The Search

The Search
N/A
Metacritic
70
Steam
61.757
xDR
Our rating is calculated based on the reviews and popularity of the game.
Price
$1.19
Release date
13 April 2017
Developers
Publishers
Steam reviews score
Total
70 (277 votes)

Embark on a journey of discovery and inspiration in The Search - a story-driven puzzle-adventure set in a mysterious world where art comes to life!

Show detailed description

The Search system requirements

Minimum:

  • OS: Windows 7+ 64-bit
  • Processor: Intel Core i3-370M @ 2.40GHz
  • Memory: 4 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Intel HD Graphics
  • DirectX: Version 9.0
  • Storage: 2 GB available space

Recommended:

Recommended requirements are not yet specified.
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Reviews
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Sabfas
Sabfas

It was a pleasant one-hour long journey.

You're in visually amazing worlds, being the artist you are, your only way of overcoming obstacles is through your brush, canvas frame and a bucket full of paint. In each stage, your ultimate goal is to find these three objects so you can move on to the next.. The game describes itself as a puzzle-orientated game which i do not see fit to some extent.. The only thing that was close to puzzling that i came across was looking through scattered objects and matching two items in your inventory together. But it is story-driven alright.. Not your average everyday story, more of an "intellectual" one that is full of proverbs. That is something i highly enjoyed in this game.

I noticed that a lot of people thought of this game as a walking simulator one, while you can actually walk in the final stage for merely few meters.. The game is not a walking simulator in anyway.. It is another point and click.

I definitely recommend this game when it goes on sale.. I bought it for about 1 dollar and you should as well if you're looking forward to getting it.

SQHistorian
SQHistorian

I hated what little I played of this. It was full of pretentious writing with endless "look at me, I'm so clever" references to Carl Jung and the precariousness of fantasy. Bottom line, this is a piss-poor puzzle game with an insufferable narrator and a very wonky mechanic (take picture, burn picture, paint a different picture, progress) repeated over and over again.

Some love clearly went into the graphics but even these are completely static and the unintuitive node-based navigation means you'll end up staring at blank walls a lot.

Daerphen
Daerphen

I would categorize this game as a point&click game with walking sim elements.

The basic concept is very nice. You are in a mystery/surreal world. Going from one scene to the other requires a way to pass the barrier or to teleport by using a ticket machine. Now it is up to you to solve the puzzle on how to proceed.

I liked the art. And the simple controls helped to easily get the hang of the game. Unfortunately it is very short, but if you pick it up on sale, it is as cheaper than watching a movie in theater.

Catobsessed
Catobsessed

I started to play it yesterday and it was fun and relaxing but I didn't know that you can't save. There is an option where it claims that it saves the game but when I tried to go back and finish the game everything I had done was not saved at all. If that would not been an issue I would say this game is flawless.

Aral's Heart
Aral's Heart

It's short, but worth it. There isn't much action in this game, it's a point-and-click and you don't interact with anyone, just with the items and notes you encounter on your path. A walking simulator, basically. Not for everyone.

It might be because I'm an artist, but I relate a lot to the themes in this game. The symbols explained by Jungian analysis, the state of not being able to produce art, and a retreat into yourself. The world you see in this game has a surreal vibe to it. It was a very enjoyable experience, though it would've been even better if it were longer.

simdel
simdel

What a very interesting experience.
Very philosophical and relaxing. This is a title to slowly enjoy and mull over the messages and gorgeous screens. It's very easy and not really a 'game', but just make sure to look everywhere and then progress is straightforward.
I'd definitely recommend it to anyone wanting an hour and a half of chill time with something to think about.

s47474
s47474

This was a very light, short adventure game filled with quotes from famous dead guys and "deep thoughts" about art and creativity. I expected a bit of that from the game description but ultimately the story reads like you're trapped in your freshman dorm room with a very high fine arts major who is trying to impart to you All The Wisdom Of The Universe...FFS just go home and sleep it off, dude.

Graphics were pleasant--like something out of a still life painting--and I enjoyed the little tickets warping you to different worlds. However, I don't think I can recommend it. Some other reviewer said this game got a little too "woo-woo" for them, which is exactly what I said aloud to myself when the game was finished because it's a perfect encapsulation of the pitfalls of games like this. It's just too many ideas communicated in a way that confuse and ultimately annoy the player.

MacGyver
MacGyver

A short ( less than 1 hour gameplay) Myst-like style game. Buy it only during sales. Recommended for achievement hunters.

giturox
giturox

Short profound game worth the price of admission.
I just wish it had been longer the atmosphere is so soothing...

shemkhobali
shemkhobali

Bought this on a whim. initially found the interface a bit clunky. the concepts seemed overwrought. but something kept me going. (i recommended starting with the Clues turned on) . Once you get the hang of it, the notes make more and more sense and the game becomes quite a cute and concise description of how to deal with artist's struggles. Plenty of artists haven't made these steps yet, but in it i think an essence of alchemy in painting (interestingly it works with light colour principles, not paint principles , but it works because you are playing it on a screen) is uncovered that applies to everyone with a sense of a "calling". The interface even made sense afterward. After it i wrote the review and picked up my brush. definitely inspiring. it s a bit big in data for a small game , so dont expect more than two hourse playtime even if you go very slowly. still a very good experience and glad i played it. 9/10 for what it was. could have done with a little help initially and wouldnt have minded a slightly lengthier experience.

