A Mortician's Tale is a narrative-driven death positive video game where you play as a mortician tasked with running a funeral home—preparing the cadavers of the deceased (via embalming or cremation), attending their funerals and listening to their loved ones' stories, and running the business.
A Mortician's Tale is a story-driven death positive video game where you play as a mortician tasked with running a funeral home. Take on the role of recent funeral direction graduate Charlie as she learns the ropes of the business and industry. Prepare the bodies of the deceased (via embalming or cremation), attend their funerals and listen to their loved ones' stories, and interact with Charlie's coworkers, clients, and bosses. A Mortician's Tale is an informative, honest, and sometimes humorous look at the current state of and the future of the western death industry.
Mostly Positive
1,410 Steam reviews
| LANGUAGE | AUDIO | SUBTITLES | INTERFACE |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | — | — | Y |
https://blog.naver.com/shake_luna/224231830364 비공식한글패치
I took about two hours to play this game. It is short and sweet. The premise is simple and in the name, you are a Mortician at your first funeral home.
The game loop is easy, and you will get into the rhythm of it pretty quickly. It does become a pattern rather than a chore in my opinion because of how short the game is.
The things that really made me enjoy my experience was the background story. You do not have to read the emails or click on the 2nd tab, but I highly encourage you to do so. They do not impact the game play but they are where the true heart of the game lies. Without the emails and talking to the funeral attendees, it becomes nothing, almost like how Hillside in the game operates. The characters have personalities, and your can feel them in the words they send to you.
The story made me cry by the end. It tugged on my heart. And it really did it in a slow burn. While the character never really speaks, if you decide to embody her, it can become something that creeps up on you in terms of your emotions.
I will not spoil the story, but the last email about the partnership with the hospital... it actually broke me.
This story lets your learn about death, how others may view it, and how you might want to reflect on it yourself. As a person grieving my grandmother's death, this little story helped me in a way I did not expect, just allowing me to go threw a healing process with others, even virtually, was helpful and soothing.
It is a short game, 2 hours really at most, but it is rewarding. I encourage you to get it on sale if you feel the price is too steep, it is worth your time.
the story touched me a lot more than i thought it would. for a short game it's certainly thought-provoking and opened my eyes to different perspectives on death with the 'death positive' narrative the game has, as well as aspects to the death industry i'd never really considered before.
my main criticism is that i wish there was more of it, i doubt we'd ever see an update but i'd love a sort of spin-off game with more game mechanics to it and a bit more variety in challenges.
I just finished this game, and it stayed with me even after the credits.
What affected me most wasn’t just the topic of death, but how gently and honestly it showed the people behind it. The emails, the routines, and the care all felt very real.
The shift toward corporate funeral practices was hard to see. It made me think about how something so human can become distant. But the ending gave me hope. Seeing Charlie open her own space felt meaningful and reassuring.
The soundtrack is beautiful and honestly made me cry.
This game also felt personal to me. I’ll be attending Cypress College this fall to study mortuary science the same school connected to this game so it felt like a glimpse into my future.
Thank you to the creators for handling such a sensitive topic with care. This game doesn’t just tell a story, it makes you reflect, and that really stayed with me.
游戏操作流程非常简单和直接，社交也只有邮件和葬礼现场的人们。每个故事都是独立的，寥寥几笔就能理解整个家庭的情况，对于i人来说比较友好。邮件全英文，不过整体难度不是特别大，可以同时学习英语和一些殡葬行业的小知识。主角经历两个公司和员工截然不同的态度后，依然能坚持自己的想法，最后独立出去，很厉害了！不过个人感觉可以对主角Charlotte的个人信息再丰富一些会更好，能更理解她的心态和想法！
This is a really good game,for both easy operation and nice story.Every story is dapper and unique.You can quickly understand what really happened about those who lost their family members.I love the letters from Rose staff and Jen Love. Maybe we can add something more about Charlotte in the game so that we can better understand what she thought.
Love the game! Simple and it's cute!
I really liked the premise of the game, but it was way way way to short. There are so much potential here and i hope it will be updated or something.
Tip of the day, when i first started the game I only heard sounds and had a grey screen with a cursor. After some digging I found out that it helped to turn off anti aliasing in the options.
But, Loved the game but regret buying it for that little game time.
A Mortician's Tale is a very short but very worth it experience. I'm not a believer in the "game needs to last x hours to be worth y money" policy, so I had no qualms in paying the 10USD for the game.
