Info about Pentiment:

Official game description:
From Obsidian, this game is a historical narrative-driven game focusing on character development, heavily stylized art, and choice-driven storytelling in early 16th century Bavaria. Players will play as Andreas Maler, a clever illustrator caught up in a series of murders in Tassing and Kiersau Abbey over the course of twenty five years. Players will be responsible for conducting their own investigation to decide the fate of the community, but each decision will have lasting consequences and inexorably draws Andreas closer to the center of an underlying conspiracy.
Illustrated world
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Experience 16th century Europe as the master artists of the time saw them. Art inspired by great illuminated manuscripts and the earliest printed books becomes a living, breathing world in Pentiment.
Uncover mysteries
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Choose different academic and social backgrounds and meet a colorful cast of characters as you discover the stories and secrets that lie within the small Bavarian town of Tassing and nearby Keirsau Abbey.
Impact a changing world
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In an era of great religious and political change, each decision you make can have a profound impact on the community’s future. Find your own way through this turbulent time and see the consequences of your choices play out over generations.

Release date: 14 Nov, 2022

Categories: Narrative Adventure, Choice-based Narrative, Investigative Gameplay, Moral Decision-Making, Character Development, Time Management, Environmental Storytelling, Mystery


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Masterful Storytelling & Character Depth (weight 1): Players consistently praise the game's intricate, multi-generational narrative, highlighting its profound emotional impact, unexpected twists, and rich historical themes. The characters are exceptionally well-developed, feeling human, nuanced, and deeply relatable, fostering strong player empathy and making choices feel genuinely impactful.
- Engaging Gameplay & Replayability (weight 0.61): Despite its narrative-heavy nature, the game offers an engaging experience with meaningful choices that genuinely impact the story and characters. Players appreciate the replayability, driven by the desire to explore different branching paths, dialogue options, and character backgrounds, making each playthrough feel unique.
- Exceptional Historical Immersion (weight 0.49): The game is lauded for its meticulous historical accuracy, bringing 16th-century Bavaria and the Reformation era to life. Players appreciate the deep research into medieval life, customs, religion, and social structures, often feeling like they are actively participating in or witnessing a historical period, making learning history enjoyable and immersive.
- Unique & Beautiful Art Style (weight 0.47): The game's distinctive art direction, inspired by medieval illuminated manuscripts and woodblock prints, is a major highlight. Reviewers consistently describe it as gorgeous, unique, and perfectly suited to the narrative, enhancing immersion and contributing significantly to the game's overall artistic appeal.
- Exceptional Audio Design (weight 0.15): The game's subtle yet effective sound design, including period-appropriate music, ambient environmental sounds, and unique dialogue effects (like quill-writing sounds and changing fonts), significantly enhances the immersive atmosphere and emotional impact of key narrative moments.
- Vibrant & Evolving Town of Tassing (weight 0.1): The fictional town of Tassing is praised as a living, breathing community that evolves over decades, with characters aging and customs changing. Players feel a strong connection to the town and its inhabitants, experiencing their daily lives, struggles, and the long-term consequences of their actions within this dynamic setting.
- Passion Project by Developers (weight 0.08): Reviewers consistently recognize the immense love, care, and meticulous research poured into the game's development. This dedication is evident in every aspect, from the art and writing to the historical accuracy, making the game feel like a genuine passion project that deeply resonates with players.

