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."
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features charming art and engaging characters, with a unique narrative that keeps players interested.
- Puzzles are well-designed with multiple solutions, providing good replay value and a mix of challenge and fun.
- The voice acting and music are excellent, contributing to an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- The writing can be overly quirky and awkward, with some dark humor not landing well, leading to uncomfortable moments.
- The interface and controls are often buggy and frustrating, with issues like limited save slots and unclear puzzle objectives.
- The inclusion of mini-games, particularly the turn-based strategy element, feels forced and detracts from the core point-and-click experience.
- story36 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story in "Whateverland" is praised for its unique narrative and engaging world, with players appreciating the intertwining of puzzles and plot. While the game offers multiple paths and fulfilling character arcs, some found the ending abrupt and desired more exploration of certain themes. Overall, it is recommended for those who enjoy story-rich puzzle games, despite some interface issues and bugs.
“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.”
“I especially liked peeling at François' story.”
- music24 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its brilliance and integration with gameplay. The soundtrack is described as superb, with some players expressing a desire to obtain it, while the voice acting is generally considered good but not as standout. Overall, the music enhances the experience, contributing to the game's enjoyable atmosphere and mechanics.
“Highly recommend, the writing is exquisite, the soundtrack is brilliant and the mechanics are simple without being boring or frustrating.”
“I would only recommend this if you're really into point-and-clicks, the art style and music from the trailer grabs you, and you don't mind the main character voices (as heard in the trailer).”
“Music, art, mini-games - everything works so well together.”
“I need that soundtrack now!”
- humor18 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, good voice acting, and engaging mini-games, while others find the jokes fall flat and the humor unoriginal or overextended. While some appreciate the quirky and lighthearted elements, many criticize the overall comedic execution, suggesting it may appeal primarily to fans of specific styles of humor, like "epic bacon." Overall, the humor seems to be a divisive aspect, with a significant portion of players feeling it detracts from the experience.
“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.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a mix of classic point-and-click mechanics and arcade mini-games, which some players find detracts from the overall experience. While many puzzles are enjoyable and reminiscent of traditional designs, certain mechanical puzzles lack clarity and guidance. Overall, the game is praised for its high-quality animation, excellent writing, and soundtrack, though opinions on the gameplay experience vary significantly.
“The puzzles were very fun and reminiscent of classic point and clicks 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 belong to the antithesis of the genre.”
“I am not a big fan of the turn-based gameplay in this bell'n'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 - a clever decision for such an experimental thing in the point-and-click.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming hand-drawn art style that many players appreciate, particularly in the context of its theme park design and engaging locations. While some animations are praised, opinions are mixed, with a few players expressing dissatisfaction with the overall aesthetic and humor. Overall, the visuals seem to resonate well with fans of point-and-click adventures, though they may not appeal to everyone.
“The hand-drawn art style is fantastic.”
“I really enjoyed the visuals, story, and gameplay; the graphics added to the overall experience.”
“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.”
“I would only recommend this if you're really into point-and-clicks; the art style and music from the trailer grab you, and you don't mind the main character voices (as heard in the trailer).”
“The hand-drawn art style is not appealing.”
“I was a bit unsure about the visuals at first; they felt lacking and didn't meet my expectations.”
- stability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is notably problematic, with users reporting frequent bugs and occasional softlocks, particularly when saving. While some technical issues are minor and manageable, the presence of glitches—especially in certain mini-games—suggests a need for future patches to improve overall performance.
“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.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's strong replayability due to its multiple choices and impactful decision-making, which encourages them to experience different outcomes. This aspect adds significant value, making the game enjoyable to revisit.
“This game has actual replay value.”
“Having multiple choices and meaningful decisions was great fun and offers excellent replayability!”
- grinding4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the user interface for its instant travel feature, which eliminates tedious backtracking, and the option to skip minigames, which can become repetitive. Overall, the grinding aspect is mitigated by these conveniences, enhancing the gameplay experience.
“The option to skip playing the minigames was nice as they got tedious sometimes.”
- emotional4 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 and touching moments. While it doesn't take itself too seriously, it offers enough wholesome and heartwarming experiences to resonate with players. Overall, the emotional tone leans towards a chill and fun atmosphere.
“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.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its dark yet enjoyable atmosphere, effectively blending elements of fun with a moody ambiance.
“It creates a dark, fun atmosphere.”
