Subsurface Circular

 Switch
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 37 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 37
  3. Negative: 2 out of 37

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  1. icarusfalls
    Mar 2, 2018
    9
    I don't buy many indie titles, especially on release day. I normally wait to hear general opinion before making a purchase. Something about this game intrigued me, and even though I had never heard of it, I decided to give it a shot. I was pleasantly surprised by this little gem of story telling. It's unlike any other game I have played before, and to me, thats a good thing! If you likeI don't buy many indie titles, especially on release day. I normally wait to hear general opinion before making a purchase. Something about this game intrigued me, and even though I had never heard of it, I decided to give it a shot. I was pleasantly surprised by this little gem of story telling. It's unlike any other game I have played before, and to me, thats a good thing! If you like story driven, dialog heavy games, then I would recommend giving this one a look. I don't want to say too much for risk of spoiling the story, but you play a robot detective interviewing other robots on a subway train. As other robots get on and off the train, you chat with them, and a conversation you have with one robot influences what you can say to others. There are a few puzzles mixed within, and there is a hint system to keep you moving forward if you get stuck. I finished this game in one sitting, and I was satisfied that I got my money's worth when it was all said and done. This is not a fly by night indie title. The art design is top notch and Subsurface Circular is a polished game from top to bottom. It's refreshing to see a game developer willing to take risks, and make something that is truly original.… Expand
  2. Winko
    Mar 4, 2018
    8
    Good:
    - The writing is stellar and the world building is fantastic without the use of any exposition
    - Plainly advertised as a short so the 2 hour play through wasn’t disappointing; very appropriate price point - The characters are all unique, interesting, and have great designs - The text based puzzles are all structured in fun and interesting ways - Powerful ending paired with a    Good:
    - The writing is stellar and the world building is fantastic without the use of any exposition
    - Plainly advertised as a short so the 2 hour play through wasn’t disappointing; very appropriate price point
    - The characters are all unique, interesting, and have great designs
    - The text based puzzles are all structured in fun and interesting ways
    - Powerful ending paired with a very difficult decision
    - Nice use of humor sprinkled throughout
    - Solid soundtrack
    - Really nice use of the HD rumble function

    Mixed:
    - Some of the puzzles are very involved but they’re satisfying to solve if you’re willing to put in the effort
    - Definitely a niche title but fans of visual novels with throughout provoking narrative will

    Bad:
    - Honestly, nothing really stood out as a negative. Everything mixes together exceptionally well and nothing over stays it’s welcome throughout this short adventure
    XXX    … Expand
  3. dbuendia
    Mar 18, 2018
    6
    Music and Art is great. But expected something more from the story (my fault probably). It's not bad, but I felt the conclusion was a bit weak.
  4. eforall
    Mar 29, 2018
    7
    For the price, it is a great game that will keep you entertained throughout. There are a few puzzles that seem like a sudden vertical ramp in gameplay although they also add a welcome switch up from the text based conversations. The game does a good job of convincing you there is a much bigger world outside of the train carriages.
  5. timmytime
    Jun 26, 2020
    8
    Great little handheld story that has some good writing and puzzles as well as food for thought
  6. JJTX
    Mar 24, 2019
    8
    Subsurface circular is best played blind -- going in without knowing anything about the game or its story -- and in a single play session. Even first timers can finish it in under two hours. This is more of a visual novel than a traditional game, but it is still very much worth playing. I recommend buying it before a road trip or a flight, much as one might do with a good book. It's worthSubsurface circular is best played blind -- going in without knowing anything about the game or its story -- and in a single play session. Even first timers can finish it in under two hours. This is more of a visual novel than a traditional game, but it is still very much worth playing. I recommend buying it before a road trip or a flight, much as one might do with a good book. It's worth your time.… Expand
  7. BigTom93
    Apr 24, 2018
    9
    This game looks and sounds amazing, if text adventures are your bag you'll definitely enjoy this one. The amount of polish is amazing for an indie game, though this polish only had to be applied to the solitary location the game takes place in. The gameplay is almost 100% dialogue with NPC's, and tells it's engaging story through this dialogue. Definitely worth the price. Just don't expectThis game looks and sounds amazing, if text adventures are your bag you'll definitely enjoy this one. The amount of polish is amazing for an indie game, though this polish only had to be applied to the solitary location the game takes place in. The gameplay is almost 100% dialogue with NPC's, and tells it's engaging story through this dialogue. Definitely worth the price. Just don't expect it to last too long.… Expand
  8. Tortor
    Oct 25, 2021
    5
    Not an outright terrible experience but I found it all feeling kinda bland.

    Sitting in a single room and reading text message conversations was not very exciting. Even when a supposedly exciting moment would occur nothing really happens on screen to give the idea of a tense situation. It's super static. The world building was cool, i definitely got a sense of the world and what the    Not an outright terrible experience but I found it all feeling kinda bland.

