The Beginner's Guide Image
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 335 Ratings

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  • Summary: The Beginner's Guide is a narrative video game from Davey Wreden, the creator of The Stanley Parable. It lasts about an hour and a half and has no traditional mechanics, no goals or objectives. Instead, it tells the story of a person struggling to deal with something they do not understand.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 35
  2. Negative: 4 out of 35
  1. Oct 8, 2015
    100
    Few game developers have ever ventured such an open-hearted project about human frailty – and knocked it out of orbit.
  2. Oct 1, 2015
    90
    I cant recommend this game enough simply for the experience of a totally unique game unrivalled in the games from the past, present and future. A must buy for those wanting an emotional connection to the developers themselves.
  3. Oct 12, 2015
    87
    The true challenge of The Beginner’s Guide is understanding it in its entirety.
  4. Oct 1, 2015
    80
    The Beginner's Guide addresses a lot of heavy issues in its 90-minute journey: Depression, loneliness, self-doubt, and the need for validation are but a few of the topics touched upon. Despite the inherent veil of fiction, Wreden's narration is well-written and feels honest.
  5. Oct 11, 2015
    80
    It’s easy to have mixed thoughts about The Beginner’s Guide, but as a game that aims to make you think, it does accomplish this goal.
  6. Oct 26, 2015
    70
    This is a nice way to tell an interactive story, and even though not everyone will grow fond of it, it's worth a try.
  7. Oct 4, 2015
    20
    It sensationalizes the concepts of the misunderstood creator and the misguided audience and begs pity from the latter.

See all 37 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 57 out of 102
  2. Negative: 24 out of 102
  1. May 15, 2018
    10
    What a masterpiece. Definitely not much of a game, but a fascinating, captivating narrative experience that hits right in the feels. Much,What a masterpiece. Definitely not much of a game, but a fascinating, captivating narrative experience that hits right in the feels. Much, much recommended. Expand
  2. Oct 8, 2015
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. First of all : I'm writing this review, cause I haven't seen any similar to this one, and I think my point of view is worth a second of your attention as well.
    Here we go. You are the player.
    Its that simple.
    Forget about Dave, think about you. Think about modern gaming. Why are YOU there and what do YOU expect. First time it did occur to me was the tv faces asking me how it was before.
    Well, yep, they were only shapes of triangles and squares, but it did work. How to left the prison, how to get out?
    Returning puzzle, to go out and yet advance, u need to look at things behind you, and proceed. It's not about being stuck in the past. It's showing the way to move forward, but with accepting the heritage of games. It was never about graphics and pointless grind, it was always about ideas. Thats why u get this cleaning section in the game. Isn't that what WoW has become, and other MMORPGS followed? Brings this, get this there, kill this in this amount, rinse, repeat.
    Thats also why, I think, we get this prison section of this game.
    Games changes but prison remains. Whatever u decide doesn't matter, as game won't think about your answer, it will just launch convenient script. U may see 100 variables = games, but the point in all of them is the same - your actions doesn't matter, cause there's a scripted story and u will follow it, no matter if u want. That's the prison.
    Now, remember this colorful picture? Yes, from a distance it was beautiful, and u wanted to go near it to see it in all its glory. That's today games for you. You come closer, and what u see? Well, just dots. Colorful, but mundane dots. Cheers.
    Expand
  3. Oct 3, 2015
    10
    So finally it's here. The next game from the Stanley Parable developer. I really loved Stanley Parable so I was very excited about this one.So finally it's here. The next game from the Stanley Parable developer. I really loved Stanley Parable so I was very excited about this one. First of all I am a game developer by myself, so the idea of making a game about a game dev is cool to me. I personally think the story of the game is great and it's true that you don't have to do anything by yourself but to me that's no problem. The only problem of the game is: you have to like it. And this is not a game like any other game, so you can't say "I like game xy so I will like this one too". You just have to try it by yourself. No rating on this site will help you. I read some of the bad reviews they all say "save your money". But you shouldn't. Whether you like the game in the end or not in my opinion it's worth a try.
    And to all who say, people who like this game will say this game is misunderstood: no it isn't it's just not for you!
    Expand
  4. Mar 19, 2018
    8
    This game is heavy on narrative, it requires the audience to be paying attention and to think, most people will find it boring if they expectThis game is heavy on narrative, it requires the audience to be paying attention and to think, most people will find it boring if they expect humour, mechanics and action. It is short and not worth the money in my opinion, so why did I rank it so high? Because if you get it for a cheap price this game will pull you in and hook you for the whole hour and a half it offers. Expand
  5. Oct 15, 2018
    7
    A highly creative and rather thought provoking little experiment, but unlike The Stanley Parable, by the end of The Beginner's Guide, as itA highly creative and rather thought provoking little experiment, but unlike The Stanley Parable, by the end of The Beginner's Guide, as it gets borderline corny by the end, you feel sort of cheated. It's an experience that I'd highly recommend anyone to have, especially going in blind, but be prepared, because it's one of those "games" that most people either love or hate. Expand
  6. Nov 17, 2020
    5
    Biraz gereksiz bir oyun, olmasa da olur. Neyse ki süresi kısa ve sıkma noktasına geldiğinde bitiyor.
  7. Jan 18, 2021
    0
    Boring overhyped garbage. The game might be original and creative, but that does not automatically make it good.

See all 102 User Reviews