likened to searching through a Bethesda level with a bunch of seemingly random things hidden around.”
- gameplay197 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "This Bed We Made" is primarily focused on exploration, investigation, and puzzle-solving, with unique mechanics that allow players to snoop around and make choices that influence the story's outcome. While some players appreciated the engaging narrative and the blend of cleaning and detective work, others found the gameplay to be slow-paced and lacking in variety, with a few noting that the mechanics could feel simplistic or underdeveloped. Overall, the game offers a captivating experience for those who enjoy narrative-driven gameplay, despite some critiques regarding its length and depth.
“The gameplay is refreshingly unique, blending exploration, investigation, and choice-based storytelling seamlessly.”
“The gameplay mechanics of snooping around rooms, uncovering clues, and piecing together the stories of the guests provide a fresh and intriguing experience.”
“The gameplay is smooth, the dialogue manages to sound like real people interacting and not just like a written script, the voice actors all do a great job, and while the mystery elements don't have any difficulty to them, it's made up for by the mystery revolving around an interesting story.”
“The gameplay was fine, but it was kinda slow at times and it felt like there was not a lot to do.”
“However, I was expecting more actual gameplay or more variety and not to follow a single story that could be completed in under five hours.”
“The gameplay being 90% reading makes for a really poor experience.”
- graphics180 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful art style and atmospheric visuals that effectively capture the 1950s setting. However, some players reported bugs, lag, and stiff animations that detracted from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game's aesthetic and attention to detail were frequently highlighted as standout features, making it a visually appealing indie title.
“The graphics are genuinely stunning, especially from an indie game studio.”
“The overall aesthetic is beautifully suited to the style of the game and the story, effectively representing the 1950s setting with realistic visuals, clever sound design, and atmospheric lighting.”
“The graphics are beautiful and the audio is finely crafted.”
“The graphics of this game were fairly buggy for me.”
“Overall the graphics were very mid, however, they did have quite precision to detail in some aspects.”
“There are a lot of graphical bugs, for example, global illumination is noisy, and textures are loading late.”
- atmosphere110 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and beautifully crafted 1950s setting, enhanced by stunning visuals and a haunting soundtrack that effectively builds tension and mystery. Players appreciate the attention to detail in the environment, which creates a cozy yet suspenseful ambiance, making it a standout feature of the experience. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, the overall atmosphere captivates and engages players, drawing them into the narrative and enhancing their enjoyment.
“This bed we made is a beautifully atmospheric mystery game that pulls you right into its 1950s hotel setting.”
“The atmosphere is drenched in noir vibes, with a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that complements the tension and mystery.”
“The game's atmospheric setting is a standout feature, immersing players in the charm and secrecy of the 1950s era.”
“The only thing I would criticize is the animations as they are a bit stiff at times, but the voice acting more than makes up for that, and for such a small team it's very excusable, especially because the important things, the writing, the mood, the atmosphere, the dialogue, the characters, the story and the mystery are just perfect, so it's easy to excuse that.”
“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.”
“It starts out strong in atmosphere, and then kind of ends on a whimper.”
- replayability66 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the multiple endings and choices that encourage multiple playthroughs. However, some reviewers feel that the short length and limited differences in subsequent runs diminish the overall replay value. While there is potential for replayability through various paths and achievements, the experience may not justify the full price for everyone.
“The choices and multiple endings add a lot of replay value too.”
“Yes, it's replayable with different decisions and endings, but I suspect most of the game will be identical.”
“The multiple options and endings make for good replay value.”
“Overall, I'm glad I got it on sale; I definitely don't think I would have been happy with it had I paid full price - I finished the whole game in under 5 hours and replayability is zero.”
“The full price is just too much for a single-sitting game with little to no replay value.”
“It is, however, very short, and not quite replayable as for a second playthrough you have pre-established knowledge about the situations, which ruins games like these.”
- music56 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for enhancing the atmosphere and immersing players in the story, with a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that complements the noir vibes and 1950s setting. While many players enjoyed the subtle and ambient score, some noted a lack of variety and presence, particularly during gameplay moments, leading to a somewhat silent experience at times. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's charm and emotional depth.
