That Dragon, Cancer

 PC
User Score
6.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 104 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 46 out of 104
  2. Mixed: 28 out of 104
  3. Negative: 30 out of 104

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  1. drizzoo
    Jan 13, 2016
    10
    In response to the claim that That Dragon, Cancer is not a game. Who cares if That Dragon, Cancer is a "game"? Seriously? It doesn't have to fit the narrow definition of "game." It has to be played, that makes it a VIDEOgame. Pretty simple really--you play it, therefore its a vidoegame. I am pretty tired of this discussion of what is and isn't a game.

    Anyway, I think TDC is a great    In response to the claim that That Dragon, Cancer is not a game. Who cares if That Dragon, Cancer is a "game"? Seriously? It doesn't have to fit the narrow definition of "game." It has to be played, that makes it a VIDEOgame. Pretty simple really--you play it, therefore its a vidoegame. I am pretty tired of this discussion of what is and isn't a game.

    Anyway, I think TDC is a great example of why, as the medium of videogames has evolved in terms of artistic sensibility, its really weird to grade them on old rubrics like difficulty, replayability, and fun factor. Critics keep doing this in their reviews though even though most people have eschewed the categories themselves.

    What you need to know about TDC is that it is incredibly compelling, incredibly heartfelt, and incredibly emotionally challenging in all the right ways. Its not mechanically challenging or even mechanically novel, however, its mechanics poetically illustrate the value of grief, something I have never experienced in a game before. This game wrecked me. It made me feel for the Greens, more than that, it made me determined to love people who grieve. How does one possibly grade that experience on a 10 point scale? You can't really, or at least it feels very weird to experience that and shave off 2 points for a couple glitches and floaty platforming mechanics.

    If your rubric keeps you from experiencing the emotional power of a game because of these types of things, your rubric probably needs to be thrown out. Start from scratch. Experience things as a human being before you experience them as a "gamer."    … Expand
  2. RoccoSalvetti
    Nov 13, 2016
    10
    This is a very personal and brave work, and the business should be proud of it.
    I played it all in one go, I didn't feel right breaking it in more sessions.
    There are no puzzles, there is no arcade (well, there is one actually), here the mechanics serve the feelings and the storytelling. And they do it well. One remarkable things that was done right is the use of game-play to    This is a very personal and brave work, and the business should be proud of it.
    I played it all in one go, I didn't feel right breaking it in more sessions.
    There are no puzzles, there is no arcade (well, there is one actually), here the mechanics serve the feelings and the storytelling. And they do it well.
    One remarkable things that was done right is the use of game-play to communicate discomfort. To do so you have to put the player in an annoying and frustrating situation, without giving any obvious action to take. Feeling lost can be a deal breaker to many players and it is a very risky design choice, but here it is done very well. You will feel that discomfort, you will feel the frustration as the protagonist does, yet it won't last too long to become redundant and pointless.
    There is also bit where you are invited to follow a conversation exploring the different point of views. Brilliant.    … Expand
  3. Rtheom
    Jan 12, 2016
    8
    It isn't a game so much as it is an interactive storybook, but it does exactly what it intended to do. I can only imagine that playing this is infinitely more difficult as an actual parent.

    Bugs aside, what made the game for me is that it is the ONLY game I have ever played that actually made me feel intense, burning hatred whenever those "trees" showed up. And I'm not talking about the    It isn't a game so much as it is an interactive storybook, but it does exactly what it intended to do. I can only imagine that playing this is infinitely more difficult as an actual parent.

    Bugs aside, what made the game for me is that it is the ONLY game I have ever played that actually made me feel intense, burning hatred whenever those "trees" showed up. And I'm not talking about the frustration that comes with difficult or buggy games, or anger at a boss or enemy. This was pure emotion.

