The Red Strings Club

 PC
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 143 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 101 out of 143
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 143
  3. Negative: 17 out of 143

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  1. Underpants158
    Jan 26, 2018
    7
    Pros:
    -Atmosphere, tone, and style
    -Writing
    -Interesting characters
    -Story about the ethics of social control
    -Bartending and pottery mini games!

    Cons
    -Segments/scenes feel drawn out
    -Ending felt random and unfounded
  2. richbags12
    Feb 1, 2018
    9
    A stunning game where your choices have a large impact on the story line. The characters are intriguing and bizarre enough that I can't think of any other game like it. Best of all however, is the philosophy behind the plot and the message it sends, ensuring that it will stay with you long after it's finished.
  3. Reed618
    Jul 30, 2018
    9
    A real indie gem which doesn't outstay its welcome. It tells an immersive story and allows for some interesting moments of player agency, I couldn't stop playing it and would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in a story driven cyberpunk experience with some fun mini games thrown in to keep you engaged.
  4. kikopaff
    Nov 30, 2018
    8
    Set sometime in the future, you enter the clandestine bar known as The Red Strings Club, operated by charming, information broker Donovan, who has run the club in the last two decades. Joining him is his partner and street-savvy hacker, Brandeis. Together, they make mischief magic and rebellion look cool. Donovan is infamously notorious for his cunning ability to fish for information fromSet sometime in the future, you enter the clandestine bar known as The Red Strings Club, operated by charming, information broker Donovan, who has run the club in the last two decades. Joining him is his partner and street-savvy hacker, Brandeis. Together, they make mischief magic and rebellion look cool. Donovan is infamously notorious for his cunning ability to fish for information from those who visit his espionage haven. How does he do this? With alcohol, of course. Through careful mixes of different spirits, Donovan can tap into the customer’s deepest emotions and drivers, forcing truth and confessions more candidly than you’d expect. Brandeis, on the other hand, gets his hands a little dirtier by hacking into corporations’ systems – all in the name of free will.

    The pair is unexpectedly visited by a malfunctioning android, Akara-184, who collapses and is on the verge of death. When Brandeis hacks into the android’s neural drive, a bank of its memories, The Red Strings Club unfolds into three phases, all under the overarching dilemma: Supercontinent Ltd, the mega-corporation responsible for the Social Psyche Welfare project. Essentially, a nice way of saying worldwide brainwashing, by manipulating humans’ emotions. Censoring emotions such as depression, wrath, suicide, are Supercontinent’s means of achieving the “ideal” world. As you play between the trio, it’s up to you whether you want to take Supercontinent to the ground or rise to its philosophy. Until the nail-biting ending, it’s your conclusion that determines who the culprit really is.

    At the core, The Red Strings Club is about happiness, free will, and humanity. The game’s primary method of unpacking these concepts is through its dialogue and the conversations you have with its rich, vibrant and memorable characters. This is not your average conversational game. You won’t find small talk as you serve drinks, create technological organs or hack into people’s phone numbers. Instead, you’ll find yourself answering questions like, “Is marketing inherently evil?” or “What would you say is the most important thing to be happy in life?” More often than not, I found myself assessing my own humanity, why I believe in certain social constructs and what drives my behavior and thoughts. It forced me to question the balance between truth and opinion, fact and experience. The Red Strings Club is a rollercoaster of emotions and is certainly not for the fainthearted. It’s uncomfortable, to say the least, but I appreciate that The Red Strings Club is a fresh take on our philosophy, done so in a poignant, respectful but thought-provoking manner. I’m still left begging for my own personal answers.

    The Red Strings Club‘s bank of information, secrets, and opportunities to sabotage are endless. The wonderful mechanic that the game offers is its replayability factor. During your gameplay, you are taken to a menu screen that shows you key decisions you made throughout your experience, traveling along the screen horizontally with what looks like red strings. Each string can take a different path and result in various factors, endings, and conversations. Upon my second replay of The Red Strings Club, I chose drastically different responses, beliefs, alcohol, and modules. What I witnessed was almost a completely different narrative. Some scenarios recycle the same dialogue, but overall each experience feels unique and is exciting to explore different facets of the narrative. There are a few grammatical and spelling errors that I wish the developers fixed, and was a little distracting especially for such an emotionally intelligent game as this.

