Little Kitty, Big City
Little Kitty, Big City
Game
Game2018
EMMA The Story
Developer Hiver Prod
Elliott is paralyzed by doubt. Tomorrow he must go to Emma, far, far away from here. But on the eve of his departure, a strange meeting will change his future. From the Steam store page
81 reactions from 1 source (Steam reviews) · newest Jun 12, 2026 · last updated Oct 8, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
88
LovedLoved
71 positive · 10 negative
95% range 79–93%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 71 | 10 | 0 |
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
120 of 137 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What people are saying
Summary pending — the reactions are listed below.
Reactions
60 of 81 · most liked firstThis kinetic visual novel from Hiver Prod, Plug In Digital and Cinétévé Experience features a male protagonist Elliott taking shelter at a bus stop that has one elderly man loafing around with a pack of unopened beer bottles. Unable to go anywhere due to the rain, Elliott takes a seat next to the elderly man and begins to share his story on why he ended up at the bus stop while being messaged repeatedly on his mobile phone by his co-workers. As a short story, it contains drama with science…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A short and touching story which teaches us about decisions we take in life, some we might regret forever. This visual novel starts when a young man named Elliott went to the bus stop but he was still questioning whether he should go or not. I can't reveal more to not spoil it for you. I liked the story and it left me wanting more because of the excellent writing style, it makes you wonder who is this person? what happened? And what the decision will be?…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →“There never can be a man so lost as one who is lost in the vast and intricate corridors of his own lonely mind" Isaac Asimov, Pebble in the Sky EMMA: The Story is that rare piece of science fiction that explores notions of humanity within a broader spectrum of the future. At once it illuminates our present predicament whilst looking to the future as a possibility of hope and aspirations. Pros Detailed art rich in texture and detail Well-constructed dialogue that quickly conveys character…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →꧁TL;DR:꧂ A thought-provoking 20-minute 1st episode in a non-interactive collection of "visual graphic novels." Its profound life lesson will linger. A bargain for $1 USD. ✂---✂---✂---✂---✂---✂---✂---✂---✂--- Recommendation: ☑ Content quality is a value at full price. ☑ Content quantity is a value at full price. ☐ Positive experience, but wait to buy when it's on sale. ☐ Negative experience. Wait for improvements before buying. ☐ Very negative experience. Save your money.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very short but interesting story about preparing for a long trip. And I really liked the music in this game :)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Narrative indie game in which you follow the personal story of a hero facing a decision that may change his future ✅Dynamic presentation of events (messages on the phone, arriving and departing buses). ✅Interesting atmosphere combining drama with science fiction elements. ✅Moody and quite sad, which gives a mood ✅Realistic sound effects (rain, stop lights), increasing immersion. ✅Price is ok ❌No story choices ❌The story could be longer ✅✅ Verdict: Terrible , Bad , Mediocre , Decent ,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →[url=http://store.steampowered.com/curator/32482033/]Crim's Humble Opinion Curator A short and sweet science fiction kinetic novel which is definitely worth the investment of time and money. The story focuses on someone who is at a major crossroads in his life. That's really all you should care to look into else you would spoil some of the excellent writing and touching story that can cause some interesting moments of reflections. Aside from the excellent story this game also offers some…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Honestly if I didn't have to wait for the moving backgrounds to center to see them, this game wouldn't be more than 5 minutes long. The background music is not bad. The backgrounds are beautiful. But you can't really fit ANY kind of REAL story into 5 minutes or less. It's so short it doesn't even qualify as a demo. Let alone a full fledged game/VN. I definitely don't recommend paying for it. If it were FREE, since it's well done albeit short then I would give it a thumbs up.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →[url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/32732116-IndieGems/]Follow our curator page: IndieGems if you like and want to see more reviews like this one. EMMA The Story is simply amazing. It is a very brief but beautifully crafted visual novel that is worth looking into. The artwork is simply stunning and looks to be realistic with hand-drawn style and painted textures. The music in the background is a simple melodic piano piece that serves as to continually soothe the troubled soul. You…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very short visual novel that is NOT a choose your own adventure type. Beautiful graphics & soundtrack. Interesting premise. Unfortunately, it feels more like a demo or intro to a great story that never happens.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I think I picked this up for a $1 or less; anyways I liked this visual novel. I am not going to spoil it; I took screenshots while playing only to not submit any; yes I got through in less than 20min; Happy to have wasted some time with this. Better than Netflix (If you've already binged the good crud)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Emma is a short science fiction, kinetic visual novel, with gorgeous artwork and neat ambience and music. Alas there's no auto play function and the existential story explored is a bit simple. Would love to see a longer Visual Novel with this artistic style.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Two men, talking at a bus stop. A single twist. This short, sweet kinetic novel was an enjoyable experience, and I highly recommend it to fans of experimental fiction.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A poignant story about a young man Elliott who is paralysed with fear on undertaking a long journey. A place I'm sure many of us have been in. Strangely enough, I am discerning whether to do a course and am procrastinating over it! This story is about the effects and consequences of our decisions. Very relevant to daily life. This short VN only took me 30 minutes, but well worth the time. Good dialogue and visuals. Music wasn't intrusive. I recommend this!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →EMMA The Story is not a game, it's an e-book that's been dumped on Steam masquerading as a game. As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay, it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, "How did something this badly written end up on Steam?". When someone hoping to become an author is unable to get published in print, they spend $100 and dump their high school…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A fantastic 20 minute VN that is well worth its price.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →What a piece of sh... peoples who recomend this piece are family of creator or got paid
