METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN
METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN
Game
Game2024Published by indie.io
Afterplace
Developer Evan Kice
Made by one person, an open world adventure game filled with silly characters and terrible secrets. Explore the woods, find hidden paths, hack and slash through strange monsters, and try very, very hard not to break reality. Or don't. You do you. From the Steam store page
247 reactions from 3 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon) · newest Oct 6, 2026 · last updated Oct 7, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
97
LovedLoved
181 positive · 5 negative
95% range 94–99%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 181 | 5 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
61 newer reactions are still waiting for a label.
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
246 of 254 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What people are saying
Overwhelmingly positive; players praise its charm, exploration, and writing.
Players overwhelmingly praise Afterplace as a refreshing, charming adventure with superb character writing and a deep, open world that rewards curiosity. Many compare it favorably to classic Zelda and Undertale, calling it a hidden gem. [1][3][10][12]
Some players note that the combat is simple or just fine, and a few find the game too slow or aimless. However, these criticisms are rare, and the vast majority of reactions are highly positive. [4][14][36]
Praised charm and humor · exploration and world design · character writing and dialogue
Criticised simple combat · occasional slow pacing
Summary drafted by an AI model from the 36 reactions it cites ([n] links open each post), then checked by code: every paragraph cites real posts and every quote is verbatim. Written Oct 7, 2026. Method
Reactions
60 of 247 · most liked firstAfterplace a gorgeous, delightful top-down adventure game filled with secrets and mirth. Hoplite a perfectly designed strategy game. speaking as a game developer, it's a masterclass in tight design. Really Bad Chess chess but funner.
unlabelledView post →Happy to be here! I’m a solo dev who made Afterplace, an #indiegame where you get lost in the woods, hit things with swords, make friends, and occasionally break reality. If that sounds cool to you, check Afterplace out here:
unlabelledView post →Wow, just wow. Afterplace genuinely blew me away, the incredible world design that is completely open ended and just filled to the brim with secrets. The attention to detail on repeat playthroughs where it truly feels like the developer made unique and special dialogue for every single niche case interaction you could think of. The entire soundtrack is fantastic and I adore that it's dynamic too and has small changes depending on what you're doing. The charming dialogue, genuinely funny jokes…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Oh what? Afterplace got a Switch port?! One of my favorite mobile games. Surreal action-adventure game with a heavy emphasis on exploration (no hand holding, you just have to figure it all out yourself), nice story and characters. It gets weird. The sprite work and dialog is great!
unlabelledView post →Since the Autumn sale was so popular, I’ve made Afterplace 80% of again for the Winter Sale, starting today. Now is the time to annoy your friends into getting that obscure indie game you really liked! Check it out here: store.steampowered.com/app/2721530/... #indiegame #gamedev
unlabelledView post →This is an adventure game. A VERY VERY refreshing adventure game, because it's chock full of funny little design decisions you won't find in other games -- and they work through the sheer power of love and effort put into their realization. The character writing is superb. The game's open world goes deep and the game in DESIGNED with a prying player in mind. If you're the kind of player who tries to poke their nose into every nook and cranny, you will be delighted. If you're the kind of player…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Apple design award winner Afterplace just released on PC with Linux support https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2024/07/apple-design-award-winner-afterplace-just-released-on-pc-with-linux-support/ #Afterplace #Linux #PCGaming
unlabelledView post →HEY EVERYONE CHECK IT OUT!!! Afterplace, that game I've been raving about recently, has gone on sale for just THREE BUCKS!!!! For reals if there was ever a time to check this game out it's NOW!!! The sale lasts until Dec. 4! Don't sleep on this one! #afterplace #furry #indiedev #indiegame