    Stay away if you're looking for a game, and beware, there is lots of religious thought. But you're not playing a game and these people aren't selling an ideology, they're just sharing an experience in the only way they know how.    … Expand
  4. wishanem
    Jan 12, 2016
    10
    It seems crass to put a score on something so personal and emotionally resonant, but "That Dragon, Cancer" unquestionably achieves its goals. It is a successful window into moments of a family suffering one of the worst experiences imaginable.
  5. Sashamorning
    Feb 2, 2016
    10
    Unhesitatingly honest and unabashedly transcendent, this gem is art through gaming, a celebration of life. Transformational and courageous, this game needs to be experienced to be understood. Thank you for sharing Joel with us, even if all too briefly.
  6. johnthinc
    Mar 1, 2016
    10
    Full disclosure: I have not played this game. This review is essentially a review of the reviews I have read while evaluating my interest in this title.

    There are a number of bad reviews for this title that bother me tremendously. There seems to be a couple unifying themes to all of these bad reviews: 1) This is not a game. 2) This is not worth $15 dollars. #1 seems to be a failure    Full disclosure: I have not played this game. This review is essentially a review of the reviews I have read while evaluating my interest in this title.

    There are a number of bad reviews for this title that bother me tremendously. There seems to be a couple unifying themes to all of these bad reviews: 1) This is not a game. 2) This is not worth $15 dollars.

    #1 seems to be a failure among these critics to understand or ignore a key point in the evolution of the video game medium. Video games are no longer just games. They are an artistic medium. Whether an artist working in this medium wants to provide the consumer with a traditional interactive gameplay experience, a narrative driven passive experience with varying degrees of interaction, an abstract audio/visual experience with any sort of imaginable interaction from the consumer, or any combination of the above, is an artistic decision at the liberty of the developer's discretion. Today a video game can literally be any artistic software experience.

    #2 The value of art is entirely subjective. Critics are complaining that $15 is too steep a price for a video game without gaming mechanics, and that could be an entirely correct statement for those particular people. Anyone can assign any value they want to any artistic work. I'm sure some of those same critics have had no problem paying $15 for a movie or an album that I would not pay $5 for, and that's ok. The developer is certainly entitled to what they feel their work is worth. It's also fair to say their opinion is the only relevant opinion, considering they are the only people with any tangible investment into the creation of their work.

    From what I've learned of the game, I don't think I'm prepared to drop $15 for it. I am, however, interested in experiencing the game, I just happen to feel that my $15 is better spent on other pursuits atm. Perhaps when this title goes on sale, is featured in a humble bundle, or my recreational preferences change, I'll pick it up. In the meantime, I felt like I need to express my frustration with these unfair negative criticisms.    … Expand
  7. BloodLust19
    Feb 9, 2017
    9
    This game is a tribute to the creators son, Joel. This is more of a story than a game, and the message behind it is incredible. The game uses extraordinary imagery and audio to show the story of their fight, and plight, of cancer in their family. It tells a story of grief, religion, turmoil, and in the very end, acceptance. This game is a masterpiece of visual art and storytelling. Even ifThis game is a tribute to the creators son, Joel. This is more of a story than a game, and the message behind it is incredible. The game uses extraordinary imagery and audio to show the story of their fight, and plight, of cancer in their family. It tells a story of grief, religion, turmoil, and in the very end, acceptance. This game is a masterpiece of visual art and storytelling. Even if you don't call it a game, you can respect it.… Expand
  8. AndrewTabery
    Apr 7, 2017
    10
    The people complaining about the glitches or wonky controls need to look That Dragon, Cancer again. It's not a game that you play. It's a game that tells a story, almost like a movie. You're just along for the ride. Yes there are some things that could be better, and there are bugs, but the point of this game isn't for it to be played. The point of this game is to tell the story of JoelThe people complaining about the glitches or wonky controls need to look That Dragon, Cancer again. It's not a game that you play. It's a game that tells a story, almost like a movie. You're just along for the ride. Yes there are some things that could be better, and there are bugs, but the point of this game isn't for it to be played. The point of this game is to tell the story of Joel and his family living through the struggle of cancer, which is something I have gone through. Because of that I was re experiencing that time of my life when my mom had cancer, and that made the message of this game so much clearer. People complain that this game costs $15, but for that price you get this real story that many people can connect with. For 4 times the price you could go buy a Call of Duty game, a game franchise that's story hasn't made me feel for a character since MW3. But that's all those games are. Fictional stories about fictional people. That Dragon, Cancer is a real story about real people. That $15 is paying for you to experience the Green family going through an extremely hard time. It's an emotional game. It's not right to rate it the same way you rate Call of Duty.

