Through The Fragmentation

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Atmospheric first person aventure game focusing on immersion and exploration. Meet strange characters, discover secrets and try to unfold the mystery of the Fragmentation.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 139 reviews

story9 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and immersive exploration experience with a captivating atmosphere and intriguing narrative, featuring bird-like characters in a surreal city.
It has multiple endings and achievements, encouraging replayability and rewarding players for thorough exploration.
The minimalist art style and sound design contribute to a relaxing yet eerie ambiance, enhancing the overall experience.

The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content and depth.
Some players found the puzzles to be simple and the gameplay somewhat easy, lacking challenge.
The narrative can feel fragmented and may not provide satisfying resolutions for all players, leading to potential confusion.

story
30 mentions
30 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The game's story is engaging and features multiple endings, encouraging players to explore its intriguing and often fragmented narrative. While some reviewers noted a desire for more side quests and character variety, the environmental storytelling and dialogue were praised for their depth and charm. Overall, the story combines interesting themes with a unique presentation, making it a compelling experience despite some minor plot inconsistencies.
- “Multiple endings and a story that hooks you in keeps you coming back for more.”
- “Charming and fun experience with surprisingly deep storytelling and worldbuilding.”
- “Amazing game with beautiful storytelling.”
- “The plot is kinda weird and can be interpreted in different ways.”
- “The final resolution is also a bit... non-existent, ironically (considering the themes of the story).”
- “The plot has a few holes, but they can easily be overlooked.”
atmosphere
30 mentions
63 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique and immersive qualities, characterized by a blend of dark, melancholic tones and surreal elements. Reviewers highlight the effective world-building, sound design, and visual style, which together create a memorable experience that lingers with players. Overall, the game demonstrates that compelling atmosphere can be achieved without cutting-edge graphics, making it a standout feature.
- “But what it can give you is a fantastic atmosphere, phenomenal world-building, and a powerful urge to peel back the curtain even just a little bit.”
- “The atmosphere of this game is one of its best qualities and it made the experience memorable.”
- “Heavily stylized through a clever use of shading, color, and music, through the fragmentation manages to nail down a particularly unique atmosphere of ambivalent everyday limbo with its surreal, even psychedelic elements and relaxed exploration-based gameplay.”
- “Some key triggers/items are elusive, and the bleak atmosphere of the game doesn't help them make more conspicuous.”
- “I adore their suffocating, claustrophobic, and simultaneously sickly nostalgic atmosphere.”
- “It isn't as tightly paced as those two games, but the slowness gives way to a deliberate tone, a vague atmosphere of gloom.”
graphics
18 mentions
28 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their unique art style, which combines trippy visuals and minimalist design to create an immersive atmosphere. Players appreciate the effective use of color and detail, noting that the visuals enhance the storytelling and overall experience without relying on cutting-edge technology. The combination of graphics, sound, and thematic elements contributes to a captivating and cohesive aesthetic that keeps players engaged.
- “Everything is extraordinary; visuals, music, details, game design... you name it.”
- “Unique atmosphere that emanates from the game visuals and interactions with characters also adds to those strong positives.”
- “I was always attracted to these flat visuals, and here they are dripping with style.”
- “The game has a different art style from what I'm used to.”
- “When I first saw the Steam page, I was concerned if the art style would stick with me, but all that doubt washed away and I was completely immersed in the first minutes of starting it.”
- “Minimalist, clean, consistent graphics.”
gameplay
16 mentions
19 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by immersive exploration and investigation mechanics, allowing players to engage creatively with the environment through item selection and interaction. While it features straightforward tasks like walking, item collection, and dialogue with NPCs, the game successfully integrates these elements into a compelling narrative experience. Overall, players appreciate the unique atmosphere and the balance between story and gameplay, despite some noting minor gameplay issues.
- “Great story presentation, fun exploration/investigation mechanics, and overall, a very enjoyable experience.”
