Apartment Story Review – Grounded, Gripping Drama

Apartment Story Review

The cool thing about story-driven games is that your story can be about literally anything, if done right. Apartment Story is a tiny narrative in a cramped space that feels much bigger. This is a simple concept fleshed out and made richer, more engaging, and more rewarding. It turns out the small moments that make up your day can also make for a pretty excellent plot. Little things that require no thought suddenly feel like tangible and powerful experiences.

A Simple Yet Compelling Story

I won’t dig into spoiler territory, but the basic plot is exactly that. Three people, one gun, and the apartment as a setting. It’s downright elegant. The thing that makes Apartment Story such a fascinating experience is the filler in between the plot. You’re expected to shave, shower, cook, and smoke. Every action is tied to a simple control scheme that forces these actions to feel deliberate and thoughtful. You’ve got to pick up the cigarettes, light them, and chuck the remains. Cooking includes doing the dishes and remembering to close the fridge and cupboard doors.

This stuff isn’t quite optional, either. You’ve got a stack of meters to maintain. If you neglect your sleep and hunger, it affects your performance. Smoking evens out your mind. Can’t have you jonesing for a cigarette at an important plot juncture, right? Keeping busy with tiny tasks like cooking and getting high fills out the day. Suddenly, you feel more connected to this character. Their day resembles your day, and the stakes feel more real. It’s such a simple way to suck you in, and yet it works so well. I found myself cleaning up and shaving, and not for any real reason, either. It just felt like the natural thing to do.

The graphics are chunky and weird, but it’s more endearing than off-putting. Apartment Story looks like a lost PS1 game, albeit one with crisp audio. Somehow the setting is so grounded that the visuals don’t feel nostalgic anymore. Instead, they’re a deliberate design decision that keeps you focused on your actions. Plus, the presence of a cracked and crappy smartphone screen kept me rooted in the modern day. Although the simple models aren’t capable of much expression, the dialogue is sharp enough to compensate.

Like A Lost PS1 Game

I loved the music. You’ve got a Bluetooth speaker in the living room that controls the tunes, but they also kick in during particularly tense story moments. I look forward to a more complete track breakdown upon the game’s release. Like the visuals and the mechanics, the music works to elevate the atmosphere. Driving rain and drifting cigarette smoke blend with the soundtrack to create a powerful vibe.

As always, I played this game on my Stealth 16 Studio A13V laptop. Although Apartment Story is a pretty tiny game, it still prefers a proper graphics card. As long as you’ve got that covered, you should be good to go.

While I described the plot as basic, it still draws you in. These are raw, relatable characters with grounded struggles you immediately connect with. The aforementioned gun carries serious weight, as do your individual actions. The whole game is pretty short, more or less the length of a feature film. You can experience the entire thing in a single sitting, though it will sit with you for longer. I’m curious about what changes with subsequent playthroughs, but I sort of want to preserve the story as I’ve seen it.

The Length of a Good Movie

Apartment Story sits apart from most narrative games for me. The big difference is the sim element. Having to do things like shower, cook, smoke, and pee really elevates the experience. Between the plot, the atmosphere, and the mechanics, I’m quite impressed. Although the story is pretty simple, it still draws you in. If you’ve got a few hours free, I highly recommend checking out Apartment Story.

***A Steam key was provided by the publisher***