A Mortician's Tale has a very apt title. Your PoV character is a mortician working at a funeral home, processing those who have died as per the requests of their loved ones. It's gameplay is very simple, little minigames depending on the method and presentation of the deceased.
The story is the main draw, told both through the tasks you're assigned, and people you're helping lay to rest, as well as email conversations with your boss and co-workers at the funeral home. The story is not groundbreaking or revolutionary, but that's because it attempts to tell a grounded story about the death industry and those who work in it.
I, personally, learned a lot about the death industry, the ways its behind the times, and ways it can evolve and move forward, and I found that experience fascinating and enlightening. It made me think a lot about loved ones I've lost, grieving, not just in regards to the immediate aftermath and how I interacted with the real world death industry.
You can tell every person involved in this production was really passionate about sharing the stories and issues behind something they're deeply invested in, and it shows. It's wonderful, earnest, and leaves you thinking about it long after you're finished.
I adore that the love for the material being covered doesn't just extend to our main characters, but also to the people we help cremate or bury. From little details added to the minigames, to the dialogue and placement of characters when you visit their funerals and pay your respects. You get to see the smallest glimpse into the lives of these people and I can only imagine how similar it must be to actually working in that field.
It doesn't have replayability, unless you're showing the story to someone else, naturally, so by most modern value propositions it isn't worth much, but I think it's fantastic. Educational, heartfelt, and meaningful. Easily worth the 10USD.
---{ Graphics }---
🔲 You forget what reality is
🔲 Beautiful
🔲 Good
✅ Suits the game
🔲 Decent
🔲 Not the best….
🔲 normal for its release time
🔲 Bad
---{ Gameplay }---
🔲 Amazing
✅ Good
🔲 average
🔲 Nothing worth remembering
🔲 Watch paint dry instead
🔲 Just don't
🔲 No gameplay, Or DLC add on
---{ Audience It’s aimed at }---
✅ Kids
✅ Teens
✅ Adults
---{ PC Requirements }---
✅ Potato
🔲 Decent
🔲 Fast
🔲 Rich
🔲 Ask NASA if they have a spare computer
---{ Difficulty }---
🔲 No difficulty required. (or an add on)
✅ Easy
🔲 requires minimal brain usage
🔲 Significant brain usage
🔲 Difficult
🔲 Dark Souls
---{ Story }---
🔲 No Story/ couldn't launch it
🔲 Some lore
🔲 Has a story, but it’s boring.
🔲 Average
✅ Good
🔲 Amazing!
🔲 It'll replace your life
---{ Game Time }---
🔲 Just an add on/ couldnt run it
✅ A little TOO short
🔲 Short
🔲 Average (10hrs+)
🔲 Long (30+ hrs)
🔲 Unlimited OR always updating
---{ Price }---
🔲 It's free!
🔲 Worth the price
✅ If it's on sale
🔲 Maybe if you have a kid.
🔲 Not recommended/ if you want DLCs
---{ Bugs }---
✅ Never heard of
🔲 Minor bugs
🔲 Can get annoying
🔲 The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs
---{ ? / 10 }---
🔲 1
🔲 2
🔲 3
🔲 4
🔲 5
🔲 6
🔲 7
✅ 8
🔲 9
🔲 10
when they said short they meant less than 9.99 short - fine game but get it on sale.
This is a low-poly, third person slice of life game detailing the daily grind of a funeral home employee, from washing the corpse to cutting it open to remove pacemakers before cremation to mingling with the mourners afterwards.
Now, be aware that despite the amount of detail on display (and even more nitty gritty not to mention environmental and philosophical essays in your email inbox within the game) this isn't portrayed in a terribly granular fashion, and most of the cadaver based mini-games (yes, you read that correctly) are pretty click/drag to win, about on par with your average kid's iPad game. As long as the gameplay being pretty simplistic doesn't bother you, then the emotional depth and analysis of the funeral industry will probably fascinate you.
It may not be complex but it has some real heart and deals with some pretty interesting issues.
Recommended!
