Until Then

98%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,779 reviews
  • story
  • emotional
  • music
Until Then Game Cover
Until Then is a story-rich adventure full of standouts: its beautiful pixel art, relatable protagonist, realistic character dynamics, and thoughtful representation of Filipino culture. It’s a coming-of-age tale worth experiencing.
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"Until Then" is a narrative-driven game that follows the story of a young woman named Ada. Players will explore Ada's memories and experiences as she reflects on her life and the choices she has made. The game features a unique art style and immersive soundtrack, creating a compelling and emotional atmosphere. Through Ada's journey, players will confront themes of love, loss, and self-discovery.

  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

98%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,779 reviews
story668 positive mentions
stability11 negative mentions
  • Incredible storytelling that evokes deep emotions and resonates with players on a personal level.
  • Beautiful pixel art and a unique blend of 2D and 3D visuals that enhance the immersive experience.
  • Relatable characters with well-developed backstories that make players feel invested in their journeys.
  • Pacing issues, particularly in the middle sections, where the story can feel slow and drawn out.
  • Some mini-games lack clear instructions and can be frustrating to play, detracting from the overall experience.
  • The ending may feel unsatisfying or open-ended for some players, leaving loose threads in the narrative.
  • story1,493 mentions

    The story of "Until Then" is widely praised for its emotional depth and character-driven narrative, exploring themes of love, loss, and personal growth. Players appreciate the intricate storytelling, relatable characters, and the way the plot unfolds, often leading to unexpected twists that resonate deeply. While some note pacing issues and a linear structure that limits player choices, the overall consensus is that the game delivers a heartfelt and memorable experience that lingers long after completion.

    • “At first seeing the teenage characters falling in and out of love was adorably cringe, but the story quickly turned into a tale on how people deal differently with indecision, fear of failure, loneliness, and loss.”
    • “It's an emotional roller-coaster but a beautiful story nonetheless, and I did not regret playing this game.”
    • “The story is gripping and genuine, making you appreciate the people and things in your own life.”
    • “The pacing feels deliberate, encouraging you to slow down and savor the story.”
    • “The story is an emotional rollercoaster that expertly weaves together themes of grief, music, love, and friendship.”
    • “The story sometimes feels drawn-out, but it is worth being along for the ride and I was brought to tears in several moments.”
  • emotional608 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Until Then" is overwhelmingly praised, with players describing it as a profound and heart-wrenching journey that evokes a wide range of feelings, from joy to deep sorrow. Many reviewers noted that the game's storytelling, character development, and evocative soundtrack led them to cry multiple times, making it one of the most emotionally impactful experiences they've had in gaming. The narrative's exploration of themes like love, loss, and personal growth resonates deeply, particularly for those familiar with Filipino culture, enhancing its relatability and emotional weight.

    • “Until then is a heartfelt gem that delivers an emotional story with beautiful visuals and memorable characters.”
    • “This game is an emotional masterpiece that made me cry multiple times.”
    • “The story is an emotional rollercoaster that expertly weaves together themes of grief, music, love, and friendship.”
    • “From start to finish, it heavily relies on the original soundtrack to push your feelings in certain directions, and the soundtrack never once lets a moment down. Where is the soundtrack, by the way? Some of those songs have made such an emotional impact on me; I would love to be able to listen to them on streaming services.”
    • “The game tries to evoke deep emotions, but it often feels forced and manipulative, leaving me more frustrated than moved.”
    • “While there are moments that aim for emotional depth, they often fall flat due to poor character development and predictable plot twists.”
  • music339 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its emotional depth and beautiful composition, particularly the piano pieces that resonate with players on a personal level. Many reviewers noted that the soundtrack enhances the storytelling, creating a powerful atmosphere that complements the game's themes of loss and nostalgia. However, some players mentioned moments of silence or repetitive tracks that detracted from the overall experience, yet the majority found the music to be a standout feature that significantly elevates the game's emotional impact.

