Unusual Findings

About

Unusual Findings is a single player action adventure game with mystery, comedy, kids and science fiction themes. It was developed by ESDigital Games and was released on October 12, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

In "Unusual Findings," a nostalgic 80s-themed game, Vinny, Nick, and Tony stumble upon an alien spaceship crash near their town while trying to descramble a pay-per-view adult channel. As specific town members start getting murdered, the trio must explore various locations, gather clues, and interact with peculiar characters to unravel the mysterious extraterrestrial events. Join them in this thrilling adventure filled with humor, suspense, and 80s pop culture references.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+13

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86%

Audience ScoreBased on 206 reviews

story51 positive mentions

character development2 negative mentions

The game features a charming pixel art style and an engaging soundtrack that perfectly captures the 80s vibe.
The writing is sharp and humorous, with well-developed characters that make the story enjoyable.
The gameplay includes clever puzzles and multiple endings, providing good replay value and encouraging exploration.

Some puzzles can be frustratingly obtuse, requiring trial and error or reliance on guides to progress.
The save system is limited, with no manual save options, which can lead to losing progress if players need to take breaks.
The dialogue can be overly lengthy and sometimes lacks clarity, making it difficult to track important clues.

story
103 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
47%
3%
The story of "Unusual Findings" is a charming and humorous homage to 80s pop culture, featuring engaging characters and a blend of quirky humor and atmospheric storytelling. While it offers multiple storylines and clever puzzles that enhance the experience, some players feel that character development and narrative depth could be improved. Overall, the game successfully captures the nostalgic essence of classic adventure titles while providing a fun and entertaining journey.
- “Unusual Findings is a captivating point-and-click adventure that masterfully blends quirky humor, atmospheric storytelling, and cleverly designed puzzles to deliver an experience that feels both fresh and nostalgically reminiscent of classic adventure titles.”
- “The story in Unusual Findings is one of its most compelling aspects, delivered through a combination of dialogue, environmental storytelling, and player investigation.”
- “Great story, amazing humor, nice characters, beautiful voice acting, astounding pixel art... worth every penny.”
- “The story direction and the tone are all mundane.”
- “The story was weak, the characters didn't have any memorable personalities, and the dialogue was so boring that I ended up eventually skipping it.”
- “There was no story or character development much, the ending was abrupt, and the good alien basically said 'long story' so we didn't learn anything from the alien invasion.”
music
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
47%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic 80s synthwave vibe, effectively complementing the retro aesthetic and enhancing the overall atmosphere. While the soundtrack features a mix of original compositions and licensed tracks, some players noted that the limited selection can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music is considered a standout element, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersive experience.
- “The game nails its retro vibe with a charming soundtrack and a story full of surprises and humor.”
- “The best part of the game is the music, which is a nice synthwave nod to our memories of the 1980s.”
- “Story, soundtrack, easter eggs, references and characters - everything is a thrilling and immersive celebration of 80s pop culture.”
- “The music becomes extremely repetitive, which is disappointing for someone who is a synthwave fan and artist.”
- “On the negative side, however, the music is sometimes too loud and in some scenes too intrusive, destroying the suspense.”
- “The default music volume is set way too loud, making it difficult to enjoy the game.”
graphics
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
48%
5%
The graphics of "Unusual Findings" are widely praised for their charming retro pixel art style, effectively capturing the nostalgic essence of the 1980s. While some reviews note occasional flatness or messiness in the visuals, the overall art direction and animations are considered strong, with many players appreciating the attention to detail and the game's ability to evoke classic adventure titles. Despite minor criticisms, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout in the genre.
- “Visually, Unusual Findings embraces a distinct hand-drawn art style that perfectly complements its eerie yet playful tone.”
- “The retro pixel graphics are inevitably reminiscent of classics like Monkey Island.”