This game isn't super long, so I don't wish to spoil too much. I will say, though, this game takes a rather morbid topic and handles it with a lot of respect and honesty. It also touches on some other topics that affect this industry and, by extension, all of us one way or another. With the added bonus of achievements, trading cards, and all the little goodies that come along with that, I think this was well worth the purchase. Aside from my few failings at a specific minigame, it was a really nice, calm experience that I quite enjoyed; and, while these topics weren't new to me, it was nice to experience the perspective that [b]A Mortician's Tale[/b] provided. If you see this on sale, or really want to support the dev, [i]I highly recommend picking this one up![/i]
I really enjoyed this short interactive visual novel. I originally found this game on a whim during one of the sales and admit I was drawn in because of the color palette. For such a short game, the devs did a wonderful job at exploring death and grief with such care and even nuance. The NPC interactions are brief, but I found them to be fairly realistic in the approach to depicting different layers and ways to grieve. While there are numerous traditions surrounding death practices, this game did open up the discussion for less traditional practices and even brings in the nuances of autonomy and even corporate greed. I love how much the devs were able to pack into such a short game. The interactive portions of the game were perfect for my lower energy, but still gave me enough to work with and keep up with the story line. The music was phenomenal. I absolutely recommend this game, particularly if you are involved with any sort of death care.
Really really good
DEI / LGBTQ2S!+ trash
Its an interesting game but gets boring quickly, wish there was more dialouge or just general story instead of just repetitve action w/no change or development. For the price... 4.5/10.
Very short, so I recommend getting on sale. That said, it was an enjoyable and informative experience with interesting gameplay
дуже коротка гра, яка тим не менш зачаровує своєю історією (навчилася грати в сапера завдяки цій грі)
this game gave me a moment of peace
it made it so i appreciate my life and freinds a bit more, by letting you prepare others loved ones for their funerals
This game is incredibly boring, and looks really like it was build by an AI or something. Look somewhere else.
A Mortician’s Tale explores an unusual and sensitive subject with care: the body preparation and funeral process in Western culture. You play as a newly graduated mortician starting her first job at a small funeral home. The gameplay centers on preparing the deceased, and the game introduces you to various funeral options—open casket, closed casket, and cremation—while walking you through the steps required for each.
Body preparation ranges from simple tasks, like gently washing the body, to more involved procedures, such as embalming or removing a pacemaker prior to cremation. These interactions are presented respectfully and without graphic detail. The sequence of actions feels educational, almost like a guided lesson that demystifies the work of a mortician.
After preparation, you attend the funeral service. Here, the main character can overhear conversations among the family, friends, and acquaintances of the deceased. These moments offer glimpses into the person’s life and the grieving process of those left behind. Once you’ve spoken to everyone and paid your respects, the service ends and the cycle continues with the next case.
Your in-game computer acts as the central hub for information. You’ll receive emails from your boss with instructions for upcoming preparations, messages from a co-worker and your best friend, and even a newsletter from a Funeral Information Group. These emails add warmth and personality to the experience. There’s also a tougher version of Minesweeper tucked into the computer—worth exploring if you’re an achievement hunter (and worth looking up a guide for, because it’s deceptively tricky!).
Overall, A Mortician’s Tale is a short but meaningful and informative experience. It can be completed in a single sitting, and achieving 100% completion takes about an hour. Replayability is limited, but the thoughtful storytelling and the insight you gain into funeral practices make it absolutely worth playing at least once.
Morticians Tale is a point and click game giving players a glimpse of what a mortician does and the business aspect of running a funeral home. I enjoyed learning about more eco friendly approaches/options funeral services can offer (i.e water cremation, biodegradable casket, green pod, biomix) compared the traditional embalmment and cremation options. I liked playing as goth beauty Charlie. Aside from that, there is not too much action in this game and the game tells you what you need to next. This is a con. I was going through the motions without much thought. I finished in 2 hours. I would say the game is more educational. I give it 3/5
Emotional narrative, lovely art, and the devastating revelation that I cant play minesweeper to save my life.
I really wanted to love this, and I was very excited when I found a game that takes on this subject. But I think this profession deserves a game that is much better than this one. It made me feel like I was playing a childrens game. IMO if you're gonna talk about and show these processes in a game you should take it very seriously, and actually dare to show what it's all about. Several of the tasks were literally two clicks, and you're done with prepping the body.. I feel like the devs are not taking the subject seriously and it ends up feeling silly and cartoon-ish.
This game quite literally changed my life. I first played this in my freshman year of high school, when I had no idea which career I wanted to pursue. Afterwards, I became so interested in mortuary work that I researched morticians in my own time. Ever since then, this has been the path I've wanted to take. I am now studying Funeral Service in college and have volunteered in a couple of funeral homes to gain experience, and it's all coming so naturally to me. I believe this is what I was made for, and this game made me realize that. I want to thank the developers for creating this beautiful game and for helping me understand my purpose!