- “Also, the gameplay of choosing an item and then using it on things (instead of automatically getting the item from inventory and using it when interacting with things) makes it seem more immersive and creative, too.”
- “Heavily stylized through a clever use of shading, color, and music, 'Through the Fragmentation' manages to nail down a particularly unique atmosphere of ambivalent everyday limbo with its surreal, even psychedelic elements and relaxed exploration-based gameplay.”
- “Judging from pictures, it might look like Through the Fragmentation is one of those indie games that is heavy on story and light on gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is very straightforward: walk around, get some items, talk to some NPCs, and help them a bit.”
- “Gameplay consists of small bits of dialogue, exploration, and short hide-and-seek fetch quests.”
music
14 mentions
50 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its unique and complementary nature to the visuals and gameplay. While some mention a lack of a consistent background soundtrack, the standout original soundtrack (OST) is appreciated, especially since it is available for free. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's surreal and exploratory experience, making it a memorable aspect for players.
- “The moody music and the exceptional visual design contributed greatly to it.”
- “I loved the soundtrack and how it complemented the atmosphere of the game.”
- “I often turn music down or off, but this one got it right on.”
- “Both music and sound effects work really well with the graphics and setting, creating a powerful atmosphere.”
- “Heavily stylized through a clever use of shading, color, and music, through the fragmentation manages to nail down a particularly unique atmosphere of ambivalent everyday limbo with its surreal, even psychedelic elements and relaxed exploration-based gameplay.”
humor
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and darkly comedic elements, such as interacting with anthropomorphic birds, which adds a unique charm. While some players expected a lighthearted experience, they found a blend of humor with mystery and existential themes, creating a memorable and strange atmosphere. Overall, the game offers a mix of funny moments and a distinctive tone that resonates with players.
- “Talking to birds in humanoid bodies is kind of funny; I never thought I'd see a bird with a cigarette in its mouth.”
- “It's focused on puzzles, which may feel out of place, but it creates a recognizable and darkly humorous world.”
- “Buy it if you want to get into something short, strange, and funny.”
replayability
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability due to its multiple endings and numerous hidden achievements, encouraging players to return for a more comprehensive experience. Its unique aesthetic and engaging universe further enhance the desire to explore and uncover all content, making it a highly recommended choice for those seeking replay value.
- “The game is short, but it has so much replayability with its multiple endings and many hidden achievements.”
- “The multiple endings and achievements add replayability, and coming back for more was well worth it.”
- “Controls great, lots of replayability, very unique aesthetic and a really interesting universe. It will have you hooked and wanting to explore until you get every last achievement and ending. Definitely recommend!”
- “The game is short, but it has limited replayability due to its lack of meaningful choices.”
- “Once you've seen all the endings, there's little incentive to play again.”
- “The game feels repetitive after the first playthrough, diminishing its replay value.”
stability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized due to glitches and unexpected shutdowns, which detract from the overall experience. While it attempts to deliver a clever and meta narrative, these technical issues undermine its execution.
- “I don't want to give away too much, but this game does something it thinks is very clever and meta and original. However, at this point, it's so overdone that it's honestly more of a surprise when a game doesn't blow your mind with the surprise reveal that it's a game and none of it is real, and then it glitches out and turns itself off.”
- “Bird people, glitches in reality, you'll really want to see more of it.”
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment to progress. While the game is praised for its immersive walking simulation and engaging puzzles, the slow pace and repetitive nature of the grinding can feel tedious.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Great walking sim with a slow start and simple yet tedious puzzles.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game effectively evokes a range of emotions, leaving players feeling both confused and awe-struck, as intended by the designer. Its deep and metaphorical themes resonate with many, making for a touching and impactful experience.
- “I'm sure about one thing - the game's designer had a solid vision, and by sharing it, he made me feel just as confused and awe-struck as intended.”
- “There's some pretty deep and metaphorical stuff going on, which might hit home for many of you. I found it really touching too.”