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Until Then

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.
Until Then Game Cover
88%Game Brain Score
story, emotional
stability, grinding
98% User Score Based on 7,656 reviews
Critic Score 79%Based on 15 reviews

Platforms

LinuxPCPlaystation 5Steam DeckWindowsPlayStation
Until Then Game Cover

About

Until Then is a single player action game. It was developed by Polychroma Games and was released on June 25, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"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.

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98%
Audience ScoreBased on 7,656 reviews
story1.7k positive mentions
stability20 negative mentions

  • Incredible storytelling that evokes a wide range of emotions, making players laugh and cry.
  • Beautiful pixel art and a stunning soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • Deeply relatable characters with well-developed arcs that resonate with players' own experiences.
  • Pacing can be slow, especially in the early chapters, which may deter some players.
  • Some gameplay mechanics, like rhythm mini-games, can feel clunky and disrupt the narrative flow.
  • The ending may leave some players feeling unsatisfied or confused due to its open-ended nature.
  • story
    3,884 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Until Then" is widely praised for its emotional depth and relatability, exploring themes of loss, grief, and the complexities of relationships through the lens of Filipino culture. Players appreciate the well-developed characters and the intricate narrative that unfolds over multiple playthroughs, often leading to profound personal reflections and emotional responses. While some critiques mention pacing issues and a slow start, the overall consensus is that the storytelling is masterfully crafted, making it a standout experience in the visual novel genre.

    • “Peak game and storytelling; everyone, including side characters, has such good depth, including the environments and lighting. Speaking without saying anything is beautiful.”
    • “The game is a masterpiece with a heartfelt, soulful story, involving players in the characters' backgrounds and personalities.”
    • “This game is a masterpiece of storytelling, full of likeable and relatable characters, and a story that brought tears to my eyes.”
    • “Because the story might be long and boring.”
    • “I really wanted to like this game, but after 8 hours of playing it I just lost my patience, because it feels like the main story will never ever begin.”
    • “The plot just moves way too slowly and I don't think it hooks you well enough to carry you through the structure of the story.”
  • emotional
    1,713 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Until Then" has been overwhelmingly praised by players, many of whom report experiencing profound feelings ranging from joy to heartbreak. Numerous reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke tears, with players noting that it made them cry multiple times due to its deeply relatable characters and poignant storytelling. The combination of beautiful visuals, a touching soundtrack, and a narrative that explores themes of love, loss, and personal growth contributes to its status as an emotional masterpiece that resonates long after the game is completed.

    • “This is the first game in a while that has moved me both thoughtfully and emotionally.”
    • “The game is a masterpiece with a heartfelt, soulful story, involving players in the characters' backgrounds and personalities.”
    • “This game truly is something special; each character is so different and made me feel different things.”
  • music
    822 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Until Then" has been universally praised for its emotional depth and beautiful composition, particularly highlighting the piano-driven soundtrack that enhances the game's narrative and atmosphere. Players have noted that the music not only complements the story but also evokes strong feelings, often leading to tears during key moments. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, elevating the gaming experience and leaving a lasting impact on players.

    • “The music, the visuals, the atmosphere... it all worked together so well!”
    • “The soundtrack is beautiful and elevates every scene, perfectly capturing the mood and tone throughout.”
    • “The music is absolutely beautiful and helps elevate the emotional impact of the game to the next level.”
    • “But, I understand why they added it in, [spoiler] music is very [i] instrumental [/i] to the plot (horrible pun intended) [/spoiler] but when you fail at the rhythm sections, it can take away from the experience much more than it adds to it.”
    • “There are a couple of bugs/quirks here and there—like some of the minigames being finicky, or background music continuing to play during a musical scene—which can be a touch immersion-breaking, especially during emotional moments, but are reasonably few and far between.”
    • “The main gripe I have with this game is the blending of audio on some of the important scenes, particularly background sounds and the OST volumes.”
  • graphics
    752 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Until Then" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art style, which combines charming 2D characters with detailed 3D backgrounds, creating a visually immersive experience. Players appreciate the emotional depth conveyed through the art, with many noting how the visuals enhance the storytelling and character interactions. Overall, the game's aesthetic is described as beautiful, nostalgic, and a significant draw for players, making it a standout in the visual novel genre.

