This Strange Realm Of Mine

About

"This Strange Realm Of Mine" is a first-person shooter with elements of poetry and psychological horror. After creating your character and dying, you'll explore your afterlife, meeting various characters and their stories while solving puzzles. Combat includes a variety of weapons to fend off monstrous beings in a universe filled with both beauty and horror. The game also features an original soundtrack.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 735 reviews

story104 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

The game features a unique blend of gameplay styles, combining first-person shooting with philosophical storytelling and puzzles.
The art style and atmosphere are captivating, creating a surreal and immersive experience that enhances the narrative.
The game tackles deep themes such as mental health, existence, and personal growth, resonating with players on an emotional level.

The dialogue can be overly verbose and pretentious, often feeling like a chore to read through rather than engaging.
Gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks challenge, with simplistic mechanics that may not satisfy players looking for a traditional FPS experience.
The pacing is uneven, with some sections dragging on and disrupting the flow of the game, making it difficult to maintain interest.

story
332 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
64%
5%
The story of "This Strange Realm of Mine" is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its philosophical depth and unique narrative style, while others find it convoluted and overly pretentious. The game features intriguing characters and environments that encourage exploration, but some critiques highlight its short length and repetitive gameplay, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a significant aspect of the game, though opinions vary widely on its execution and impact.
- “The game's world and characters encourage players to dive deeper into the story.”
- “The overall story is quite compelling and deals with issues such as anxiety, depression, and isolation; the way these feelings are portrayed is quite accurate and the messages the game sends can be very helpful and never feel forced.”
- “This strange realm of mine is a stunning game; entertaining, a good old-style shooter with a great story that makes you think about who you are right now!”
- “It's very basic and tries way too hard to be 'deep' with the story.”
- “What little plot there is largely takes the place of barely connected vignettes which usually involve meeting a new character, and helping them out in some manner, usually by going through some repetitive gameplay section.”
- “The story, however, is like the scattered incoherent musings of someone sloppily going through their first intro to western philosophy, writing down whatever seemed pseudo-profound.”
gameplay
317 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
65%
6%
The gameplay of "This Strange Realm of Mine" is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of first-person shooter mechanics, puzzles, and narrative-driven elements that some players find engaging while others criticize for being simplistic and repetitive. While the shooting mechanics are generally well-received, the integration of philosophical themes often detracts from the gameplay experience, leading to a disconnect between action and narrative. Overall, the game offers a unique atmosphere and varied gameplay styles, but many feel it lacks depth and innovation, resulting in a short playtime that may not satisfy those seeking a more robust gaming experience.
- “The atmosphere is really good and it makes for a very immersive experience, also thanks to its diverse and unpredictable gameplay.”
- “A fantastic story with surprisingly great and diverse gameplay and settings.”
- “The gameplay is quite enjoyable, and the variety of scenarios allowed me to keep pushing forward.”
- “So you'll spend a huge amount of time not playing the game, but clicking through endless lines of poorly written visual novel text cutscenes because the developers couldn't work out how to relate their narrative through the game mechanics, and decided instead it would be better to compete with reading a book for your time.”
- “Gameplay just seems extremely half-assed on the whole, with slap-dash, simplistic level design and a small selection of uninteresting weapons to be used against endless recolors of the same two enemy types.”
- “The gameplay is simplistic and plainly boring; you go through linear levels, shoot at one type of enemies, and 'talk' to anime-styled characters that dish out monologues ranging from somewhat infantile philosophical reflections to just straight-out metaphysical babble.”
graphics
188 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
60%
2%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming pixel art style that effectively creates a surreal and atmospheric experience, blending elements of horror and nostalgia. While some players appreciate the unique aesthetic and immersive qualities, others criticize the visuals as simplistic or low-quality, suggesting that they may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's mood, with many finding them both engaging and fitting for its psychological themes.
