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

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  1. SecondSon
    Oct 2, 2015
    5
    Just finished playing this... it's very personal. Without spoiling it, my biggest problem with this game is that it isn't free. I know, it's a strange complaint, but the developer clearly states the purpose of this game towards the end and with it in mind, making a profit off this game is very insincere.

    EDIT: Just realised that I seemed to have missed the point of the game. However,    Just finished playing this... it's very personal. Without spoiling it, my biggest problem with this game is that it isn't free. I know, it's a strange complaint, but the developer clearly states the purpose of this game towards the end and with it in mind, making a profit off this game is very insincere.

    EDIT: Just realised that I seemed to have missed the point of the game. However, regardless of whether the story is real or not, its exploitative (one way financially and the other emotionally) and thus I cannot recommend it. The developer of The Stanley Parable really dropped the ball on this one.    … Expand
  2. Trypsinogen
    Oct 1, 2015
    3
    What a waste of $8 (and this is the on-sale price!) and time out of my life. The game is worse than the trash games within the game.

    Here's what the game is: Davey Wreden, creator of The Stanley Parable, makes you walk through a bunch of garbage, throw-away games one of his friends supposedly made with the Source engine while he pretentiously overanalyzes everything in them. His friend    What a waste of $8 (and this is the on-sale price!) and time out of my life. The game is worse than the trash games within the game.

    Here's what the game is: Davey Wreden, creator of The Stanley Parable, makes you walk through a bunch of garbage, throw-away games one of his friends supposedly made with the Source engine while he pretentiously overanalyzes everything in them. His friend never published these games because they are, in fact, trash, throw-away "games" he made using the Source engine.

    No Davey, there aren't boxes in the sky of your friend's garbage Couter-Strike map because they are supposed to represent the fragmentation of his metaphysical superego. They're there because he was just messing around with the editor and randomly put ridiculous objects all over the place.

    And no Davey, the games aren't unfinishable because they represent the inconquerability of life. They're unfinishable because they're garbage, throw-away works he didn't care to finish or never got around to finishing.

    Makes me question if The Stanley Parable was even as good of a game as I thought it was.    … Expand
  3. LucasZL
    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. 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. TheSo 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!    … Collapse
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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]
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