This Strange Realm Of Mine

[h1]Philosophy shooter in session[/h1] Consider this as a first-person adventure with bits of Doom-style shooter elements and a class in philosophy. Relatively short but choices in your interaction offers some replay value. The layered depths of the philosophical themes - some of them that gets me pondering about my own views and thinking - are recognizable but also left me puzzled about matters like ego, life-death cycles and universe's existence. It's a decent game by its standards, if you don't mind the cutdown on action and having to take progress in smaller doses in a short game.

I fire up the game, expecting some neat retro "turn your brain off" shooting. Create my Character? I don't care, but at least its not comprehensive. Fine, whatever you chose. But at least you let me tell you up front I am sensitive to motion sickness, great! Start game, see a ball of light. OK, I get it, cinematic...I see little wisps coming towards the center, am I one? *Waits 30 seconds* is my game broken? Am I supposed to be moving? Normally a game would tell me some tutorial hint if it senses I am not moving to clue me in. But I move my mouse...nope, just the ball of light. OK, a slow cinematic... *Waits another minute* OK, this is broken? Maybe I should walk towards the light and my camera is fixed? AH! I hold W and the light is...coming...closer? Turn my mouse around, view doesn't change. Maybe the camera is locked in? Afterall, I bought a FIRST PERSON game... *Holds W for a good 30 seconds* what is going on? Is this supposed to resemble me lost in the darkness? *Accidentally strafes* Oh! Wait, I am the ball, controlling it on a 2D plane eating the other balls of light like a mobile game? Uh, I bought a shooter...but whatever. *Spends a solid minute trying to gather light, fades to black* Finally I can get started! First person now, GREAT! That was weird, legit almost returned the game...HEAD BOB?!?! Yea, its not pronounced but I hate all forms of it. Ill just see if I can turn it off....Not only can you not turn it off, you have maybe 8 options. They are just present options that don't allow control, like "Nausea mode" which I tried both on and off, and still had head bob. Was it less intense on one setting? I don't know, I swore I was getting closer to a ball of light a minute ago when holding W and clearly wasn't... A few minutes in and this felt like it just wanted to be more than a first person adventure. With the head bob mixed in, sorry, I am out.

i am giving this my full recommendation, you need to play this game. very awesome and does what it says it does, a fun shooter with dark edgy themes. very trippy and very existential too. its worth a play, play it. but also, dont play it at night, it gets freaky towards the end of the game.

a beautifully-crafted game with a heavy philosophical focus and some decent FPS gameplay and light horror elements along the way. the gunplay is that of a rudimentary boomer shooter: it's satisfying enough, but there are only three basic weapon options available, and rarely are you allowed to have all of them at once. there aren't that many enemy types, and they all function exactly the same, only varying by health amount. but the shooter aspect isn't actually the main focus here, so i'll sum this up by saying: it's fine. it's clear most of the care was put into the narrative--or rather, the philosophy surrounding it. while it isn't always successful, the craft it applies to its arguments is extremely impressive. the sheer amount of readable dialogue can get overwhelming, and often spoils the pacing quite a bit, but ultimately does present some thoughtful points about life and personal growth. i do wish the characters had some more depth to them, but they're ultimately there to serve a single purpose in the story, and they do that well enough. this game requires a bit of patience, and is not something i'd recommend to people looking for a traditional FPS experience. however, it's definitely still worth a try, because it has a lot of things to say, and i think it deserves to be heard.

excelente

很不错的游戏 前几关是清除小怪物 有枪支和很多的血包不用担心 后面就是完成各种委托任务来取得许可的钥匙 虽热没有中文但是完全不影响游戏进程

Jogo curto, história média, mas é bem legalzinho, super simples também. 5/10

TL;DR. TL;DR, TL;DR..... ...and once a while you get to shoot something. TL;DR, TL;DR... ...aaaand THE END