- “The pixel art style of this strange realm of mine is really good and honestly some of the imagery manages to be incredibly creepy to the point where a few levels actually really chilled me with the characters you witness in those levels.”
- “The graphics and aesthetic are fantastic, by the way--flat, 2D environments reminiscent of Doom and Duke 3D look incredible when blasted with realistic lighting and superimposed textures.”
- “The game's visuals are very well done, using pixelated graphics that create ambiences that can feel both creepy and relaxing.”
- “This very poor quality visual style is a method that lazy devs often use to disguise their lack of talent/interest in doing the graphics properly and trying to disguise it under the name of 'art', or 'we made it look bad on purpose', which really isn't something gamers should have to put up with.”
- “It’s not like choosing 16-bit graphics as your art style because you like the way that looks; a 3D action game where most of the key characters and objects are just rotating sprites is objectively worse than an actual 3D shooter.”
- “The graphics are meh.”
music
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
61%
4%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the game's themes, while others find it repetitive or not fitting for the gameplay. Notable tracks, such as the tavern music, are highlighted for their relaxing qualities, but some users prefer to listen to their own music instead. Overall, while the soundtrack has its standout moments, it may not resonate with everyone, leading to a varied reception among players.
- “The music in this game is incredible as well.”
- “The graphic art is awesome, the soundtrack goes into my soul and the atmosphere is just perfect.”
- “Additionally, the music is really good in both aiding the general atmosphere but also just being straight bangers on their own.”
- “For the most part, it's really bland droning noises, but there are quite a few decent tracks, the tavern music being my favorite one since it does have a really relaxing tone to calm yourself from the creepy journey.”
- “The indie game genre isn't necessarily known for its music, but the music in 'This Strange Realm of Mine' just doesn't fit; it's somber, dull, and really just doesn't fit most of the time. The only song I genuinely liked and that fit the level was the music in 'Revelations.'”
- “But previous games by Doomster Entertainment have had really solid soundtracks, most notably 'Koala Kids,' so I listened to the entire 'This Strange Realm of Mine' soundtrack on Spotify and it's quite disappointing.”
atmosphere
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
38%
6%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a blend of cute pixel graphics and a surreal, dreamlike quality that evokes both lightheartedness and underlying darkness, touching on themes of death and depression. Players appreciate the immersive experience created by atmospheric sound design, diverse gameplay, and a chilling soundtrack, which together enhance the game's unique style and philosophical undertones. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its ability to create tension and intrigue, making it a memorable aspect of the game.
- “The atmosphere is really good and it makes for a very immersive experience, also thanks to its diverse and unpredictable gameplay.”
- “The atmosphere of the game is spot-on with both its bright/happy and dark/depressing environments making you feel both safe and unsafe.”
- “What might start like your regular pixely FPS will slowly turn into a plethora of innovative gameplay and design choices, with a chilling and atmospheric soundtrack, a profound, mysterious and intertwined story all put together like a cavalcade of oddities, all lined up, one after the other, mixing and matching themes and motives, onto a journey filled with all sorts of strange and unusual places, individuals and tales, slowly building up.”
- “The atmosphere is tense and creepy at times, and all the poetry everywhere is also really cool; it fits well with the theme of the game.”
- “Low-fi aesthetics and atmosphere hint at something dark going on behind the curtain, but later it's revealed to be just philosophical ramblings.”
- “Can't help but feel it was supposed to be a horror game, in a way that a children's cartoon has jokes for adults; the colorful and cheery atmosphere could hide something very disturbing.”
replayability
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
67%
9%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it offers multiple endings and branching paths that encourage players to revisit the experience, many reviewers noted that the differences between playthroughs can be minimal. Some players found the short playtime (around 1-3 hours) and the potential for achievement hunting to enhance replay value, but others felt that the game became repetitive and lacked substantial incentives for multiple runs. Overall, it seems that while there is some replayability, it may not be compelling enough for everyone.
- “The game is short but offers replay value with multiple endings.”
