Expelled!

Item: Expelled!
Rating: 92
Author: VaporLens

Last updated: 2026-01-10

Summary

Exceptional interactive storytelling with witty writing
High replayability through branching narrative design
Time-loop mechanics retain knowledge across plays
Unclear progression and insufficient in-game hints
Technical bugs and glitches disrupt gameplay experience
Repetitive gameplay and dialogues reduce engagement

Emotions

Excitement12%Frustration12%Enjoyment11%Satisfaction9%Amusement9%

Sample precision
Helpful reviews: 55%
Unhelpful reviews: 45%
Protest reviews: 0%

92%
Helpful reviews with positive sentiment
8%
Helpful reviews with negative sentiment

Positive points: 370
Negative points: 97
Gameplay points: 298
Perf. points: 4
Rec. points: 50
Misc points: 3

Point	Description	Importance
Exceptional interactive storytelling Description The game excels in interactive fiction, offering a non-linear, choice-driven narrative with meaningful impacts on story outcomes. Its 'choose-your-own-adventure' structure is praised for depth and player agency. Importance 97%	The game excels in interactive fiction, offering a non-linear, choice-driven narrative with meaningful impacts on story outcomes. Its 'choose-your-own-adventure' structure is praised for depth and player agency.	97%
High replayability core design Description The game is intentionally designed for replayability, with multiple endings, secrets, and branching narratives that change based on player actions. Features like fast-forward/rewind options and bonus objectives enhance this experience. Importance 91%	The game is intentionally designed for replayability, with multiple endings, secrets, and branching narratives that change based on player actions. Features like fast-forward/rewind options and bonus objectives enhance this experience.	91%
Time-loop mechanics with knowledge retention Description The time-loop system (e.g., Book of Dirt) allows players to carry over information between runs, adding depth to exploration and strategy. This mechanic is praised for its clever integration into the narrative. Importance 53%	The time-loop system (e.g., Book of Dirt) allows players to carry over information between runs, adding depth to exploration and strategy. This mechanic is praised for its clever integration into the narrative.	53%
Unreliable narrator adds depth Description The protagonist, Verity, serves as an unreliable narrator, creating a layered narrative that unfolds with twists and moral ambiguity. This framing device strengthens the overarching plot and replayability. Importance 41%	The protagonist, Verity, serves as an unreliable narrator, creating a layered narrative that unfolds with twists and moral ambiguity. This framing device strengthens the overarching plot and replayability.	41%
Distinct characters with schedules Description Characters are memorable, with unique roles, schedules, and reactions to player actions. Their depth and charm contribute significantly to the game’s immersive world. Importance 41%	Characters are memorable, with unique roles, schedules, and reactions to player actions. Their depth and charm contribute significantly to the game’s immersive world.	41%
Sharp, witty writing and humor Description The writing is consistently highlighted for its wit, charm, and dark humor, with laugh-out-loud moments and quirky character dialogue. This tone elevates the narrative and gameplay experience. Importance 41%	The writing is consistently highlighted for its wit, charm, and dark humor, with laugh-out-loud moments and quirky character dialogue. This tone elevates the narrative and gameplay experience.	41%
Engaging detective puzzles Description Puzzle elements are fair, logical, and intellectually stimulating, with high player agency in solving mysteries. The detective gameplay loop is both accessible and rewarding. Importance 40%	Puzzle elements are fair, logical, and intellectually stimulating, with high player agency in solving mysteries. The detective gameplay loop is both accessible and rewarding.	40%
Improved successor to Overboard! Description The game builds on its predecessor with refined mechanics, deeper characters, and a more complex narrative. It stands alone but rewards fans of Overboard! with callbacks and expanded content. Importance 39%	The game builds on its predecessor with refined mechanics, deeper characters, and a more complex narrative. It stands alone but rewards fans of Overboard! with callbacks and expanded content.	39%
Dynamic dialogue and NPC interactions Description Dialogue options and NPC behaviors vary based on timing and player choices, creating a reactive and immersive world. This dynamism encourages experimentation and replayability. Importance 35%	Dialogue options and NPC behaviors vary based on timing and player choices, creating a reactive and immersive world. This dynamism encourages experimentation and replayability.	35%
High-quality art and voice acting Description The game’s visual style, voice acting, and soundtrack are consistently praised for their quality and synergy with the narrative, enhancing the overall atmosphere. Importance 17%	The game’s visual style, voice acting, and soundtrack are consistently praised for their quality and synergy with the narrative, enhancing the overall atmosphere.	17%
Achievements add challenge Description Achievements provide additional replayability by requiring skill and exploration to unlock, offering a satisfying sense of accomplishment for dedicated players. Importance 10%	Achievements provide additional replayability by requiring skill and exploration to unlock, offering a satisfying sense of accomplishment for dedicated players.	10%

Expelled!

Categories

Emotions