Quarantine Circular

The story was fun, get to play characters with different personalities and different choice of words which is new and refreshing. Like previous circular games the story gets you thinking of the what ifs. [spoiler] I'm glad there's closure at the end unlike the Subsurface [/spoiler] You don't need Subsurface Circular to understand this story, but it gives you a little nod to the events in SC that it's a connected universe and all possible end from that game is plausible in this game.

It's okay for what it is, I wish I could give an "it's okay" review but ultimately the characters weren't that compelling. The chapters are extremely short so you never grow attached to any of them except Gabriel but he turns into a hypocritical idiot at the end and kinda ruins everything that's established throughout the game so it just left a bad taste in my mouth. Also, you can't kiss the alien which is another big negative.

Simple hour long adventure game. I quite enjoyed it. Story and characters were well written.

[quote][b]🎮 Personal Review Tiers 1 – Exceptional | 2 – Great | 3 – Good | 4 – Average | 5 – Bad Quarantine Circular Review Tier: 3 - Good [/b] [/quote] [b]📌 Disclaimer [/b] This review reflects my experience playing exclusively on an Xbox Ally X. As another entry in the *Bithell Shorts* series, *Quarantine Circular* inevitably invites comparison with *Subsurface Circular*, and those comparisons are reflected throughout this review. [b]✅ Pros [/b] Branching conversations and eight unique endings offer significantly greater replayability than Subsurface Circular A wider range of locations, while still limited, helps break up the minimalist presentation and creates a stronger sense of progression. Outstanding dialogue that gives every character a distinct voice and perspective. Conversations feel natural, layered and emotionally varied, making even exposition engaging. Strong thematic writing that explores fear, misinformation, authority and empathy without feeling heavy-handed. Minimalist visuals complement the narrative rather than distract from it, allowing the writing and performances to remain the focus. [b]❌ Cons [/b] Puzzle design is a noticeable step down from *Subsurface Circular*. Most challenges amount to reviewing notes for codes or solving straightforward word puzzles, lacking the satisfying "aha!" moments of its predecessor. Although the game presents frequent dialogue choices, relatively few have meaningful consequences until the closing stages, making much of the journey feel less reactive than it initially appears. Once the mystery has been solved, subsequent playthroughs lose much of their intrigue despite the multiple endings, leaving the developer commentary as the main incentive to return. [b]🎯 Final Thoughts[/b] *Quarantine Circular* doesn't surpass *Subsurface Circular*, but it succeeds by refining different aspects of the formula rather than simply trying to outdo its predecessor. The expanded branching narrative and broader emotional range give conversations greater weight, while the exceptional dialogue ensures every interaction remains compelling from beginning to end. Its shortcomings stem primarily from gameplay rather than storytelling. The investigative mechanics and puzzles rarely reach the same level of ingenuity as *Subsurface Circular*, and the illusion of player agency occasionally outweighs its actual impact. Even so, these issues never undermine what the game does best: delivering a thoughtful, character-driven science-fiction story that respects the player's time. For anyone who enjoys narrative adventures built around intelligent conversations, philosophical themes and meaningful choices, *Quarantine Circular* is an easy recommendation. It may not eclipse its predecessor, but it confidently earns its place alongside it as another excellent entry in the *Bithell Shorts* catalogue.

Short, but savory.

Interessante, mas não tão bom quanto o anterior.

A very strong first-contact story. You play as different characters who are on a medical vessel that has imprisoned the first alien contacted by humanity. During this time, humanity is being attacked by a plague that is devastating populations. You have a lot of decisions to make. Do you trust Gabriel, the alien? Is Gabriel responsible for the plague attacking humanity? Can you work with Gabriel to cure the plague? I really enjoyed this game.

Uno de los mejores juegos filosóficos que he jugado. Muchísimas gracias a Bithell por escribir tremenda cosa hermosa. Espero jugarlo después para ver las demás rutas, pese a que me de tristeza tratar mal Gabriel.

Review from 2018: Another Mike Bithell joint that is loosely connected to the previous games, choices create far more branches, the story was fantastic and the music was really on point as well

bithell doing their thing