Spancialosaphus
Spancialosaphus

Like the atmosphere and sort of like the 'meaning' although there's some uncomfortable symbolism in the colour of a thing I can't name for fear of spoiling. I got the good ending first by accident and then played for the bad ending. and liked how that went although I confess I don't know what the box of knobs symbolises.
Didn't like: after finding the basic mechanism the game was sort of easy. Oh and it crashed once, so remember to save.
Right, back in I go. I have missing cheevos.

löyly
löyly

I'm glad I didn't let the mixed reviews deter me from this peaceful and very atmospheric little adventure.
Absolutely beautiful scenery. Lovely soundtrack. Interesting gameplay, minimal and easy so as to not distract from the experience. Lots of (maybe a little bit too many) bits on Jung's psychology and creative processes. For those who are any creatively inclined, feeling stuck in their lives or the like, this could double as a virtual holiday in a quiet mediterranean town with a gamified mini self-help book. One of the negative reviews says "the story reads like you're trapped in your freshman dorm room with a very high fine arts major who is trying to impart to you All The Wisdom Of The Universe" - I don't entirely disagree, but I guess I have a bit of a thing for high fine arts majors :D And I have to say that where I'm currently at, quite a lot of the messages actually spoke to me.
Seeing as the game costs about as much as a cup of tea, though, I think it's worth it just for the beautiful and relaxing atmosphere (you don't really have to read or listen to all that stuff to solve the puzzles and finish the game).

* * *

For more chill and story-driven games, check out my curator Peaceful Adventures and Stories!

Lilithe Lotor
Lilithe Lotor

It's deepity: the game. Worldbuilding via quoting historical figures of a certain... philosophical bent.

Soul patch is strong with this one.

FAR too easy. Hits you over the head with each clue, several times.

We had to double check that clues was turned off. Nope, just that obvious.

SecularSurfer
SecularSurfer

Short and easy. Decent graphics and interesting concept. Attempts to be deep, but just comes across as pretentious.

Sober Mans Secret
Sober Mans Secret

Short but beautiful. Well written, eye-candy artwork and good voice acting. Entry level Myst but enjoyable all the same.

8\10

KeroKat99
KeroKat99

Kind of lame. There was a lot of potential for the "mixed reality" idea. Lots of spaces left open for future DLC I guess but for such a pretty game I would have hoped for more game time and not later added content. If you were going to go with the search for the soul self, there are lots more authors and idea that you could have worked in...

Br0or
Br0or

I tried to like this game, but the puzzles aren't challenging . The visuals aren't bad, but the motion really hurt my eyes. This game try to say something and fails. The music is better after the 1st place when i muted the game the sound of the birdes where anoying the music in main menu is horrible. You can try it but it want be anything special.

Jeedeye
Jeedeye

I just finished this game and I can say that it's actually worth the buy. Is it short? Yes. Does it have a good story? Yes and no. It makes you think more about philosophy than the actual "puzzles". This is the type of game that is more about the atmosphere and journey than the actual ride. If you've played Dear Esther then you should enjoy this game. Overall I'd give it a solid 7/10

smelliga
smelliga

This is a rudimentary walking simulator of someone’s Psych 101 thesis paper.

While the graphics and music are beautiful, reminiscent of games like Ether One, and while Cissy Jones does an amazing job with the voice acting, there just isn’t enough substance to make it worth the playtime.

The infrequent puzzles, if you can really call them puzzles, are simple item use interactions telegraphed by literal writing on the wall. Even the item locations are handed to you on a cheat sheet posted near the start of each main area.

I can’t even imagine why someone would need clues on top of such simplified gameplay, but there is an optional built-in hint system as well. I have to wonder if the initial audience of this project was non-gamers. In fact, the only thing I struggled with was finding the one achievement that rewards bad adventuring practices.

The controls are intentionally tedious for thematic reasons, forcing you to take one step, spin in a circle, take another step, spin in a circle, and so on, just to make sure you don’t miss the one interactable element in an area. This makes the floorplan of the second red area more annoying to parse than it needs to be.

My main criticism, though, is the heavy-handed narrative. There are a number of important points raised, and the game delivers a solid message, but it is told almost entirely through references and quotes, rather than through the character’s own words and thoughts. It felt like reading a pretentious coffee table book in a doctor’s office, filled with images of classic paintings overlaid by inspirational captions from Jung, Campbell, Plato, and Proverbs.

Additionally, every symbolic element is over-explained. If your players are already intrigued enough by the idea of art meets psychology to purchase your game, trust that they are smart enough to read between the lines and make their own connections without you spoonfeeding them.

I really wanted to like this, but it just feels hollow and unsatisfying as both a game and an interactive story, especially with such a short runtime. I think I spent more of my time faffing about while overthinking the secret ticket machine than I did completing my initial runthrough.