    The Red Strings Club is uncomfortable, in that it forces you to assess the meaning of happiness and free will. It’s a clever cyberpunk narrative that creatively encourages you to pull strings to influence according to your understanding of right and wrong. Playing the game through the eyes of three memorable rogues is a thrill and leaves a palette you’ll always taste. Some in-game mechanics such as excessive mouse-clicking and dialing sequences of numbers can feel a little monotonous, but there are enough mini-activities to keep you hooked and craving for more.    … Expand
  5. Waffls
    Jun 27, 2019
    10
    A beautifully deep and introspective game.

    Life is the connection between birth and death. However, it is the events that occur during this connection that matter, as it is the only part of life you can change. That's what this game is about. Every choice you make matters, each tangling the red string of fate further. Only for it all to end the way fate had intended it to. The game    A beautifully deep and introspective game.

    Life is the connection between birth and death. However, it is the events that occur during this connection that matter, as it is the only part of life you can change. That's what this game is about. Every choice you make matters, each tangling the red string of fate further. Only for it all to end the way fate had intended it to.

    The game peeks into a pivotal point in Donovan's and Brandeis' lives when the world is on the verge of change. A change for better or worse is what the game asks you.

    Which is another thing: the writing is excellent. While there is not much more I can say without spoiling, I would like to say that the ideas and principles woven into each character engages you into their story. You will begin to understand them, and perhaps question your current principles.

    Not to mention the stellar soundtrack, with each track leaving me scrambling for my phone to download it.

    This is a must play if you're in the mood for of a change in perspective with some banger tunes.    … Expand
  6. Yurinka
    Jan 23, 2018
    10
    Fun, innovative gameplay mechanics. Awesome cyberpunk story with very well developed characters. Really beautiful pixel art and music with a very personal style. Overall top quality everywhere with many unique and innovative touches. Potential indie GOTY.
  7. Give_em_hell
    Mar 11, 2019
    10
    Great game, full of moral dilemmas. Well implemented: a dark metropol, neon lights, corporations, fake people, utterly depressing.
  8. theduffman7
    Jan 1, 2019
    10
    Una obra de arte, la banda sonora, los personajes y sobretodo la historia que te agarra de principio a fin, y hasta que no terminas el juego no te quedas a gusto, el típico juego que te tienes que pasar del tirón.
    Un juego que todo el mundo debería probar.
    Es mágico hacia tiempo que no sentía esto jugando a un juego y eso que me paso el día pegado a la pantalla.
    100% recomendable
  9. philzlz
    Dec 22, 2018
    8
    The red strings club is an adventure game in a cyberpunk setting. It follows main protagonist Donovan and his goal to bring down the evil corporation Supercontinent Ltd that wants to eliminate depression, anger and fear from society.

    The game features pixel graphics and an amazing soundtrack, fun mini games and encourages multiple playthroughs through a choice based dialog system that    The red strings club is an adventure game in a cyberpunk setting. It follows main protagonist Donovan and his goal to bring down the evil corporation Supercontinent Ltd that wants to eliminate depression, anger and fear from society.

    The game features pixel graphics and an amazing soundtrack, fun mini games and encourages multiple playthroughs through a choice based dialog system that makes you think about every action.    … Expand
  10. CyberRobotnix
    Feb 16, 2019
    0
    Stop shoving politics down my throat, it's annoying. Seriously and the game's lame.
  11. Archound
    May 14, 2019
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Worth to play, very good stylized graphics, unique and clever gameplay ideas. Adequately paced and coherent. Unfortunately, the game does not show the outcomes of player's decisions.… Expand
  12. RazorSamurai
    Nov 1, 2018
    6
    полная цена не стоит своего контента. красная цена 150 рублей, по скидке взять самое то.