For players not sure about purchasing this game, all I can really say is that it's a matter of preference. Yes, it's short. Yes, $10 is a little pricey for what it is. But for me, it was completely worth it. For anyone who decides to play this, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Especially if you're already considering working in the funeral industry, this game is pretty accurate to how it operates and should be useful in helping you decide if this is the right job for you.
A very short but meaningful game. I got it as part of a Humble Bundle so it felt like it was for free. It taught me a bit about how "the business" works (both in a practical and in a financial sense) and there was one very impactful moment in the 45 minutes that it took from beginning to end. There's no price to be put on art but I'd say if you can get this at the price of a good cup of coffee you have a great deal and it definitely will last longer than your venti.
Tenho há anos na minha biblioteca e só lembrei nesse finados. Na época comprei pois estava lendo os livros da Caitlin Doughty (que foi a inspiração pra ele). É super curto, basicamente você só vai clicando e lendo, mas é uma imersão muito tocante. Ele traz várias reflexões sobre a morte, o luto e a forma como a gente lida com esses temas, além de algumas curiosidades sobre funerais/rituais fúnebres em diferentes culturas (recomendo o livro dela “Para Toda a Eternidade”). Ao decorrer vamos conhecendo um pouco do dia a dia de uma funerária/crematório, se emocionamos com alguns diálogos, se revoltamos com outros, e refletimos sobre a falta de sensibilidade e informação em torno desses assuntos. Todos nós já passamos ou ainda vamos passar por alguma perda, e como lidamos/vamos lidar com elas? Como lidamos com a perda do outro? Como enxergamos a morte? Também é um lembrete de que nós mesmos vamos morrer, um lembrete para não deixar para depois o que pode ser feito agora. Me tocou justamente por isso: ele reflete situações reais, profundas e inevitáveis. É impressionante como o jogo consegue transmitir tudo isso de um jeito tão simples mas muito funcional. Trabalhar nessa área exige uma coragem e uma sensibilidade enormes, e é triste ver como ainda existem empresas que se aproveitam da dor das famílias e pessoas até nesses momentos de mais fragilidade. Precisamos falar e se informar mais sobre tudo isso. Poderiam ter aproveitado mais a proposta do jogo, adicionado mais história, porém vale a pena comprar só se estiver em promoção e se você se interessa pelo assunto e quer ter essa imersão.
Otro juego bastante sencillito, cortito y lineal en el que vas haciendo tu carrera como, bueno, preparadora de cadáveres (no recuerdo el nombre en español). La historia está bien aunque sea un poco indirecta, y se hace entretenido mientras dura.
Jeu hyper cozy à propos de la mort, on prend place dans un environnement rempli d'émotions contradictoires mais qui restent sensées pendant des funérailles. Tellement ravie du chemin pris par notre personnage. Cependant, je dois dire que je trouve le jeu un peu court même si plein de bons sentiments et de respect.
Práce v pohřebnictví je od nepaměti těžkou disciplínou. Soucítit s pozůstalími a zároveň najít balanc mezi soucitem a obchodním duchem je pro sjednavatele pohřbu téměř nemožné. A Mortician's Tale toto téma zpracovává s citem a hloubkou a za svou krátkou herní dobu dá hráči malý vhled do toho, co vše obnáší organizace pohřbu a manipulace se zemřelým. Otevírá témata jak etická, tak i společenská a zároveň nabízí hráčům citlivý náhled do moderního pohřebnictví.
Jediné mínus vidím v konci hry, který nepolíbeným jedincům nemusí až tak moc říct a pro jeho plné pochopení je nutné si minimálně pročíst veškeré texty, které hra nabízí.
9/10
beautifully made
short story - less than an hour
worth it
extremely short but nice story
buy on sale
6/10
About an hour long and entirely linear. That said, the story is sweet and well executed
A Mortician’s Tale tells the story of the daily life of a funeral home employee, exploring themes such as death, mourning, and the ethics of the funeral industry.
The gameplay is extremely basic.
Actions are guided and repetitive: reading emails, preparing bodies by following step-by-step instructions, and listening to short dialogues at funerals.
Emails serve as the main source of information, but they feel disconnected from the protagonist’s hands-on experience.
It’s more of a short interactive lesson than an emotionally engaging or deep experience.