    Sitting in a single room and reading text message conversations was not very exciting. Even when a supposedly exciting moment would occur nothing really happens on screen to give the idea of a tense situation. It's super static. The world building was cool, i definitely got a sense of the world and what the conflicts were on about. Characters felt like empty husks and there just to play a role to get plot moving. Felt absolutely nothing for them. The plot was a standard short story but didn't feel like it did anything new or exciting with it, attaching a game to it felt kinda gimmicky. This book was also could have really benefited from a prolog. The story just ends and no choice feeling like it mattered.    … Expand
  9. Switchindiefix
    Apr 8, 2018
    7
    All in all, for it’s price point of €6.99 there probably isn’t a better quality indie title on the eshop. The story is well written and the puzzles are clever and intuitive. If you’re a fan of older BioWare games I think you’ll really enjoy Subsurface Circular.

    The game looks and runs great in both handheld and docked mode and during my 3 hour play through, I was always entertained and    All in all, for it’s price point of €6.99 there probably isn’t a better quality indie title on the eshop. The story is well written and the puzzles are clever and intuitive. If you’re a fan of older BioWare games I think you’ll really enjoy Subsurface Circular.

    The game looks and runs great in both handheld and docked mode and during my 3 hour play through, I was always entertained and interested in the developing story. Personally, I found the ending the weakest part of the game but that may differ from player to player.

    I hope Bithell Games makes another short game in this world as it is extremely fleshed out and intriguing. Maybe something from the humans’ prospective!    … Expand
  10. kjenner
    Mar 6, 2018
    8
    Decent little game for the price. Not super challenging or anything but good for keeping you occupied.
  11. nusco
    Jun 17, 2018
    5
    Subsurface Circular takes two bold bets. The first: it's a game meant to played in one session, the gaming equivalent of watching a movie. The second bet: it tries to bring an extremely niche genre, conversation-based interactive fiction, into the mainstream. It does that by adding pleasant, although nearly static, graphics to the text–but it's still a text game through and through.Subsurface Circular takes two bold bets. The first: it's a game meant to played in one session, the gaming equivalent of watching a movie. The second bet: it tries to bring an extremely niche genre, conversation-based interactive fiction, into the mainstream. It does that by adding pleasant, although nearly static, graphics to the text–but it's still a text game through and through.

    You've got to respect this game for what it tries to do. The result of this experiment, however, is disappointing. I enjoyed the game while it lasted, but I never felt any sense of agency. The options you're given mostly feel like they'll all eventually result in the same outcome. Even the final choice, which is the game's only visible attempt at branching the storyline, feels inconsequential. Subsurface Circular seems to be aware of its own shortcomings, and it attempts to throw a couple of light logical puzzles in the mix, which end up feeling pointless and contrived.

    All in all, that lack of interactivity and the contrived storyline make Subsurface Circular feels like a missed opportunity.    … Expand
  12. Neatqt
    Feb 25, 2019
    8
    Cast: 6/10
    Story: 9/10
    Fun: 8/10
    Gameplay: 7/10

    Recommended
    ----------------------
  13. Grunty
    May 5, 2018
    2
    Really really short game (well it is cheap also) and a bit linear/flat in storytelling (especially ending). I enjoyed a lot more Oxenfree which at least sold me a good "teenage" movie. Here nothing left at the end.
  14. lowey
    Nov 6, 2021
    8
    It's a short game and it will only really appeal to those of us who love narratives and/or interactive fiction. If you're looking at this game because you loved Thomas Was Alone and want more of the same then you will be disappointed, it bears no resemblance.

    I enjoyed the game although the first half wasn't the most gripping. It gets steadily more interesting as it goes on, however,    It's a short game and it will only really appeal to those of us who love narratives and/or interactive fiction. If you're looking at this game because you loved Thomas Was Alone and want more of the same then you will be disappointed, it bears no resemblance.

    I enjoyed the game although the first half wasn't the most gripping. It gets steadily more interesting as it goes on, however, and the ending was quite a surprise and well worth the wait. While there are multiple endings I see little point in replaying for them as the endings don't appear to really affect anything: the game ends immediately after you make an important decision without showing the consequences of that decision. Which is a shame as it would have been nice to see the outcome, but it would have meant breaking from the single-setting format that the game sticks to all the way throughout. So if I do play again it would probably be in a year or two when I can't clearly remember how the game played out.

    Great artwork and great audio, a really nice game to unwind to, but is closer to an interactive fiction than anything else and will therefore appeal to a niche audience. If you're in that niche you will love this game.    … Expand
  15. dan-man
    Feb 26, 2022
    8
    A simple, interesting little game. Outlines well, how, even if humanity advances in future to such a degree that we have AI running the show, the problems will still be inherent with power and gain always shaping and guiding consciousness, be that man or machine, greed and need finds a way, and are largely synonymous.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 22
  3. Negative: 1 out of 22
  1. Gaming Age
    Jul 17, 2018
    100
    As someone who’ll take a concentrated dose of exceptional storytelling over an endless slog of repetitive tasks and quests, I can’t say that the brevity or the lack of replayability bothers me all that much. All I really want is to hear/read an incredible story — well, that, and a genuinely great follow-up to Thomas Was Alone. Luckily, Subsurface Circular delivers on both.
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  2. Everyeye.it
    Mar 28, 2018
    77
    Subsurface Circular is a fascinating and unconventional project that, despite running out within a couple of hours, still manages to leave a mark in the memory of the players.
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  3. IGN Italia
    Mar 22, 2018
    80
    This "Mike Bithell short" is an intriguing, little, adventure. Gameplay wise is as simple as efficient and is visually refined and well polished.
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