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The Red Strings Club

PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Mac, Linux • 2018

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Quick resume

The Red Strings Club is a cyberpunk narrative experience about fate and happiness featuring the extensive use of pottery, bartending and impersonating people on the phone to take down a corporate conspiracy.

Global score

94/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Visual Novel, Simulator, Puzzle

Similar games

    Pros

    • Deep, thought-provoking narrative
    • Unique bartending and pottery gameplay
    • Strong cyberpunk atmosphere and soundtrack
    • Emotional and philosophical engagement
    • Well-written, diverse characters

    Cons

    • Short game length
    • Some clunky or repetitive minigames
    • Fixed ending limits impact of choices
    • Lack of replay convenience features
    • Minor controversial content handling

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Intimacy, Survival, Violence, Competition. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Fellowship. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Survival, Cooperation.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      4

      "Players make meaningful choices affecting dialogue and character interactions, reflecting control over decisions despite a fixed ending."

    • Competence
      2

      "Gameplay involves puzzle-like bartending and pottery minigames requiring some skill and thought, but not highly challenging."

    • Competition
      -5

      "No competitive elements; focus is on personal narrative experience and reflection."

    • Continuation
      3

      "Players often replay to explore different dialogue paths and achievements despite short playtime."

    • Cooperation
      -4

      "Primarily a single-player experience focused on individual decision-making and story exploration."

    • Creativity
      3

      "Players creatively mix drinks and craft pottery upgrades affecting story outcomes."

    • Domination
      -5

      "Interactions emphasize empathy and manipulation without exerting dominance over others."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Immersive cyberpunk narrative and atmosphere provide escape and deep emotional engagement."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily driven by interest in story, philosophy, and cyberpunk themes."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Encourages trying different dialogue options and drink mixes to discover varied story elements."

    • Exploration
      2

      "Exploration is narrative and character-driven rather than physical world discovery."

    • Expression
      1

      "Limited character customization; some expression through choices and drink mixing."

    • Fantasy
      3

      "Set in a cyberpunk dystopia with speculative technology and philosophical themes."

    • Fellowship
      1

      "Some social interaction through story and dialogue but minimal community or multiplayer aspects."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players reflect on philosophical and ethical questions, promoting personal insight and learning."

    • Health
      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention on dialogue and puzzles; no background or casual play."

    • Intimacy
      3

      "Emotional connections with characters and exploration of relationships are central."

    • Leadership
      -4

      "No leadership roles; player acts individually without managing or directing others."

    • Progression
      2

      "Progression through story and unlocking achievements, but no item collection or upgrades beyond narrative."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Atmospheric music and pacing create a contemplative, immersive experience."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Enjoyable pixel art and soundtrack provide sensory pleasure without intense stimulation."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social status or ranking systems; focus on personal narrative experience."

    • Story
      5

      "Strong narrative immersion with complex characters and philosophical themes."

    • Strategy
      2

      "Requires thoughtful decision-making and puzzle solving but not complex strategic planning."

    • Thrill
      1

      "Some suspense in narrative but overall a controlled, reflective experience."

    • Value
      3

      "Highly praised for narrative depth and emotional impact despite short length; recommended especially on sale."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No emphasis on combat or destruction; focus on dialogue and emotional manipulation."

    • Survival
      -5

      "No survival or threat avoidance mechanics; stable narrative environment."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026