Cibele

 PC
Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. CD-Action
    Feb 4, 2016
    65
    There’s a kind of sincerity in Cibele that we rarely see in games and I would love to play a longer, more developed version. [01/2016, p.59]
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  2. Washington Post
    Nov 20, 2015
    70
    With disarming simplicity, Cibele sets a new course for video games as a medium for telling short, intimate, personal stories.
  3. Game Rant
    Nov 3, 2015
    40
    Cibele is much more of an interactive movie than it is a game, but neither the plot nor gameplay engage on enough of a level to make the short title – which we finished in an hour – worth the $7 price it comes with.
  5. Game Informer
    Nov 2, 2015
    78
    Cibele shows an intriguing direction for games to become representations of their creators' real lives, almost like confessionals. As we've seen more in recent years, developers are confronting tougher topics, such as sex, depression, and death. This is an enlightening movement that's still in its infancy. Much like Cibele, these early lessons have revealed a few stumbling blocks, but I'm glad they're happening.
  6. Digital Chumps
    Nov 2, 2015
    92
    So many games either waste or misunderstand their medium as a storytelling device while Cibele thrives inside of its own technology. By no coincidence, it’s one of the most human and relatable games, too.
  7. GamingTrend
    Nov 2, 2015
    65
    Cibele has some things going for it, such as a narrative structure based on interaction with the main character’s computer. It’s a fairly predictable story told in a new way. Some parts of it were intriguing, but overall it didn’t really wow me.
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  1. The A.V. Club
    Dec 8, 2015
    It invites the player to commiserate the way they would if a friend showed up and spilled their darkest secrets. Even if you can’t relate, Cibele still insists on a personal response.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
4.1

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 32 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 32
  3. Negative: 17 out of 32
  1. SoftLockJake
    Dec 16, 2022
    6
    Cibele is a genuinely unique game that tells the age old tale of first love from a modern, geek culture perspective, something that isCibele is a genuinely unique game that tells the age old tale of first love from a modern, geek culture perspective, something that is criminally untouched in film and virtually non-existent in the games space. It is one of a kind, and should absolutely be a video game instead of a short film. That said, as emotional and empathetic as the game can make the player feel, the entire package is too clunky for this to be anything more than a great first step.

    Gameplay consists of clicking around a desktop for some subtext and fun nostalgia and then playing a spoof MMO that is nothing more than clicking on enemies and then standing still for 15 minutes. Gameplay adds to the experience by creating an MMO vibe for the character conversations, but is so surface level and duct taped together that it ends up being distracting. If this whole game were reworked into a visual novel, I might bump this to a 7 or even 8. Luckily the game is short, so it is worth sitting through the 'MMO' to get to the story which is overall satisfying, even if the performances aren't Oscar winning.

    An autobiographical game about young love in an MMO is a fantastic, personal story that the game's lead Nina Freeman does expertly, and I'd love to see other deep cut, personal stories (FMV or not) told through gaming in the future.

    6/10 — 1 hour playtime
    + Great, relatable, and realistic story with a unique spin
    + Does not overstay its welcome
    + Pulls the nostalgia card for the 2010s
    - Bad gameplay through and through
    - Buggy and clunky
    - Game crashed without autosaving    … Full Review »
  2. ChoicestGames
    Feb 27, 2020
    7
    Despite actual gameplay being somewhat lacking and only taking one hour to complete, many will find the story of Cibele relatable or evenDespite actual gameplay being somewhat lacking and only taking one hour to complete, many will find the story of Cibele relatable or even enlightening when it comes to the dynamics of online relationships and of those we play computer games with.… Full Review »
  3. aditya1101
    Oct 5, 2017
    3
    Not much to this game - it's super short, and it has a cool message but at the end of the day it's not anything special. -----------------------------
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