Common complaints:
- Pacing & Narrative Issues (weight 0.33): The game suffered from a slow start and a noticeable drop in pacing, particularly in the third act, which many found boring, tedious, or rushed. The narrative was criticized for being too verbose, sometimes confusing, and lacking satisfying twists or resolutions, leading to disengagement.
- Limited Player Agency & Impact (weight 0.28): Many players felt that their choices, despite the game's 'choices matter' premise, had minimal impact on the main plot, leading to a sense of powerlessness and an illusion of choice. This significantly reduced replayability and overall satisfaction, as the story often felt railroaded towards a predetermined conclusion.
- Poor Save System & Replayability (weight 0.27): The absence of manual saves and reliance on auto-save with limited slots was a major point of frustration. This system, combined with the inability to skip dialogue, made multiple playthroughs (which the game seemingly encourages for full understanding) a tedious and unappealing prospect.
- Weak Gameplay & Detective Elements (weight 0.22): Players were disappointed by the minimal and repetitive gameplay, often describing it as a 'visual novel' with limited interaction. The detective mechanics were particularly criticized for lacking depth, not allowing players to genuinely solve mysteries, and often presenting ambiguous or unsatisfying resolutions.
- Lack of Cultural & Historical Context (weight 0.11): Many players found the game's heavy reliance on medieval history, religion, and philosophy overwhelming or difficult to understand without prior knowledge. The lack of in-game guidance or annotations for cultural context made it challenging to fully immerse in the setting and themes.
- Unsatisfying Mystery Resolution (weight 0.08): The core murder mystery often left players feeling unfulfilled, as they couldn't definitively prove the killer's identity or influence the outcome. The game's resolution of these mysteries was frequently described as ambiguous, illogical, or revealed through sudden, unforeshadowed means.
- Negative Emotional Impact (weight 0.08): A significant number of players reported feeling negative emotions such as anger, powerlessness, depression, or guilt while playing. This was often attributed to the game's themes of forced trauma, unsatisfying conclusions, and the feeling of being manipulated by the narrative.
- Poor Chinese Localization (weight 0.07): The Chinese translation was widely criticized for being low-quality, stiff, and often failing to convey the original meaning or artistic nuances. Issues included robotic wording, inconsistent translations, and a lack of varied fonts that detracted from the intended character portrayal.
- Dialogue & Interaction Issues (weight 0.06): The game's extensive dialogue, while central, suffered from issues such as repetitiveness, lack of voice acting, and an inability to review past conversations. Tedious manual triggering of dialogue and unclear character locations further hampered the experience.

Gameplay feedback:
- Narrative-Driven Experience (weight 0.48): The game is primarily a narrative adventure, often described as an interactive novel or visual novel, with a strong emphasis on dialogue and storytelling. Gameplay mechanics are simple, focusing on reading, making choices, and exploring, rather than action or complex puzzles.
- Impactful Player Choices (weight 0.46): The game is heavily centered around player choices, which significantly influence the narrative, character relationships, and the overall direction of the story. These decisions, often made without full information, have lasting consequences that unfold over decades, encouraging thoughtful engagement and multiple playthroughs.
- Historical Murder Mystery (weight 0.33): The core plot revolves around a series of murder mysteries set in a 16th-century Bavarian village during the Reformation. Players investigate crimes by gathering clues and conversing with townsfolk, but the game intentionally blurs the 'truth,' often leaving players uncertain about the real culprit and forcing moral dilemmas.
- Historical & Cultural Immersion (weight 0.19): The game is deeply rooted in a believable historical context, spanning 25-30 years during the 16th-century Reformation. It explores themes of class, faith, and societal change, offering a rich educational experience with a glossary for historical terms and detailed character backgrounds.
- Time Management & Pacing (weight 0.11): The game features a slow, deliberate pace, especially in the beginning, and incorporates time management mechanics. Players have limited time for investigations, forcing strategic choices and making it impossible to experience everything in a single playthrough, thus enhancing replayability.
- Protagonist Andreas Maler (weight 0.06): Players embody Andreas Maler, an artist whose background and choices influence his abilities, dialogue options, and interactions throughout the story. The narrative often delves into Andreas's internal thoughts and psychological journey over decades.

Performance notes:
- Excellent Steam Deck performance (weight 0.03): Players consistently report that the game runs flawlessly on the Steam Deck, offering great performance, visuals, and controls right out of the box. This makes it a highly recommended experience for portable play.
- Minor, infrequent bugs (weight 0.02): While some players noted a few minor bugs, the overall sentiment is that they are not widespread or game-breaking. One specific bug in Chapter 2 was mentioned, but frequent auto-saves mitigate data loss.
- Low system requirements (weight 0.01): The game is praised for its low hardware demands, running well on older or less powerful computers. Its 2D art style contributes to this accessibility, making it playable on a wide range of systems.
- Generally stable technical performance (weight 0.01): Many players experienced no technical issues whatsoever, indicating a generally stable and well-optimized game. This reinforces the positive feedback regarding its performance on various hardware.
- Windowed mode for stability (weight 0): One player suggested that playing in windowed mode could help reduce freezes that occur during screen transitions. This offers a potential workaround for a specific technical hiccup.
- No 21:9 ultrawide support (weight 0): A specific technical limitation noted by one player is the lack of support for 21:9 ultrawide aspect ratios. This could be a minor inconvenience for users with such monitors.