    • “The music deserves special mention as well—it's beautifully composed and fits the mood of the game flawlessly, enhancing the overall experience without ever feeling intrusive.”
    • “The music, the characters, and the story are perfect.”
    • “The soundtrack is a masterpiece but I will never be able to hear 'Wedding Day' the same way ever again.”
    • “Sometimes there's literally just 30 seconds of two people breathing while the camera switches angles and music plays.”
    • “The music is nothing special, except some notable parts, especially the piano parts.”
    • “There is also some audio issues that felt unpolished in many sections, mainly in towards the ending of the game where music begins to appear less and sound effects become more prominent.”
  • graphics297 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art style, which combines 2D and 3D elements to create a visually captivating experience. Reviewers highlight the emotional depth conveyed through the artwork and animations, enhancing the storytelling and overall immersion. While some minor graphical issues were noted, the overall aesthetic and attention to detail have left a lasting impression on players, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The visuals and cinematography add so much to the overall immersion and help a lot with driving the narrative and emotions in each scene.”
    • “The pixel art style is so good that you are even able to read every tiny detail and expression on the characters' faces without a problem.”
    • “The graphics are incredible; I was first attracted to this game because it looked very visually appealing.”
    • “While the choices throughout only give the illusion of choice, and the graphical performance leaves something to be desired, there's a surprising amount of meat to this game.”
    • “However, while the graphics are charming, they could benefit from a bit more polish, although they fit the overall aesthetic of the game.”
    • “Had a black screen early on somehow fixed by not playing in 1080p and disabling steam overlay, had a few graphical glitches where some assets didn't load properly, crashed a couple times when loading to a new scene, even lost my progress once but was fixed by finding a matching savefile or requesting for one from the devs.”
  • gameplay124 mentions

    The gameplay is primarily focused on storytelling, resembling a visual novel with minimal interactive elements, such as occasional mini-games and simple navigation. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and artistic presentation, others find the gameplay limited and occasionally frustrating, with mini-games that can disrupt pacing. Overall, the game is recommended for those who prioritize narrative and character development over traditional gameplay mechanics.

    • “The game makes the player feel more involved with their actions and the world, and that extends even outside of the main gameplay.”
    • “The art style, music, and interactive gameplay - it's a masterpiece.”
    • “The gameplay really immerses you.”
    • “The gameplay is mostly watching how everything displays with fun occasional mini-games and interacting with social media throughout the game.”
    • “On the downside, some mini-games had (kind of unreasonably) confusing mechanics and lacked clear instructions.”
    • “If you're looking for gameplay, this game is not it; there are a handful of mini-games spread throughout, but they never tell you how to play them, just figure it out as you go.”
  • humor60 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its ability to blend lighthearted moments with deeper emotional themes, creating an engaging and relatable experience. Players appreciate the clever writing, charming characters, and cultural references that resonate particularly with Filipino audiences, often leading to laughter interspersed with poignant moments. Overall, the game successfully balances humor and drama, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking.

    • “It's also decently funny and charming, without the 'fellow kids' energy somehow.”
    • “The characters are brilliantly lively, the writing is amazing (and honestly funny at times).”
    • “The story was compelling the whole way through and the funny mini games kept it interesting.”
  • atmosphere35 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and captivating qualities, blending stunning visuals, evocative sound design, and rich cultural references that transport players into a vibrant world. Many reviewers highlight the emotional depth and unique storytelling, enhanced by a nostalgic art style and a haunting soundtrack that resonate deeply with players. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its appeal and emotional impact.

    • “The game blends powerful storytelling with surreal visuals and an atmospheric soundtrack that perfectly captures its emotional depth.”
    • “The atmosphere, the dialogue, and the emotional expression is, dare I say, a masterpiece.”
    • “The atmosphere: you are basically transported into the Philippines, everything from the small details of the trash, the sounds of people yelling and talking, the school colors, the house looking like those traditional houses, it had me feeling giddy inside because I'm literally going 'oh my god, it's the Philippines.'”
    • “Every event not only leaves the player in awe of the gorgeous art, animation, and sound design and how they work together to create such a captivating atmosphere, but also with a newfound interest in Philippine culture.”
    • “The background noise is so surreal, like you’re really there from the loud jeepneys of Manila, tricycles, manong taho shouting to attract customers, school atmosphere of students chatting and bells ringing; it's so unreal hearing them in a 2.5 pixel art game!”
  • character development17 mentions

    Character development in the game is highly praised for its depth, nuance, and attention to detail, with many reviewers highlighting the complexity of character arcs and the emotional impact of their stories. The character designs are also noted for their liveliness and diversity, enhancing the overall narrative experience. Overall, players feel that the character development is a standout aspect, contributing significantly to the game's storytelling and engagement.