    And if you can't connect to this game, go watch the videos that Mini Ladd, Markiplier, JackSepticEye, and many other people have made. See how emotional they get. Go watch the video by SoulPancake, who meets Joel. That is the character from the game you played.

    I feel for Ryan and Amy as I play or watch this game, and I hope you do as well.    … Expand
  9. PaxRomana
    Aug 3, 2017
    10
    This is my first review on Metacritic, so I accept if it will not be given much credit. I have watched and played through TDC, and have had the catharsis that comes from a painfully brutal experience.

    Rarely do we see a story about cancer told as honestly as TDC portrays it. It is short, perhaps the length of a movie that you'd pay the same amount to see in theaters. If that is not    This is my first review on Metacritic, so I accept if it will not be given much credit. I have watched and played through TDC, and have had the catharsis that comes from a painfully brutal experience.

    Rarely do we see a story about cancer told as honestly as TDC portrays it. It is short, perhaps the length of a movie that you'd pay the same amount to see in theaters. If that is not something you're willing to pay for, that's understandable. Some people don't like confronting cancer, and that's understandable. Some people say this isn't a game, and I respect their opinion.

    However, if, like me, you long to be moved by art, not just play the latest COD, or puzzle your way through an Undertale, consider That Dragon, Cancer. It is not a game; it is art, and as such, it exists as an expression of the artist's soul, his experiences, and his pain, and unlike other mediums, we are allowed and invited to join him in both his pain and his acceptance, and hopefully find peace as well.

    I rate it 10/10, for this is art at its finest.    … Expand
  10. sno1228
    Jan 31, 2018
    9
    'That Dragon, Cancer' could most accurately be described as an interactive story. It's a game in the same way the Telltale series might be, though this 'game' is far more artfully presented.

    Regardless of semantics, the experience offered here is a deeply moving one. It's a journey that I certainly do not regret taking, and one I will never forget. The reviews I see inferring that this    'That Dragon, Cancer' could most accurately be described as an interactive story. It's a game in the same way the Telltale series might be, though this 'game' is far more artfully presented.

    Regardless of semantics, the experience offered here is a deeply moving one. It's a journey that I certainly do not regret taking, and one I will never forget.
    The reviews I see inferring that this is a cash-grab made on the back of the creators' dead child are, at the very least short sighted, and at the most needlessly spiteful. This is the sort of project that one might use as a coping tool. Based on interviews I've seen that appears to be exactly the case. Coming from similar personal experiences of loss it's all too relatable.

    That said, I'm glad that Mr. Green chose to share this story with us. It's far from perfect, but a more poignant, powerful, and emotional experience is unlikely to be paralleled in any other interactive medium you might encounter.    … Expand
  11. folmas
    Aug 23, 2021
    10
    touching story of one, but perhaps the most severe loss that a couple can experience. Not a game, but life.
  12. Echozone
    Feb 25, 2022
    8
    If you are expecting gameplay, don't. This game is about telling a story, a tragic one, about a family going through a really hard time in their lives. Although controls are clunky, it doesn't really matter as you can't "lose" the game nor need precise controls. It's a game you watch and experience. Amazing storytelling.

Awards & Rankings

100
#100 Most Discussed PC Game of 2016
92
#92 Most Shared PC Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 39 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 39
  3. Negative: 1 out of 39
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Apr 12, 2016
    80
    Daunting, exhausting and consuming confession of parents about living with the knowledge of inevitable death of their young son does not offer the challenge in terms of gameplay, but empathy. [Issue#262]
  2. GameSpew
    Apr 9, 2016
    100
    It expands the boundaries of what peoples’ idea of video games are; they’re not just sadistic shoot ‘em ups or mind-numbing ridiculousness. Sometimes they’re real life; they’re heartbreaking and devastating. If for no other reason than that, That Dragon, Cancer deserves your attention.
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  3. games(TM)
    Mar 8, 2016
    80
    All that needs to be known is this is a beautiful, affecting and emotionally challenging title that acts as a truly fine love letter and monument to a lost loved one. It will open eyes and it will help people with their very real grief, and because of that it is a success.
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