Tora
Tora

Very short. Puzzles are not difficult. Attempts to be very philosophical about Self and Art, but is heavy-handed with overuse of quotes. Would have been stronger without voice acting and with only the in-game notes rather than all the quotes and sayings used to translate the messages of the notes. It completely removes any sense of mystery or depth, and detracts from the message of self-discovery and making your own path since the MC can't come to her own opinion about anything not to mention the voice-over removes your sense of immersion that could have been there with the first-person perspective. Maybe play this if you are looking for something short and easy and really like philosophy, otherwise I wouldn't recommend it.

state-machine
state-machine

It seems the negative reviews for this game are largely from players who weren't expecting a classic-style point & click (that is, 2D/pre-rendered 3D) adventure game or who have limited appreciation for introspective poetry. Yes, the philosophizing is wishy-washy at points, but so are the meditative masterworks of Keats, Eliot, and even Plato. While the narrator seems to embrace some common views that are rejected by mainstream analytical philosophy such as a dualist view of the mind-body problem and a libertarian position on the existence of free will, the enterprising player can challenge these ideas and synthesize their own in response, which is actually a theme of this game.

I for one loved the narration audio, a very expressive performance by Cissy Jones (who voiced the amazing Delilah in Firewatch) that's on the level of Erin Fitzgerald's powerful narration in The Talos Principle. The environments and music here are phenomenal, with one minor suggestion for the developer being that the audio for the narrator's reading of notes shouldn't interrupt the music, especially on the white staircase, where keeping the music at a low volume under the narration would have enhanced it with a strong emotive effect. Another even smaller gripe is that the writing twice misused an apostrophe, once for "its" and then for "keys" (a mistaken possessive and a clumsy grocer's apostrophe).

Neither did it bother me that the game is "easy" and short. I don't enjoy pixel hunting or having to brute force unintuitive combinations of items in inventory puzzles, and I felt that the canvas painting mechanic seemed just familiar enough to be intuitive yet not insipid. I also like games that I can play in a single sitting, and for a $4 full price and $1 Steam sale price, I think the length is nothing to complain about.

Conclusion: A beautiful, stimulating, nostalgic, and extremely relaxing experience that muses on identity and expression, 9/10. Pretty impressive that it was designed by just one person. Would love to see developer commentary or to re-explore all the worlds in the game in the style of the hall at the end.

Flora_Ashley
Flora_Ashley

This is an incredibly short game, so be prepared before you buy it that, even if you listen to all dialogue and look at everything you won't get more than 2 hours of game play.
It's a beautifully illustrated game, with simple point and click user interface, and lovely voice overs. The whole game is a philosophical piece, designed to make you think more about yourself than the world you are exploring.
If I'm honest, I'll probably never play it again, but I think it deserves to be played once.

gaden002
gaden002

Pick this up, use it like this over here, now go over there. Yeah, that's it no puzzles, just walk around and pick thing up, the game tells you what you need, where to find it and how to use it. It looked like some college student whose major was Psych or Philosophy also had classes in modern art, and this was part of his thesis. Not much to hold one's interest, here, I'd have to give it a failing grade.

fifthhorseman
fifthhorseman

this game is short and very easy, its the same puzzle 4 times in a row but its a fun one with an interesting concept behind it. its not a waling simulator like a thought but is instead a point and click. it was a fun game to play and experience but i wish the main character would stop over explaining everything, every time you find a note she straight away goes in depth on what the note means which takes away the element of you reading the note and thinking about the message its trying to send yourself. while i do like the game its not worth the full price so wait for a sale.

Game Rating: 2/5

mielmeow
mielmeow

Super relaxing yet fun game! I'm still very new to gaming and I personally do not enjoy fast-paced games with danger or thrill aspects to them. This game is perfect if you're someone like me who enjoys peaceful exploration, solving puzzles, and completing tasks. The game is relatively short (I finished a complete run in about an hour), and throughout it appeared as though your choices affect the course of the gameplay leading to alternate endings, but I found that to not actually be the case. So I ended up spending a good extra half-hour running through it again to see if I could do something different.

I highly encourage you to purchase this game because the price is pretty cheap for the image and game quality. If you're looking for a challenge, this may not be your cup of tea, but I still think you should purchase and play it anyway.

Frienderly
Frienderly

i love a simple point n click narrated walking simulator as much as the next person, but i had carl jung quoted at me, like, 4 times in the span of 15 minutes, which made me just peace on outta there. if i wanted to have philosophers endlessly quoted at me for over an hour i'd go hang out with my old boyfriend from my freshman year at college.

celia_equus
celia_equus

This is very reflective and philosophical, and very gentle for those who like to just explore without rushing. I've definitely got to play it again; there's obviously some things that I missed, judging by the achievements, and I want to experience everything this game has to offer. It's short, so you may prefer to get it on sale, but I really enjoyed it. I think there must be different ways to achieve the ending. Yep, have to play it again sometime. Not right away. Right now, I need to reflect.

Amy
Amy

A Decent puzzle game. Didn't take me very long to complete it. It was a very pretty game. But could have had something more

ThatBlue
ThatBlue

The puzzles were ok for a point and click style puzzler, but all of the dialogue is VERY preachy and very #Deep.

Anonymous
Anonymous

I should have believed the other reviews that said this is a waste of money, even for 99 cents. The plot is self-righteous trite and the gameplay is clunky. It's beautiful, but that's about it. The same puzzle is repeated many times and the function seems to be solely to make you read Philosophy 101.

SquishySqually
SquishySqually

I personally love this game and I can say this definitely not a game for everyone. But for artists and perhaps people who have certain dream and goal in their lives this might be game worth playing.

Personally I think this game is trying help people to define what True art means to them. As an artist during these times I am struggling getting back into my drawing and painting. And this game truly helped me out with that situation.

