VIDEOVERSE

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 244 reviews
  • story
  • emotional
  • graphics
VIDEOVERSE Game Cover
A heartfelt story that demonstrates the positive impact online relationships and communities can have on people. A must-play.
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"VIDEOVERSE is a single-player drama simulation game that lets you relive the days of past social gaming networks as Emmett, a young video game fan and aspiring artist. Immerse yourself in a retro gaming environment, explore Videoverse's online community, and make decisions that will impact Emmett's friendships, personal growth, and the game's outcome. Inspired by Miiverse, MSN messenger, and early internet forums, VIDEOVERSE features a chill 00’s technology-inspired soundtrack."

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

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 244 reviews
story46 positive mentions
  • VIDEOVERSE beautifully captures the nostalgia of early 2000s online communities, evoking strong feelings of connection and belonging.
  • The characters are well-written and relatable, with a heartfelt story that resonates deeply with players who have experienced similar online interactions.
  • The game features engaging gameplay elements alongside its visual novel format, allowing players to make meaningful choices that impact the story and relationships.
  • Some players found the game to be short, with a playtime that may feel insufficient for the depth of the story.
  • A few technical issues and bugs were reported, such as dialogue not triggering correctly, which can disrupt the immersive experience.
  • While the characters are generally well-received, some felt that certain characters lacked depth and could have been explored more thoroughly.
  • story148 mentions

    The story of "Videoverse" is a heartfelt and nostalgic exploration of online communities, focusing on the character Emmett and his connections within a retro-inspired digital space. Players' choices significantly impact the narrative, which is well-written and emotionally resonant, capturing themes of friendship, growth, and the complexities of virtual interactions. While some characters may feel underdeveloped, the overall experience is immersive and leaves a lasting impression, making it a recommended title for fans of story-driven games.

    • “Incredible game with a compelling and poignant story.”
    • “The characters are very well-written, the plot nails the bittersweet nostalgic mood perfectly, and is presented in a very original manner.”
    • “A heartfelt story that demonstrates the positive impact online relationships and communities can have on people.”
    • “The only interesting character is Vivi, but the game is a bit too rushed and just throws out all of the character's lore at once at the end of the game, not giving time to explore and digest her story, and then comes the end of the game without much impact.”
    • “I was kind of expecting something overly dramatic, intense, and sensationalized for the climax/reveal of the story, but instead what you get is something grounded, real, emotional, and touching.”
    • “There is so much going on in this story; it's not just about games but also about people and how we try to use technology to connect, and how sometimes that's perfect and sometimes it really isn't.”
  • emotional69 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Videoverse" is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling and nostalgic themes, resonating deeply with players who reflect on their own experiences of online friendships and teenage love. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke a range of emotions, from joy to melancholy, while its branching narratives encourage players to explore different outcomes, enhancing the emotional impact. Overall, it is described as a touching and immersive experience that captures the essence of early internet communities, making it a standout in emotional storytelling within gaming.

    • “Beautiful and emotional game about nostalgia, online friendships, and teenage love.”
    • “What I got was one of the most emotionally resonant games I've ever experienced.”
    • “Its central story is both heart-breaking and heart-warming, but at its center is a powerful message about friendship and community.”
  • graphics34 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their nostalgic and charming retro aesthetic, effectively capturing the essence of early 2000s internet culture. Players appreciate the variety of art styles, from pixel graphics to colorful depictions of the real world, which enhance the emotional depth of the narrative. Overall, the visuals are described as impressive and well-executed, complementing the game's engaging story and music.

