The Beginner's Guide

 PC
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 335 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 225 out of 335
  2. Mixed: 55 out of 335
  3. Negative: 55 out of 335

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. CptnKR4KEN
    Sep 7, 2023
    10
    A masterclass in powerful storytelling and liminal environments from the creator of the critically acclaimed "Stanley Parable." A somber, modern classic!
  2. TKSwiz
    Jul 15, 2023
    10
    A delightful and thought-provoking experience that truly challenged the way I view art, art criticism, games, and the creative process. You can spend hours thinking about this game and still have more layers to uncover, which is especially impressive given that the game only takes around 90 min to complete. This game constantly has a lot happening at once with a lot of different ways toA delightful and thought-provoking experience that truly challenged the way I view art, art criticism, games, and the creative process. You can spend hours thinking about this game and still have more layers to uncover, which is especially impressive given that the game only takes around 90 min to complete. This game constantly has a lot happening at once with a lot of different ways to think about what is happening, which makes the replay value quite high in my opinion. Overall, I highly recommend this game to anyone willing to go in with an open mind.… Expand
  3. GDChrome
    Dec 31, 2022
    10
    Holy hell, this game's story is awesome. I actually didn't know that this stuff didn't happen for a while, the writing is that realistic. this game's atmosphere is an absolute marvel, calm and serene at points while saddening and worrying at others. the writing in this game is absolutely phenomenal, I'm talking DGS2 levels of well-written. And oh boy! Davey's voice acting is some of theHoly hell, this game's story is awesome. I actually didn't know that this stuff didn't happen for a while, the writing is that realistic. this game's atmosphere is an absolute marvel, calm and serene at points while saddening and worrying at others. the writing in this game is absolutely phenomenal, I'm talking DGS2 levels of well-written. And oh boy! Davey's voice acting is some of the best I've heard. even though it's a very short game, I can safely say it was worth every penny, and I couldn't recommend it enough… Expand
  4. johc
    May 17, 2022
    8
    In the beginning, you feel completely engrossed in the experience, wondering where the story will to take you. As it progresses that sense of wonderment builds and builds in an incredible way, walking you through completely unique and wonderful experiences. But then, it ends. Leaving you feeling slightly hollow inside. Yet, this may be the point.
  5. FinnberlyRobin
    May 10, 2022
    9
    An emotional gut-punch more moving, thought-provoking and terrifying than anything I've ever experience in media. If you liked the darker, more brooding endings of The Stanley Parable, you'll probably like this. And I garuantee you'll be thinking about it for a good while afterwards.
  6. PublicNuisance
    Apr 11, 2022
    9
    The Beginner’s Guide will probably either be loved or hated by many. I happened to love it. It’s difficult to describe exactly what it is and one thing I enjoyed was that you will find a great deal of theories on the story to it and all of them could be right or wrong. What the game basically boils down to is you get shown various short games made by “Coda” and get given backstory throughThe Beginner’s Guide will probably either be loved or hated by many. I happened to love it. It’s difficult to describe exactly what it is and one thing I enjoyed was that you will find a great deal of theories on the story to it and all of them could be right or wrong. What the game basically boils down to is you get shown various short games made by “Coda” and get given backstory through narration by Davey Wreden, who is the developer of this game. Through it you learn of how Coda and he met and his interpretations of Coda’s games and life. What works wonderfully here is that, while I believe this is all a fictional story, you could easily believe that it is real. Davey Wreden does a great job at the narration and without that the game would fall apart. The game play itself is pretty simple. Some parts are walking simulator; some are light puzzles; but really the goal is just to learn more about Coda. The game’s themselves are nothing amazing, if these were actually released games I doubt anybody would praise them but as it is they simply serve as a back story and a way to further the plot. I don’t want to comment on the graphics too much because these games are supposed to be Source engine games made by a single person so graphics isn’t the point. The music is fairly well done though.

    I played The Beginner’s Guide on Linux. It never crashed and I didn’t notice any bugs or glitches. You can’t manually save, the game saves at the start of each chapter but they’re pretty short chapters. Alt-Tab works. There are four AA settings; six AF settings; a v-sync toggle; and four other graphics options. The game ran great, often times at 144 FPS with a few drops but even then was well above 60 FPS.