unlabelledView post →When I stumbled upon this game, I was expecting a pleasant, but standard romp in the style of Zelda. I didn't really got that, but instead I got something much better - deep narrative, really memorable characters and fully open world with secrets awaiting behind each corner. This game was a one-of-the-kind experience for me. It has some Undertale spirit, but in it's own unique way. This is a kind of game that reminds me why I love games - it gives me the pure wonder of discovery and has me…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →#Afterplace is an excellent looking game aaaaand the dev added a setting to ditch the flashing.⚡️WHAT?! Accessibility settings make a world of difference for many of us so please consider joining me in supporting this dev! 😃👍 @evankice.bsky.social #GameDev #Accessibility #Indie
unlabelledView post →so i finished Afterplace. what a game huh. you know a game is really good when i exit it wanting to write a review now, i only got one ending, but it felt very much like The Ending, the big True Ending. so i feel safe enough asserting how i feel I'm gonna get the 'cons' out of the way first so I can gush freely. Firstly, the combat is just Fine. Nothing special. Second, I really wish the (quite good) music looped better, it isn't a smooth loop With that being said, What an…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Afterplace is 80% off on Steam for the Spring Sale! For the low price of $3, you can be hopelessly lost in an endless forest of nightmarish monsters (and one bunny rabbit) Check it out here: store.steampowered.com/app/2721530/... #indiegames #indiedev #steam #steamsale
unlabelledView post →Bit too slow for me. Its very much an exploration game and quite easy to just wander aimlessly. Simple but difficult combat. Not bad but not for me.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Yu from Afterplace!! Highly recommend this game, it's so cute and nice #art #characterart #illustration #afterplace #afterplacegame #afterplaceyu
unlabelledView post →Afterplace is 80% off for the Steam Summer sale! Now is your chance to finally convince that one friend to try it out ⚔️ store.steampowered.com/app/2721530/... #indiegames #steam
unlabelledView post →Great story, funny dialog and a surreal world to explore. This is what Undertale could have been if Undertale had actually been fun to play.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of the few games, I write a review for based on how absolutely hooked I became. Didn't know about it till it released on steam, saw a nice 20 dollar, couple hundred MB adventure game with stuff. Cool little time waster right? Nah. Sunk 8 hours into it immediately, only stopped when I broke it with a bug. Dev was cool and responded nearly instantly and fixed it tout sweet. Proceeded to re-binge it. There is SO MUCH to discover. You one of those folk who like NPCs with dialogue that…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is honestly a hidden piece of art, can't describe it any better way. The gameplay itself is good but nothing truly special. The story, world-design and exploration however absolutely blew my expectations.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Afterplace is coming to the Nintendo Switch! The game will launch on February 26, but you can check out the page and preorder it here: www.nintendo.com/us/store/pro... I’m so excited for this to finally be happening, it’s been a long road! #switch2 #indiegame
unlabelledView post →I had been looking for a video game on mobile that I could pick up and put down anytime, that was playable in portrait mode, didnt have microtransactions and wasn't hypercasual. Lo and behold Afterplace by @evankice.bsky.social Cant wait to boot this up next time I am on the bus! #indiegame
unlabelledView post →I'm live on twitch playing some more #afterplace which was gifted to me by @evankice.bsky.social on #keymailer! I'm super excited to play it again!! ALSO I'm giving away a steam key of the game at 12pm EDT so make sure you're there!! twitch.tv/coreyanderr
unlabelledView post →Tonight we are playing Afterplace! A cute and happy RPG that gives me some light Undertale vibes! Once again, a free game from Keymailer, and once again, I am excited!
unlabelledView post →i tried liking this, but the game made me a bit irritated, a lot of the dialogue and talk feels very filler, which could still be okay and funny, but a lot of it felt like so. although i loved the filler talk of Sword Head the most (most of it was just stroking his ego and showing off lol), and i liked him a lot, also the big statues/automata in "his image". the map, size aside, is easy to get lost, lots of hidden paths leading elsewhere (hidden under a canopy, trees so big, or etc other…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →store.steampowered.com/app/2721530/... I loved Afterplace. It's a slightly more action oriented take on the Yume Nikki/Undertale "ended up in a strange place somehow" thing. It's mostly pretty chill, but very weird at times, and unafraid to let the player stray far off the main narrative.
