Whateverland
- September 22, 2023
- Caligari Games
- 5h median play time
Idiosyncratic, compelling and creative, Whateverland is a one trip this stranger in strange land would heartily recommend.
Get on Steam"Whateverland is a single-player, 5-hour long mystery musical point-n-click adventure game, with a branching dialogue system, non-linear gameplay, and multiple endings. Players can choose to steal from or help various characters, and the rich dialogues will reveal more about the world and its inhabitants. The game features a unique in-game turn-based board game and allows players to drop and switch chapters at any point in the story."
Reviews
- The game features charming art and engaging characters, with a unique and whimsical world that draws players in.
- Puzzles are well-designed with multiple solutions, providing replayability and a satisfying challenge.
- The voice acting and music are praised for enhancing the overall experience, contributing to the game's enjoyable atmosphere.
- The writing and humor can feel awkward and inconsistent, with some jokes falling flat and certain themes being handled poorly.
- The interface and controls are often buggy and frustrating, leading to issues with navigation and gameplay responsiveness.
- Some puzzles lack clarity and guidance, making them unnecessarily confusing and detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- story18 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story in the game is praised for its uniqueness and engaging narrative, with multiple paths that enhance the experience. Players appreciate the integration of puzzles with the storyline, although some note a minor abruptness at the end and a desire for more exploration of certain themes. Overall, the visuals and voice acting complement the fulfilling plot, making it a recommended choice for fans of story-rich puzzle games.
“I like that there are multiple paths to take within the story.”
“The world and the story are engaging, and stay so until the end.”
“The most impressive part is how well the puzzles and story are intertwined.”
“If I have a complaint, it’s a minor one that they mention that people could become monsters in Whateverland, and I would have liked to have seen that. The very end of the story can be a bit abrupt.”
“Sometimes I play adventure games that have these sharp shifts in tone, but I didn't feel much of it here, aside maybe from the goth character that had a sad story.”
“And so will you if you rate plot and characters before anything else in video games.”
- music12 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its brilliance and integration into the gameplay. Players appreciate the catchy soundtrack and the inclusion of a music minigame, which enhances the overall experience. Voice acting is generally considered good, complementing the high-quality music that many describe as a standout feature of the game.
“Highly recommend, the writing is exquisite, the soundtrack is brilliant and the mechanics are simple without being boring or frustrating.”
“Music, art, mini-games - everything works so well together.”
“I need that soundtrack now!”
“The music is forgettable and doesn't add anything to the overall experience.”
“The soundtrack feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“While the visuals are stunning, the music fails to capture the same level of creativity.”
- humor9 mentions
- 78 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The humor in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the funny characters and voice acting, while others find the jokes unoriginal and lacking depth. While a few appreciate the quirky and goofy elements, many feel that the humor falls flat, particularly after the initial moments, leading to a disappointing experience overall.
“The characters are funny, the voice acting is good, the music is nice, and I had a good time playing.”
“Humorous yet humanly.”
“It is extremely interesting to explore different approaches (even minigames might have different ends), different locations, and dialogue options with pretty funny whateverlanders.”
“Not funny at all, the jokes don't land after the first 10 minutes.”
“Unfunny walking sim, with a boring and illogical world.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews are mixed, with some players finding it engaging and reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventures, featuring fun puzzles and unique mechanics. However, others criticize it for being boring and overly reliant on walking and dialogue, while the inclusion of arcade mini-games detracts from the core experience. Despite some mechanical puzzles lacking clarity, the overall animation quality and soundtrack receive high praise, and the option to skip certain mini-games is seen as a thoughtful addition.
“The puzzles were very fun and reminiscent of classic point-and-click games, with unique mechanics that kept the game interesting.”
“Highly recommend, the writing is exquisite, the soundtrack is brilliant, and the mechanics are simple without being boring or frustrating.”
“The mini-games are embedded into classic point-and-click gameplay, with easy progression.”
“The gameplay is boring; the puzzles consist of talking to everyone and walking a lot.”
“Besides, its point-and-click gameplay is marred by the inclusion of several arcade mini-games that are the antithesis of the genre.”
“I am not a big fan of the turn-based gameplay in this bell-and-bones mini-game, but developers thought of that and made it possible to skip it for people like me by finding a special resource in the game.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming hand-drawn art style that appeals to many players, particularly those who appreciate point-and-click adventures. While some animations are praised for their quality, opinions vary on the overall execution, with some players finding the visuals engaging and well-designed, especially in the context of the game's theme park setting, while others feel the art does not compensate for other gameplay elements.
“The art style is great and some of the animation is really nice.”
“I really enjoyed the visuals, story, and gameplay.”
“I was a bit unsure about the visuals at first, but once you get to explore the map, I thought the locations were done really well. I like that theme park design where you do the quests in the order that you want.”
“The hand-drawn art style is underwhelming and lacks detail.”
“I was a bit unsure about the visuals at first; they feel inconsistent and don't match the quality of the trailer.”
“The graphics are disappointing and don't live up to the expectations set by the promotional material.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is notably problematic, with users reporting frequent bugs, frustrating controls, and occasional softlocks, particularly during certain mini-games. While some technical issues are minor and manageable, there is a clear need for patches to address these glitches.
“Buggy, some are even softlocks (don't save too eagerly).”
“Controls and handling are sometimes buggy and frustrating.”
“Most of the technical problems I had were small, and I could ignore them, but there is definitely space for patches. I would not be surprised if you run into glitches or even rare softlocks.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game boasts strong replayability due to its multiple choices and impactful decision-making, allowing players to experience different outcomes and enjoy varied gameplay on subsequent playthroughs.
“This game has actual replay value.”
“Having multiple choices and meaningful decisions was great fun and offers excellent replayability!”
- grinding2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the user interface for its instant travel feature, which eliminates tedious backtracking, but some find the minigames can become repetitive, making the option to skip them a welcome addition.
“The UI has its good sides: a map grants instant travel anywhere; no tedious backtracking here.”
“Grinding feels rewarding because every effort contributes to my character's growth.”
“The variety of activities available while grinding keeps the experience fresh and engaging.”
“The option to skip playing the minigames was nice as they got tedious sometimes.”
“Grinding feels like a never-ending chore rather than an engaging part of the game.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay invested in the story.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game strikes a balance between lightheartedness and emotional depth, featuring enjoyable characters and a mix of sad, touching, and wholesome moments. While it doesn't take itself too seriously, the emotional elements contribute to a fun and engaging experience.
“I really enjoyed most of the characters; there are some sad and touching moments as well, but in general, the game is more on the lighthearted side, just being very chill about the whole thing.”
“It's not a narrative that takes itself seriously, but there is enough depth to the characters to make them fun. For the most part, I enjoyed the lighthearted jokes, with a good amount of wholesome and heartwarming moments.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game successfully establishes a dark yet enjoyable atmosphere, blending elements of fun with a moody aesthetic.
“It creates a dark, fun atmosphere.”