    Game Engine: Source
    Disk Space Used: 3.32 GB
    Input Used: Keyboard and mouse

    Game Settings Used: 8x AA; 16x AF; v-sync on; multi core rendering on; all highest
    GPU Usage: 19-98 %
    VRAM Usage: 1006-1233 MB
    CPU Usage: 5-20 %
    RAM Usage: 3.8-4.8 GB
    Frame Rate: 74-144 FPS

    You can get a lot out of the story to A Beginner’s Guide depending on how you look at it. It can be a tale of depression; misunderstood creativity; friendship; the struggles of indy game development; I even have a theory involving stalking. At the end of the day all and/or none of these could be correct. That’s the beauty of the game in my eyes. In any case it’s an interesting way to spend eighty seven minutes and is well worth it’s current $10.99 CAD price.

    My System:

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600X | 16GB DDR4-3000 CL15 | MSI RX 580 8GB Gaming X | Mesa 22.0.1 | Samsung 970 Evo Plus 500GB | Garuda Soaring White-tailed-eagle | Mate 1.26.0 | Kernel 5.17.1-zen1-1-zen | AOC G2460P 1920*1080 @ 144hz    … Expand
  7. fr1m0900
    Nov 14, 2021
    10
    Отличная история как люди раньше старались делать игры для людей а не кошельков
  8. Rich45682
    Jun 17, 2021
    10
    I can understand why some people don't like this game, I also thought this game would be boring as this game comes from the same guy who created the Stanley Parable, which I didn't really like. However, this game is truly a masterpiece, if you give it a chance, the narrator will get you involved in a clever story that you can even apply to real life.
  9. KevLooney
    May 25, 2021
    8
    The game is enjoyable. I never got lost. I never got confused. The game isn't boring.
  10. datoneguy246
    May 13, 2021
    10
    I understand why people would be upset with this game. It isn't really a game, it's a story. However the interactivity that this specific medium gives to the story amplifies what is already an incredibly powerful and well-written experience into something truly incredible. While the game may not be traditionally fun, it is still something special to experience that I would recommend to anyone.
  11. dakizu
    May 5, 2021
    9
    A very interesting ~art~ game. Seeing as The Beginner's Guide aspires to be interpreted as art, what follows is a subjective reading of the game. The game is mainly, as I see it, an examination of the separation between art and the artist in the medium of indie game development. This idea has been explored thoroughly many times (see: Death of the author), but I believe this is the firstA very interesting ~art~ game. Seeing as The Beginner's Guide aspires to be interpreted as art, what follows is a subjective reading of the game. The game is mainly, as I see it, an examination of the separation between art and the artist in the medium of indie game development. This idea has been explored thoroughly many times (see: Death of the author), but I believe this is the first time it's been the central focus of a video game. The Beginner's guide beckons the player, whether intentionally or not, to reflect on the mediums previous clashes with this concept (Phil Fish and Zoë Quinn in particular). Davey Wreden managed to strike a thematic balance between the personal (His depression, impostor syndrome) and the wider reaching implications of reading art as an autobiography of the artist. This game should, in the opinion of this humble ape, be regarded as a key example of video games as an art form.… Expand
  12. XLazer
    Apr 28, 2020
    9
    Very beautiful and unique experience that i would only recommend to certain type of people. It portrayed what it wanted to.