Yʟᴛʜɪɴ
Yʟᴛʜɪɴ

I bought that game before it was given for free, and you should definitely have a look at it, at least watch a let's play, especially if you're an artist and are currently struggling with your art.
The story cannot exactly be explained, the puzzles are easy enough to solve as they are delimited in a small space, just don't forget to read every single picture you take, it's important, not only for the achievement.

ღ Nanna ღ
ღ Nanna ღ

This point and click is really short and really simple to complete, arts and musics are okay.
The real point of "The search" is to share some philosophy about art, it's pretty cheap, give it a try!

SapphireSeraph
SapphireSeraph

Very pretty game. Rather relaxing puzzle game with point and click moving about and collecting things.

I recommend it for people who like slow-paced games and point/click games. Those who like action and fast-paced games likely won't enjoy this one.

Lowfar
Lowfar

"The Search" is a relatively short and easy point & click type game that I thoroughly enjoyed. The graphics are beautiful, the music calming, and the voice acting superb. In spite of some negative reviews about the philosophical nature of the game, I found the various quotes and insights thoughtful and inspiring. I do not believe that you have to agree with them to enjoy the game, just as you don't have to be a violent person to enjoy bashing monsters in a good RPG or shooter game.

Perhaps it is not everyone's cup of tea, but as a former artist (ballet dancer), I was amazed at how true some of these ideas were to my own life. If only I could have known them at the time...

nicholsmde7
nicholsmde7

Do not buy this game at full price. While the graphics are lovely, the voice acting fine and the story is somewhat interesting , it is far too short for the full price. I bought it on sale and still feel like I paid too much. I recommend it only because it shows promise. There are a couple of achievements that are harder to get than others but the guides are helpful. In fact the achievements are the only reason I played as long as I did. If you follow one of the guides you could be done with the game very quickly.

Leonor
Leonor

I enjoyed this game. It's beautiful and relaxing. It's made in the style of Myst, with pre-rendered slides. It's a short, calming, contemplative game for those who like art and philosophy.

DisRicardo
DisRicardo

So which one of you gave this game a bad review??
It's because of you, it took me so long to pick this game up!

The Search is an otherwordly experience. It hits just right and makes you feel something you don't have a name for.

The style of the game and especially the movement system reminds me of the old I Spy game series by Scholastic. The quotes used to create this journey are selected just right. They are not some pseudo philosophical garbage.

If you're an artist, this game can answer some questions that have been nagging at the back of your mind, not letting you go forward.

Writing this review feels wrong, like trying to come up with technical characteristics for a miracle.
Go, try it for yourself and see if you resonate with it.
Just don't expect a regular-ass point and click game that is meant to just provide some entertainment, or you will be disappointed

happyV
happyV

Well... it's an okay story, but that's about it. The "navigation" through still images makes you feel disconnected with the game and the short episode where you walk in a 3D environment seems buggy. Also mixing paint colours is a substractive process - the game gets that very wrong and because it is part of the story... meh.

Adiah
Adiah

I like one. It is unfortunately very short but I love the spiritual/philosophical stuff in it which makes one think and ponder.. and wonder, haha! Unless you are inclined to spiritual or philosophical stuff, I am not sure I can actually recommend this game. I do not think this game is for most people and the trailer makes the gameplay look different from what it actually is like. I still like this game because of the philosophical stuff though but that is me.

Amalthea1980
Amalthea1980

I quite enjoyed this game, though I do tend to like most games such as these. Yes it IS short (roughly an hour or so) and there isn't a lot going on action wise, but the message of the tale is what drew me in. And for that, I do recommend it. Also, the music/noises were quite nice as well.

s.newman67
s.newman67

An okay game. You can play through the entire thing in approximately 20 minutes, but you'll most likely have to play through a few times if you want to pick up all of the achievements. I thought the dialogue that is present throughout the game unnecessary and distracting. I did like the puzzle-solving aspect of the game, but for the price and the amount of time it takes to play through, I did not think it worth the value. Best played with a mouse and point-and-click. 4/10.

dragonessofire
dragonessofire

An easy exploration game with simple point and click movement. Unfortunately it is pretentious and can't resist analysing itself and explaining it's own metaphors to the player so it's very easy to become impatient with the characters musings and start skipping the dialogue.

mikanicob
mikanicob

The game idea is really interesting and I like the philosophical points. But, the game was *super* short. I finished my first playthrough in about 35 minutes. I played it again to get the achievements. The navigation was pretty frustrating at times, too. I don't dislike the game, but not sure I can really recommend it. Not for everybody, but if you like philosophy and/or are stuck in a life rut, this one may offer some perspective.

Argentewer
Argentewer

This is a pretty basic puzzle game recommended to me by a friend. As the unnamed protagonist, you visit a series of rooms or worlds, each with an objective to escape from, using art. It may take some longer than others to pick up on how to use the tools you are given at the beginning of the game, but once you do, the game becomes a matter of just finding the same types of items in each world and repeating the same steps, this is why I chalked it up to being 'fairly basic'. I did like what is more or less, a philosophical statement that is presented to you as you explore a series of notes left for you that prompt the protagonist to think about their own life as an artist. I wish there had been a way though of leaving things more open-ended, so you can make up your own mind about what's being presented, rather than have it decided for you. This feels like a standalone title but if they made a sequel, I'd probably skip it, to be honest. I'm glad I gave it a try but I didn't find it memorable.

davekorejtko
davekorejtko

The Search is a short story-driven adventure game with simple puzzles. The whole game mechanics works like point & click, except the ending. Very interesting philosophical meaning of the game with art and psychology mashup accompanied by pleasant soundtrack, voice acting and art. It's worth it to play this game atleast once. There are 9 achievements easy to obtain.

kreunvogel
kreunvogel

What I learned is that TVs are tHe wAiStLaND and rob you of your creativity because they force you to "passively accept and consume realities other people give us."