Recommendations:
- Highly Recommended Narrative Experience (weight 0.51): The game is overwhelmingly recommended for its deep, meaningful story, historical accuracy, and branching narrative. It particularly appeals to fans of history, philosophy, art, and mystery, offering a rich, immersive experience that sticks with players long after completion. Many consider it a must-play for those who appreciate good writing and choice-driven narratives.
- Replayability and Choice Impact (weight 0.09): The game's branching paths and impactful decisions encourage multiple playthroughs to explore different outcomes and dialogues. Players often express a desire to replay the game to see how alternative choices affect the story, though some note that the length or pacing might deter immediate replays.
- Not a Traditional Detective Game (weight 0.05): Players should manage expectations regarding the detective and puzzle-solving aspects, as these are not the core gameplay. The game is more akin to a visual novel or interactive story, focusing on narrative and character development rather than complex investigations or action. Those seeking a traditional detective game might be disappointed.
- Community Bilingual Mod Recommended (weight 0.05): For non-English speakers, particularly Chinese players, it is strongly recommended to use community-made bilingual mods. This is due to perceived issues with official localizations and to fully experience the game's unique stylized fonts and historical context.
- Slow-Paced, Story-Driven Gameplay (weight 0.05): The game features a slow-burn narrative with extensive reading and thoughtful gameplay, making it unsuitable for players seeking action or fast-paced experiences. Patience is required to fully appreciate its depth, as it prioritizes story and atmosphere over quick thrills.
- Consider Purchase on Sale/Game Pass (weight 0.02): While many recommend the game, some suggest acquiring it via Game Pass or during a sale. This indicates that while the experience is valuable, the full price might be a consideration for some players, especially if they are unsure about its niche appeal.
- Play Blind for Best Experience (weight 0.02): Many reviewers advise going into the game without spoilers or guides for the first playthrough. This approach allows players to fully immerse themselves in the story and experience the consequences of their choices organically.

Other player notes:
- Rich Historical & Literary Immersion (weight 0.23): The game excels at creating a deeply atmospheric and historically rich medieval setting, drawing comparisons to literary works like 'The Name of the Rose' and 'One Hundred Years of Solitude.' Its unique 2D art style, reminiscent of medieval manuscripts, and meticulous attention to historical detail contribute significantly to this immersive experience.
- Educational & Thought-Provoking (weight 0.15): Players consistently highlight the game's educational value, noting how it teaches about 16th-century Bavaria, the Reformation, and medieval life. It encourages further historical research and prompts reflection on themes of history, truth, religion, and human nature, often feeling like an interactive historical novel.
- Compelling Character-Driven Narrative (weight 0.14): The game features a profound, character-driven story that spans decades, allowing players to witness the aging and evolution of a diverse cast. Its narrative explores philosophical themes, moral dilemmas, and the impact of historical change on ordinary people, making choices feel significant and emotionally resonant.
- Niche Appeal & Unique Experience (weight 0.09): Reviewers frequently describe the game as a niche, artistic work that won't appeal to everyone, particularly those seeking action or traditional puzzle-solving. However, for its target audience—history buffs, art enthusiasts, and fans of deep narrative—it offers a uniquely rewarding and unforgettable experience.
- Engaging Playthrough Duration (weight 0.06): Players report varied but generally satisfying playthrough lengths, typically ranging from 12 to 20 hours. The game's immersive qualities often lead to deep engagement, with many expressing a desire for multiple playthroughs or a lasting impression.
- Translation & Accessibility Concerns (weight 0.05): While the game's writing is a strong asset, some players report issues with non-English localizations, particularly regarding font diversity and translation quality. Community-made bilingual patches are highly recommended for an optimal experience, suggesting the original English or German versions are superior.
- Obsidian's Artistic Vision (weight 0.05): The game is praised as a testament to Obsidian Entertainment's ability to create unique, narrative-focused experiences, particularly under the direction of Josh Sawyer. It represents a departure from their typical CRPGs, showcasing a willingness to explore different genres and artistic visions.
- Small-Scale Village Setting (weight 0.04): The game's focus on a fictional Bavarian village, Tassing, allows for an intimate exploration of medieval life, religious influence, and community dynamics. This small-scale setting effectively grounds the broader historical and philosophical themes.
- Story Spoilers & Recall Issues (weight 0.02): Some players found the plot intricate and occasionally difficult to recall details, leading to concerns about spoilers online. The narrative's depth means that understanding the full truth often requires reaching the end.