This Strange Realm Of Mine, developed and published by Doomster Entertainment, is the kind of game that resists easy categorization. It borrows the surface structure of a retro first-person shooter, but beneath that familiar shell is something far more personal and experimental. It feels less like a product designed for broad appeal and more like a piece of interactive expression—one that uses gameplay as a framework for exploring ideas about life, death, identity, and the human condition. The result is a game that can be uneven and occasionally frustrating, but also deeply memorable in ways that more polished titles often are not. The experience begins in an intentionally disorienting way, quickly stripping away any expectation of a traditional narrative. Rather than building toward a clear objective, the game drops you into a strange afterlife where each level functions almost like a self-contained vignette. These segments are tied together loosely, forming a journey that feels more thematic than plot-driven. Conversations with various characters—many of whom represent different perspectives or states of mind—become the primary way the story unfolds. Instead of guiding you toward a single conclusion, the game invites you to interpret its meaning, leaving much of its narrative open-ended. Gameplay, on paper, follows classic shooter conventions. You move through levels, collect resources, and engage enemies using a small arsenal of weapons. However, the mechanics themselves are deliberately simple and sometimes rough around the edges. Combat lacks the precision and depth of more refined shooters, with enemy behavior and weapon feedback that can feel basic. Yet this simplicity appears intentional, as the shooting rarely feels like the central focus. Instead, it acts as a connective layer between the game’s more experimental moments, giving structure to what might otherwise be a purely abstract experience. What truly defines the game is its constant willingness to shift tone and structure. One moment, you may be navigating a straightforward combat scenario; the next, you are placed in a surreal or symbolic sequence that abandons traditional gameplay altogether. These transitions can be abrupt, but they contribute to the game’s unpredictability. It never settles into a single rhythm for long, which keeps the experience engaging even when the mechanics themselves are limited. This variety reinforces the sense that the game is less about mastering systems and more about exploring ideas. The atmosphere plays a crucial role in tying everything together. Visually, the game adopts a deliberately rough, pixelated style that initially feels simplistic but gradually reveals its purpose. Environments shift between grounded and abstract, often reflecting the themes being explored rather than adhering to a consistent reality. The use of lighting, color, and spatial design helps create a sense of unease and introspection. The soundtrack complements this approach, blending ambient and emotional tones that enhance the mood without overwhelming it. Together, these elements create an experience that feels cohesive despite its experimental nature. The writing is perhaps the most divisive aspect. The game leans heavily into philosophical and introspective themes, often presenting them through direct dialogue or poetic monologues. It explores topics like existential anxiety, personal identity, and the search for meaning, sometimes with a rawness that feels genuine and other times with a lack of subtlety that may not resonate with everyone. For players willing to engage with its ideas, this can be the most compelling part of the experience. For others, it may feel overly dense or repetitive, especially when the game lingers on similar themes across multiple encounters. There are also clear limitations in terms of polish and structure. The pacing can feel uneven, with some sections flowing naturally while others seem abrupt or underdeveloped. The relatively short length means that certain ideas are introduced without being fully explored, leaving the experience feeling incomplete in places. Technical aspects, while generally functional, lack refinement, reinforcing the sense that this is a passion project rather than a fully polished release. Despite these flaws, This Strange Realm Of Mine stands out because of its willingness to take risks. It does not attempt to conform to expectations or prioritize mechanical perfection. Instead, it embraces its imperfections in pursuit of something more expressive. It’s a game that feels personal, almost intimate, as if the developer is sharing a piece of their own perspective rather than trying to create a universally appealing experience. In the end, This Strange Realm Of Mine is less about what you do and more about what you take away from it. It offers a journey that is unconventional, introspective, and occasionally challenging in ways that go beyond gameplay. While it may not appeal to everyone, those who connect with its tone and ideas will likely find it lingering in their thoughts long after it ends. Rating: 8/10

Game where there are mazes and shooting. Pixelated for the most part, there are NPCs and stories that complete your journey. Multiple endings possible. Fairly short game with each playing running a few hours. Pros: Interesting story Existential crisis bonus Creepy cats Free social anxiety Drunk sloth Cons: No permanent weapon upgrades Enemies could be annoyingly fast judgement