To the Moon
- September 7, 2012
- Freebird Games
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Apple Store"To the Moon" is a narrative-driven game about Dr. Rosalene and Dr. Watts, who enter the memories of a dying man, Johnny, to fulfill his last wish - to go to the moon. The doctors traverse backwards through Johnny's life, revealing fragments of his past and uncovering the reasons behind his unusual request. Through this emotional journey, players uncover a heartwarming story of love, loss, and unfulfilled dreams.
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Reviews
- story30,404 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "To the Moon" is widely praised for its emotional depth and heartfelt narrative, focusing on the journey of two doctors who traverse the memories of a dying man to fulfill his last wish of going to the moon. While the gameplay is minimal and often described as simplistic, the storytelling, character development, and evocative soundtrack create a poignant experience that resonates with players, often leaving them in tears. Despite some criticisms regarding pacing and dialogue, the overall consensus is that the story is a touching exploration of love, loss, and the human experience, making it a must-play for fans of narrative-driven games.
“To the Moon is a beautifully crafted emotional story with simple gameplay, touching music, and a narrative that will stay with you long after it's over.”
“The story is beautifully emotional, pulling you in with its heartfelt narrative and memorable characters.”
“To the Moon is a game that knows how to tell a story, to tug on heartstrings, with instances of comedy I don't quite see in games nowadays.”
“The story is not merely tedious, cliched, and naff; it is actively noxious.”
“You can't have a big payoff scene without an equally big setup, and the story that comes before that big climactic scene where you're supposed to cry... well, that story just isn't good.”
“The story utterly failed to build any interest in it or the characters more than an hour and a half into this purely story-driven narrative.”
- music10,244 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in "To the Moon" is widely praised for its emotional depth and beautiful composition, often described as hauntingly lovely and perfectly complementing the game's narrative. Many players highlight specific tracks, such as "Everything's Alright" and "For River," as particularly impactful, contributing significantly to the overall experience and emotional resonance of the story. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the game's standout features, enhancing the storytelling and leaving a lasting impression on players.
“To the moon is a beautifully crafted emotional story with simple gameplay, touching music, and a narrative that will stay with you long after it's over.”
“The music perfectly complements the storytelling, enhancing every moment.”
“The soundtrack is absolutely beautiful, easily being one of the best I've heard.”
“Creepy music + sentimental events left me feeling absolutely nothing.”
“The music very repetitive, but the main piano-theme is very catchy & gets stuck in your head.”
“The music was also very generic keyboard-y piano music throughout, never really tied to a particular scene or emotion, and overall didn't live up to the hype.”
- emotional9,972 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "To the Moon" is widely praised, with many players reporting that the game's heartfelt narrative about love, loss, and memory left them in tears. The combination of a touching story, beautiful soundtrack, and well-developed characters creates a deeply immersive experience that resonates with players long after they finish the game. While some found the humor to occasionally detract from the emotional weight, the overall consensus is that it is a powerful and moving journey that effectively evokes a range of emotions.
“To the Moon is a beautifully crafted emotional story with simple gameplay, touching music, and a narrative that will stay with you long after it's over.”
“This game is a must-play for anyone who cherishes emotional and touching stories!”
“The story is beautifully emotional, pulling you in with its heartfelt narrative and memorable characters.”
“I went into this game thinking it would be a short, boring story, with very little character development, and content that would not keep me engaged long enough to finish it.”
“Boring story, trash controls, and cheesy writing.”
- gameplay5,880 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
“To the moon is a beautifully crafted emotional story with simple gameplay, touching music, and a narrative that will stay with you long after it's over.”
“The gameplay revolves around story rather than mechanics, so it's akin to clicking through a story with some puzzles sprinkled on the side.”
“Despite its simple gameplay mechanics, the game's strength lies in its ability to provoke introspection and leave a lasting emotional impact, making it a standout experience for me.”
“In terms of gameplay, you will very likely only read dialogues and won't interact with things much: it is mostly cutscenes and people talking, complemented with very good sprite animations and excellent music.”
“While the story is the major selling point, the 'gameplay' is very basic; for all intents, it is just a walking sim with charming dialogue attached.”
“The gameplay just makes this game a complete chore to complete, and while the story is nice, this game would be much better served being a book, movie, etc.”
