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Without Within

88%Game Brain Score
story, humor
monetization, replayability
88% User Score Based on 2,346 reviews

Platforms

Mac OSMac OSPCPCWindowsWindowsLinuxLinux

About

"Without Within" is a visual novel following the journey of Vinty, a young woman who believes in her own greatness. With humorous and heartwarming commentary from her loving mother and uncle, Vinty sets out to make her mark on the world. This charming game encourages players to support the developer through Patreon, making it a unique and interactive experience.

Without Within screenshot
Without Within screenshot
Without Within screenshot
Without Within screenshot
Without Within screenshot
Without Within screenshot

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,346 reviews
story390 positive mentions
monetization18 negative mentions

  • story
    1,128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Without Within" follows Vinty, a struggling calligrapher, as she navigates her dreams and challenges in a light-hearted yet poignant manner. While the narrative is simple and brief, often clocking in at around 15-30 minutes, it features multiple endings based on player choices, though many reviewers noted that these choices can feel binary and lead to abrupt conclusions. Overall, the story is described as charming and relatable, with a heartwarming message about perseverance, but many players expressed a desire for a more developed and longer narrative.

    • “Without Within is a very short visual novel where we follow a girl named Vinty who dreams to be a famous calligrapher. As we follow her story, we also make choices at a few key points that may simply end the story or change it slightly, as there are multiple endings.”
    • “The story is light-hearted and spiced with humor, so it is quite enjoyable.”
    • “This is a heartwarming and hilarious story about a young upcoming calligrapher with dreams of becoming famous.”
    • “I am unsure where to really place this visual novel as the story is simple and for me just feels open-ended as it doesn't feel like a real ending each time you reach one of them.”
    • “The wrong choice will immediately roll the game to a bad end where you'll be explained that being a jerk never bears rewards; and the right option will make progress with the story.”
    • “My gripe lies with the fact that the story ends so abruptly, with no explanation, cliffhanger, or typical ending.”
  • humor
    382 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in this visual novel is widely praised for its lightheartedness and relatability, often eliciting genuine laughter through clever writing and amusing character interactions. Many reviewers highlight the game's short length, which allows for quick, entertaining play sessions filled with funny moments and unexpected endings, making it a delightful experience overall. While some critiques mention that the humor can feel forced at times, the overall consensus is that the game successfully delivers a charming and humorous narrative.

    • “The bad endings are hilarious for no reason.”
    • “I highly recommend this game because the female protagonist is absolutely hilarious!”
    • “It's free, it's funny and it takes less time to go through than this review, I can confidently say it's worth your attention.”
    • “A short, unfunny, quite predictable, and quick-ending story about a stupid girl who can't properly use money.”
    • “Reminds me of a quote from comic artist Scott Adams: 'It's not funny if I have to explain it.'”
    • “A short, unfunny, quite predictable, and quick-ending story about a stupid girl who can't properly use money.”
  • graphics
    258 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a cute and charming art style, often described as anime-inspired and appealing, though some reviewers noted a degree of amateurishness. While the visuals are generally well-received for their simplicity and ability to convey emotion, opinions vary on their overall quality, with some finding them bland or generic. Overall, the artwork complements the lighthearted and humorous narrative, making it a pleasant experience for fans of visual novels.

    • “The artwork is adorable, the opening theme is soothing, and the interface is very simple and easy to use.”
    • “The simple artwork, fitting soundtrack, and heartwarming plot all came together to create a beautiful work of art.”
    • “While playing this game you'll be greeted with pretty graphics and a short, yet funny story with a deep message or two behind it.”
    • “Graphically, it's a bit amateurish but cute, with art for every situation.”
    • “The artwork is bland.”
    • “Standard graphic, standard soundtrack, standard story < 2 hours, no voice actors.”
  • music
    240 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally described as pleasant, fitting, and uplifting, complementing the cute art style and emotional narrative. While some reviewers noted that the soundtrack can be repetitive or simplistic, many appreciated its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere and evoke a range of emotions. Overall, the music is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to the experience despite some critiques of its repetitiveness.

    • “The soundtrack is lovely and adds to the emotion of the game.”
    • “The music pieces are enjoyable, soothing, upbeat, and funny.”
    • “The music is varied depending on location, but always retains an upbeat quality to it - which fits well with the optimism of Vinty in achieving her dream.”
    • “While the music is quite bad, created more to keep you company while reading than to create the scene's atmosphere, the drawings and especially the colors are nice and well done.”
    • “My only real gripe is that the music is a little bit generic and loops somewhat frequently, although I must admit that I was idle for quite some time with the game running.”
    • “Definitely, that music can't be a reason to play this game.”
  • emotional
    82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of heartwarming storytelling and relatable themes, particularly around pursuing dreams and personal growth. While some players found the experience touching and inspiring, leading to emotional reactions, others criticized it for being overly simplistic and short, which detracted from its potential impact. Overall, the game resonates with those who appreciate heartfelt narratives, despite some mixed feelings about its execution.

