Unheard
- March 28, 2019
- NEXT Studios
- 5h median play time
While Unheard stumbles through a few technical issues, it’s premise alone makes it thoroughly enjoyable. Though short, every minute of Unheard is packed with intrigue and there’s something immensely satisfying about having that ah-ha moment when all the pieces click together.
Get on Steam"Unheard" is a single-player Horror Role Playing game with an intriguing story and outstanding gameplay, featuring fabulous graphics and a dense atmosphere. The game offers a unique non-linear audio-driven gameplay experience, but it is not very replayable and can be quite grinding. The first paid DLC, "Dark Fortune Teller," is now available with Chinese audio and text.
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Reviews
- Unique gameplay that relies solely on audio clues, providing a fresh take on the detective genre.
- Engaging and well-written stories with interesting plot twists that keep players invested.
- Great voice acting that enhances the immersive experience, making players feel like true detectives.
- The game is relatively short, with only 5 main cases and limited replayability.
- Some voice acting can be cheesy or over-the-top, which may detract from the overall experience.
- Lack of subtitles makes the game inaccessible for players with hearing difficulties.
- story1,390 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is a unique blend of audio-driven narrative and detective work, where players piece together events from multiple perspectives through sound. While many found the individual cases engaging and filled with intriguing twists, the overarching narrative was often criticized for being convoluted or underdeveloped, leaving some players wanting more depth and cohesion. Overall, the storytelling mechanics were praised for their innovation, but the brevity and occasional lack of clarity in the plot left mixed impressions among players.
“The story, the levels, and the way everything ties together was amazing.”
“I loved the way this game's story was put together.”
“The mechanics are so well thought out that it makes you experience pieces of the story at a time and on the next rewind, you find out a character on another side of the level is having a completely different dilemma that adds so much complexity to the whole story.”
“These mysteries are written poorly and the overarching 'story', which barely exists, is garbage.”
“Be aware that the game overall is very short though (<5 hrs) and does not contain a real end-to-end story, more like some loosely related episodes.”
“The overall story arc and the final scene in particular are just some cheesy meta, matrix-like crap.”
- gameplay914 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Unheard" is characterized by its unique audio-based detective mechanics, where players listen to conversations to piece together narratives and solve mysteries. While many find the concept innovative and engaging, some reviewers noted that the gameplay can become repetitive and lacks interactivity, leading to a decline in interest after the initial novelty wears off. Overall, the game is praised for its clever mechanics and storytelling, though it is often described as short, with a typical playtime of around 3 to 6 hours.
“The game offers a unique experience, blending mystery-solving with an audio-based detective mechanic.”
“The gameplay itself is also very fun as uncovering the truth about each case feels rewarding.”
“Great gameplay mechanic, really enjoyed it.”
“Once I got the game's mechanics and completed the 2nd level, my interest to continue significantly dropped, as nothing new was introduced into the gameplay.”
“The main problem with the gameplay is the lack of interactivity.”
“While this had a lot of potential to create interesting mysteries, the game failed to utilize its core mechanic in any meaningful way and, even putting mechanics aside, never managed to create mysteries that were interesting in any way.”
- replayability146 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has very low replayability, typical for detective and puzzle genres, as players generally know the outcomes after the first playthrough. While some users appreciated the engaging story and unique experience, they noted that once the mystery is solved, there is little incentive to replay. A few mentioned minor replay value through different endings or achievements, but this was not enough to significantly enhance the overall experience.
“The multiple perspectives provided by different audio sources contribute to the game's replayability.”
“While the puzzles might not stump hardcore puzzle enthusiasts, the innovative concept, engaging storytelling, and replayability make it a standout experience for those seeking a unique detective adventure.”
“I do wish this was a longer game, but the multiple endings do add some replay value.”
“Unfortunately, there's little to no replay value here.”
“The only downside I have about this game is that it doesn't last very long and once you solve all the puzzles, there is no replay value because you already figured everything out.”
“It's just very short and obviously doesn't have much replay value as you know whodunnit.”
- graphics144 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally described as simple and minimalistic, effectively complementing its audio-driven gameplay and narrative focus. While some players appreciate the clean and appealing art style, others note that the visuals are not the main attraction, emphasizing that the game's strength lies in its storytelling and sound design. Overall, the graphics serve their purpose well, creating an engaging atmosphere without the need for flashy visuals.
“The graphics are very simple, though they work very well with the type of game this is.”
“The artwork is exceptionally well done as well, keeping things simple enough to be imaginative but easy on the eyes.”
“The game offers some really nice graphics and a nice yet simplistic aesthetic which is pleasant all the same and has some amazing attention to detail even though it is a little rough around the edges.”
“The game's graphics aren't really much to look at.”
“Although Unheard delivers a high-quality auditory experience, the game is weak in terms of graphics.”
“Conceptually, the game delivers on a certain aesthetic, but it doesn't really challenge the player to think laterally, instead relying on weirdly-scripted surveillance cues that deliver bland exposition and spell out the 'plot' that you must hunt down.”
- grinding80 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, particularly due to the need to replay lengthy audio recordings multiple times to gather clues. Many players found this mechanic to detract from the overall enjoyment, describing it as boring and overly time-consuming, with some suggesting that it could benefit from faster playback options. While the game has an interesting premise, the execution often leads to a frustrating experience that feels more like a chore than engaging gameplay.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It's a tad bit grindy.”
