You Can Save Everyone

About

You Can Save Everyone is a single player simulation game. It was developed by Caleb Draper and was released on January 22, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

"You Can Save Everyone" is a puzzle-based game where players are trapped in a room and must communicate with allies in other parts of a mysterious facility to help them escape. Using a limited device, players interact with their surroundings, operating a computer and strange console that controls the locks in the facility. Players must pay close attention to their allies' clues to solve puzzles and uncover the facility's secrets, with the ultimate objective of saving everyone. The game features experimental gameplay designed for levered arcade sticks.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 49 reviews

story11 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features a unique and creative control scheme that enhances the gameplay experience, making it a fun challenge.
The story, while not perfect, is uplifting and emotionally impactful, resonating with themes of overcoming adversity.
The game is visually appealing and has a great soundtrack that adds to the overall atmosphere.

The game is designed primarily for use with a fight stick, making it difficult to play with standard controllers, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Certain segments, particularly the one involving saving Joy, are poorly executed and can significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
The narrative can feel derivative and lacks depth, with some characters and plot points not being fully developed or engaging.

story
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
61%
8%
The story of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it uplifting and heartfelt, particularly in its exploration of themes like overcoming depression. However, others criticize it for being disjointed or derivative, with certain elements feeling tacked on or lacking depth. Overall, while the narrative has its moments of intrigue and emotional resonance, it struggles with coherence and execution, leading to a varied reception among players.
- “Overall, the story is really intriguing and uplifting, with many tense moments the player has to get through.”
- “Absolutely loved this game - the premise and storyline is well-executed, especially when you take into consideration that this is the first release from a solo developer.”
- “You can save everyone is a chilling, non-linear story where the player is trapped with four strangers who they interact with entirely through instant messaging while desperately trying to find a way to escape a mysterious facility.”
- “The story is meh and doesn't really make much sense how they are sending and responding to emails on their PC whilst they are moving around the complex.”
- “A sizable amount of the game's story is just lifted from that game (time-travel, importance of parrots/cockatiels, the facility caused the death of a character's family member but they didn't really die, etc.), but here most of them feel tacked on and half-baked.”
- “The former title has a tangible story and lore with real, impactful characters who you change your perception of as the non-linear tale unravels, the latter has an initially intriguing story which turns out to be a metaphor for depression that falls apart under scrutiny and undoes all the interesting story leading up to that point.”
gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
40%
15%
The gameplay is praised for its unique and innovative mechanics that keep players engaged, blending fun and emotional storytelling effectively. While the experience is generally enjoyable, some players suggest that it is better suited for arcade controls rather than standard controllers. Overall, the game offers a fresh and well-crafted experience, making it a worthwhile investment for its price.
- “Unique gameplay, always something interesting going on, melodramatic to hell and back, but overall a pleasant experience.”
- “The aesthetics of the game, the story, the sound design, the music (oh the music), the mechanics of using a controller or joystick to do physical puzzles in a video game... just all of it felt so fresh and well crafted.”
- “Even on a second playthrough, the story and gameplay blend together really well in an enjoyable way.”
- “Fortunately, the game does have a 'skip this bit of gameplay' option available for all of its segments.”
- “Indie devs really be like, 'I'm going to give you one of the most emotionally impactful pieces of fiction you have ever seen in your life with gameplay mechanics you've never even conceived of before.'”
- “But other parts of the dialogue and the gameplay were innovative.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The music in the game has received high praise for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the overall experience, particularly during climactic moments. Reviewers noted its immersive quality and distinctiveness, comparing it favorably to other titles, and expressed a desire for the soundtrack to be more accessible. Overall, the music is seen as a standout element that contributes significantly to the game's fresh and well-crafted atmosphere.
- “And the music is great, especially for the game's climax; I would be willing to listen to that casually.”
- “I don't usually leave reviews, but damn... that last music track had me really feeling like a superhero.”
- “Even if there isn't an update, the game has a good story, unique controls, great visuals, and music that I can only describe as full of emotion.”
- “Especially the music, I have tried looking everywhere and I cannot find the soundtrack for this.”
- “In everything from worldbuilding to music, I thought it gave off a very distinct, immersive tone that reminded me of titles like Iron Lung or Bad End Theater.”
- “The music really hypes it up!”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt storytelling and impactful character development, evoking strong feelings from players. While some find the writing cheesy yet endearing, others appreciate the unique gameplay mechanics that enhance the emotional experience. Overall, the game successfully combines a touching narrative with engaging interactions, leaving a lasting impression on players.
- “Indie devs really be like, 'I'm going to give you one of the most emotionally impactful pieces of fiction you have ever seen in your life with gameplay mechanics you've never even conceived of before.'”
- “It tells a heartfelt story and the mechanics are just plain fun!”
- “Even without a body, I fell in love with all the characters and I cried at the satisfying ending.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The game's graphics are characterized by a lo-fi aesthetic reminiscent of titles like *iron lung* and *lethal company*, which complement its fresh and well-crafted atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the fitting visuals that enhance the emotional depth of the story and the innovative interaction controls, contributing to an overall engaging experience.
- “The aesthetics of the game, the story, the sound design, the music (oh the music), the mechanics of using a controller or joystick to do physical puzzles in a video game... just all of it felt so fresh and well crafted.”
- “An incredible mix of meta, atmosphere, experimental interaction controls, fitting graphics, and touching story!”
- “Even if there isn't an update, the game has a good story, unique controls, great visuals, and music that I can only describe as full of emotion.”
- “Lo-fi graphics in the vein of iron lung or lethal company.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it requires an unrealistic amount of effort, akin to needing a second life to complete it.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it still feels like I'm nowhere.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been reported to have semi-frequent glitches and difficult controls, which detract from the overall experience. Users noted that troubleshooting options were limited and ineffective, suggesting that stability issues may improve with future updates.
- “Troubleshooting assists were just to 'reset' and 'try a controller,' and neither allowed me to progress in the game.”
- “Great little game; however, semi-frequent glitches sort of dulled the experience.”
- “It's a little rough around the edges with difficult controls, and glitches are easy to find, but I am only making this review two days after release, so maybe there will be an update.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with reviewers noting the developer's strong sense of ambiance and immersive elements. The combination of meta storytelling, experimental controls, and fitting graphics contributes to a compelling and engaging experience. Overall, the atmosphere is seen as a standout feature that enhances the game's emotional impact.
- “Although I would appreciate a from start to end scary game as well, it really seems like this dev has a feel for things like atmosphere. I'll be keeping an eye on anything new that releases from them.”
- “An incredible mix of meta, atmosphere, experimental interaction controls, fitting graphics, and a touching story!”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization has been criticized, particularly on devices like the Microsoft Surface, where it struggles to run smoothly even on low settings. However, players note that despite these issues, the game remains enjoyable and playable without a fightstick, indicating that the lack of optimization does not significantly detract from the overall experience.
- “I can confirm the game is still playable without a fightstick, at least. Even though it's not the most optimized for other input types, the lack of optimization doesn't considerably inhibit the fun you'd get from this game.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the effective build-up to tense moments, such as the reveal of the leviathan, which combines suspense with comedic relief, keeping players engaged and on edge.
- “One other funny thing I wanted to mention was that I was so terrified until the Leviathan was revealed for the first time. The build-up to that moment was great, from what was said to the stuff written on the wall and the small sounds. I was really on the edge of my seat.”