    • “A short, heart-warming visual novel about chasing your dreams.”
    • “I enjoyed the game; it's the first visual novel I have ever played, and it has such a touching story that I think can relate to a lot of us in life.”
    • “I cried throughout the entire experience.”
  • gameplay
    64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of this visual novel is primarily centered around making binary choices that lead to various endings, but it lacks depth and engagement, often feeling like a series of poorly written dialogues. Players can expect a very short experience, typically around 10 to 30 minutes, with minimal interactivity beyond reading and clicking through the story. While some appreciate the potential for a more developed narrative, many find the gameplay unsatisfying and lacking in meaningful mechanics.

    • “This is a modern masterpiece which promises hours upon hours of exciting gameplay and thrilling emotional endings.”
    • “Even though it's only around 15 minutes of gameplay, it's a cute little story, with fairly good artwork.”
    • “The story is fun, in-game flags (choices) and gameplay are meant to keep on story or get a bad end.”
    • “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which presents the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
    • “Just play the first game and don't bother buying the second one; there isn't any gameplay in it and it doesn't show much of a message.”
    • “The concept of the game is simple enough, but in the span of the gameplay, it never evolved or went anywhere really.”
  • monetization
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is perceived as a blend of entertainment and advertising, with users noting that it feels more like a promotional tool for the developers than a traditional game. While some find the self-referential humor amusing and less intrusive than typical ads, others criticize it for shifting focus from gameplay to marketing. Overall, it is seen as a light-hearted introduction to the developers' future projects rather than a standalone gaming experience.

    • “The story seems cute, but then switches into cheap advertising for itself.”
    • “I can only think that this isn't supposed to be a game, but an advertisement for whatever the developers are cooking up next.”
    • “This game is shorter than TV ads.”
  • atmosphere
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is primarily enhanced by its automatic voice-over feature, which brings characters and settings to life, complemented by relaxing artwork and a simple soundtrack. While some users find the music lacking in depth, the overall combination of visuals and sound creates a calming and immersive experience. However, critiques mention that the game falls short in character development and length, which slightly detracts from the atmospheric impact.

    • “The atmosphere of the game is only enhanced by the fantastic automatic voice-over setting, which really brings the characters and setting to life.”
    • “When you combine art with music, the result is a wonderful atmosphere that does a great job amplifying the simplicity of the story.”
    • “For someone who has never played a visual novel game such as myself, I highly recommend 'Without Within' for those who come across this or have heard of it on Steam. This is my first visual novel, and I have to say I really enjoyed the cool and calm atmosphere the story surrounds you with.”
    • “But it does lack important things for visual novels like characterisation, length (really, it probably did pretty well for the length) and atmosphere (sort of).”
    • “While the music is quite bad, created more to keep you company while reading than to create the scene's atmosphere, the drawings and especially the colours are nice and well done.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game is only enhanced by the fantastic automatic voice over setting which only really brings the characters and setting to life.”
  • character development
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is praised for its immersive storytelling, complemented by adorable and unique character designs. However, some players feel a disconnect between the charming chibi style of the main character and the more sophisticated designs seen in the background art, suggesting a desire for a more cohesive visual experience. Overall, the game is recognized for its inspirational narrative and engaging character arcs.

    • “It really is an immersive story with good character development.”
    • “The character design is rather cute, and it's a rather inspirational visual novel--basically just wait for an (unexpected) opportunity and persevere.”
    • “The art style is minimal but still pleasing, and the character design is beyond adorable.”
  • replayability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game has been criticized for its low replayability, scoring around 6/10, primarily due to the limitation of having only one "right" route to follow. Players express a desire for more diverse paths and extended gameplay, indicating that enhanced replay value could significantly improve their overall experience.

    • “This game has good potential in the storyline, and if they release a sequel, I would definitely play it. If it had more replayability, more routes, and lasted longer in terms of gameplay, I would probably buy it.”
    • “Only bad thing is that there's no replay value, since you can only take one 'right' route.”
    • “This game has good potential in the storyline and if they release a sequel, I would definitely play it. If it had more replayability, more routes, and lasted longer in terms of gameplay, I would probably buy it.”
  • grinding
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books to be tedious, likening it to a frustrating experience where the narrative unfolds slowly, requiring constant clicking to progress rather than a smooth reading flow. This repetitive action detracts from the enjoyment of the story, making it feel laborious and time-consuming.

    • “Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best... imagine the best novel you ever read, be that Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or 2001: A Space Odyssey or Twilight (if you have terrible taste in literature), but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received criticism for its short playtime and issues with fullscreen resolution not being well-optimized.

    • “The only negatives were the short playtime and the fullscreen resolution not being optimized well.”

Buy Without Within

5h Median play time
5h Average play time
5-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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