Says a game that leaves me no room to think for myself because it shoves random quotes of Carl Jung into my face and proceeds to spoon-feed me the explanation of said quotes.

------------------

Pros:
- Art is pretty
- Nice atmosphere
- The ending was kind of creative because of the gameplay??
- At least it's cheap

Cons:
- Boring and repetitive gameplay
- Pretentious as hell
- Voice acting felt really cringy, but that's probably just the script
- Please don’t incorporate philosophy if you don’t know how to do it properly

Only pick up on sale, and only if you are reallly bored and want to experience it by yourself. Almost so bad it's good but not quite.

cATARIina83
cATARIina83

If The Search was free, I could recommend it. But this was probably shortest game I have
ever purchased for 3,14 euros. Takes about 1 hour or less to play it through.
When the credits started, I seriously thought the first hour was just an intro,
and the game starts after the credits! Left my mouth open, when that didn't happen.
Did the developer loose interest or money, because the game feels like it was left unfinished??
Very disappointing, because the game had a lot of potential, beautiful graphics, a deeper idea of a story...

The_McRib
The_McRib

Short, but very artsy, with a lot of of deeper meaning and symbolism. The philosophical quotes make my brain hurt.

Thank you Karl Jung, very cool!

Bastjanic
Bastjanic

Although the atmosphere is a bit unsettling (at least for me) it is a very intriguing short game... Basically a point and click game, short, but, the alement which makes it nice is that it forces yout to pay attention to details...

ickyoeazy
ickyoeazy

This is game is elegantly beautiful. It's a simple enough click and find game that only lasts about 30 mins, but it's simplicity and beauty make you want to stop and admire everything from textures to background noises. It plays on this whole idea of art being reality, and the simple artistic vibes really lend well to that. I couldn't recommend this game enough!

Rannera
Rannera

A lovely little game that takes about an hour if you want to really enjoy the atmosphere. I could have done without some of the voiceovers telling me what to think as I would rather have made up my own mind, but it was nice nonetheless.

jdemers2
jdemers2

Crashed after using using white paint brush and after eating fruit.
Am asked "Do you hear it" and no response on any selection.
Just hear clicks and no have to close window and exit game.

Angel of death
Angel of death

Very nice game, with simple handling, beautiful graphics and interesting stories. The voice-over is very nice, short, I recommend it!

alexeykats
alexeykats

Let me put it in one phrase - the search is never ending, and the story that you live along is your story.

Richie Radix
Richie Radix

Alternate title: "Lady with Pleasant Voice Summarises Jung and Joseph Campbell for 45 Minutes".

Sure, it's short and easy, but a it's a pretty enough walk through the path to creative and personal enlightenment to be worth a few dollars. And if you don't walk away enlightened, at least you'll get a 100% achievement rating without much trouble.

theacrobaticverities
theacrobaticverities

Short and sweet. I was randomly looking for a game to play and picked this, having no idea what I was really getting into. It hit me mid-quarter life crisis, mid-contemplating-career-shift, mid-pandemic-and-general-dissatisfaction-induced ennui, and honestly it was more like an extended meditation than a game, one which I emerged from with greater clarity. Every now and then you come across a book, game, movie, etc. that turns you upside down, shakes you out, and changes you as a person, hopefully for the better. To my utter shock, this was one of those games.

Anglo_Cheese
Anglo_Cheese

A nice little relaxing game. EXTREMELY underrated and definitely does not deserve the "mixed" rating. Some people say the puzzles are repetitive, but personally I don't think that's the case. Anyway, with a cheap price, I definitely recommend getting this.

Power_Overwhelming
Power_Overwhelming

Only recommended if (a) you can get it as part of a bundle, (b) you get it for less than a dollar or (c) if you like Carl Jung (for whatever reason...).

It took me 40 minutes to finish and even though the voice acting is fine and the colours and locations are beautiful, I would want there to be a bit more meaningful content. It is more of an easy hidden object game than a puzzle game really. There are in essence no puzzles. I think the developer can deliver something better so I will keep an eye out, but this is a very poor thumbs up....

vellichorvictim
vellichorvictim

Incredibly pretentious and on-the-nose, treats the player like an idiot who needs every step explained to them. Took me less than 30 minutes to complete as I eventually started skipping through the protagonist's endless recitations of Jung and Campbell. The game looks alright, I will give it that, but it is quite a stretch to call it a "story-driven puzzle game". There was little to no story OR puzzle.

Ravenize > *
Ravenize > *

The Search appears to be a 90's style adventure puzzle game where you're in a world that's seen and navigated through via 2D pre-rendered backgrounds. In a word: Myst.

For most of this short experience it felt like there wasn't much new or noteworthy here. It's light on narrative, and the gameplay is very much the traditional adventure game experience: you can pick up items to add to your inventory, and then you can combine those items and use them later to get past obstacles that impede your progress. If you've played Myst, Riven, or anything like them before then you know exactly what to expect.

