What Comes After
- November 5, 2020
- Rolling Glory Jam
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"What Comes After" is a short narrative game that explores themes of love, regrets, and self-acceptance. As you ride a train filled with souls heading to the afterlife, you'll have conversations with a variety of passengers and help the main character, Vivi, find herself. With its heartwarming story, light-hearted tone, and colorful art style, this game is a touching tribute to learning to love oneself.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a heartfelt and emotional narrative that resonates with players, often leading to tears and reflection on life and death.
- The art style is charming and visually appealing, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
- Many players found the dialogue to be thought-provoking and relatable, providing comfort and encouragement during difficult times.
- The gameplay is very simplistic, consisting mainly of walking and reading dialogue, which some players found tedious and lacking in interactivity.
- The dialogue can feel repetitive and preachy at times, with some players feeling that it oversimplifies complex emotional issues.
- The game is quite short, which may leave some players wanting more depth and development in the story and characters.
- story324 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The story of "What Comes After" is a heartfelt and emotional journey that explores themes of life, death, and self-acceptance through the interactions of the protagonist, Vivi, with various spirits on a train. While the narrative is short and straightforward, lasting about 60-90 minutes, it is praised for its depth, relatability, and the poignant messages it conveys, making it a touching experience for players, especially those dealing with loss or existential questions. However, some reviewers noted that the simplicity of the storytelling and dialogue could feel repetitive or lacking in complexity, suggesting it may not resonate with everyone.
“This game is a beautiful short story definitely worth picking up, truly a life-changing experience.”
“Beautiful story told in a short amount of time - it's clear how much detail and thought was put into this game and the message it wants to give its players, and I loved every minute of it.”
“The story is sweet and touching, a little on the nose a few times, but mostly about things I think we all need to hear more often.”
“Tl;dr - not only is the pricing relative to gametime ridiculous, but the myriad of problematic hindrances in the story prevent me from recommending what comes after to gamers, particularly those who suffer from some psychological illness.”
“I get what the story was going for, but it was extremely repetitive to the point where I skipped over most of the dialogue.”
“With the way the story/stories were delivered, I was barely moved - which is almost impressive considering that I lost someone close to me just a couple of days ago and tend to cry at the drop of a hat by default.”
- emotional286 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling and ability to evoke strong feelings, with many players reporting tears and deep reflections on themes of life, loss, and mental health. While some found the dialogue to be simplistic or generic, the overall experience is described as touching and eye-opening, making it a recommended choice for those seeking a short yet impactful narrative. The game's blend of humor and poignant moments creates a unique emotional journey that resonates with players, particularly those dealing with personal struggles.
“An emotionally eye-opening story that I've been putting off playing due to my own recent experiences with loss and grief.”
“I want to not spoil anything, but it's one of the most raw emotional experiences I've had with a work of fiction, if not the strongest emotional experience I've had with a work of fiction in my entire life.”
“This metaphorical train ride through the afterlife is a heartfelt exploration of life, loss, and the human spirit, presented with a touch of humor and a whole lot of soul.”
“The story is boring; you find yourself on a train with ghosts, moving towards what comes after, and you just talk to them inside with no multiple choices.”
- graphics124 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cute and charming art style, which is described as simplistic yet beautiful, enhancing the overall emotional experience. While the visuals shine particularly in cutscenes, some users noted inconsistencies and occasional blurriness. Overall, the artwork is considered a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's heartfelt narrative and engaging atmosphere.
“The graphics are nice, but they really shine in the cutscenes, with a bigger softness to them.”
“Gorgeous graphics.”
“All of this is accompanied by stunning visuals and delightful audio.”
“The art style is alright, but inconsistent and, as sad as it is, the gameplay is unengaging and unpleasant.”
“Graphics got a bit blurry at times, dunno what that was about.”
“Graphics are simple 2D art with some basic animations.”
- music100 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its emotional impact and beauty, particularly the final song "Pulang, Kembali," which resonates strongly with players. However, many reviewers express disappointment over the sparse use of music throughout the game, noting that it often lacks background music during key moments, which detracts from the overall experience. While the soundtrack is described as lovely and fitting, players wish for more consistent musical accompaniment to enhance the atmosphere.
“The music and story are absolutely gorgeous.”
“Overall, the art style is simplistic yet beautiful, and the soundtrack is sublime.”
“Wonderful soundtrack: the music is both soothing and uplifting, enhancing the emotional impact of the story.”
“I miss music or voices in the game.”
“There is barely any music, and for most of the game there is no music.”
“One of the more strange choices the designers made was to use music very sparingly.”
- gameplay56 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is minimal and primarily consists of walking and interacting with characters, making it more of a visual novel than a traditional game. Players can expect a simple experience with limited mechanics, focusing on storytelling rather than skill or complex gameplay. While some find the narrative engaging and the art style appealing, those seeking substantial gameplay may be disappointed.
“The graphics and sounds are wonderful, the game mechanics are simple and easy to understand.”
“Visually it is very well done and gameplay-wise it is very simple, but the storytelling is superb.”
“The dialogue is well written, the gameplay is fluid, the art is cute and simplistic.”
“The gameplay is... just walking really.”
“I wouldn't call what comes after a game; there isn't much gameplay apart from walking around a train and pressing the spacebar to talk to people.”
“There truly aren't any choices to make (other than choosing which people/things to talk or not talk to... I mean you can simply choose to skip the whole game and just go back to your seat and wait until you wake up), or any true gameplay other than moving up and down the train cars and hitting the spacebar to advance dialogue.”
- humor24 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its blend of humor and poignant storytelling, featuring quirky characters like a talking cat and a philosophical fern that add to its charm. Players appreciate the funny art style and goofy animations, which contribute to a lighthearted experience amidst deeper themes of life and loss. Overall, it delivers a unique emotional journey that balances laughter with heartfelt moments.
“The game is poignant and at times heartbreaking, but also full of humor and joy.”
“I didn't run very much in the game but the running animation was so goofy it made me laugh.”
“[✔️] **Quirky characters:** The diverse cast of souls you encounter on the train, from a talking cat to a philosophical fern, are both humorous and endearing.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its beautiful art and soundtrack, which together create a captivating and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight that the atmosphere enhances the overall enjoyment, leading to a satisfying conclusion that encourages players to engage with the game. It is recommended for those seeking a light-hearted and feel-good adventure.
“Beautiful game, well made and an amazing atmosphere; the ending was amazing and I'd 10/10 play this again!”
“I can recommend this game for people who just want a short, light-hearted, feel-good experience, because the game does have its merits: beautiful art and soundtrack creating a great atmosphere.”
“The game's atmosphere kept telling me that there was a very satisfying ending coming my way, just that I'd have to hold on and let it happen.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game has low replayability, with players noting that while it may not offer immediate reasons to replay, there is potential for a more impactful experience upon revisiting it years later.
“Replayability: low”
“The replayability is non-existent on the surface, but I look forward to coming back in 3 years or so and replaying it to see if any of the parts hit harder.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game somewhat tedious due to its short length and the need to engage with multiple perspectives, but the beautiful artwork and emotionally resonant dialogue contribute to an overall positive experience.
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is plagued by numerous bugs, affecting both gameplay and achievements, which detracts from the overall experience despite its short length. Players have reported issues with triggering certain endings, further highlighting the instability of the game.
“The game is notoriously buggy for how short it is.”
“Achievements are very buggy in this game, and the bad ending took a long time to trigger.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features no in-game purchases, indicating a monetization model that does not rely on additional spending beyond the initial purchase.
