While AAA games get most of the attention, it’s usually independent games that surprise people the most. Just like in film, when you come across a hidden or unknown gem, it hits harder than a game or story that was expected to be a massive hit. Games like Doki Doki Literature Club make such an impact due to their unassuming art style and disarming facade as a dating sim, all while slowly burying themselves deep in your psyche to live there rent free for years to come.
That’s where the new game Runt comes in. Developed by indie duo Grimtaste and published by DreadXP, Runt is a dark and bleak experience that will trigger some players with its dialogue and disturbing content, all while presenting a gorgeous art style more in line with interactive comic books. The game tackles themes of religion, verbal, mental and physical abuse, suicide and many others.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT?
The story follows the titular Runt, who happens to be the youngest of five brothers led by their older brother, Hunter. All of them have been left to fend for themselves after the untimely death of their cult leader father. We are introduced to Runt and his brothers after an unexplained catastrophic event has left the whole world, at least from what they know, completely overrun by monsters. Runt is constantly verbally, mentally and physically abused by his brothers. They either chastise him or beat him as they see fit. They claim it’s all in the name of tough love and making him stronger, but Runt mainly views it as cruelty.
To make matters even worse, while he and his family are getting ready to pay their annual respects at their father’s old church on the anniversary of his death, they find the inside of the building defiled by something or someone. A message written in blood, surrounded by the fleshy remains of multiple dead creatures, simply reads, “5 Days.” They take this as an act of war and a threat rather than some harmless prank. Now Runt must find out who did this and why.
Like Doki Doki Literature Club and Phoenix Wright, Runt is not your usual run and gun type of game. You’re going to be doing a lot of reading and making plenty of choices, all while trying to uncover the truth of what happened in less than five days. The choices you make shape how you’re viewed and how other characters interact with you.
The story builds itself over the next five days. Hunter has tasked you with uncovering the truth behind this “attack” on the family. You have five days to choose which brother you work with and which townspeople you decide to talk to. Who you talk to, how much information you give and what you learn all depend on multiple factors.
PLAY-ABILITY AND ATMOSPHERE
This game was different in the fact that after an initial playthrough, I have zero clue what the truth is. Obviously, this game is designed for multiple playthroughs and has dozens of outcomes and endings. The story is interesting enough to keep you engaged, but reaching 100% and getting the full story might be a tough ask, especially if abusive language and religious themes are triggering. Consider this a strong warning: This game doesn’t let up, and it can be very uncomfortable for some players.
The atmosphere of this game is similar to the games I mentioned earlier, where the narrative is the main linchpin of the experience. You won’t find any jump scares here. The dread and unease are built from the overall suffocating life Runt is forced to live.
Gameplay is simple enough. About 95% of the experience is reading and sifting through clues and notes. There are some minigames that pop up and offer some variety, but the game does little to show you how to successfully complete these tasks without being ridiculed for failing.
FINAL WORD
As mentioned before, this is all in hopes that we go in for multiple playthroughs and learn to be more efficient. This adds to my main issues with the game. There’s little initial payoff, which can easily make the experience feel like a chore. How far you get into this mystery all depends on how dedicated you are to uncovering and solving it. Your mileage will vary.
Graphically, the game looks great. We’re big fans of comics and similar art styles, and the hand drawn aesthetics of the characters look good while showcasing their different personalities. If you’re a fan of the aforementioned games’ art direction, you’ll most likely be a fan of Runt’s as well.
Overall, this was an interesting game with a decent story. Even though I left the experience with more questions than answers, it was still worth the time. My curiosity to find the truth still lives rent free in my head.
I give Runt 3 Twister Heads out of 5.