“The atmosphere is drenched in noir vibes, with a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that complements the tension and mystery.”
“The soundtrack is simply mesmerizing, enhancing the atmosphere and immersing me even further into the experience.”
“The music and overall ambiance helped add to the story.”
“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.”
“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.”
“I don’t recall any music other than the opening scene.”
- emotional44 mentions
- 95 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth and representation, particularly for LGBTQ+ themes, creating a heartfelt experience that resonates with players. Many reviewers highlight the intricate storytelling that balances suspense with moments of warmth and self-discovery, often leading to strong emotional reactions, including tears and joy. While some found the pacing slow or the gameplay lacking, the overall narrative and character connections left a lasting impact, making it a memorable and touching experience.
“The narrative is masterfully woven, balancing moments of suspense with deep emotional resonance.”
“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.”
“Very slow and boring storyline.”
“I would give this one a miss - boring story and gameplay - essentially a walking simulator.”
- stability17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- -6 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting various glitches and bugs, particularly in graphics and menu settings. While some users experienced significant issues like lag and save/load glitches, others noted that these problems were minor and did not detract from their overall enjoyment. Overall, the game runs well for most, but players should be prepared for occasional technical hiccups.
“The game runs great on the Steam Deck; it's a pretty chilled-out experience with a gripping story and enjoyable performances.”
“The stability of the game is impressive, allowing for an immersive experience without interruptions.”
“I haven't encountered any crashes or major bugs, which makes for a smooth gameplay experience.”
“A buggy, messy game.”
“I will say, loading saves and making saves can get really glitchy and buggy.”
“It is incredibly laggy and buggy.”
- optimization17 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while some players report smooth performance and stability, others experience issues such as stiff character models, out-of-sync lip movements, and occasional performance drops. The voice acting is a highlight, enhancing the experience despite the technical shortcomings. Notably, the game runs well on the Steam Deck, providing a more enjoyable experience on that platform.
“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.”
“Animations, performance overall, and stability are a little rough.”
“I did enjoy playing this game and only wished it had better performance or at least a way to select my own graphic settings.”
“Overall a decent game despite its performance issues.”
- grinding16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 63 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be rewarding initially, but it becomes tedious during multiple playthroughs due to the inability to skip cutscenes and dialogue. This design choice can lead to frustration, especially when attempting to achieve 100% completion or explore different endings, as it requires significant time investment and can feel repetitive. Overall, while the game offers replay value, the grinding experience is marred by its slow pacing and lack of options to expedite dialogue.
“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 game is replayable and rewarding to do so one or two times, but becomes a bit tedious if you are trying to 100% the achievements, as not all cutscenes are skippable and the character moves at a pace that feels accurate for a first-time player but too slow for someone replaying for the fifth time.”
“The only major flaw in this game is not being able to skip dialogue interactions. This is really only an issue when you're replaying it to experience the different endings, as it gets tedious sitting through all the cutscenes.”
“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 development10 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its complexity and depth, while others find it lacking or inconsistent, particularly in the male character designs. The narrative is highlighted as intriguing, supported by strong voice acting and beautiful visuals, but some players feel that the overall character development does not meet the high standards set by the game's aesthetics.
“I loved the complex storyline and character development.”
“The experience offers a highly intriguing narrative, complete with rich character development, red herrings, and suspense.”
“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.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently engaging, blending wit and charm with moments of horror and flirtation. Players appreciate the natural and funny dialogues, which are enhanced by excellent voice acting, creating a delightful and immersive experience. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it both entertaining and memorable.
“Absolutely adore the humor in this one and loved unraveling the story in itself.”
“An incredibly lovely, funny, and smart game.”
“The dialogues felt natural, witty, and funny.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is tied to its nostalgic content, with users expressing a desire for more period-specific music and vintage advertisements, which enhance the immersive experience. The promotional materials, particularly on platforms like TikTok, effectively highlight the game's themes, though some players feel that additional content could further enrich the gameplay.
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%