- graphics3,214 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of "To the Moon" are primarily pixel art, reminiscent of 16-bit era games, which some players find charming and nostalgic, while others consider them simplistic or outdated. Despite the rudimentary visuals, many reviewers emphasize that the game's emotional storytelling and beautiful soundtrack more than compensate for any graphical shortcomings, making it a memorable experience. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not impress, they effectively support the narrative focus of the game.
“The unique way of storytelling, the mystery that keeps you engaged for its pretty short runtime, and all that wrapped in visuals that still hold up quite well.”
“The pixel graphics, story, and music made the whole experience tear-jerking and touching.”
“The graphics are beautiful for the style they aimed for.”
“The graphics are absolutely terrible and I want to wash my eyes.”
“The graphics are mid, the gameplay is mid, the soundtrack is mid, and they even managed to botch the story.”
“The graphics, while simple, use a lot of muted colors and a low resolution to create a realistic atmosphere; the music is beautiful, especially the main theme, 'everything's alright.'”
- humor2,286 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in "To the Moon" is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the witty banter and clever pop culture references that provide comic relief amidst the emotional narrative. While some found the humor to be forced or juvenile, others enjoyed its lightheartedness, which effectively balances the game's heavier themes. Overall, the humor contributes to the game's charm, making it both touching and entertaining, though opinions vary on its effectiveness and appropriateness in certain contexts.
“The story and the hilarious interactions between our main characters does make this game worth buying.”
“The humor, the music, the feels.”
“The game masterfully interweaves humor, drama, and introspection, creating a narrative tapestry that tugs at players' heartstrings and provokes introspection about life's fleeting moments and meaningful connections.”
“It aims to be a heartbreaking game, but the constant unfunny commentary from the two main characters (one of whom makes blatantly sexist remarks to his partner throughout the game) ruins any tension the game would otherwise build.”
“The writing was generally just distracting, with unfunny (and at this point dated) humor sprinkled randomly and unsuccessfully at inopportune times throughout the game.”
“The banter between the two doctors is painfully unfunny, and even at the story's most emotional (read: manipulative) moments, Dr. Watts still tries (unsuccessfully) to make light of the situation.”
- atmosphere466 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "To the Moon" is widely praised for its emotional depth and immersive quality, largely enhanced by a beautiful soundtrack that complements the narrative. Players appreciate the nostalgic pixel art style and the way the music evokes a range of feelings, creating a captivating experience that draws them into the story. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, the overall ambiance and storytelling are considered standout features that resonate deeply with players.
“Yet the game manages to read the room: when it comes to the great finale the atmosphere tightens up and you get to sit at the edge of your seat until finally everything comes together.”
“The game's music and art style create a mesmerizing atmosphere that immerses you in the story, and the characters are relatable and endearing.”
“The atmosphere was extremely well crafted, the soundtrack was stunning, and the story was beautiful and the characters were a great occasional comic relief.”
“I usually love games in this genre, but normally they have some kind of atmosphere that actually helps tell the story instead of hinders the experience.”
“The characters, however, are annoying as hell and it really ruins the mood if these two 'doctors' role are to be comedic relief in a 'depressing atmosphere' with the dude acting like he doesn't know anything and the woman being a stuck up know-it-all.”
“This is probably controversial, but I don't like the OST; there's a ton of piano songs and while they do provide a moody atmosphere, they largely blend together.”
- replayability266 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 32 % negative mentions
The game has been widely criticized for its lack of replayability, with many reviewers noting that it offers a linear experience with no significant gameplay variations or alternate endings. While some players appreciate the emotional impact of the story and may wish to revisit it, the consensus is that once the narrative is experienced, there is little incentive to play again. Overall, the game is seen as a one-time experience rather than one that encourages multiple playthroughs.
“The replay value and enjoyment here lie not in taking branching paths for multiple endings, but in savoring the story once more.”
“The game's replay value is akin to that of a book: you will eventually go back to it to experience it all over again and maybe catch some extra details on the way.”
“This wondrous game has infinite replay value and will stay with you forever :)”
“No replay value as there's nothing different to justify replaying it.”
“The game will always be the same, so there's not much replay value to it.”
“It's pretty much a one and done game, no replayability.”