Emotions:
- Satisfaction (weight 0.22): Players felt satisfied by the game's engaging and profound story, rich character development, and meaningful choices. The unique art style, historical accuracy, and immersive atmosphere also contributed significantly to a high-quality and memorable overall experience.
- Admiration (weight 0.13): Admiration stemmed from the game's masterfully crafted narrative, stunning visuals, and deep historical authenticity. Players praised the unique art direction, thematic depth, and the developers' evident love and care in creating a truly unique and impactful experience.
- Frustration (weight 0.07): Frustration was primarily caused by slow movement speed, lack of fast travel, and issues with the save system. Players also expressed annoyance with the perceived lack of meaningful choice, unclear quest guidance, and poor localization quality in some languages.
- Disappointment (weight 0.06): Disappointment arose from the game's perceived linearity, especially in later acts, and an unsatisfying resolution to the mystery. Players also cited issues with translation quality, a lack of impactful choices, and the game not living up to high expectations or promotional material.
- Excitement (weight 0.05): Players experienced excitement due to the game's unique quality, compelling narrative, and intriguing mysteries. The desire for replayability to explore different choices and the anticipation for future content or similar games also fueled this emotion.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): Appreciation was driven by the visible love, effort, and meticulous research put into the game's development, particularly its historical accuracy and unique art style. Players valued the game's craftsmanship, thought-provoking themes, and its existence as a unique artistic endeavor.
- Engagement (weight 0.04): Engagement was fostered by the game's gripping narrative, compelling mysteries, and intricate world-building. Players felt deeply involved through impactful choices, immersive historical context, and the development of fascinating characters.
- Immersion (weight 0.03): Immersion was achieved through the game's detailed historical setting, authentic atmosphere, and strong sense of community. Players felt transported to 16th-century Bavaria, connecting deeply with the protagonist and the evolving village life.
- Reflection (weight 0.02): Reflection was prompted by the game's deep philosophical themes, moral dilemmas, and exploration of history, faith, and truth. Players pondered the impact of choices, the passage of time, and the connection between personal experience and historical context.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.02): Players enjoyed the game's engaging story, unique art style, and immersive historical setting. The interactive book-like experience, interesting conversations, and the overall flow of the game contributed to a pleasant and captivating gameplay experience.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Joy stemmed from the game's unique art style, fun NPCs, and the ability to interact with animals. Players also found delight in discovering historical details, the positive depiction of certain characters, and the overall enjoyable and sometimes humorous experience.
- Awe (weight 0.02): Awe was inspired by the game's profound story, unique artistic execution, and masterful portrayal of medieval life. Players were deeply moved by impactful scenes, the game's historical accuracy, and its ability to convey complex themes with stunning visuals and narrative skill.
- Love (weight 0.02): Love for the game was expressed through deep affection for its characters, immersive world, and compelling story. Players cherished the game's overall quality, unique art style, and the visible passion and care evident in its creation.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): Surprise arose from the game's unexpected quality, engaging narrative, and clever plot twists. Players were also surprised by the game's length, its ability to hook them despite initial skepticism, and its unique approach to the detective genre.
- Interest (weight 0.01): Interest was sparked by the game's historical and religious themes, its detailed depiction of medieval life, and the protagonist's background. Players found the game's academic depth and its ability to make history engaging particularly captivating.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Sadness was caused by the emotional impact of the game's narrative, particularly the loss of characters and the feeling of helplessness in the face of tragic events. The story's ending and the profound emotional journey also contributed to this feeling.
- Thoughtfulness (weight 0.01): Thoughtfulness was provoked by the game's philosophical themes, moral dilemmas, and exploration of history, justice, and art. Players found themselves reflecting on personal freedoms, the impact of decisions, and complex historical and ethical questions.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom was primarily attributed to the game's slow pace, excessive reading, and perceived 'fillers,' especially in the third act. Some players found the religious discussions and initial character overload uninteresting, leading to a lack of engagement.
- Moved (weight 0.01): Players were moved by the game's deep thematic content, the portrayal of characters' fates, and the emotional impact of the story. The themes of time, loss, human resilience, and the journey with the protagonists evoked strong emotional responses.
- Regret (weight 0.01): Regret stemmed from in-game choices that led to painful consequences or unexpected character endings. Players also expressed regret over missing out on certain content, such as bilingual mods, or issues with localization that hindered their experience.}