- “Game probably will take you 6-7 hours in the most slow run, but because of the multiple endings and ways of finishing the game, it has lots of replay value.”
- “This strange realm of mine also features multiple endings based on choices you make in the game, adding plenty of replayability.”
- “Pretty weird game that supposedly has a lot of replayability for branching paths, but I personally played through twice and didn't see much difference nor did I have much drive for a third.”
- “There is some replay value for the achievements, but not much other than that as the game is always the same and the different endings are a text-only verdict based on the player's choices.”
- “It does get a bit repetitive here and there and since replayability is key, perhaps some way to shorten certain sections might have helped a bit.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is well-received, with players appreciating the clever details and funny elements woven throughout the levels. Many found themselves laughing at various moments, particularly during FPS battles, while also noting a mix of humor and tension that kept them engaged. Overall, the game's atmosphere and humorous touches contribute positively to the experience, making it enjoyable and memorable.
- “Cool game, and I like the story and humorous elements... it made me laugh and sucked me in as well as had me glued to the edge of my chair in some of the FPS battles!”
- “I'm enjoying the little humorous bits I'm seeing scattered around the world - and all in all, I'm really glad I went ahead and gave this one a try.”
- “The enemies spooked me on occasion, I have to admit... there's a lot of funny details in the levels and the lighting specifically is always fantastic.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often feeling it drags on longer than necessary. While the difficulty levels provide some balance, with 'easy' being straightforward and 'normal' offering a decent challenge, the overall experience can become monotonous, despite the option to sprint to alleviate some of the tedium.
- “It was tedious and frustrating by the time I got to an ending.”
- “Some of it I relate to, but too often it goes on for far too long and becomes more tedious than interesting.”
- “Thankfully you can sprint in this, so that things don't get too tedious, but then you are forced to direct a blimp through mountains for five minutes while nothing happens.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes a strong emotional response, blending elements of creepiness with heartwarming moments, resulting in a unique experience that can be both comforting and unsettling. Players have noted its ability to elicit tears, highlighting its impactful storytelling within a brief playtime of approximately 2.5 hours. Overall, it is described as touching and engaging, successfully balancing wholesome and depressing themes.
- “First game that's made me cry in a long time.”
- “The game was pretty wholesome at times and depressing at others, which was interesting for such a short game (~2.5 hours).”
- “Comforting and scary both, touching and engaging.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The game is generally well-optimized, offering smooth performance and impressive graphics, though some users report slight performance drops on larger levels, particularly on older systems like Windows 7 with a GTX 1080. Overall, it is praised as a fun indie shooter with solid optimization.
- “It runs smoothly & is just a great little indie game to play, highly recommend.”
- “Really fun shooter, the soundtrack is very well done as well as the graphics and optimization.”
- “- slight performance drops on larger levels with Windows 7 Pro x64 (using 1080 GTX)”
- “Slight performance drops on larger levels with Windows 7 Pro x64 (using 1080 GTX).”
- “Slight performance drops on larger levels with Windows 7 Pro x64 (using 1080 GTX).”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game has been criticized for being buggy, with users noting that while the physics feel generic, movement restrictions prevent the occurrence of typical Unity glitches. Overall, players report a lack of polish in this aspect.
- “The game is incredibly buggy.”
- “I felt the physics were very 'default', but there were enough restrictions on movement that I couldn't initiate common Unity glitches.”

80%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

This Strange Realm of Mine Review - I'm Gonna Let it Shine
Containing some really interesting philosophy between bouts of fun classic FPS gameplay, This Strange Realm of Mine is worth checking out.
Techraptor.net
80%

Buy This Strange Realm Of Mine

5h Median play time

4h Average play time

3-5h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

This game contains adult content

71%15kreviews

Scorn

2022

Action Adventure

This game contains adult content

93%4.7kreviews

The Cat Lady

2013

Arcade Quiz

83%2.9kreviews

Inmost

2020

Platformer

67%514reviews

Caligo

2017

Action Adventure

This game contains adult content

86%3.9kreviews

Indika

2024

Action Adventure

This Strange Realm Of Mine Tweets

This Strange Realm Of Mine

Platforms

About