- grinding224 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 5 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The aspect of "grinding" in the game is largely criticized, with many players finding the gameplay tedious and repetitive, often feeling like busywork that detracts from the emotional narrative. While some appreciate the story's depth and emotional impact, they note that the mechanics can feel frustrating and overly simplistic, leading to a desire for more engaging gameplay. Overall, the game is described as lacking in traditional RPG elements like grinding or complex mechanics, which some players find refreshing, while others see it as a missed opportunity for more dynamic interaction.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“There aren't big puzzles to solve, perfect reflexes aren't required, and there's no grinding to be done.”
“The whole game takes about 3-4 hours, and the game mechanics get tedious and rather frustrating quite quickly.”
“The quest that you have to do over and over again (collecting memories) is tedious and boring and extremely repetitive...”
“It's tedious busywork that only gets in the way of enjoying the story.”
- character development108 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The character development in "To the Moon" is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, effectively bringing its cast to life through relatable struggles and genuine interactions. Reviewers highlight the balance of humor, romance, and intrigue within the narrative, which enhances the player's investment in the characters. Despite some critiques regarding gameplay mechanics, the storytelling and character arcs are considered the game's strongest elements, making it a touching and memorable experience.
“Character development in this game is pulled off to great effect, which is done in spite of its unconventional temporal structure.”
“A truly touching story with amazing character development and an outstanding way of telling the story.”
“Excellent story with in-depth character development; the cause-and-effect is very evident which helps the player really understand these characters.”
“I went into this game thinking it would be a short, boring story, with very little character development, and content that would not keep me engaged long enough to finish it.”
“I find the two 'protags' of the story to be too try-hard funny, so I found it to be unlikeable, but the rest of the characters -- from how you get to know them (and to be honest, the ones with the most character development through the game) is quite a treat.”
“While I admit that there is little actual gameplay besides pointing and clicking and some puzzle solving, this is greatly overshadowed by the extraordinary character development, story, and soundtrack.”
- stability62 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been described as inconsistent, with numerous users reporting various glitches and bugs, particularly with controls and navigation. While some players found these issues to be minor and not game-breaking, others experienced more significant problems that affected their gameplay experience. Overall, the game appears to be somewhat unpolished, but many players still enjoyed the story enough to overlook the technical shortcomings.
“Gameplay is easy and relaxing, the storyline is awesome, and I experienced no glitches or bugs.”
“I experienced no glitches besides the one con that I list below.”
“Gameplay is easy and relaxing, the storyline is awesome, and I experienced no glitches or bugs.”
“The game is bug-ridden and generally unpolished.”
“Would feel better if some glitches are fixed, like the laggy mouse sensing and there's at least one way to get the game stuck (can only be fixed by force exiting the game and reloading the save) through normal playing.”
“Navigating through the game at times felt a bit clunky for me, causing me to repetitively click on a surface on the map just so I could move. There was also one level where the game froze and another glitch where I couldn't leave a certain block of the map, which caused frustration because these glitches ruined the immersion in such a beautiful story.”
- optimization22 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with users reporting significant performance issues, particularly related to lag and compatibility, especially when using certain controllers or running in full-screen mode. Additionally, graphics are noted as not being optimized for HD displays, detracting from the overall experience. While the storytelling is praised, the technical limitations, stemming from the older RPG Maker engine, hinder smooth gameplay.
“Nice story, unoptimized though, but if you really want to see some heartwarming story then this will be worth your time.”
“Something minor: the game seems to have some optimization and compatibility issues while running it on my PC, especially with regards to it often jumping out when in full-screen mode, which always resulted in my PC spending a minute or so re-scaling its resolution.”
“Not only epic story and music, but also epic performance on the feeling.”
“I had some really bad issues with lag and performance until I turned off my DS4 controller and used mouse and keyboard only. It seems to be a limitation of the older version of the RPG Maker engine this was made with.”
“The story is slow and the graphics are not optimized for HD displays, which I find to be the most annoying.”
“The game seems to have some optimization and compatibility issues while running on my PC, especially with regards to it often jumping out when in full-screen mode, which always resulted in my PC spending a minute or so re-scaling its resolution.”
- monetization10 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is generally viewed positively, with users appreciating the absence of microtransactions and DLCs. However, some players express frustration over misleading claims regarding full controller support, which detracts from their overall experience.
“☑️ No microtransactions, thank you!”
“It feels like something a soulless corporation would make for a sad pandemic advertisement.”
“None of this would be a problem if the game wasn't advertising full controller support, but it is, so I gotta complain.”
“=== Microtransactions / DLC Policy ===”
