Stories Untold

 PC
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. GameSpot
    Mar 29, 2017
    70
    Stories Untold’s first three episodes are very effective as retro horror vignettes, though, and the fourth can’t undo that. This is a unique package with a strong sense of identity, one that finds a new, exciting way to weaponize nostalgia. Just know that you might not look at the old Spectrum or Commodore 64 you’ve got packed away in the attic quite the same way again after playing.
  2. CD-Action
    Apr 26, 2017
    65
    The first of four chapters is remarkable, but the next two are worse and the last one is simply pathetic. [05/2017, p.45]
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  3. Adventure Gamers
    Jul 17, 2017
    60
    Stories Untold is better than the sum of its parts, even if this collection of horror-themed interactive fiction vignettes never quite capitalizes on the potential of its concept.
  5. Digitally Downloaded
    Mar 7, 2017
    60
    What could have been something lasting, something real, is instead a two dimensional narrative which brandishes plot twists and visual trickery to camouflage a lack of rich storytelling. Nonetheless, I would still highly recommend Stories Untold to writers and game developers: there are ideas in the first few episodes which are fascinating, and I’m dying to see where No Code’s metafictive experimentation might take the text adventure genre.
  6. New Game Network
    Mar 6, 2017
    59
    Stories Untold is clever when it comes to delivering the narrative, and its brief text-adventure is interesting. Unfortunately, most of it is pushing buttons and turning dials on command, and this leaves much to be desired.
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  1. Eurogamer
    Mar 7, 2017
    As fanciful as the game can be, the technology feels unnervingly true to its period - right down to the inherent awkwardness of microfilm readers. [Recommended]
  2. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Feb 28, 2017
    Stories Untold is bleak and disturbing, novel and experimental, and most importantly when doing all that, very clever. It’s smarter than you’ll realise, in fact. And why it’s smart is all in the experience of playing, not to be given away in the process of reviewing. A pain in the arse for me, but worth it for you.

Awards & Rankings

62
#62 Best PC Game of 2017

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 92 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 46 out of 92
  2. Mixed: 35 out of 92
  3. Negative: 11 out of 92
  1. TitaniumDragon
    Sep 5, 2017
    5
    Stories Untold is a rather odd game from Devolver Digital, which seems to sort of be their thing. At first, it appears to be some sort ofStories Untold is a rather odd game from Devolver Digital, which seems to sort of be their thing. At first, it appears to be some sort of weird text adventure thing, though in a “game within a game” sort of environment, as you are playing the game on a computer on a desk inside your computer.

    The game has a very 1980s vibe to it, which isn’t surprising, because it is set in 1986. It reminds me somewhat of the 1980s Twilight Zone, or similar shows; the first story immediately makes you realize that the game is going to be rather meta, but the game has a number of additional twists in store as you go through its four episodes.

    That being said, I use the term “game” somewhat loosely here; this is a strictly linear storytelling experience, and is almost entirely concerned with following directions rather than solving puzzles or interacting with the environment in any sort of meaningful way. Rather, this is more like an interactive made-for-TV movie, or perhaps miniseries – and it is about as long as one, too, clocking in at about 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete.

    While this seems to be a horror game at first, it is not the “random monster jumps out and scares you” kind of horror, and while the first episode does a reasonable job of messing with you, the later ones become much less creepy, though all of them have at least somewhat worrisome aesthetics to them.

    As the game goes on, increasingly more gameplay mechanics are added, and while the game never becomes complex, and you never really do much more than follow directions, the extremely limited adventure game interface is actually limited to only a couple portions of the game.

    All that being said, this is a very, very simple game. While this is not a walking simulator, this is still a very narrative-focused game with very little actual gameplay, perhaps more like a visual novel than anything else, though its interface is, if anything, most reminiscent of Don’t Touch Anything in terms of being in a very narrowly confined space most of the time, with just one or two screens of actual “content” per episode (though the finale is more complicated).

    Sadly, said interface is also clunky at times; the text adventure sections are particularly frustrating at times due to the fact that the interface is not always very smart about what you’re telling it to do, and there were a couple points where I struggled to do what I was trying to do due to needing to find the “magic words” so to speak.

    The only other major problem with the game is the fact that, in the end, the story as it ultimately pans out isn’t really nearly as twisty as you would have hoped based on all the other twists in the game. In fact, I was rather disappointed with the ending, as I was hoping that there was going to be one more twist, or rather, that what you were being pushed towards was not what had really happened, but was yet another lie. Alas, it was missing that extra layer, which I think might have added something more to the experience.

    If you’re looking for gameplay, this is probably not the place to go looking. And if you aren’t super enamored with dark stories with dark twist endings, this isn’t likely to be up your alley either. If you like a 1980s vibe, though, and a darker sort of vibe, this might be something you’d be interested in. It is certainly a different sort of game.    … Full Review »
  2. dumbfrogposter
    Mar 2, 2017
    7
    Should have called it "Stories Told". Or maybe "Stories Old"

    Excellent execution marred by a horribly cliched story that we've all heard    Should have called it "Stories Told". Or maybe "Stories Old"

    Excellent execution marred by a horribly cliched story that we've all heard before, and some technical issues.
    I suppose it fits with the retro aesthetic, but it's not original, nor particularly interesting. Nice gimmicks coating a fairly mundane experience.    … Full Review »
  3. ThunderRam
    Jan 22, 2019
    5
    Stories Untold started out FANTASTIC with episode 1 of 4... but then the game withered immediately with episode 2 and never really got muchStories Untold started out FANTASTIC with episode 1 of 4... but then the game withered immediately with episode 2 and never really got much traction until the very end. Even the end was kinda like "meh, seen this before" kind of vibe.

    I think Stories Untold would have been at least an 9 out of 10 if the adventure game text wasn't so linear. There was one point in the game where I was so lost in what to type for about 30 minutes because the computer never understood what I was saying. SUPER LINEAR COMMANDS.

    Try the game when it's cheap. maybe $5 or less.    … Full Review »
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