Vessels

97%
Game Brain Score Based on 91 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Vessels Game Cover
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"Vessels" is a single-player Mystery Adventure game that offers around 8 hours of playtime, featuring a unique plot where you play as an "infected" entity on board a spaceship, with multiple endings and a narrative that challenges your perspectives on trust and self-destruction. Winner of the IGF 2021 award, this game refreshes the familiar narrative trope of science fiction horror and provides a thought-provoking and compelling experience.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

97%
Audience ScoreBased on 91 reviews
story35 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • Vessels features a unique and engaging narrative that encourages exploration and dialogue-driven puzzles, making it a compelling experience.
  • The game offers multiple endings based on player choices, adding replayability and depth to the story.
  • Despite its short runtime, the writing and character development are praised for their quality, creating an immersive atmosphere.
  • The lack of a traditional save system can lead to frustration, as players must replay sections to progress or explore different endings.
  • Some players found the gameplay repetitive, particularly in having to repeat conversations and actions to achieve desired outcomes.
  • The graphics and overall production value are considered basic, which may detract from the experience for some players.
  • story80 mentions

    The story of "Vessels" is a captivating and suspenseful sci-fi narrative that unfolds within a short playtime of about 2-3 hours, featuring intriguing characters and multiple endings influenced by player choices. While some players noted a lack of depth in certain areas, the engaging plot and immersive exploration mechanics keep players invested, making it a recommended experience for fans of story-driven games. Overall, the game successfully combines interactive storytelling with a gripping atmosphere, encouraging players to delve into the mysteries of the spaceship and its crew.

    • “Unique and suspenseful story, your choices lead to different endings.”
    • “The story is gripping and the characters are interesting; you can feel the tense atmosphere between the crew.”
    • “It's written in a really smart and unexpected way that leaves you wanting to know more, which meant I kept telling myself 'okay, just five more minutes.' It was like reading a really good book, except that you get to live the story.”
    • “I started to like this game as a mystery game where you have to explore, find information and then use it to progress the story, but it then seemed to fall into the trap of your typical detective game where you know the answer but you have to resort to having the same conversation multiple times and experimenting with the conversation branches to get the answer you are looking for, as the option you chose doesn't lead where you would expect it to lead.”
    • “Most of it is (sometimes admittedly on-the-nose) character building, but no world building that doesn't add to the story, no extraneous lore, no fluff.”
    • “When playing a game, I want to play; the story can feel like a chore.”
  • gameplay19 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by unique mechanics such as character possession, a clever insult-based interaction system, and a time-looping structure that enhances player agency and story progression. Players engage primarily through dialogue trees, exploration, and puzzles, creating a compelling narrative experience that blends suspenseful storytelling with innovative gameplay elements. While some reviewers noted a desire for deeper mechanics, the overall consensus highlights the game's engaging premise and effective integration of writing and gameplay.

    • “It's because the gameplay and writing mesh together into a story that keeps you hooked from start to finish.”
    • “Death is not a fail-state in this game, it is a progression mechanic.”
    • “The gameplay consists mostly of talking (using dialog trees), reading, and walking/exploring.”
    • “Death is not a fail-state in this game; it is a progression mechanic.”
    • “The main mechanic is character possession.”
  • graphics18 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally described as functional and serviceable, with a low-poly aesthetic and basic lighting that fails to impress but adequately supports the gameplay. While some users find the visuals to be "dog-ugly" and lacking in detail, others appreciate their simplicity and how they complement the game's strong writing and immersive elements. Overall, the graphics are not a highlight, but they do not detract significantly from the overall experience.

    • “But guess what, once you start playing, you quickly realize the graphics are functional and clean, and the environmental design makes up for it by far.”
    • “In fact, I would argue that the low-quality graphics are a testament to this game's writing.”
    • “Graphically it's unimpressive, yet aesthetically pleasing.”
    • “There are no graphics options at all.”
    • “- horrible performance for bad graphics”
    • “The graphics are dog-ugly, but this game is short, cerebral, and the graphics sufficiently convey what's what.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers limited replayability overall, primarily due to its short 2-3 hour length and the lack of impact from earlier acts on the final act. However, the inclusion of multiple dialogue choices and various paths and endings provides some incentive for players to explore different outcomes, particularly for those interested in uncovering all narrative possibilities.

    • “The game is a mix of visual novel and exploration/investigation, with multiple dialogue choices that provide great replayability for anyone curious to explore all the options.”
    • “The different paths and endings in this game significantly enhance its replayability.”
    • “2-3 hours with low replayability.”
    • “Only complaint is that once you've made it to act 3, the previous two acts have no replayability factor since they have no bearing on how act 3 begins.”
  • music4 mentions

    The music in the game is generally considered unimpressive, with few standout tracks; however, it effectively contributes to the overall atmosphere. While some players found the audio to be adequate, it did not leave a lasting impression.

    • “The art and music are great as well.”
    • “The audio does convey the appropriate atmosphere.”
    • “I didn't hear any songs that stuck out to me, but the audio does convey the appropriate atmosphere.”
    • “But, not once did I stop to take note of the music.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a gripping story and intriguing characters, creating a tense environment among the crew. While the audio may not feature memorable songs, it effectively enhances the psychological thriller ambiance.

    • “The story is gripping and the characters are interesting; you can feel the tense atmosphere between the crew.”
    • “I like the plot and the psychological thriller atmosphere.”
    • “I didn't hear any songs that stood out to me, but the audio does convey the appropriate atmosphere.”
    • “I didn't hear any songs that stuck out to me, but the audio does convey the appropriate atmosphere.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The optimization of the game received mixed reviews, with some users praising its overall performance, while others criticized it for poor graphics and subpar performance.

    • “The performance was overall very good.”
    • “Horrible performance for bad graphics.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game increasingly tedious as they progress, particularly after exiting the airlock, suggesting that the repetitive tasks can detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “As you get out of the airlock, this begins to feel more and more tedious.”
    • “The grinding aspect of the game quickly turns into a monotonous chore.”
    • “I found myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which made the experience feel like a grind.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Users note that the game shifts focus from emotional bonding to a "weakened emotional mental state," suggesting a departure from traditional emotional engagement in favor of a cooler, more detached experience. This change may impact players' ability to connect deeply with the narrative or characters.

  • stability1 mentions

    Players report a high level of stability, with no glitches encountered during gameplay.

    • “There were no glitches during my playthrough.”
    • “The game ran smoothly without any crashes or bugs.”
    • “I experienced consistent performance throughout my entire gaming session.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

8hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
3-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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