    Enjoyment - 10
  13. Wiebe
    Feb 27, 2020
    10
    Insane storytelling combined with great game design, an unique experience, a must play if you love storytelling games
  14. Vsevolod_KH
    Nov 6, 2019
    10
    That's an absolute masterpiece. I don't think thet games like this one were made before. I don't know how to tell about it without spoilers,you just need to feel it.
  15. Dion_
    Mar 25, 2019
    9
    Absolutely devastating and absolutely brilliant. Trigger warning for mental disorders though..
  16. Aeryx
    Jan 30, 2019
    9
    As someone who has been around computers and programs for a living and the people around them, the only thing I can say is, this game connects with me. There is something about it that makes me realize more of myself. Even better, it gives me perspective on someone who struggles to explain things that they do not fully understand. If you believe in games as an art, don't skip this one.
  17. gold
    Jan 1, 2019
    10
    Интересная концепция. Побольше таких игр. Сюжет - благодаря атмосферной музыки 10.
    Итог: 10/10
  18. Dikano
    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, much recommended.
  19. Knucklesfan
    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 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.
  20. Shawndroid
    Feb 26, 2018
    8
    This was a very interesting narrative. It's about game design, personal desires, public recognition, pushing public figures and reinterpreting their creative works. Not really a game, even for a first person exploration game.
  21. TantFuriosa
    Jan 6, 2018
    10
    I feel like I'm playing the first works of what in years to come will be the first widely acclaimed video game artist. I will carry The Beginner's Guide with me always, for the hallmark it is in video games evolution. While the game itself is fantastic, I'm not saying it is the best game ever made. I'm saying that the artist behind it has made some very special games so far, and can goI feel like I'm playing the first works of what in years to come will be the first widely acclaimed video game artist. I will carry The Beginner's Guide with me always, for the hallmark it is in video games evolution. While the game itself is fantastic, I'm not saying it is the best game ever made. I'm saying that the artist behind it has made some very special games so far, and can go just about anywhere from here.… Expand
  22. aditya1101
    Oct 5, 2017
    10
    As someone who's played a lot of games, I really loved this opportunity to see into the mind of an actual game developer and understand some of the pressures that they feel. I absolutely adore the way that this game was presented - it really highlights the benefits of video games as a medium for interactive storytelling.
  23. Termin8ter
    Jul 10, 2017
    8
    The Beginner's Guide is quite a well done game. It does a very good job at immersing you in what's happening on screen more than anything, and it does a fantastic job of tying lots of seemingly unrelated levels into each-other. Even though I do not quite understand the obviously-present symbols and metaphors this game holds, I do know that I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. so you shouldThe Beginner's Guide is quite a well done game. It does a very good job at immersing you in what's happening on screen more than anything, and it does a fantastic job of tying lots of seemingly unrelated levels into each-other. Even though I do not quite understand the obviously-present symbols and metaphors this game holds, I do know that I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. so you should give this game a shot.… Expand
  24. Haikel43
    Mar 6, 2017
    10
    Es difícil definir este juego, muchas personas quizás no lo consideren mas que una experiencia similar a una película, pero es uno de los juegos que más me ha invitado a jugarlo fuera de la pantalla, a pensar en él, en que esta pasando en su historia y que es lo que el autor me quiere decir. Recomendado para todos
  25. gygessgygess
    Oct 2, 2016
    10
    Listen, I'm tired of the same old things in videogames: shooting, running, do this do that. To an extent, The Stanley Parable is a very experimental game that tries to tell a story through unconventional means. I said "to an extent", because The Beginner's Guide is so much more experiemental, new, unconventional, and just that much more brilliant. So if you want to try something, mature,Listen, I'm tired of the same old things in videogames: shooting, running, do this do that. To an extent, The Stanley Parable is a very experimental game that tries to tell a story through unconventional means. I said "to an extent", because The Beginner's Guide is so much more experiemental, new, unconventional, and just that much more brilliant. So if you want to try something, mature, and groundbreaking in video games, if you believe video games, aside from their animations and aesthetic, can be considered as Art, than this this may be for you.

    As for what the game really is: You play through a series of levels as a very emotional story unfolds. Those levels can, and often are, simply walking from one end of a room to another. However, the artistry is hard to ignore, and the excellent narration makes them even more thrilling.