The visual style is nice, but everything else feels a bit shallow.
It’s a game that shows a lot of potential but ends far too quickly to leave a lasting impression. (I finished the game in under an hour).
For those who are curious, i strongly recommend buying it on sale. It’s not worth the full price.
[h3]Rating: 5/10[/h3]
Il gioco è MOLTO corto, se riuscite ad acquistarlo scontato o in un bundle però è decisamente consigliato.
Very nice game but it is extremely short. I only recommend getting it on sell.
This is a short and simple game about being a mortician, and as someone interested in mortuary work in the future, I really enjoyed it! The story is charming but very short—being about an hour in length. The gameplay is satisfying and easy to follow, with step-by-step instructions for each service, which is helpful if you ever forget a step.
I especially liked the newsletter, which provides interesting information on different types of funerals and how death is viewed across cultures. I loved the cute art style, and absolutely LOVE that the main character has tattoos!
I’d recommend picking up this game on sale if you don’t mind how short it is. <3
[h1] 小而美的殡葬师模拟器游戏，锁女主，流程只有1小时 [/h1]
尸体非写实向，每次都有手把手的教程，就算中途放弃了也可以很快捡起来玩，不会因为忘记玩法而受阻碍，比较友好。
[h1]制作团队里女性占多数[/h1]
虽然有部分人自称them/they了
[h1]游戏内部提到MTF[/h1]
不过不是主线人物，是在每周日报里提到了“跨性别女性意志被家人否决，头发被剪掉”。sos女人的特征是长寿，不是长发。
总体来说瑕不掩瑜
A Mortician's Tale isn't really a [i]game[/i] it's more of a short, interactive experience made to educate people about funerals, what happens after death and open your eyes to the different types of grief... at least that's what I took from it.
It was quite a relaxing, educational playthrough for me, personally. The music was lovely. I felt a little emotional by the end after reading through the different stories of passing and the loved ones various reactions. I feel positive and somewhat "enlightened" after playing. Thank you to the devs for making this in a way that was kind, respectful and informative whilst still keeping on theme.
Definitely a product worth supporting and playing through, especially when it's on sale.
挺好的游戏，我从来不知道人土葬的话还得放血。这个小公司被收购之后，领导一切向钱看了，说不允许家属带食物来葬礼，让我想起最开始的葬礼家属还专门来邮件感谢让带食物，还是挺微妙的。但是他说的没错的事，不知道为何，大家在葬礼上总是很舍得花钱，做给谁看呢。听葬礼上的家属说话的时候，还是挺有感触的。我是之前爷爷葬礼的时候，才真的明白了盖棺定论这个词，他的老朋友们，坐着轮椅也要从外地来吊唁，都说他是一个很好的人，也算是度过了相对幸福的一生吧。希望在未来我的葬礼上，我也能得到一个好的评价。
65%
Beautiful, respectful and too short - kind of like life. I learned a lot of facts to do with death and left with new respect for morticians.
I agree with others who have said the price tag is a bit high for how short it is and its limited gameplay but I do appreciate its educational side and i think it gives a great insight on the death industry. I enjoyed learning about it.
I think its definately worth playing and supporting it but its definately there for a more educational purpose and an experience rather than thrilling gameplay.
Игра, в которой 90% времени вы будете читать, и к этому надо быть готовым. Но если вы готовы, то она вас не разочарует. Занятные факты о похоронном деле отлично вписаны в повествование, и игра оставила очень тёплые воспоминания. Некоторые из этих фактов даже пригодились мне в собственном творчестве.
Ну и визуал правда стильный.
Хороший проект для любителей игр, где чтение играет ключевую роль.
I wish I could leave a neutral review. For what the game is and the length, I loved it. But the other comments are right - it's like a long tutorial and then it abruptly ends. There is a lot of reading (which I didn't mind) and some cool bits of information. If you've ever read From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doughty (who is mentioned as a special thanks in the credits) you'll enjoy the emails.
I do recommend this game, but just be aware you're only getting about an hour of game play, you make only one decision, and there is no spoken dialogue. I'd recommend picking the game up on sale (which is what I did).
Tam sürüm oyundan ziyade demo gibi hissettirdi. Oynadığım en kısa oyunlardan biriydi. 30 dakika gibi bir sürede bitiyor.