    саундтрек местами зер гуд(прям супер гуд), иногда прям очень не вставляет 50/50 сюжет сделали таким чтобы нигде можно было доебаться, чисто чтобы продвигать геймплей и диалоги. смысл игры это задуматься о философии и поиграть в мини игрушки. выбор в игре влияет только на всякие мини эвенты и    полная цена не стоит своего контента. красная цена 150 рублей, по скидке взять самое то.

    саундтрек местами зер гуд(прям супер гуд), иногда прям очень не вставляет 50/50
    сюжет сделали таким чтобы нигде можно было доебаться, чисто чтобы продвигать геймплей и диалоги. смысл игры это задуматься о философии и поиграть в мини игрушки.

    выбор в игре влияет только на всякие мини эвенты и прочее и сделаны только для того чтобы игрока забайтить и заставить его проебать еще время на игру.

    5.5/10 чуток не хватило до 6. игра выше среднего, в принципе прикольно, Нормалин. ставлю на метакритыче 6 потому что тут нету 5.5    … Expand
  13. honest_rev7
    Sep 26, 2020
    4
    this made me wonder if it's just normal for
    the spanish elite and corporations to CURSE so much in their offices while talking on the phone.

    rude.
  14. Cinetyk
    Dec 27, 2019
    9
    This game is very well crafted and it surprised me in the best way. It doesn't overstay its welcome (about 4-5h) but still manages to provide a deep and thought-provoking experience with a story involving a futuristic technology that could change the world. Change it for good or ill? That's for you to explore.

    The gameplay consists mostly of conversations with different options. Each    This game is very well crafted and it surprised me in the best way. It doesn't overstay its welcome (about 4-5h) but still manages to provide a deep and thought-provoking experience with a story involving a futuristic technology that could change the world. Change it for good or ill? That's for you to explore.

    The gameplay consists mostly of conversations with different options. Each conversation is kind of a puzzle where you have to "read" the other person and figure stuff out. The twist is that, with you're super-bartending-powers, you can serve the perfect cocktail to alter the mind state of whom you are speaking to, like fuelling their fears or enhancing their vanity, for instance. That will affect their answers depending on what you ask about. This is very engaging and cleverly done, as you try to the induce the right emotional state to get the info you need. All this backed up by very good and thought-provoking writing making you think about ethics and morality in a not boring or heavy way.

    Along the way you'll get a clear picture of what is going on and things keep getting more interesting. My first playthrough left me satisfied though eager to play again and learn more, since your choices make changes on some outcomes. Though you don't need it, multiple playthroughs are possible giving you more time to explore other venues you couldn't pursue before.

    I don't usually go for these kinds of games, but the writing was so good here in particular that it kept me constantly engaged. I recommend it.    … Expand
  15. kikekikee
    Mar 17, 2019
    9
    Mucha gente se queja del contenido político del juego. Algo hace bien cuando todas esas quejas son bastante unánimes: que si personajes gays, que si es muy de izquierdas, que si no me ralles con política etc. "Yo no soy homófobo, pero...". Y así podrían resumirse todas esas críticas vacías. Críticas que denotan que no han entendido qué quiere decir este juego.

    The Red Strings Club es    Mucha gente se queja del contenido político del juego. Algo hace bien cuando todas esas quejas son bastante unánimes: que si personajes gays, que si es muy de izquierdas, que si no me ralles con política etc. "Yo no soy homófobo, pero...". Y así podrían resumirse todas esas críticas vacías. Críticas que denotan que no han entendido qué quiere decir este juego.

    The Red Strings Club es una anomalía videojueguil. Es más vídeo que juego, y de hecho, es más una novela que un vídeo. Es un prólogo a una gran historia sobre conspiraciones, secretos de una sociedad corrupta y más tecnología de la que aún podemos entender. Pero joder, qué gran prólogo. Tan bueno que aunque te dure 4 o 5 horas y las mecánicas jugables sean casi inexistentes, vas a estar pegado a la pantalla. Y con el nivel de impacto de tus decisiones, no hay esa gran historia, porque cada gran historia sería completamente distinta (a los creadores: ¿quizás para una secuela?).