    • “The pixel art style is absolutely gorgeous—it's so detailed, vibrant, and expressive that it makes the world feel completely alive.”
    • “The visuals are absolutely stunning and pair perfectly with the atmosphere the game conveys throughout the story.”
    • “The graphics are magnificent, and I loved the half 2D, half 3D style, with a very realistic treatment of light that gave a lot of depth and liveliness to each of the daily locations.”
    • “The graphics are pretty decent overall, but for some reason they are way more taxing on your PC than they should be. Also, changing keybinds doesn't even work.”
    • “I tried lowering some of the graphics settings at one point, but had to revert to the default because the game would crash every five minutes with the new settings.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay
    360 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game is primarily narrative-driven, resembling a visual novel with minimal interactive elements, such as walking and occasional mini-games. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and storytelling, others find the gameplay sparse and repetitive, often feeling that it detracts from the overall experience. Overall, if you enjoy story-rich games with simple mechanics, this title may resonate with you, but those seeking more complex gameplay may be disappointed.

    • “The gameplay complements the narrative beautifully.”
    • “There's a perfect mix of fun gameplay and emotional, even bittersweet moments that really hit you.”
    • “The art, the music, the gameplay; all of it makes the experience so rich and enjoyable.”
    • “Visually, the game is stunning, but the story develops far too slowly and the gameplay feels very dull.”
    • “The gameplay is minimal — mostly small interactions, simple choices, and short sequences that serve the story rather than challenge the player.”
    • “If you're looking for gameplay depth or challenge, you may find this game lacking in it.”
  • humor
    151 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is described as a unique blend of sharp wit, relatable dialogue, and absurdity, often juxtaposed with emotional depth that elicits both laughter and tears. Players appreciate the well-crafted characters and their interactions, which are infused with cultural references and playful banter, making the experience feel authentic and engaging. Overall, the game successfully balances lighthearted moments with heavier themes, creating an emotional rollercoaster that resonates with players.

    • “This game is a journey, an experience that explores adolescence and trauma mixed with modern humor and dialogues that give the player a powerful sense of connection to reality.”
    • “The writing in this game is funny when needed, heartrending at times, and just overall amazing.”
    • “The characters are charming, funny, compelling, and more!”
    • “It really made me feel like I was nothing, an unsocial, unfunny piece of poo.”
  • atmosphere
    96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive quality, beautifully blending pixel art, evocative sound design, and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the emotional depth of the story. Players appreciate the attention to detail in the visuals and the authentic representation of Filipino culture, which creates a relatable and nostalgic experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as a masterful combination of art, music, and narrative that draws players into its world.

    • “The atmosphere, the characters, the writing... it all came together to create something unforgettable.”
    • “The art style is beautiful and calming, and the soundtrack matches perfectly, making the whole atmosphere emotional and deep.”
    • “The atmosphere, coupled with the soundscape of the city, blend together to create a delightfully immersive experience.”
    • “But there are also moments where the whole atmosphere is destroyed by a harsh cut or a loading screen.”
    • “The setting also does its duty by immersing you in an atmosphere that to say that it is faithfully reproduced down to the smallest details is an understatement; you really feel the warmth of Philippine culture and it makes me proud to be Filipino.”
    • “The background noise is so surreal, like you’re really there from the loud jeepneys of Manila, tricycles, and vendors shouting to attract customers; the school atmosphere of students chatting and bells ringing is so realistic in this 2.5D pixel art game!”
  • character development
    53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with many reviewers highlighting the well-written arcs and relatable struggles of the characters. While some found certain protagonists less engaging, the overall consensus is that the character journeys are impactful, showcasing growth, resilience, and meaningful relationships that enhance the storytelling experience. The combination of strong character design and nuanced writing contributes to a rich narrative that resonates with players on a personal level.