“The game can feel quite grindy at times.”
“I enjoyed coming up with conclusions on my own and discovering the truth in the end was always satisfying, but having to listen to and rewind the same 10-minute recording over and over to listen to everyone's side while staring at a pale blue screen can definitely become tedious very fast.”
“It definitely became tedious and convoluted for me when playing the Lethal Script DLC, which consisted of over 20 minutes of individual recordings distributed among 16 characters.”
“This game was incredibly tedious - not fun at all.”
- atmosphere62 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by excellent sound design and engaging visuals that create a creepy and tense environment. While many players found the atmosphere captivating and integral to their experience, some noted that the narrative's substance did not always match the atmospheric buildup, leading to mixed feelings about the overall impact. Overall, the game successfully cultivates a unique and engaging atmosphere that draws players in, especially when experienced with headphones in a quiet setting.
“The audio quality is excellent, with atmospheric background sounds that draw you deeper into the experience.”
“The game oozes atmosphere as well, due in part to some solid voice acting and storytelling.”
“It combines an incredibly unique puzzle-solving experience with a wonderfully twisted atmosphere that becomes more and more creepy as the game progresses.”
“The whole atmosphere of the game tries to convince you that something creepy is or will happen, but without much substance.”
“So the horror atmosphere and dark vibes didn't pay off.”
“While the story starts off strong and pulls you in with its creepy atmosphere, the later parts show glaring flaws that might hinder your enjoyment of the game or in the worst case lead to you giving up on it completely.”
- music56 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its quality, atmosphere, and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players expressing a desire to listen to the soundtrack repeatedly. While some found the music to be occasionally underwhelming or overshadowed by other elements, the haunting and immersive sound design effectively contributes to the game's detective mood. Overall, the combination of music, voice acting, and sound effects is considered a standout feature, elevating the gameplay experience.
“The music is creepy and haunting in all the right ways, and Steam achievements are easy to 100% complete.”
“The music, voice acting, and point-and-click nature were all excellently executed, and the increasingly complex audio puzzles were fantastic.”
“Music is thrilling, makes the whole game like a real detective movie.”
“The music is okay at times, but that's not enough to keep you wanting to play the game.”
“Being able to fast forward and having a visual indication of when a character was making noise helped, but there were a number of red herrings (snoring, music, etc) or conversations where the characters just droned on and on.”
“Just need to make sure you can't listen to your own background music when playing this game.”
- optimization36 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally solid, with smooth performance noted, though Mac users may need to lower resolution settings to avoid lag. The voice acting is mostly competent, featuring strong performances that enhance the audio-driven storytelling, but some exaggerated or untrained deliveries can detract from the experience. Overall, while the voice acting is distinctive and engaging, it lacks the standout quality expected in a game reliant on audio.
“The game also runs smoothly; however, it may be better for Mac users to lower the resolution in the settings to prevent the game from lagging at certain points.”
“If you have a soft spot for audio content and theater performance, Unheard just might be your jam.”
“Great voiceovers: performances are natural, bringing the player into the world.”
“It's not the worst ever, it just feels 'untrained' and it makes a game based entirely around voices and character performances uncomfortable to play.”
“Not that all the performances are bad, but with the amount of lines and characters present in each given location, there are going to be voice acting problems.”
“I'd say about 90% of the English-speaking actors do a good job, but a few give stale or overly dramatic performances.”
- emotional22 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally engaging, with immersive storytelling and effective audio design that enhances the experience. While some felt the ending lacked a deeper emotional impact, others appreciated the emotional peak that elicited tears. Overall, the game successfully evokes feelings of being a detective, though some players desired more nuanced writing and a longer playtime for greater emotional satisfaction.
“It reached the emotional peak at the last second and made me cry a little.”
“I don't know exactly why it made me feel the way it did - but I love this game so much.”
“Trying to piece it all together in the end made me feel like I was actually insane.”
- humor20 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as both unintentional and intentional, with players finding the over-the-top English voice acting and poor writing to be laughable. Many reviewers appreciate the comedic elements, including meta-jokes and corny voiceovers, while some express frustration with the quality, leading to moments of genuine laughter. Overall, the humor is seen as a mixed bag that can enhance the experience, despite its flaws.
“The English voice acting is pretty funny, comically over the top with weight added to random syllables for no real reason, but I assume this is to make it easier for non-native speakers.”
“Also, many of the voiceovers are enthusiastic to the point of being corny, and sometimes even downright laughable, although laughing is a good thing.”
“It is so bad that I burst out laughing several times, and sometimes it made me want to just end a level because a character's voice was so awful.”
- stability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits some visual instability, including screen flashing and glitches, which can be distracting. However, gameplay remains stable with no significant issues reported, allowing for a smooth experience during the estimated 3-5 hour completion time.
“Gameplay-wise, I ran into no glitches or issues, and despite the game being quite short to completion, which may be longer or shorter for some, I'd say 3-5 hours would be the general amount expected.”
“There's also some flashing on the screen and visual glitches, which is an uncomfortable surprise.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users generally feel that the monetization model is acceptable, especially if they acquired the game through advertisements, suggesting that the price point aligns well with their expectations.