    Eso es lo que hace grande a este juego. Cuando aparecen los créditos, te das cuenta que hasta el personaje más secundario está bien diseñado. Cada conversación te deja pensando "¿hasta qué punto esto de lo que hemos hablado puede ser así en la realidad?". Al final, eres tú quien se imagina cómo sería la gran historia que comienza con este prólogo.

    No es un prólogo perfecto. Hay alguna escena que se vuelve un pelín tediosa y me habría gustado alguna mecánica jugable más. Que tuviera un poquito más de juego, aunque no demasiado tampoco.

    Aún así, este juego ofrece conversaciones tan buenas, tan inteligentes, tan poco banales y tan fuera de las historias habituales, que a poco que te llame la estética, la ciencia ficción, los mundos Blade Runner, deberías probarlo. Aquí no hay caminos del héroe, no hay salvar al mundo en tiroteos. Si esperas este tipo de cosas, no pierdas tu valioso tiempo aquí. No lo vas a encontrar.

    Y cuando termines, prueba a llevar las conversaciones por otro lado. Porque cada historia es eso, es una historia, no es un videojuego donde cargas la partida y vuelves a intentar ese monstruo. Esto es distinto y vas a tener que vivir esas historias varias veces para entenderlo.    … Expand
  16. RMDsilva
    Nov 3, 2018
    8
    One of the best quick adventure games out there - plenty of mini games - lots of hard choices - a story thick enough to keep you guessing - and coming back for replays.
  17. Thilus
    Jul 18, 2019
    9
    The Red Strings Club is a beautifully made adventure experience in which you will try to bring down a scheme of a corporation that tries to alter the world "for the better" in its own wicked ways. At the core of the game are some philosophical question about happiness, sadness, freedom and choice, which are actually not that easy to answer as some might think. Word of advice, this will beThe Red Strings Club is a beautifully made adventure experience in which you will try to bring down a scheme of a corporation that tries to alter the world "for the better" in its own wicked ways. At the core of the game are some philosophical question about happiness, sadness, freedom and choice, which are actually not that easy to answer as some might think. Word of advice, this will be a difficult game for the right-wingers to swallow as it promotes freedom, the right to choose own path and non-hetero normative behaviors that the small-minded hate so much. If you don't mind, this game is a small gem.… Expand
  18. Aloof
    Sep 19, 2020
    7
    A nice experience, quite short but intense. A very enjoyable game, with inspired pixel art and beautiful atmospheric music. Well-painted cyberpunk world, great storyline, brilliant dialogues and sometimes a bit tedious but still contextual minigames. Recommended, although a little too dialogues focused.
  19. Greko03
    Nov 26, 2019
    9
    UNA JOYA, es un juego cortito pero demasiado bueno, no soy fan de aventuras gráficas pero sin duda este me ha encantado, tiene mecanicas totalmente originales y una historia que sin ser de lo más original, si que la forma en la que se desarrolla la hace una maravilla, darle una oportunidad que está en game pass.
  20. TheGameIsALie
    Feb 11, 2019
    9
    Carregado de filosofia, The Red Strings Club consegue capturar o jogador dentro de uma narrativa profundamente controversa e cheia de dualidades com uma jogabilidade simples mas satisfatória, chegando a seu ápice com um dos melhores finais que um videogame já ofereceu.
  21. BulgarianCritic
    May 2, 2019
    8
    A pretty fun game with some nice twists.Disliked some of the liberal **** they try to shove into your face but still a pretty good game
  22. HideRed
    Jan 1, 2019
    10
    Я влюбился в эту игру в, в эту атмосферу,саундтрек, персонажей их историю.Игра заставляет задуматься о человечном о эмоциях ,о моральных качествах каждого человека.У каждого человека идеальный мир будет разным.
  23. Babutto
    Jun 24, 2021
    7
    It's a nice game but I would like to see the disclaimer most of the characters are LGBT))

    Pros.: - Nice story related to dystopian cyberpunk, the problems of the society and the penetration of the NET, implants, etc. - Music. - Bartending. Speaking as a fellow bartender. Cons.: - Underdevelopment of several characters. They are just dropped at some point. - The game feels    It's a nice game but I would like to see the disclaimer most of the characters are LGBT))

    Pros.:
    - Nice story related to dystopian cyberpunk, the problems of the society and the penetration of the NET, implants, etc.
    - Music.
    - Bartending. Speaking as a fellow bartender.