unlabelledView post →Monthly game roundup time - here's the #gamereview for everything I played in October (Part 1) #indiegames #snoozeachoice #lostintheroots #afterplace
unlabelledView post →Hi friends! I'm live with a new(to me) game called #afterplace! It was gifted to me by the solo developer, @evankice.bsky.social ! I'm very excited about it, let's go check it out together!! twitch.tv/coreyanderr
unlabelledView post →This game is fantastic and a breath of fresh air. I loved every minute of it. Non-linear and it highly reward curiosity, this game is very reminiscent of old Zelda games, except it's somehow even better. You don't want to listen to the "owl" talking to you the tutorial? Just walk past it or whack your sword at it. Some characters are boring? Ignore them. You like some characters? Talk to them, they have multiple lines of dialogues, multiple quests that happen in the background depending on what…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Happy Thanksgiving y’all! If you need something to do during your tryptophan coma, Afterplace is 80% off for a whole week. Have fun ~ store.steampowered.com/app/2721530/... #indiegame #gamedev
unlabelledView post →Today at 5 PM CST we will be playing #Afterplace by @evankice.bsky.social Be sure to tune in because I will be giving away TWO FREE COPIES of the game for viewers! One at the first break, and one at the end of the stream! See you then! twitch.tv/konaburd #furry #bird #furrylive #vtuber #indiegame
unlabelledView post →Brilliant and delightful opening is ultimately spoiled by needless tedium when it comes to finding your way around. I get lost easily so the whole business with doors not working like doors got me looping frequently. Also a bit glitchy, and not the intentional bits or semi-hidden paths; I was walking outside the scenery a couple times and had to exit and restart. Gave up ten minutes from the end and watched the saccharine ending on youtube. Also overpriced, given the mobile version is half the…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Action-adventure that is not epic in length but manages to captivate you with its strange world. The story begins with the little kid being tossed out of a portal. You do not learn anything about who you are or what you are supposed to do. All you can do is follow the only road and attempt to understand the game's unique environment. Controls are simple because you will not need to deal with sophisticated equipment or mechanics. Aside from basic movement, your only options are an attack and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Wilkome! It's a good game that's both clever and heartfelt. I enjoyed it very much and this is actually the first game in twenty years I've been moved to write a review of. I played the mobile version thoroughly before this was ported to Steam but, having started a new playthrough here, I can say it translates fairly well! I'm grateful to easily have it on a bigger screen and controller. It's also very polished in some ways, having accumulated content and bug fixes well before arriving on…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →peanut would love some pets and treats :) 🌸＞ フ | _ _ l ／` ミ＿xノ / | / ヽ ﾉ │ | | | ／￣| | | | | (￣ヽ＿_ヽ_)__) ＼二つ
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Intriguing little experience. Very exploration-heavy adventure game, with lots of simplistically beautiful scenery and chockfull of lovely and witty characters. The combat is by no means hard. There have been only few sections I considered challenging, but all bosses can easily be done first try. That could have been a bit cranked up in my opinion. Exploring a beautiful little open world with almost no guidance is something that I absolutely love to do in video games. Nowadays every game…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is one of the best games that I have ever played, after picking it up for a pixelated style that I like, but after playing it I fell in love with the story and characters. The game is pretty easy to pick up but challenging when needed, sometimes serious, and sometimes cute, one of my favorite games now. It also has very good music for my taste.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A simple yet great game with memorable NPCs and humorous writing. The world is engaging, and there are plenty of secrets to uncover, though the frequent back and forth travel can become a bit annoying at times. Combat is simple and straightforward, but it never overstays its welcome.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I loved this game. Cute, well designed, interesting and clever characters, and a fun and emotional story. This game deserves waaay more attention.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Fun, cheerful, silly, and strange - but in ways I appreciate.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I cannot recommend this game enough. It rules so hard.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A person from somewhere else gets magically transported to a floating island from which they can't escape, and there are some bizarre things going on. Wait, isn't that the plot to Ys II? Well, yes. But Afterplace is so silly (in a good way) and unique that it is its own game. You never know what you will find as you explore the island. If you enjoyed Ys, and Zelda pre-Breath of the Wild, then this game is definitely for you. My only issue is the game doesn't support the DualSense Edge unless…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Buzzing around #afterplace! Come get lost and maybe find treasure {Game Giveaway - Need to bee in chat to claim} ~ twitch.tv/annthebee Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this product from www.keymailer.co #keymailer #streamer #indiegame #bee
unlabelledView post →Looked interesting based on the store page, so I gave it a try. It's really magnificent, and it exceeded all expectations. It might be slept on here because of its amateurish visuals, but I can assure you that this is an absolute diamond in the rough. There are a few things that this game does well that are *rare* in video games: -the writing is good. It's playful, but also thoughtful. It has twists and turns, and the narrative is unpredictable without being completely indecipherable. -The…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game captured my attention as soon as I saw it, and I don't think I've stopped thinking about it since I finished my first playthrough. I plan to play though it again someday to find more of the character interactions I missed the first time, and maybe see how many friends I can convince to pick it up along the way. The controls are simple, and work well for the combat the game has. The characters all ooze unique personalities, and seeing them interact with each other or the various…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A hidden gem for sure. The graphics is very unassuming, but have you ever played Omori, Tunic, Undertale? If you enjoyed either of them, you should certainly enjoy this one as well!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Charming, mysterious, and worth your time.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →i have known this mappy lookin' mf for about an hour but i would die for it
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →What can I say about this game... it feels like I'm a kid again experiencing zelda for the first time and earthbound at the same time ...havent felt that way about a game in some time ... ive yet to scratch the surface it seems and there's always something new I'm discovering ... this game ooooozes charm and I can't stop smiling while playing... a gem for sure !