    • “The game's ability to evoke such strong emotions speaks to its exceptional storytelling and character development.”
    • “The emotional depth and rich character development set it apart from other games I’ve played.”
    • “Great character development, insightful takes on dealing with the hardships that come with life and a banger soundtrack to tie it all together.”
    • “Mark is such a bland protagonist and such a bad friend. I heard there's some character development, but I am not invested at all.”
    • “The subtle character development of Mark Borja (the main character) and the lesson of 'don't take things for granted' taught by Cath was perfect.”
    • “The game requires three playthroughs to reach the true ending, but the standout from the writing will be the character development.”
  • optimization
    27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, including crashes and stuttering, particularly during certain minigames. While it runs well on high-end systems like the RTX 3090, others have reported needing to lower graphics settings for smoother gameplay, and there are notable bugs related to loading and sound quality. Overall, while the game is praised for its creativity and storytelling, it requires further polish to enhance performance across various hardware configurations.

    • “At this point, it is a perfection to quality over performance, combining low poly 3D with pixel texture, pixel art layering, lighting, ambience; it's all immersive to the point of perfection.”
    • “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'll say I think the worst thing about this game is probably the performance; a lot of times my game crashed or just chugged.”
    • “Seems there is no FPS limit and zero optimization.”
    • “The game isn't perfect; the minigames are notably awkward to play, and game performance is all over the place.”
  • stability
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent bugs and glitches, including character movement issues, visual errors, and crashes, particularly during specific scenes or weather effects. While some users experienced significant frustration due to these problems, others noted that the game remained playable and enjoyable despite the occasional hiccup. Overall, while stability issues are prevalent, they do not universally detract from the overall experience.

    • “The game is also shockingly buggy for such a simple game.”
    • “I kept getting glitches where the character would move in the wrong direction, or the mouse pointer would get stuck sliding to one end of the screen.”
    • “Had a black screen early on, somehow fixed by not playing in 1080p and disabling Steam overlay. I had 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 was fixed by finding a matching save file or requesting one from the devs.”
  • grinding
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews highlight that grinding in the game can be excessively tedious, often requiring players to invest significant time without meaningful progress due to sparse save points and repetitive dialogue. While some players appreciate the initial gameplay, many find that the experience becomes increasingly frustrating and disjointed, leading to a loss of motivation to continue. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a major drawback that detracts from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “It felt like every step forward came with a huge risk of losing progress, which made the game more tedious than enjoyable.”
    • “- There are very few save points, which, combined with highly repetitive dialogue, makes resuming the play a tedious experience.”
    • “And it is tedious having to work through the dialogue of the checkpoints to get to the mini-games themselves and then repeatedly make attempts to get the achievements; I can't say for certain that I'll have the capacity to go back to try for them all, but if you don't care about that, you can make it through just fine.”
  • replayability
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its engaging story and unique mechanics, such as the timeloop feature, which enhances replay value. However, others note that the linear narrative and limited interactivity can diminish the overall replayability, making it less appealing for those seeking varied experiences in subsequent playthroughs. Overall, while many find it worth revisiting, the degree of replayability varies among players.

    • “You'd get invested very quickly and it has high replayability. One of my favorite games; I've played it 10/10. Highly recommend, the soundtrack is beautifully written, fitting perfectly to the game's vibe and giving an emotional oomph to it.”
    • “It takes you on a wild rollercoaster, and I love how much replayability it has—the way the game changes when you start a new run with the time loop mechanic is just chef’s kiss.”
    • “The replayability of this game is nuts!”
    • “But, the linear narrative reduces the replayability.”
    • “Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with having a linear story, but in a game like this where there's no real interaction other than walking and some occasionally terrible minigames, it significantly hurts this game's replay value.”
    • “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.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

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

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13h Median play time
15h Average play time
7-20h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 42 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Until Then is a action game.

Until Then is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Steam Deck, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 15 hours playing Until Then.

Until Then was released on June 25, 2024.

Until Then was developed by Polychroma Games.

Until Then has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Until Then is a single player game.

Similar games include Before Your Eyes, I Wani Hug that Gator!, Life is Strange, Goodnight Universe, Omori and others.