Thankfully, the progression makes sense for the most part, and there aren't that many frustrating areas where it's not obvious what to do next. This makes the game somewhat predictable; as you begin to recognize patterns you'll be able to guess how a puzzle ends after only seeing the first piece. But that's much better than the slow, confusing alternative.

The ending is where this game really shines. I won't spoil it, so suffice to say that it is very, very cool. It turns the whole game from something run-of-the-mill to something special. If you like the genre then you owe it to yourself to play The Search all the way through to experience that for yourself.

Lacy
Lacy

I can honestly see why someone would enjoy this game. The graphics are really nice, the sounds and voice acting is pretty good as well. I did like the story, and I did enjoy that it does cover some philosophy/psychology theories. Figuring out what to do was easy enough, nothing overly hard (though a few places did have me stumped until I figured out the pattern of the game). However, I just didn't enjoy it all that much, I'm still giving it a thumbs up, as it's one of those games I wish I could do something in between a Yes and No. It is a pretty casual game and pretty relaxing. I did find a couple typos but nothing overly noticeable or big.

Overall, a pretty decent game with good graphics and sounds. I just found it a bit boring and a struggle to focus on actually getting through it. I'd still recommend it for anyone looking for a relaxing/casual short game.

Sinuouser
Sinuouser

No real story, no real puzzles. I kind of enjoyed their other game Discolored, where you at least had to think a little. This just treats you like you need to be saved for some reason, with (for me) pointless quotes being read for you. The game also pretty much condemns the digital medium, which is great self awareness?

Not for me.

zalthor
zalthor

This is a really elegant, stylish game where, once you understand the rules, it becomes great fun. I love the various rooms and areas which all appear to have been drawn most carefully. A relatively short game it's definitely worth playing for the feeling of tranquillity it imbues the player with. You don't need to be a painter to enjoy what is required. Highly recommended.

Joy_Levesque
Joy_Levesque

It's a beautiful game and it runs smoothly. It will be a great game for someone but that person was not me. I think the voice acting took away rather then adding to the immersion (not a comment on the acting itself she did a great job). The notes on the letters were interesting but the follow up commentary was too much. Gave off the vibes of first year university student who thinks they have been enlightened. Also VERY short I got up which added to my time played but I rocketed past this with no clues.

Hex: Nazaré Tedesco
Hex: Nazaré Tedesco

So, I really thought I was going to like this. I liked their other game a lot, A LOT! It was so good.
Unfortunately, this one doesn't live up to it. It is too pretentious and shallow. The puzzles aren't good.
I wanted to ask for a refund, but I played the whole thing and it doesn't seem fair.
Don't get this game, go for their other one, Discolored is amazing.

Gamyr
Gamyr

Short, I finished in about an hour. But there's more here than just that. This may sound cliche, or something, but all of what I'm about to say is true (to me). Right now I'm going through several different crises, and trying to deal as best as possible. When I started this game, I was immediately like "Oh, a MYST type game! Fun!" but as I traveled the various areas and reading the notes, I started to sense that this was something deeper for me than just a puzzle game. I laughed it off at first, but as I kept at it, I finally realized that this game was speaking to me. It was as if this "game" knew what I was going through and was showing me a way out of the mental state I've been in for a long time,. I'm sorry if this review is so long, but I needed to say it. This was the second game that I not only understood with my mind, but also with my heart. Thank you Devs.

SlvtSammich
SlvtSammich

Fun, but the puzzles are incredibly simple and the game is over before it starts. This could have very easily been expanded mechanically - the paint combination idea was cool, but make me do color theory, let me backtrack and paint new pathways (metroidvania) with different colors, keep up the abstract environments, and live up to your hidden object tag by actually giving me more to arbitrarily find and tick off, that's why I'm here, for chill object discovery and exploration. Try some other hidden object games for examples of mechanical depth. For what it is tho, it's a cool little project.

Grenade Oprah
Grenade Oprah

I think this is a loveletter to professional artists who can relate to the plights of the narrator, along with a lovely visual experience of philosphy and psychology. Loved it.
The navigation mechanics felt tedious at times, but overall 9/10.

PinkRayne
PinkRayne

A short, relaxing and very pretty puzzle game littered with inspirational quotes about finding your purpose in life. The gameplay was pretty unique without being overly challenging, and the music and sounds were calming. It was a lovely way to spend an hour, so for under £3 I highly recommend it.

seTTen
seTTen

I wish the game had more puzzle solving and exploration to do. Where to find things and how to progress became very predictable halfway through. I wish there was more of a story to delve into. However, the music was nice, the atmosphere was nice. Simple, artistic, philosophical. It was a relaxing and decent experience.

DonnaSoapQueen
DonnaSoapQueen

Love, love, love this game! The environment is absolutely beautiful (my lord this guy knows what he's doing!!!), the music/sound is incredible, voice acting.. top notch and the puzzles are not complicated and logical, so I did not require any hints. The inspirational notes and quotes added so much to the experience. I found the length of the game to be just about perfect for a sit down session. And the price is much lower than it should be quite honestly. In summary, what more could you possibly ask for? 10 outta 10!! Thank you!

rmorganartworks
rmorganartworks

This is not a game.

This is an essay. This game does things that every essay tries to do, with additional tools at its disposal.

