Velvet 89

About

Velvet 89 is a single player action game with a historical theme. It was developed by Charles Games and was released on October 17, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

How did the communist regime in Czechoslovakia fall? This hidden-object game tells the story of ordinary people taking part in the peaceful demonstrations that changed the course of history. Big crowds hide those, who want to tell you why they took to the streets.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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89%

Audience ScoreBased on 88 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

Velvet 89 offers a unique and educational experience by combining hidden-object gameplay with the historical context of the Velvet Revolution, allowing players to learn about an important event in Czechoslovak history.
The game features beautiful visuals and integrates real archival footage, enhancing the emotional impact and providing a deeper understanding of the protests and the individuals involved.
As a free game, it provides a compelling narrative and engaging gameplay, making it accessible for players who want to explore history in an interactive way.

The gameplay can feel repetitive and simplistic, often resembling a basic 'Where's Waldo' experience without much variation in mechanics or challenge.
Some players found the character designs too similar, making it difficult to distinguish between them, which can lead to frustration during gameplay.
While the game aims to educate, some reviewers felt it lacked depth in its historical narrative, leaving players wanting more comprehensive insights into the Velvet Revolution.

gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
61%
17%
The gameplay of 'Velvet 89' primarily revolves around hidden-object mechanics reminiscent of "Where's Waldo," where players search for specific individuals within intricately designed scenes. While the straightforward gameplay is accessible and complemented by a compelling narrative that highlights historical events, it can become repetitive due to limited variation in mechanics and the blending of scenes. Overall, the game serves as a vehicle for storytelling, offering a meaningful exploration of freedom and change, despite its simplistic gameplay.
- “It features hidden-object gameplay with more than 40 stories set in 4 cities and 5 key protests of the Velvet Revolution, incorporating real memories developed with experts, authentic testimonies, stylized visuals blending handcrafted graphics with historical footage, 5 chapters, and 5 Steam achievements.”
- “The gameplay is straightforward, and while some characters are well hidden, the absence of time limits makes it accessible and easy to complete.”
- “But what sets Velvet 89 apart is how seamlessly the story is woven into the gameplay.”
- “While the story keeps you invested, the gameplay mechanics don't vary much, and the hidden object scenes can start to blend together.”
- “However, the gameplay itself involves some pretty intense searching since every figure is just a slight variant of another.”
- “Minor amount of gameplay that is a vehicle for some important story.”
story
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The game's story is a poignant exploration of individual struggles against an oppressive regime, conveyed through heartfelt character dialogues and immersive cutscenes. While the gameplay primarily revolves around finding hidden objects, it effectively integrates narrative elements that enhance the overall experience, making it a compelling journey through historical events like the Velvet Revolution. Despite some minor gameplay limitations, the rich storytelling and beautiful art design create a meaningful backdrop that resonates with players.
- “Every person you find tells a story, shedding light on the fears, hopes, and resilience of those who stood against an oppressive regime.”
- “The story, while running in the background, is compelling and adds a depth that I didn’t expect from a hidden object game.”
- “From a story perspective, this is a very nice 40-minute experience that manages to convey in a simple way the struggles under communist rule, as well as the particularities of the Velvet Revolution.”
- “Certainly, this is a noble story, but, as always, I must maintain firmly that politics and political causes, no matter how just and noble, have no place in gaming.”
- “While the story keeps you invested, the gameplay mechanics don't vary much, and the hidden object scenes can start to blend together.”
- “Minor amount of gameplay that is a vehicle for some important story.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The game's graphics are a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the unique paper cut-out art style and the integration of historical footage, which adds emotional depth to the narrative. However, others criticize the lackluster 2D visuals, arguing that they feel outdated compared to modern 3D graphics, and find the chaotic presentation challenging to navigate. Overall, while the artistic approach has its merits, the execution leaves some players wanting more in terms of visual clarity and engagement.
- “The graphics, with a kind of watercolor and light character movements, accompanied by ambient noise, allow us to scroll to zoom in or out with the camera, as well as incorporating the option to facilitate the search with descriptions of the location and clues, as the game plays with confusion with similar characters.”
- “It features hidden-object gameplay with more than 40 stories set in 4 cities and 5 key protests of the velvet revolution, incorporating real memories developed with experts, authentic testimonies, stylized visuals blending handcrafted graphics with historical footage, 5 chapters, and 5 steam achievements.”
- “With a stunning paper cut-out art style and real archival footage, the game brings the velvet revolution to life in a way that is both visually captivating and deeply emotional.”
- “The game features really lacklustre 2D visuals (does the developer not know 3D graphics became mainstream in the mid-1990s?).”
- “Gamers don't spend thousands of dollars on gaming rigs and the latest 3D graphics cards to play 2D games.”
- “Even mobile phones and game consoles can do 3D graphics now.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by fitting music and minimal animations that enhance the immersive experience, allowing players to focus on exploration. The art design is visually stunning, contributing to a rich and somber environment that underscores the game's important themes of bravery and social change. Overall, the atmosphere is both engaging and thought-provoking, inviting players to reflect on significant historical moments.
- “The art design is gorgeous, with visually rich environments that help set the atmosphere for the story.”
- “Velvet 89 is a where's wally-style game, albeit with a much more somber atmosphere.”
- “Informative, well implemented, atmospheric, and, above all, important - it is too easy to forget or overlook these momentous moments when ordinary people were brave and bold enough to risk everything to confront and change the prevailing system.”
- “The music fits the atmosphere, but the animations and effects are very minimal, which makes it easier to search.”
- “Velvet 89 is a Where's Wally-style game, albeit with a much more somber atmosphere.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively evokes deep emotions through heartbreaking character dialogues and impactful cutscenes, bringing the velvet revolution to life with a captivating paper cut-out art style and archival footage. It skillfully explores the complex emotions surrounding the protests, making for a profoundly moving experience.
- “Some of the character's dialogues were truly heartbreaking, just as the cutscenes and story were.”
- “With a stunning paper cut-out art style and real archival footage, the game brings the Velvet Revolution to life in a way that is both visually captivating and deeply emotional.”
- “It has some minimal touching on Radio Free Europe and external influence, and otherwise shows a very well-done tale of the multitude of real emotions underpinning the protests.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The music in the game is generally described as atmospheric and fitting, enhancing the overall experience, though some users find it minimalistic to the point of distraction. In contrast, one reviewer noted the absence of music, suggesting that the constant crowd noise detracts from the experience, recommending players mute it and listen to their own music instead.
- “The music fits the atmosphere perfectly, and the minimal animations and effects enhance the experience, making it easier to focus on exploration.”
- “It allowed us to finally trade freely, watch movies, and listen to music that had previously been out of reach.”
- “There's no music, just constant crowd noise. I suggest muting it and putting something else on.”
- “The music is fitting to the atmosphere, but the animations and effects are very minimal, which makes it harder to engage.”