- “Unusual Findings has an 8-bit pixel visual aesthetic that is a joy to behold.”
- “The graphics feel a bit flat at times, likely due to the lack of foreground elements.”
- “Characters are hollow, voice acting is cheap, total lack of any humor, puzzles are stale and simple, graphics are messy.”
- “The graphics are ok-ish for the supposed era, but limited.”
humor
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
8%
The humor in "Unusual Findings" is a standout feature, blending quirky, nostalgic references with sharp, witty dialogue that resonates well with fans of classic adventure games. While many players appreciate the clever writing and funny interactions, some critiques highlight inconsistencies in humor quality, with certain jokes feeling overdone or lacking depth. Overall, the game successfully captures a lighthearted, retro vibe, making it an enjoyable experience for those who appreciate a mix of humor and adventure.
- “Unusual Findings, developed by Epic Llama Games, is a captivating point-and-click adventure that masterfully blends quirky humor, atmospheric storytelling, and cleverly designed puzzles to deliver an experience that feels both fresh and nostalgically reminiscent of classic adventure titles.”
- “What sets this game apart is its sharp, witty writing that balances humor and mystery without leaning too heavily on either.”
- “Great story, amazing humor, nice characters, beautiful voice acting, astounding pixel art... worth every penny.”
- “Pointless 80's references, unfunny jokes (no, not the so bad it's good kind), cringe-worthy dialogue all around.”
- “The style is on point, and the humor matches the vibe (namely, is unfunny), but the so-so writing and uninspiring puzzles overshadow the positives.”
- “There is a lot of unfunny filler and obscure trivia that clogs up the dialogue but doesn't always help and takes up a lot of time.”
gameplay
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
70%
8%
The gameplay of "Unusual Findings" is a classic point-and-click adventure that incorporates puzzle-solving and exploration, enhanced by a clever branching mechanic that allows for multiple endings based on player choices. However, many players find the mechanics clunky and frustrating, often resorting to walkthroughs, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. While the nostalgic 80s aesthetic and engaging script are praised, the gameplay itself is seen as elementary and not as polished as modern titles in the genre.
- “The gameplay itself is a mix of point-and-click adventure and puzzle-solving, with plenty of interactions that keep you on your toes.”
- “Unusual Findings has truly classic point-and-click gameplay mechanics, with the addition of a hotspot finder.”
- “This clever branching mechanic changes how the game will play out, reminiscent of a mechanic that was in the Indiana Jones point-and-click games.”
- “The gameplay is clunky.”
- “As for the gameplay, it's a point-and-click adventure game that deliberately ignores some of the progress that was made in the last 10 years, which means you will have to use walkthroughs here and there, which I find annoying.”
- “The game advertises itself as having 'classic point and click mechanics', but classic point and click titles were never this sloppy.”
atmosphere
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
20%
15%
The atmosphere of "Unusual Findings" is widely praised for its immersive and nostalgic 80s vibe, reminiscent of classic adventure games and popular series like "Stranger Things." Players appreciate the richly detailed environments, quirky humor, and engaging storytelling, all enhanced by a fitting soundtrack and voice work that contribute to a captivating and moody experience. Overall, the game successfully blends humor and atmosphere, creating a unique and enjoyable adventure.
- “The environments are richly detailed and stylized, featuring a muted color palette that enhances the game’s moody atmosphere without ever becoming oppressive.”
- “Excellent atmosphere, good soundtrack and voice work.”
- “They really nailed the 80's atmosphere for the game.”
- “The pompous retro 80's atmosphere with its carefree clichés and music are the main thing here!”
- “First of all the atmosphere, it's like the first season of Stranger Things, only pixelated.”
- “Beautiful old-school adventure game with the atmosphere of Stranger Things!”
replayability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
55%
17%
The game offers significant replayability through multiple endings, optional puzzles, and dialogue choices that influence gameplay. Players can explore different storylines and achievements, making it appealing for those who enjoy revisiting games for varied experiences. Overall, it successfully combines nostalgia with innovative mechanics that enhance replay value.
- “This game ticked all my nostalgia boxes and I loved how they implemented optional puzzles depending on some conversational moments, giving you some replayability.”
- “All three playthroughs and endings offer good replay value and bonus scenes variety.”
