Storyteller

Storyteller is a charming and unique puzzle game that invites players to create little stories by arranging characters and scenes, often with a darkly humorous twist. The gameplay revolves around solving narrative-based puzzles that encourage experimentation and creativity, though some solutions can feel like guessing the designer's intent. The game is praised for its artistic presentation, animations, and soundtrack, which enhance the storytelling experience.

However, players commonly note that the game is quite short, typically taking around 2 to 3 hours to complete, with some additional post-game content. Many feel the price is steep for the amount of content provided, suggesting it is better purchased on sale. Some frustrations include slow navigation between levels when hunting collectibles and a lack of a sandbox or story creation mode, which could expand replayability. Despite these drawbacks, the game offers a delightful and thoughtful experience, especially for puzzle and narrative fans.

Highlights

Players appreciate the game's creative and satisfying puzzle mechanics that blend storytelling with interactive comic-strip style scenes. The art style is described as charming and fitting, with unique animations that bring stories to life. The soundtrack receives positive mentions for enhancing the atmosphere. The storyline, though brief, is engaging and often humorous, with clever twists and a dark fairy-tale vibe. The game encourages experimentation and rewards players with "aha!" moments, making it feel fresh and enjoyable.

Many enjoy the post-game challenges and secret achievements, finding them fun and adding some depth beyond the main puzzles.

Criticisms

The primary criticism is the game's short length and perceived high price point. Many players feel that 2-3 hours of gameplay does not justify the full price, recommending purchase only on sale. The navigation between levels, especially when searching for collectibles (stamps), is noted as slow and frustrating. Some puzzles feel repetitive or too easy, reducing the challenge and replay value. Players also express disappointment over the lack of a native sandbox or custom story creation mode, which could have extended the game's longevity. Occasionally, puzzle solutions feel unintuitive or require trial-and-error that borders on guesswork, which can be frustrating. Lastly, some achievements are buggy or difficult to unlock.