Bir cenaze evinde çalışıyoruz, son yolculuğa uğurlama sürecinde hazırlıkları tamamlıyoruz. Tutorial tamamladığımızı sanarken oyun bitiyor.
Oyunla ilgili hoşuma giden tek şey renk paleti ve müzikleri olabilir. Oynarken huzursuz hissettim. Fiyatına değmediğini düşünüyorum.
Très court mais sympa. A faire quand on a une heure à occuper.
Quelques éléments à avoir en tête avant de se lancer:
1. Le jeu est uniquement en Anglais
2. Il y a des flash blancs assez agaçants au moment des changements d'écrans, le mieux c'est de ne pas jouer dans le noir
3. Le jeu aborde le décès et la crémation, de manière assez pédagogique certes, mais je ne le conseille pas si vous êtes actuellement en deuil
[b]My Take Away:[/b]
This game has wonderful messages about death and mourning (obviously). It also focuses on the corperatization of family run businesses and how cold death can be with out the personal care and thoughtfulness a small business can provide.
I would suggest wearing headphones, the music fits the game very well and provides great atmosphere. Make sure you interact with everyone and read (at least skim) the emails to get the full grasp of the story.
I really enjoyed this game and will be playing it again. I would wait for a sale given that it is an hour and a half experience, that being said I would not blame you if you bought at full price .
Thank you for reading!
[b]TL;DR:[/b]
[list]
[*]Wear headphones, music creates great atmosphere.
[*]Interact with people and read the emails, you will miss out otherwise.
[*]Quick play through, 1-2 hours.
[*]Good messages. Good story. Good ending. Good Game.
[*]Wait for sale.
[/list]
i'd say visually the game feels a little under developed to me, it's pretty fun and short, informative too but the visuals and aesthetic really fall short.
A job to die for... hehe
I wouldn't call this a 'game'. There are no stakes, no apparent way to lose, and no options for play. You click on the thing it tells you to click on, read, and that's it. Even IF that's your thing, ten dollars is kind of steep for under an hour of content, and very little, if ANY, meaningful musings on death, life or being a mortician.
A Mortician's Tale has a great art style and decent (yet limited) soundtrack, but unfortunately, that's about all it has to offer.
I feel like this game was too short for the price, but I love that it actually gave a relatively realistic view at the deathcare industry and actually works to educate throughout the game.
First, I like the game. The music and the aesthetics are comforting and the story is nice. The mechanics are repetitive, but calming to do.
The problem with this game is that I felt like the entire time I played, it was a tutorial of "how" to play the game and just when I thought I was being set free to actually play, the game ended.
I knew the game would be SHORT, but I didn't think it would be THIS short, if that makes sense? Like when I say it felt like a tutorial, I mean it. The entire time you play you're learning basically how to handle each situation and you never get to do anything without a guide, so naturally just assumed I was in a tutorial stage until it just...ended?
Devs, you did an amazing job. Like I hate giving this a negative review. The game IS cute and it IS sweet and I love it, but there is just not enough of it for me to justify giving it a recommendation. This is a 10 dollar game, my guys.
That and the fact that I need to start over to 100% the achievements is ridiculous since I can only play the mini game at a certain point? I'm so annoyed by this, honestly.
If the game is on sale for a GOOD price (I mean a few bucks) then def pick it up. But it isn't worth the 10 dollar price tag at all.
Devs, I'm sorry. I really wanted to give this game a good review. I can tell you put love into it. I really hope maybe you add free DLC for it in the future or the option to just have an endless play of randomized bodies that come in? Something, anything, to give this game some replayability.
I'm not going to say this is an amazing game, but it was an interesting time playing through. You can beat it in about 2 hours and it's one of those games you get what you put into it/look for.
Also fun seeing the special thanks to Caitlin Doughty after having reading her books.
do not play in a dark room. the flashbangs hurt my eyes
well i suppose it was cute, but it was too short to justify the price and automatic -10 points for minesweeper achievement. maybe worth it if you can pick it up for more than 50% off
Touching, poetic and just the right amount of simplistic. Not much to say about it but "give it a go".
So, listen, I reqlly liked the story with the evolution of the business and like big greedy corps stepping in but the game is too short and keeps on giving instruction when taking care of people. Please, let me be.
Otherwise, quite relaxing and even though it was extremely slow paced, I enjoyed this half an hour of playing it.
Cute game, but sadly too short. Hope they add to it.
