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Under What?

The aesthetics of Under What? make for an interesting showpiece, but the downtempo beats and solid art can’t hide its poor story and lack of direction.
Under What? Game Cover
73%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
gameplay
80% User Score Based on 230 reviews
Critic Score 40%Based on 1 reviews

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Under What? Game Cover

About

Under What? is a single player action game. It was developed by Dan Gartman and was released on August 5, 2019. It received negative reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

“Under what?” is a short but very capacious story-tale about an old fisherman who suddenly faced the surface of the water. In this story there will be no dragons, the battle of good and evil, and other boring nonsense. But there will be some bad jokes and extraordinary characters.

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Under What? screenshot
Under What? screenshot
Under What? screenshot
Under What? screenshot
Under What? screenshot
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80%
Audience ScoreBased on 230 reviews
story22 positive mentions
  • The game features stunning artwork and a beautiful soundtrack that create an immersive atmosphere.
  • It's a short and quirky experience that offers a unique blend of humor and philosophical undertones.
  • Despite its brevity, the game encourages replayability to explore different dialogue options and enjoy the art.
  • The story lacks depth and direction, often feeling nonsensical and leaving players confused.
  • Choices made during gameplay do not significantly impact the outcome, leading to a sense of futility.
  • The game is very short, taking only about 5-10 minutes to complete, which may leave players wanting more substance.
  • story
    68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story aspect of the game is generally viewed as short, whimsical, and lacking depth, often described as more of an artsy diversion than a fully developed narrative. While the visuals and music receive praise for their beauty and complementing the experience, many players express disappointment in the story's brevity, lack of meaningful choices, and unclear themes. Overall, it seems to appeal to those looking for a quick, visually pleasing experience rather than a substantial storyline.

    • “The art is beautiful and the story, while short, is pretty neat.”
    • “Dan Gartman's art and storytelling style are a breath of fresh air, and I'd love to see a longer game or project from him.”
    • “A beautifully drawn and languidly paced story that unfolds so serenely, you are apt to forget some of the lines are droll and the philosophy rather shallow.”
    • “There's not much to say; it's a short, whimsical, barely interactive story with a couple of different branches of dialogue/end results (and not really a full two endings either). The art is decent for what it is, the dialogue is fun and snappy, and you can easily complete every possible branch of dialogue in less than ten minutes.”
    • “It's more an interactive comic than a game and no choice changes the outcome... it takes less than 10 minutes to go through it and the story doesn't make a lot of sense.”
    • “I was hooked by the beautiful screenshots, but the juvenile text is at odds with the artwork, and the story, such as it is, goes nowhere.”
  • graphics
    62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning and unique art style, which many reviewers describe as beautiful, charming, and atmospheric. The visuals, complemented by a fitting soundtrack, create an engaging experience that captivates players, even if the story itself is often seen as lacking depth or direction. Overall, the artwork stands out as the game's strongest aspect, making it a worthwhile experience for those who appreciate visual artistry.

    • “The first thing that struck me was the beauty of this game; the art style and the music created a wonderful atmosphere.”
    • “A very short little comic game with a beautiful art style: simple, charming, and visually delightful!”
    • “The art style is absolutely gorgeous.”
    • “I was hooked by the beautiful screenshots, but the juvenile text is at odds with the artwork, and the story, such as it is, goes nowhere.”
    • “The artwork and music are spectacular, but I couldn't really make too much sense out of the story.”
    • “Although this is a very brief, free little 'game' with okay-level dialogue and a solid art style, I was quite disappointed because I expected to have a choice and dictate the outcome of the conversation with my answers or at least get the possibility to learn more about the world, characters, or situation I'm in - instead I played and immediately replayed the game in 10 minutes and had nearly the exact same outcome and experience both times, which leads to the question of how this game benefits from interaction or multiple dialogue options at all.”
  • music
    54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and soothing qualities, enhancing the overall experience alongside the beautiful artwork. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as sublime, haunting, and perfectly fitting with the game's visuals. Despite some critiques regarding the game's plot, the combination of stunning art and captivating music creates a memorable and immersive environment for players.

    • “Amazing artwork and even better soundtrack.”
    • “The first thing that struck me was the beauty of this game, the art style and the music created a wonderful atmosphere.”
    • “The music works well with the imagery, making the game quite immersive and captivating.”
    • “The art style and music might make you think the game is trying to make a point, or trying to give you some sort of experience... but then you ask the fish 'aren't you afraid of dying to ligma' and the fish calls you a 'nerd'.”
    • “You are able to finish the story in 4 mins by reading witty dialogs between a fisherman and a fish and then just listen to the song without closing the window.”
    • “Artistic, atmospherical art and music and you pair it with Spice Girls lyrics and ligma jokes?”
  • humor
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it funny and charming, particularly through its colorful characters and "fishy" jokes, while others criticize it as childish or unfunny, with awkward dialogue and a lack of meaningful choices. Despite the varying opinions, many appreciate the combination of humor with the game's beautiful art and music, making it an enjoyable, albeit brief, experience. Overall, the humor is described as family-friendly, with some jokes being so bad they become amusing.

    • “Go on a short little adventure with a fisherman to meet colorful characters and experience some hilarious fishy jokes.”
    • “What offsets the nihilism of the game is its gorgeous art and sense of humor.”
    • “What a funny little thing 'bad jokes and extraordinary characters' sums it up better than I could.”
    • “Unfunny jokes and dialogue.”
    • “I mean, really bad, stupid, and not funny.”
  • atmosphere
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its beautiful artwork and atmospheric music, which effectively set the tone and enhance the overall experience. However, some players feel that the inclusion of humor and memes detracts from the immersion, creating a mixed reception regarding the game's ability to maintain its intended atmosphere. Overall, the art style and music contribute significantly to a captivating and intriguing environment, despite some narrative shortcomings.

    • “The first thing that struck me was the beauty of this game; the art style and the music created a wonderful atmosphere.”
    • “That tense atmosphere, where two guys on opposite sides of the U-shaped table can start a fight at any time, the stab-or-be-stabbed mentality, that's what's great about this place.”
    • “Super short but beautiful, intriguing, and dripping with atmosphere.”
    • “I feel like the meme jokes fell flat and broke the immersion and the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “It sucks that no choice leads to anything, but the atmosphere makes up for it.”
  • gameplay
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some users finding it lacking in depth and innovation, while others appreciate its visual appeal despite its simplicity. Overall, it seems to offer a basic experience that may not satisfy those looking for engaging mechanics or a compelling narrative.

    • “Whatever engine was used for this holds great potential for expanded gameplay.”
    • “Nothing groundbreaking and not much in terms of gameplay, but delightful nonetheless.”
    • “There isn't a lot of gameplay to it, but it's free and pleasing to the eye.”
    • “But the writing and gameplay ruin it.”
    • “There is no interesting story or choices or any gameplay.”
    • “There isn't a lot of gameplay to it, but it's free and pleasing for the eye.”
  • emotional
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Many users felt a lack of emotional connection to the characters, citing that their constant insults hindered relatability and attachment.

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40%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Under What? is a action game.

Under What? is available on PC and Windows.

Under What? was released on August 5, 2019.

Under What? was developed by Dan Gartman.

Under What? has received negative reviews from players and negative reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Under What? is a single player game.

Similar games include The Plan, Caligo, Everlasting Summer, Cloud Climber, Carpe Diem and others.