- “The game also has a good bit of replay value with multiple endings and achievements to find throughout.”
- “There are alternate puzzles and 3 endings, so it offers some replayability.”
- “I found out after completing that the dialogue choices affect what puzzles are in the following section, so there's replay value.”
- “As expected, unusual findings does not have any replay value, but it will not disappoint those looking for a great story, complex puzzles, and a not so 'in your face' humor.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively weaves emotional depth into its narrative through unique characters and a blend of mystery and wit, enhanced by commendable voice acting and heartwarming moments. However, the ending message may not resonate with all players, leading to mixed feelings about its emotional impact. Overall, it creates a charming yet unsettling atmosphere that invites players to engage deeply with its story.
- “As you interact with various inhabitants — each more peculiar than the last — the narrative gradually unfolds, revealing layers of conspiracy, supernatural undertones, and unexpected emotional depth.”
- “Its unique art style and memorable characters create a world that is as charming as it is unsettling, while the narrative balances mystery and wit with emotional nuance.”
- “The voice acting was commendable, and there were some genuinely heartwarming scenes.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Character development in the game is minimal, with an abrupt ending that leaves players without a deeper understanding of the characters or their motivations. While the exaggerated character designs and expressive animations effectively convey their quirky personalities, the lack of a substantial story detracts from any meaningful growth or narrative depth. The game's aesthetic pays homage to 1980s pop culture, but this nostalgia does not translate into robust character arcs.
- “The game captures the zeitgeist of the 1980s in its creative and art directions: the graphics reminded me of those from Lucasfilm Games’ early adventure titles; character designs and plot elements had hints of Back to the Future, The Goonies, and E.T.”
- “There was no story or character development much, the ending was abrupt, and the good alien basically said 'long story' so we didn't learn anything from the alien invasion.”
- “Character designs follow suit, featuring exaggerated, almost caricature-like figures whose expressive animations bring their peculiar personalities to life.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to frustrating puzzles and slow dialogue that can lead to excessive backtracking. Many suggest the need for a hint system or easier puzzles to enhance navigation and reduce the overall tedium.
- “It would have helped, but it wouldn't have done much with all the puzzles having tedious solutions, which I found quite annoying.”
- “There needs to be a hint system; otherwise, make the puzzles easier to complement the large map so you don't get lost and to reduce tedious backtracking.”
- “The dialogue can be slow and tedious, and the lists of choices are not greyed out along the way. Some lines suddenly appear out of nowhere from the last time you talked to that NPC, which can be easy to miss.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly across various systems and featuring a user-friendly interface suitable for both new and experienced players. Additionally, it boasts high-quality voice acting that enhances the overall experience.
- “Technically, the game runs smoothly on a variety of systems, with a user-friendly interface that is accessible to both newcomers and seasoned adventure gamers.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game is viewed positively, as it reflects a genuine commitment from the developers rather than a quick cash grab, indicating that the investment is worthwhile for players.
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users have reported that stability can be compromised, particularly with newer NVIDIA graphics cards, which may lead to more significant issues during gameplay.
- “It could also cause more serious issues on some of those newer buggy NVIDIA cards.”

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72%Critics’ scoreBased on 10 critic reviews

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16h Median play time

13h Average play time

5-20h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Unusual Findings is a action adventure game with mystery, comedy, kids and science fiction themes.

Unusual Findings is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 13 hours playing Unusual Findings.

Unusual Findings was released on October 12, 2022.

Unusual Findings was developed by ESDigital Games.

Unusual Findings 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 character development.

Unusual Findings is a single player game.

Similar games include Gibbous: A Cthulhu Adventure, VirtuaVerse, Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit, Thimbleweed Park, Whispers of a Machine and others.

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