Throw Me in the River

About

"Throw Me in the River" is a visual novel set in Canada, where the protagonist, Joseph, interacts with family members in scenes 20 years apart. The game features a compelling narrative around personal relationships and regrets with a sci-fi twist. High-resolution art, character development, and meaningful choices are included, along with behind-the-scenes commentary in galleries. This game is connected to "Waiting For the Loop."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 17 reviews

music8 positive mentions

The game features beautiful artwork and a captivating soundtrack that enhance the emotional experience.
The writing and character development are well-crafted, providing a thought-provoking and reflective narrative.
Multiple choices lead to different outcomes, encouraging replayability and deeper exploration of the story.

The game is quite short and may feel more like a brief story rather than a fully fleshed-out visual novel.
Some players found it difficult to connect with the protagonist and the overall narrative, leading to a lack of engagement.
The gameplay mechanics are simplistic, primarily involving reading and making choices without much variation in interaction.

music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
8%
25%
The music in the game is highly praised for its artistic quality and emotional depth, effectively enhancing the narrative and atmosphere. Reviewers note that the soundtrack, often featuring a sparse guitar composition, beautifully complements the stunning artwork and storytelling, creating a cohesive and immersive experience. Overall, the interplay between the music, writing, and visuals is seen as masterful, contributing significantly to the game's emotional impact.
- “Great visual novel with a captivating story and great soundtrack.”
- “The artwork and music fit in really well with the overall tone for the game.”
- “This is a lovely visual novel type game with a sparse, emotional guitar soundtrack and gorgeous monochromatic art.”
- “As is common with this genre, graphics and music serve to back up the story, but that's not what the work is spent on.”
- “The end is sort of haunting, and the music fills out atmosphere in each scene to seem like you're with a different 'self' of the main character.”
- “It's clear that the writing, visual art, and soundtrack all have much thought and passion behind them.”
story
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
The game's story is a reflective and thought-provoking narrative that explores themes of regret and family through the protagonist's life choices, presented in a branching format that encourages multiple playthroughs. While the character development is uneven, particularly with a notable moment in 1955, the overall experience is enhanced by captivating artwork and music that effectively set the mood. Players who enjoy narrative-driven experiences will find the story engaging, despite its brevity.
- “Great visual novel with a captivating story and great soundtrack.”
- “Throw Me in the River has a great thought-provoking story that made me go back and reset my choices more than once just to see what other interactions I could experience.”
- “But it tells a great story with lots of branching paths which should keep you interested for well longer than the price of admission might suggest.”
- “As is common with this genre, graphics and music serve to back up the story, but that's not what the work is spent on.”
- “Part of that is because I want a story to show me something new; but this game asks me about the protagonist's life on his deathbed, and the choices I made in the first few minutes in 2015 are then reflected back to me as important moments in that character's life (1995, 1975, 1955, 1943), and only the 1955 moment actually developed some character -- but ends on a note of deus ex machina.”
- “It is a short story about regret, family, and trying to come to terms with your past.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
17%
17%
The graphics in the game are praised for their gorgeous artwork, which effectively complements the narrative and overall tone. Users highlight the seamless integration of visuals and music, enhancing the storytelling experience and creating a charming atmosphere throughout the game.
- “The artwork and music do an amazing job tying the mood and story together no matter what choices you make throughout the game.”
- “Nice narrative and gorgeous artwork and music.”
- “Throw Me in the River is a charming little visual novel, elevated by its subtle characters and gorgeous artwork.”
- “As is common with this genre, graphics and music serve to back up the story, but that's not where the focus of the work lies.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its emotional depth and contemplative experience, enhanced by the creator's commentary. Its visual novel style, complemented by a sparse yet moving guitar soundtrack and striking monochromatic art, contributes to its overall emotional impact.
- “Overall, it was an emotional and contemplative experience, and the creator's commentary adds a lot of depth.”
- “This is a lovely visual novel-type game with a sparse, emotional guitar soundtrack and gorgeous monochromatic art.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The atmosphere is described as haunting, enhanced by music that creates a sense of connection to different facets of the main character's identity in each scene.
- “The end is sort of haunting, and the music enhances the atmosphere in each scene, making it feel like you're experiencing different 'selves' of the main character.”
- “The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world with stunning visuals and a haunting soundtrack.”
- “Every location feels alive, with ambient sounds and detailed environments that create a truly captivating atmosphere.”
- “The end is sort of haunting, and the music fills out the atmosphere in each scene to make it feel like you're experiencing a different 'self' of the main character.”
- “The game lacks a cohesive atmosphere, making it hard to immerse myself in the world.”
- “Despite the visuals, the atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, failing to evoke any real emotion.”