The game tells you as much in the very beginning, but it's easy to miss. It tells you up front that you will be spoken to in both words and symbols. A strictly gaming-oriented mind will go the wrong direction with this. I'll admit, I missed that finer detail until the very end.

People old enough or informed enough to recall MYST will easily, and rightfully, label this a "Myst-like" game. But where Myst was strictly a game for gaming's sake, this game wants to impart knowledge, and people that cannot think very far or very deeply will find themselves writing it off as pretentious or too easy.

The game is short and the puzzles are easy, but that's because gameplay isn't the focus. The visual and ambient elements try to make you as "open" as possible to the nuggets of wisdom and enlightment scattered throughout. Much of the things you read become the experience of the gameplay, but you have to be paying attention to catch these subtle strokes of genius. If you go in strictly on the terms of playing a game, you're going to be disappointed. Go in with a view to gaining perspective and stretching some brain cells. You'll find the experience far more rewarding.

If I had to complain about anything, there are two things: A critical moment of progress comes down to noticing that the angle of a wall is indeed a passage and not a flat wall that allows no progress. The lighting wasn't that great, so I ran in circles for far too long before breaking down and activating the hints, which weren't all that helpful either. For a moment I feared that I had fallen into another CLICK EVERYTHING type of game.

The second complaint is the windows. There are so many windows that tempt you with a tantalizing view to some gorgeous vista, but there's no such thing. With so many windows begging to be looked through, to see either a seascape or an amazing sky or some other vista that inspires wonder, there should at least be a few. But there are none.

Besides those two factors, this game is a rewarding, cerebral experience that will give you many things to chew on if your mind is receptive enough.

Luísa
Luísa

Have you ever had that one pretentious friend or acquaintance that is obsessed with blurting out random quotes or passages from books and authors he or she has read? Have you ever felt compelled to roll your eyes and tell them to stfu? This game will let you relive those memories to a T!
I don't think I've ever been this bored playing a "puzzle" game. The dialogue is mind-numbing and so pretentious it hurts. 2/10

evenstar74
evenstar74

~ The true artist is always in a state of becoming ~

You need to play this game. Especially if you are an artist, an author, a designer.

It is really short, like a couple of hours at most. It's a point-and-click puzzle game where you gather ingredients and create paintings that change reality.

But it's about the narrator's quest to find her artistic identity. Throughout the game she finds notes that talk about the nature of art and the soul. And she muses on philosophical quotes by Carl Jung. I have sincerely never been so touched by a game, and the ending is truly wonderful.

I missed a few things so I'm playing it again.

Play it!! ❤ ❤ ❤ ^-^

TheGodHimself
TheGodHimself

If you like Jung, Youll like this game.
short and sweet.

pupperoni
pupperoni

This is a very short experience, but the drop-dead-gorgeous atmosphere alone is worth the asking price. I enjoyed the puzzles and found them quite intuitive, but I did not really care for the story.

The voice acting is great, but for an artsy-style game, I felt that it laid everything out too clearly for you. It's definitely trying to be philosophical/psychological, but the way the narrator explains everything just didn't work for me. I wished the story was told more subtly and allowed me to piece things together.

Nonetheless, I *really* love 3D games with true point-and-click navigation, and this one is a lovely example (my vertigo thanks you). I'd buy it again just for the nostalgic feel and beautiful locations.

The Gilded Magpie
The Gilded Magpie

Pairings: Some nice museum postcards to flip through and a glass of wine, maybe port.

Use as a text for high school classes studying the artistic process or psychological concepts of the self ... but pair it with something that doesn't hold their hands quite as much.

This is a very beautiful, very pretentious game. It's a nice artsy entry in the inventory-puzzle-adventure genre, but while the voice actor (Cissy Jones) does a masterful job with the contemplative, philosophical journal entries, those entries themselves are just ... ugh.

It seems like a very talented designer wanted to do a contemplative, thoughtful variation on a point-and-click inventory puzzle, but couldn't trust their work to stand on its own so they really really needed the player to understand that they've read both Plato and Jung.

I am a pretentious academic myself, and I passionately adore point-and-click inventory puzzles, so this should have worked for me! I just felt like I was reading an extremely earnest, extremely well-written freshman essay by someone who assumes that their AP Psych class taught them something new and ground-breaking about the unconscious. One alternates between admiring the style and rolling one's eyes.

My recommendation: If you also enjoy this genre, just turn off the subtitles and voice-overs (which is an injustice to the talented actor, but the writing ...!) and ignore the journal from the beginning. Enjoy the remarkably well-designed, context-dependent clue system and the beautiful art; accept that the janky alignment of one scene to the next means you'll do some backtracking; and spend a nice hour with the attractive and evocative scenes.

WhimsicalWisp
WhimsicalWisp

I believe it is a great short story to look inward. Its a bit pricey for what it is. You can beat it in like 30-40 mins and 100% it in about an hour. However, the art and music are great. It controls like a Nancy Drew game. I would recommend picking it up in the bundle when it goes on sale as a short interesting narrative to play.

QueenofHell358
QueenofHell358

This is a super atmospheric game, but its not for everyone. It's one of those games that is meant to be eye opening, deep, and emotional. But the symbolism is laid on so thick, its not really that deep any more. Like if you were looking at a painting by Edvard Munch but he was standing next to you telling you everything about it until there was nothing left to wonder about. Besides that though, there is still a clear message. As another review stated, it comes off as kind of pretentious. You read quotes and then the character expands on it. It is completely linear, there's not much to be explored. Still very picturesque, and a nice short game if you want to maybe get a new perspective on creativity. I'd recommend it, but its probably not something I will play again.