    • “Absolutely magnificent visual novel experience with bags of charm, the retro aesthetic and gameplay loop had me hooked the whole time.”
    • “It's emotionally moving, the pixel graphics are nostalgic and impressive, and I really think you'll enjoy it if you have any kind of nostalgia for a period of your youth that you spent online, for all the trials and tribulations that brought.”
    • “The art's a lovely mix of the console's 1-bit graphics, combined with full-colour glimpses of the 'real world', the audio encapsulates the feel of a past era, and then the writing - it's all so well done.”
    • “The shark device is something like a desktop dual-screen Game Boy-ish with grayscale graphics.”
    • “As far as the game itself goes, it's a pretty neat little very lo-fi early 2000s internet culture aesthetic visual novel.”
    • “The visuals for the videoverse UI are very, very fantastic.”
  • music33 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its charm and emotional resonance, effectively capturing the nostalgic feel of early 2000s online communities. Composed by Clark Aboud, the soundtrack features a mix of cozy tunes and lofi chiptunes that enhance the overall atmosphere, although some players noted moments of repetitiveness and occasional mismatches with the emotional tone of scenes. Overall, the music is considered a standout element that complements the game's visuals and storytelling, contributing to a memorable experience.

    • “The music is some of the best I've ever heard.”
    • “There's a lot of charm in Videoverse; the user interface feels rather simple and maybe even limited, but in a nostalgic way, the music further adds to this with some cozy tunes while you browse the boards.”
    • “The music perfectly nails the cozy, chill friendliness of Nintendo Wii/DS era menu screens.”
    • “One very small criticism is that the music is a bit repetitive and not always matching the emotion conveyed by the scenes it's in.”
    • “With boot screens, game parodies, lofi songs with chiptunes, console wars, etc.”
    • “[Every character has a unique personality and voice, the music evokes a wealth of emotion with its simplicity, a true look into the old internet days and teenage challenges.]”
  • gameplay12 mentions

    The gameplay of this visual novel is praised for its engaging elements like voting and decision-making, which enhance the experience despite its simplicity. However, players have noted some mechanical issues, including bugs and slow text progression, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. While it offers a charming retro aesthetic, the gameplay may not satisfy those seeking deeper mechanics.

    • “I love how, despite it being a visual novel game, it has a lot of gameplay elements like voting, posting, checking the desk, and deciding with whom we speak first.”
    • “Absolutely magnificent visual novel experience with bags of charm; the retro aesthetic and gameplay loop had me hooked the whole time.”
    • “The gameplay is simple, but it works; it feels a little like you're a moderator and needs to watch out for offensive language.”
    • “The mechanical side of things is a bit wonky in places - there were a few bugs (i.e., messages not coming through and locking me out of progress), a few times I'd pick choices I didn't mean to progress text, and due to its presentation, you can't really speed up text which makes things a little slow in places (especially if you reload after picking a choice you're not happy with and have to redo stuff).”
    • “If you’re seeking a brief nostalgia fix and don’t mind the lack of deep gameplay, Videoverse is worth a look.”
    • “[The ending could have been a bit better executed; gameplay may not engage all.]”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its cozy and nostalgic feel, enhanced by pleasant music and a strong sense of community. Players find the overall experience to be enjoyable and immersive, making it a standout aspect of the game.

    • “The music was nice, the atmosphere was good, and overall it was a really nice experience!”
    • “The atmosphere is so cozy and nostalgic.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers strong replayability due to its impactful dialogue choices that influence the storyline, making it appealing for visual novel enthusiasts and those seeking a nostalgic experience. Players are encouraged to explore different paths, enhancing the overall value of the game.

    • “With its replay value and charming story, I highly recommend this visual novel for any visual novel enthusiasts, or even those looking for a dose of nostalgia.”
    • “With all this, there's replayability as certain dialogue choices will determine the outcome of the game.”
    • “With all this, there's replayability as certain dialogue choices will determine the outcome.”
    • “With its replay value and charming story, I highly recommend this visual novel for any enthusiasts, or even those looking for a dose of nostalgia.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is a blend of funny, sad, and nostalgic elements, creating an emotional and joyful experience. Players appreciate the charming art and interesting characters, which enhance the overall comedic tone. The soundtrack also receives praise, adding to the game's stylish presentation.

    • “It's funny, sad, joyful, exciting, emotional, nostalgic, all brought together in a stylish package.”
    • “The music is dope (please let me buy the soundtrack), the art is so charming, and the characters are all so interesting and funny.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Reviewers praised the character development, highlighting the strong voice acting that enhances the depth and relatability of the characters.

    • “I loved the voice acting and the character development.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

84% average critic score

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Play time

9hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
9-9hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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