    Cons.:
    - Underdevelopment of several characters. They are just dropped at some point.
    - The game feels underdeveloped or cut. It reminds me of a feeling when you wanna make a movie but during editing desperately cut content to hit the deadline.

    It's a great indie project though with its unique style.    … Expand
  24. caiopepper1
    Jul 4, 2019
    10
    Esse jogo é uma obra de arte, que fazem você pensar, ele aborda questões politicas, filosóficas e sociais, o que pode ser sensível para algumas pessoas
  25. Jckovacks
    Nov 18, 2019
    8
    Lo considero una obra maestra en su categoría.
    Este juego me ha hecho dudar de mi mismo, de mi criterio, de mi moral y en muchas ocasiones "sacarme los colores" al demostrarme lo incongruente de mis argumentos o decisiones.
    Historia sorprendente y original, toma de decisiones, causa y efecto. A nivel artístico presenta un pixelart increíble además de su ambientación y su extraordinario    Lo considero una obra maestra en su categoría.
    Este juego me ha hecho dudar de mi mismo, de mi criterio, de mi moral y en muchas ocasiones "sacarme los colores" al demostrarme lo incongruente de mis argumentos o decisiones.
    Historia sorprendente y original, toma de decisiones, causa y efecto.
    A nivel artístico presenta un pixelart increíble además de su ambientación y su extraordinario guion.
    Me resultó algo corto y algunas de sus mecánicas son totalmente irrelevantes o no aportan nada más allá de tenerte 10 mín "tallando" jarrones.
    Lo recomiendo para todos esos amantes de los futuros distópicos y seguidores de Huxley.
    *Puntuación con respecto al panorama independiente.    … Expand
  26. JustA_Guy
    Nov 24, 2019
    10
    The game is just beautiful. Your whole story leads you to question true happiness
    and your mechanics are simply awesome. Without words
  27. PanMrkvicka
    Feb 12, 2020
    7
    I spontaneously bought this game and didnt regret it at all. I liked it a lot. Its a little shallow and has little content but it tells a really great story with some philosophy that makes you think. Definitely worth playing.
  28. GVB
    Dec 21, 2022
    9
    A beautiful story, with a brilliant OST and an atmosphere that it's sad in the best way. Here all the choices are meaningful, but the final choice of the game is one of the hardest i've ever experienced.

    With a bit more of subtlety in it's plot, it would have been perfect.
  29. OceanUla
    Dec 31, 2022
    10
    A pretty fun game with some nice twists.Disliked some of the liberal **** they try to shove into your face but still a pretty good game

Awards & Rankings

60
#60 Best PC Game of 2018
88
#88 Most Discussed PC Game of 2018
36
#36 Most Shared PC Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 46 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 46
  3. Negative: 1 out of 46
  1. Adventure Gamers
    Jan 2, 2019
    80
    In the cyberpunk world of The Red Strings Club, player agency takes a backseat to a complex story teeming with personality and impactful moments, generating challenge through moral dilemma rather than gameplay.
    Read full review
  2. Adventure Gamers
    Jan 2, 2019
    80
    In the cyberpunk world of The Red Strings Club, player agency takes a backseat to a complex story teeming with personality and impactful moments, generating challenge through moral dilemma rather than gameplay.
    Read full review
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Sep 13, 2018
    60
    At first sight a cliché retro cyberpunk, but beneath the surface excellent and with humanity imbued game. It's a shame that after some time you will be bored and even angry with some of its features. [Issue#284]
See all critic reviews »