Atmosphere: 5/5 unique rooms and scenes, varies in colors and scenery, always something to look at.
Creativity: 4/5, unique in the way you move through and experience different parts of the game. Not something I've seen before.
Controls: 3.5/5 Typical point and click, but some of the click boxes are too big and I end up turning around in circles.
Story line: 3.5/5, lays it on kinda thick, but gets it's message across. Very linear.
Game mechanics: 3/5. very repetitive, but its also a relatively short game so its not like I expect a lot.
Graphics: 5/5, realistic, not cartoony, easy on the eyes
Overall: 4/5. Good artsy game.

Pacal
Pacal

Pros:
- Pre-rendered visuals are sharp
- Controls feel good
- Quality music and foley work
- Inspirational message

Cons:
- Voice acting isn't incredible
- Some may not like the inspirational message
- Ultrawide support is just chopping off the top and bottom of the 16:9 default

This is a very short game which feels like a very polished art project. The game uses classic point-and-click controls with pre-rendered 3d scenes, reminiscent of the Her Interactive Nancy Drew series, but feels more modern with higher resolution images and widescreen support. The "story" is about the player (an unnamed female artist) finding herself in a series of environments and learning about the creative process through notes and puzzles. The game is meant to inspire thoughts about your own life and creative projects with some pretty scenery and music, so I'd say this is more walking simulator than point-and-click adventure. If you don't like "artsy" stuff then you probably won't enjoy The Search.

Steve
Steve

Very nice short game completed in about an hour while having eggs and coffee for breakfast. The artwork was great, the game is point and click until the end. Once you figured out the alley, the concept to solving the puzzles was the same as you advanced from one scene to another. Not hard. I was stunned why I only got 7 out of 9 achievements. Some day I will have to go back and see if I could find the other two I missed. Overall a thumbs up to kill an hour.

Serieus
Serieus

Very short game blending art and philosophy as you collect pictures, paintbrushes, tickets, and paint to be able to create the world you need to move forward. Overall, I thought they do a good job of making a subtle yet poignant message, that is if you listen to the narration of the game. It's thought provoking, beautifully rendered, and entertaining during its short time that you play. Had it been any longer, and doing the same things again in each world even longer, it would have overstayed its welcome.

What I don't get, but I get it it's part of the narration, is why it's in 3D with Myst like routines of clicking on where to go, and then at the end you finally have your normal 3D movement for where you can go the picture to picture movement. Again, I get it, it's part of the message it's trying to convey, but still thought it was strange. Not much of a spoiler since it doesn't change anything that you will learn or not learn as you go through this game.

Very much an exploration game, but some of these are pretty good, and I found this one enjoyable. At the price, pick it up, you won't be disappointed.

ProbablePrime
ProbablePrime

I couldn't get past the quotes and dialog that are interjected every few moments. This game is tagged as exploration but I feel my exploration into the pretty graphics is hampered by the narrator finding the strangest things to say when met with ordinary objects.

Maskinkultur
Maskinkultur

The main mechanic consists of finding three items for each scene: a paint brush, a canvas, and paint. These three items allow you to paint a way out. You will also find other items which will help you. The HUD is clear and to the point, and there to help you, not hinder you.

The puzzles are all inventory based. There is also a clue system, which you can toggle on and off at the beginning, but also via the settings while playing. I turned it off and found the game to be pretty clear about what needs to be done if you take the time to explore every scene, but if you want to just follow the story, the clue system is there to help.

The painting mechanic was refreshing and well made. Great use of colour: inviting, warm, clear—without being oversaturated or harsh—and there’s this pleasantly “muddy” quality, making what you see easy to rest your eyes on. The surroundings are well put together, with a lot of extra detail, and everything seems to hold a story of its own.

The story is about finding your own path in life, especially a path of creativity and true self expression, while navigating the many pitfalls in life and all the false imagery it may offer. Jung and Campbell are also there to add some philosophical flavour.

The game took me only around an hour from start to finish. There’s clear potential here to elaborate more on the ideas presented. The game’s shortness might also be its strength. It’s short, but sweet.

Full review:
https://maskinkultur.com/2018/04/23/review-the-search/

Ryuluce
Ryuluce

A very prettily rendered walking simulator that really, *really* likes Jungian Psychology. It's very short, but it's also cheap. The puzzles are pretty thin, with a few good ideas that could've been branched out, but come and go quickly. This game comes across as a vehicle for delivering the writer's message, first and foremost. If you like what they're putting down, you'll probably like the game. For me, though, it felt a bit pretentious and wasn't an experience that left me satisfied.

B1ooD$@g3
B1ooD$@g3

"Who looks outside; dream
who looks inside, wake."

This game is about THE Search. The Search of a voice, the Search of a vision, the Search to listen, and the search to discover oneself. We paint the world around us, the influences we draw from the world and from within shape our reality. THAT is the realization. THAT is the Search.
This small but beautiful game helped me on my own way, for the Search for those little qualities, those little moments of life that helps me to see things in my own way; in my own reality.

"We are not going on our journey to save the world, but to save ourselves.
But in doing that you save the world"