    • “Tons of character development, nuance and subtlety in the writing and plot, great timing and attention to detail.”
    • “From beautiful sights to exquisite storytelling, impactful animation, score, and character development, I don't think I would change a thing.”
    • “The storytelling is phenomenal, the character development is nothing short of perfect, and the twists are not even twists really... I can't wait to uncover the complete mystery.”
    • “I’m a sucker for characters who have unique stories of their own, because that’s the backbone of their character development and how they’ll be impactful to the story. You just need to add a bit of spice with their struggles to make it really flavorful for the player to enjoy... or maybe to break them.”
    • “Character development feels lacking; the characters don't evolve in a meaningful way throughout the game, making it hard to connect with them.”
    • “While the art and environment are stunning, the character development is superficial and fails to create a lasting emotional impact.”
  • optimization14 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some players experiencing smooth performance at 60 fps, while others report stuttering, crashes, and issues with specific minigames. Many users note that the game requires further polish to address optimization bugs, particularly in loading times and sound quality, but still find it enjoyable despite these shortcomings. While performance varies based on hardware, the consensus is that improvements are needed for a more consistent experience.

    • “Performance – I don't particularly have a strong PC, but I can run the game at 60 FPS in most scenes.”
    • “While there are aspects that need to be refined (optimization for this game and story endings [in my personal opinion]), I think it's still a fun and unique game that can be appreciated by a lot of other people.”
    • “I saw nothing go down in performance the whole game except for one minigame which was very lighting-centric.”
    • “Without spoiling anything too much, the planned ones were alright, but there are clearly some optimization bugs to iron out when it comes to things like loading, sound quality, and the like.”
    • “The game isn't perfect; the minigames notably being awkward to play, and game performance being all over the place.”
    • “Sadly crashes every time after approximately 2 minutes. I don't know if it's my low-end PC or something else, but I have every graphic setting on 'low'. The game has just been released, and it could be due to optimization bugs or something like that.”
  • stability11 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability has received mixed feedback, with users reporting various sound and visual glitches, frequent crashes, and issues with certain minigames. While some players experienced significant disruptions, such as losing progress and needing to restart the game, many still found the experience enjoyable and worth persevering through the technical difficulties. Despite these issues, the game's compelling story and design elements were highlighted as strong positives.

    • “Had a black screen early on, somehow fixed by not playing in 1080p and disabling the Steam overlay. I experienced a few graphical glitches where some assets didn't load properly, crashed a couple of times when loading to a new scene, and even lost my progress once, but it was fixed by finding a matching save file or requesting one from the devs.”
    • “The story is so compelling, despite a bit of a slow start, that the only thing that could get me to put the game down was the visual glitches, which forced me to shut the game down.”
    • “- frequent crashes (computer meets minimum specs, followed troubleshooting guides)”
  • replayability5 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability, with players noting that each playthrough can offer different scenarios and new insights, encouraging multiple runs. However, some users caution that while replaying can enhance understanding of the story, subsequent playthroughs may feel similar, potentially limiting replay value for those seeking significant changes. Overall, it is regarded as a game worth revisiting.

    • “The replayability of this game is nuts!”
    • “It has some replay value as well, which I do like in a game like this; new things learned with a second and third playthrough.”
    • “If you plan on adding this game to your library, let me just say it is very replayable!”
    • “Honestly, I think I may replay the game again, even after finishing it, just to help solidify and form my thoughts/opinions on the game and its story/events. I will say, however, I would expect a subsequent playthrough to be similar - that is to say there's little replayability here if that matters to you.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be extensive, often requiring significant time investment, likening it to needing a "second life." While the overall experience is praised as an absolute masterpiece, some minigames are criticized for being tedious and lacking clear instructions, leading to confusion about controls.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Some of the minigames are tedious; my only real complaint is that some of them do not inform you that you're even in a minigame, and you basically have to guess the controls every time.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Players generally view the monetization of the game positively, appreciating the value for the price and the effective advertising that piqued their interest.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

Buy Until Then

Play time

20hMedian play time
19hAverage play time
10-24hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 18 analyzed playthroughs

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