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It’s hard not to recommend EMMA as mild diversion with well above average production values considering it’s being offered at the lowest entry price Steam will allow. Even with such a short runtime, it goes against the long-established norm perpetrated by the majority of visual novels and manages to stand out. At least a little. Maybe that’s enough. Full Review // http://www.honestgamers.com/13844/pc/emma-the-story/review.html
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A 10 minutes visual novel. 2 strangers met at a bus stop, the young man was unsure about the future while the old man regretted the past. People tell strangers secrets and real feelings that are not shared with family or friends. In middle school once I had a bad quarrel with a family member and ran out of home, eventually entering a Mcdonald's. I sat down and eventually talked to a guy in his 20s eating a burger. I asked "Is it just me growing up so full of pain or it happens to all?" he…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It costs next to nothing, but it's also very short. Personally, I really like this. First of all, the art is so amazingly good that I for the time it was in my wishlist, I thought it was just pictures of actors. The attention to detail is immaculate. The way people stand. The way they pose themselves. It feels so natural. Some small visual effects add life to the image and the lighting and other such stuff is just nice to look at. Top notch quality. Secondly, the soundtrack is just awesome.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I honestly thought this was going to be 'just another vn', oh boy was I wrong! The dialogue is silent, and it really did take me a second to cop this wasn't an extended demo. That said this truly is a beautiful piece of art. It allows you to theorise further levels of life, in a calming setting. It's short, to the point and rather relaxing. I don't want to say too much as I'm afraid I'll give the plot away. From the art-work to the music there isn't a negative thing to say about this game. I…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I wouldn't say this is a game in the traditional sense; instead it's more of a short and sweet visual novel. But I finished this one in 20 minutes and the story is surprisingly great. Loving the character art style too. Imagine if this one is a full-fledged visual novel that dabbles in science fiction and perhaps some philosophical matters, I'll definitely buy it. Better if it comes with "Made Your Own Choices" gameplay mechanics. I got this one on sales and I do plan on keeping it after…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Non-interactive visual novel. Visuals and music are very beautiful and artistic creating pretty journey, however the game is short, VERY short and i dont feel that it's well written, barely mediocre. Alot of people here compliment story, but it's very distinct from a good novel writing and I don't quite understand what they're so excited about. Im not touched, im not amazed, im not invested into characters, it's just dull
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Short on length but powerful in substance and imagery. The art and music are fantastic. It's well worth the money.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The story wasn't quite what I expected, but in a good way. It cost less than a pound, took 10 minutes to finish, but still managed to get across its 'don't be afraid to take chances' message in an interesting way.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is probably the shortest Visual Novel I've experienced on Steam and writing this review will probably take longer than the playtime but don't let that put you off... There is a clear, and important, message behind this brief sci-fi VN that is invaluable and was efficiently written by Benjamin Charbit. The lesson can wait for now, first meet our two male Protagonists : Elliott - who had been walking around to think on what to do when an unexpected opportunity comes his way; enduring the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's... an interesting and unique attempt at western visual novel. The art style is pretty unique, different from most other visual novels (especially from Japanese VNs). The soundtrack is also immersive, making the whole experience kind of atmospheric. The story itself is short but complete, telling the philsophical side of the story pretty elegantly.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →CaN 👏 We 👏 Have 👏 Season 2? 👏👏👏
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →EMMA The Story is a short narrative-driven visual novel created by Hiver Prod and published by Plug In Digital and Cinétévé Experience. Rather than presenting a traditional gameplay-heavy experience, the title functions more like an interactive short film or digital graphic novel. Its primary focus lies in delivering a reflective story through carefully composed imagery, atmospheric music, and a minimalist structure that allows the narrative to unfold at a deliberate pace. The game is designed…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Less than 20’ for a well written little lesson. We’ve all had doubts in life, and we’ve all had asked “what if”, but don’t let regrets grow inside of u. Great graphics and beautiful words. Also, game runs perfectly on the steam deck. Give them ur money!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Not gonna say I feel ripped of cause let's face it it was just one euro. But the nice graphics and nice music (when it didn't bug and you could hear scratches/parasite noise/whatever it was) didn't make up for the fact that it was 15 minutes to read at most.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Nice short Visual story. The graphics is really well done. It is a psychological introspective moment about an important decision in our lives. Some people find it hard to step out of their "comfort zone". But interesting and new experiences are always outside the comfort zone. And they change us.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Recommended if you get trapped in a dark room for 20 minutes with nothing but a PC with this installed.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A short (if you're a fast reader then you will finish in ~quarter of an hour) , beautiful game/visual novel (no real choices or "gameplay" mind you) full of wistful yearning over paths not taken. The artwork and visual style is on point, and the writing is pretty tight (if a little on the self-indulgent side). Recommended!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's just some feel good story and that is all. Nothing else. Keep clicking to read the next dialogue.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A PIECE OF ART! A fantastic story, nice music and supre actors. A tear is mostly granteed! (thanks developer (i think ..!?! ;) For me it was more like a movie, and the france are masters at it. And it is a SciFi-Melodrama for the noobs under you, reminds me somehow And by the way, i mostly try to avoid this kind of "Novels", and I don't regret the buy. Will see/read/hear/feel (at the artist > you should create a new word for that s/r/h/f) the novel in some time again.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This left me sad.... It's a small story, very well visualised, supported by a perfect music-and-soundtrack, emotional enough to stay with you for a while once you've finished it...