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Super fun game! It's just amazing to explore and find all these new environments!! I love all the characters and dialog. It reminds my of all the fun I had playing Zelda as a kid. Very immersive. Thank you for putting together such a fun game for us to enjoy and explore. Highly Recommended!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I love everything about this game (story, art, music, gameplay)!!! I love all the alternative endings and achievements, and it seems like it might become one of my new favorite games.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This was such a pleasant surprise! I went in blind, having gotten the game in a bundle. The pixel art is charming in its style, with everything being so small. Immediately, the world is so strange and interesting. I was delighted throughout, taking the time to listen to NPCs' dialogue, some of which was really touching. A few times I laughed out loud. There were a few small nitpicks, such as a lot of backtracking to pick up coffees to make traversal less painful and a certain feathered fight…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Surprisingly rich worldbuilding, interesting environments stuffed with secrets to explore and a cast of charming characters make this an easy recommendation.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Short and sweet little indie game, enjoyed it enough to finish one ending in pretty much 2 sessions, the later of which I was excited to get back into after doing work. It's not a very complex game, the combat is pretty simple and there isn't really much in the way of changing it up through progression, rather simple but it's not clunky and it doesn't overstay its welcome to the point that it becomes a bad thing. The characters are fun and likable and add a lot in making the world feel lived…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Cool games I've played after the hype died down and am now recommending to you: Afterplace This game feels a lot like an Earthbound/Homestuck/Undertale sorta game in terms of vibes. It was designed to be played on the phone, basically one handed. Android/iOS/PC: afterplace.net
unlabelledView post →Tuesday September 9th <3 We're starting our night off with #afterplace with thanks to #keymailer for the game key! Game Demos after! Starting at 8PM going unilt 5AM PDT! twitch.tv/wildbluebeary #Vtuber #WomanStreamer #WomanGamer
unlabelledView post →My current game series that are in progress: 1. Bytecraft (ending 11/1/25) 2. #Skyrim 3. #FF6 4. #Afterplace Completionist run 5. #Goldenheart I tend to focus on the first one since that's the only one with an expiry date. But I'd say FF6 is the next priority.
unlabelledView post →I tried it and it felt ultimately too slow. I understand this is an exploration game but there are a few issues at play for me. Someone who cant stay still will find it hard to read anything that someone is saying because you are moving too much so you lose so much dialogue there. Then the other bits of dialogue feel forced and stilted. The combat feels a bit too simplistic and easy. Already destroyed a buff squirrel and sword head on wheelie shoes. Broke a heart container looking thing…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Just finished my first play through, which I *think* was pretty thorough. Honestly, it made me think of what would happen if Tunic (which I liked) and Mother (a series I loved) had a child, and the lucky little bugger got some of the best of both parents. It has an open world, simple Zelda-inspired combat, and does very little explaining/hand-holding on one hand, and a brilliant sense of absurd humour, memorable NPCs, and a story that will tug at your heart-strings on the other. There were,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →So nice I bought it twice. (Perfect mobile or Steam Deck game...or both!)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Lovely little game. The atmosphere is exactly what I wanted, reminiscent of Kirby mixed with Yume Nikki. Generally bright and cheerful with some mysterious vibes and the occasional turn into light horror. From the list of achievements it's clear there's lots I didn't see in my playthrough, but I'll leave them for another time. I'm pretty happy with the ending I got even though there are a few points that were left ambiguous, presumably because I didn't take the right path through the story to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Afterplace is SO GOOD. Check out this custom thumbnail @chaakkun.bsky.social made for me based on the game!
unlabelledView post →
Posts are quoted from public profiles with links to the original. Want yours removed? Contact us.
