Essays on Empathy isn’t one cohesive game, but is instead a collection of games created by Deconstructeam. The developer’s other known works include Gods Will Be Watching and The Red Strings Club, and some of the games included in Essays on Empathy tie into those games. Some connections are very small, while others tie in as a demonstration for where Deconstructeam started to find its storytelling voice and how each game shows the evolution of that. Besides the mini-games included in Essays on Empathy, there are videos accompanying each game to give a bit of insight into the development process and Deconstructeam’s thoughts about each game.
While none of the games are particularly long, they can deal with heavy subject matter. Deconstructeam makes sure to use trigger warnings before games that deal with any sensitive subject, which is a nice change of pace considering how there’s been some backlash against using trigger warnings in video games. Story-wise, each game exists within its own bubble and some are definitely easier to play than others. The difficulty doesn’t stem from game mechanics, but rather the subject matter encountered within each game. However, each game is poignant enough that it’ll stick with players long after they’ve finished it.
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The gameplay mechanics vary per mini-game. The first game in Essays on Empathy, titled “Underground Hangovers” is a Metroidvania-style game where players must help a group of miners get home after they’ve been left behind on the planet they were excavating. Rather than using conventional tools, players will have to make do with some interesting, out-of-pocket tools to help the miners get home. The main controls are keyboard commands, nothing extensive, but the mines are sprawling and allow players a lot of opportunities to find the ore required to leave. “Underground Hangovers” actually takes place in the same universe as Gods Will Be Watching, confirmed by the developer in the accompanying video.
“Supercontinent Ltd” is the second game in the Essays on Empathy lineup and it was pleasantly engaging. It’s a point-and-click adventure where players take on the role of a hacker trying to learn information about the criminal corporation Supercontinent Ltd. Players must utilize a voice modification device, allowing the player character to adopt anyone’s voice and further progress the game with different phone calls. The more information that’s learned, the faster the story progresses. Paying attention to the background details is crucial in “Supercontinent Ltd,” as well as having a pen and paper handy to write down some phone numbers. This game wasn’t as thought-provoking as the others, but it had an unexpected yet exciting twist at the end.
“Behind Every Great One” was definitely one of the more difficult games to play. Again, it wasn’t the gameplay mechanics, which were very easy to navigate (arrow controls and the spacebar), it was the game’s premise. Players adopt the role of a wife who takes care of the duties around the house while her husband is a hotshot artist. It becomes apparent very quickly that the wife can only do so many things each day, leading to criticism from her husband and any other characters that appear later. It’s an honest, raw look into an abusive relationship and the mind of someone battling depression. While not everyone can handle the subject of “Behind Every Great One,” it’s worth playing and experiencing life as the wife knows it.
Other games in Essays on Empathy include “11.45 A Vivid Life,” “Eternal Home Floristry,” and “Zen and the Art of Transhumanism,” just to name a few. “11.45 A Vivid Life” is incredibly poignant, allowing players to adopt the role of Laynie—a girl who believes her skeleton isn’t hers. The game allows for different endings based on her findings, making it easily replayable. However, while the game isn’t graphic, it does deal with bodily mutilation, which not everyone can stomach.
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“Eternal Home Floristry” is another standout game, allowing players to step into the life of Gordon, a recently injured hitman as he takes up residence in the home of Sebastian, an old gardener. Players will assemble flower arrangements and learn the power that flowers can have on the events in the game. While “Eternal Home Floristry” is short, it’s a sweet story about growth, connection, and different forms of love.
Perhaps the star of the show is “De Tres al Cuarto,” the brand new game from Deconstructeam that follows two comedians trying to make it. Unlike most of the other games, this one runs about 90 minutes long and doesn’t have a save option because it’s meant to be played in one sitting. This is very much a narrative story, but the gameplay comes in the form of picking the correct cards during their standup comedy set. Players can buy new cards, upgrades, or throw away cards with the money they earn during the set.
Every game tells its own story in an immersive world that players can easily understand. There’s no explanatory dialogue or messages—players are thrown into the game and are meant to piece it together themselves. It’s a true strength each of the games demonstrates, as these brief glimpses into the lives of the characters are indicative of a bigger world they live in. It also allows for players to interpret things as they see fit, especially in games like “11.45 A Vivid Life” and “Eternal Home Floristry.”
Overall, Essays on Empathy is a great look into the lives of different characters and how they fit into the world around them. It may not be the most graphically or mechanically advanced, but that didn’t seem to be the goal of the games anyways. Essays on Empathy gives players a chance to step into the shoes of people different from them and understand them a bit better than before. While some players may struggle with certain subjects tackled in each game, the topics addressed are part of a bigger conversation worth having.
Essays on Empathy releases May 18 for PC. Game Rant was provided a code for this review.