    If you want a game to paralyze you in deep thought for hours after completion, this is for you.    … Expand
  26. reviewfrom19842
    Aug 31, 2016
    9
    A great game..........................................................................................................................................
  27. BrupcatBR
    Jul 13, 2016
    10
    It's simply a masterpiece. It's not really a game, but it's beautiful for sure. It is honestly is amazing, really amazing. It's really a great storyline, and ohh my god, doesn't it move me deeply? It's really good, i definately recommend this beauty of a game.
  28. LukeTroy
    Jun 21, 2016
    10
    This genuinely brought me to tears. I'm the kind of person that generally finds it difficult to stay away from google and Wikipedia really in watching or playing just about everything. I find it hard not to spoil things for myself because I always want to know what's going on, I like to be able to give little tid bits and details to people like a directors commentary when I share it withThis genuinely brought me to tears. I'm the kind of person that generally finds it difficult to stay away from google and Wikipedia really in watching or playing just about everything. I find it hard not to spoil things for myself because I always want to know what's going on, I like to be able to give little tid bits and details to people like a directors commentary when I share it with them. I'll watch the same thing several times over just so I can watch it with other people. And I feel validated by it. I get my sense of self worth from sharing things with other people and getting their approval. I fought that urge hard while I was playing this game and I'm glad I did, even though now I plan on tearing the internet apart to get every little bit I can from it. The truth is, this game hinges on your ability to relate to the story being told, and the medium through which it is being told. I could tell from the first minute that I was going to like this game, but by the end it tore me open like no game, film, TV show, or book has in a very long time, and I'm currently studying philosophy and literature so I'm going through some fairly heavy stuff. This game scared me, it made me look at myself in a way that I haven't, maybe ever. Please play this game, even if you end up hating it, play it. It's really not a walking simulator, it's a whole new thing, a whole new genre, and at the same time so unique, so special, that I can't imagine it ever being repeated. It's a genre of one. That alone is worth the price of admission.… Expand
  29. beardi
    Feb 4, 2016
    10
    This is one of the most intimate games I've ever tried. I guess that some people may find it boring, but in my case I found it fascinating. The way the narrative is delivered is truly meaningful. The whole experience lasted in my mind for many days after playing it.
  30. WildFire15
    Feb 2, 2016
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Beginner's Guide isn't really a game. There's no grand journey nor end goal, there is simply someone's interpretation. Davey Wreden takes you on a guide through a series of small game prototypes developed by a friend known as Coda and tries to learn more about this friend through his games alone.

    SPOILERS My own interpretation of the game is how others read meaning into a piece of work, be it a game, movie, TV series or book and try and find their own goals, often getting frustrated if they don't find it. I've done some story writing in the past and have a bad habit of dropping an idea midway through. I usually write these stories for myself to get ideas I like onto paper/word and share them to see if anyone likes them (because it seems pointless to keep it to myself to me), but I do wonder if the handful of readers I attract by pure luck get disappointed when I suddenly up and vanish onto a new idea.

    It also makes we wander how more successful creators feel when they suddenly get a passionate fanbase they're not sure how to deal with. They may feel trapped as they try and deal with this monstrous fanbase clamouring for more of their work.

    But that's just how I saw it. The game's meant to be open to interpretation and there's many interesting ideas you can come to. It's not 'fun' in the traditional sense with little in the way of actual gameplay (the jump scare I was expecting to appear half the time never showed up), but I found it far more fulfilling then any number of hours spent thoughtlessly fighting online in a military based shooter.    … Expand
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

37
#37 Most Discussed PC Game of 2015
3
#3 Most Shared PC Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 35
  3. Negative: 4 out of 35
  1. The Escapist
    Feb 10, 2016
    90
    The Beginner's Guide is an incredible art piece of a game that gets you thinking your relationship with the games you play.
    Read full review
  2. CD-Action
    Feb 4, 2016
    30
    Instead of engaging interactions, great animations or wonderfully crafted characters The Beginner’s Guide offers empty, amateurish, uninteresting environments and a story about two immature game developers. [01/2016, p.54]
  3. Power Unlimited
    Dec 10, 2015
    88
    The Beginner’s Guide is as fascinating as The Stanley Parable is hilarious. One of the most intriguing ‘games’ that we’ve played in recent history and an easy recommendation for everyone who likes weird game experiments. [dec. 2015 / page 062]
See all critic reviews »