Genres: Simulation video game, Indie game
Developer: Blue Rider Interactive
Platform: Microsoft Windows
Publisher: Blue Rider Interactive
Apartment Story is one of those little games that accomplishes enough to keep you interested and tells a compelling story without overstaying its welcome. For starters, you’re confined to your own apartment, with only a few basic jobs and activities to complete. Second, the day and night cycle wastes time as you try to occupy the hours between story beats. It’s also a concerning reflection of my own life, but that’s another topic best recounted to my therapist. On that topic, let’s look at what makes Blue Rider Interactive’s debut worth playing.
While relaxing in your flat, you are disturbed by Diane, a woman who used to live with you but is being stalked by someone. She isn’t completely honest with you at first, telling you she lives in her car and not emphasizing the gravity of her condition. You keep her company, listen to music, and talk, but she leaves and you continue on with your day. After another interaction, you discover she is being stalked by a very dangerous man, who quickly becomes a part of your own everyday life.
While in the apartment, you must maintain certain gauges that prevent your ‘life’ bar from diminishing, such as hunger, sleep, mind, toilet, and hygiene. You can keep these gauges full by making a lunch or drinking a beer in the kitchen, going to bed, reading a book or watching television, going for a pee, and taking a shower. As the story progresses, trying to fit in these jobs becomes increasingly vital to Arthur’s survival, although I never struggled to do so, so I’m not sure if he ever dies.
You can spend your time in Apartment Story viewing porn and doing the five-knuckle shuffle, smoking dope, listening to the fantastic soundtrack on a docked music player, or scrubbing dishes, and I rarely waited for something to happen. When the stalker starts breaking into your residence, your intrigue peaks. Diane tells you about him after some sexy times and a smoke, and you both decide to grab a gun to take care of him.
I won’t spoil the rest of the story, but there are other methods to handle the matter. It’s a simple notion, but due to the game’s brief length, organizing your time and duties around Diane’s text messages telling you when she’ll be available never became tiresome. At one point, I was able to pass the time by straightening up my flat, putting DVDs and books back in boxes, and cleaning the kitchen, which was rather nice.
There isn’t much else to say without spoiling anything, but I enjoyed Apartment Story. The PS2-era visuals made it easier to fill the game with detail, if little blurry, and the various duties kept me busy while defending my home from a maniac. If you’re looking for something unique that can be completed in one sitting, you should absolutely give it a try. Just be prepared to find some sad similarities if you are anything like me (which I hope you are not!). Happy life and playing.
Review Overview
Gameplay: 82%
Controls: 79%
Aesthetics: 87%
Content: 80%
Accessibility: 83%
Value: 81%
Overall: 82%
A QUIRKY SLICE-OF-LIFE WITH DEPTH AND CHARM!
Summary:
“Apartment Story” immerses players in a comfortable yet complex setting where the stories of diverse residents develop in intriguing and poignant ways. The gameplay invites study of character relationships and decision-making while balancing light puzzle elements with narrative options. The controls are smooth, albeit there may be rare navigational glitches. Visually, the game shines with beautifully detailed surroundings and expressive character designs that make each scene come to life. Perfect for fans of narrative-driven adventures, “Apartment Story” is a warm, inviting adventure full of relatable, memorable moments.