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Cute little story, not much longer than 10 minutes about chance and when to take them. It's good :)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →What if dreams come true? Then they stop being dreams and become memories we smile about. Life never truly runs out of things to chase every fulfilled dream simply opens the door to a bigger one. That’s the beauty of life: we grow, we achieve, we celebrate… and then we discover new skies waiting for us. When dreams come true, they don’t disappear. They become proof that we can reach even bigger dreams. Life is not about one destination it’s an endless journey of new hopes, new goals, and new…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Neutral review. - Short game (20 minutes) - Relaxing soundtrack - No choices (simple click for next dialog) - Story is a bit meh, unless i missed something
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A very short visual novel but it is linear, not choose your own adventure style. The art and music are very nice and the story is really interesting I just wish there was more of it! This does feel like a demo of what would be a full fledged game. I think this story would be amazing as a point and click style game or even just a much longer VN. I'd like to see where it goes and how it ends but the VN as it is does a tell a complete story. I paid like .13 for it and it took me maybe 10 minutes…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Enjoyable little story. The game is short, but for one dollar you get a great atmosphere and a story to dive into. Could be longer, sure. But for the price, you get quite an experience. Definitely worth it in my opinion.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →[url=store.steampowered.com/app/831720/EMMA_The_Story/]EMMA presents a compressed anecdote about difficult choices while giving you none. The brief story is told through exchanges between two strangers from a chance encounter at a bus stop, and via additional text messages in a group chat. One man is facing doubt towards the biggest decision of his life, while the other is experiencing regret about his own choices. There were some decent ideas here, just not a lot of substance to it. This…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A great story just like life. I remember clearly the moments I did not choose something or somebody and changed my life forever! You can't go back! Recommended. Beautiful short story about THOSE moments!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →An amazingly artistic visual novel with a story about regrets and dreams and not letting your life pass you by. It's contemplative and thoughtful and unique. Definitely worth reading/watching.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The art is unique, I appreciated the small effects like the mist coming from the characters' breath. This visual novel follows one man's tough decision and another's regrets. Two sitting at a bus stop starting as strangers - making a connection and ultimately learning from each other. Nice, short game to play if wanting something fast but meaningful. I do wish that we had some kind of follow up at the end as to if Elliott brought back the beer capsule/top for Alphonse! Maybe it could be a…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Well presented short story about impactful decisions we make in live.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Gentle story about doubts and fears that beset all of us when faced with the unknown and a life-changing choice. Great soundtrack and with a surprise bonus track. Its not long, but makes for a relaxing break from other games.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A 9-minute kinetic novel. I recommend buying it on sale. Nice story but not a brilliant one.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Not bad, just over before it starts, a short story amongst many that you can get for free instead.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I clicked through it in about 8.0 minutes. It takes surprisingly long to convey a couple of simple setting details.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Buena novela visual de ciencia ficción. Cortísima (me ha durado unos 15 minutos), pero por 0.08 € que me ha costado, no puedo quejarme.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A cute story about EMMA- A planet that is 12 parsecs away Could be longer story. 5/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →very mediocre, like, very
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Short but sweet. I love the animation used for this as it really conveys the emotions of both of the main characters. Would I go to Emma if given the chance? You bet!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →As advertised, this visual novel takes about 20-minutes to play through. The art was beautiful and the story was interesting. It's not really replayable, so you're paying for a one-time, 20-minute experience. . I would recommend this if you like visual novels. I played this game as part of my under $5 series on YouTube. You can find the video here: https://youtu.be/QDy6T6WghKo.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very short but interesting story about preparing for a long trip. And I really liked the music
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →10 min dialogue. Hm.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Ummmm this was different buy on sale
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Well it's not that bad, Good music + cold rainy weather. It's very rare to find visual novels like this in these days.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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