I am a funeral services student (future funeral director) and current FDA for a family run home. This game is incredibly sweet and inspiring for those who are in death care for the right reasons. This game will be one that I remember throughout my future in the industry, as it is a reminder to continue to do what you do for the care of those affected by your work - not the money that comes from it. Thank you to Laundry Bear for this awesome story. :)
Side note, the game is quite short (took me about an hour) but worth the time and money!
Such a good game but wasted potential. Only 30 minutes of gameplay and its like a long tutorial. Would be an incredible game if you could continue or do freeplay of your funeral home with more options / endless clients.
There is almost no gameplay choices in this game.
Worth the short time it takes to play, especially if gotten on sale.
[h2]To Be Loved is To Be Mourned[/h2]
A Mortician's Tale is a short point-n-click low-poly game that showcases Charlie's day to day work as a mortician, from preparing the bodies to attending the funeral service and showing respects for the dead. I must note that as someone who has interest in anything macabre & is very interested in many death cultures, I had to play this game as I first saw it on Itch.io back in 2020 – & just like last time, the game left me wanting more.
Let's start from the beginning – the game's artstyle is simple & the pallet is monochromatic with shades of purple & lilac, giving the game a softer look than most games dealing with loss & death. And I must note, I love how the game handles mourning, as different people will react differently to the departure of their loved ones (or strangers), which I think is a plus on the game's behalf.
But I cannot review a game without noting its gameplay, which is where the most glaring flaws of the game really show themselves – the game loop consists mainly of reading some emails, preparing the body for the service, & attending the service. And the middle part is really what leads this game from being slightly repetitive to hand-holding tutorial. There's only one correct way to prepare each deceased, you cannot make decisions, & the game doesn't allow any mistakes & will tell you each step you must make in the preparations – the only saving grace is that it's pretty educational when it comes to the job of a mortician, but it's not very engaging gameplay which is what a game should be.
I would like to point from someone who is learning game development & is trying to make games myself, I think the main reason for that glaring flaw is that the developers started out with the game's story, but didn't think of gameplay until much later or didn't test the prototype for the gameplay loop enough to see if it's engaging for players. And I must hand it to them, the story is slowly unraveling through emails in an interesting way & adore the ending, but I think it would have been better if the game actually engaged with its player.
this game is REALLY short. the story is really very interesting and there is a pretty decent amount to read, but nothing that justifies buying it for TEN dollars. I finished the whole game in under two hours and that is WITH reading every email. also, im just personally not super into READING 60% of a game. the whole entire time I thought i was going through an intro/tutorial and when the fmc finally decides to (spoiler) go into business for herself, the game just...ends. just like that. it goes w/out saying but the pacing is very strange. this game had a lot of potential *in concept* but just falls short in sooo many areas it actually is just sad. this game could have focused on providing a sensitive and respectful commentary on death and grief. you can tell it tries to at times, but then it just..doesn't. overall very sad because this had such potential. maybe i would be a less callous if it was closer to five dollars, but i don't even think it's worth that.
Food for thought!
Dark but sweet <3 Short little game that gives a glimpse into the death industry.
Cute. Sad. Comfy. <3
a very cute story and lovely game. I do wish there was an endless mode but overall cute n very short
Étrange petit jeu où l'on suit une personne travaillant dans un salon funéraire.
I hit yes because the game is a cute little hour of your time. Don't pay $10 for it tho, def not worth that.
Finished the game in 70 minutes, and then realized I missed an achievement, and that took an extra 21 minutes of me guesstimating on a stupid minesweeper mini game before I gave up. Overall A Mortician's Tale is alright, and teaches you the processes funeral homes go through to ensure the deceased are taken care of in a fascinating way.
That said tho, def not worth $10 cause it's waaaaay too short, but I got it on sale for half off and I think that's worth $5 <3 All in all the development team did good for a game so short and simple!
A short, sweet intro to the death industry and the problems therewith. I was disappointed that it wasn't long enough, and that there weren't more choices to be had, but otherwise a cute little game for fans of Ask a Mortician etc.
I can't remember how this game ended up on my wishlist but it ended up being a very moving look at mourning, funerals, and being human in a corporate landscape.
6/10
I didnt cry, my eyes were just peeing.
I absolutely loved this game!
Surprisingly informative, the small details of change throughout the story line (you can really tell the difference between a place owned by someone who cares about what they're doing vs a company that just wants profit and expansion)
Ive had this game in my library for so long, Im happy I finally finished it ♥
A Mortician's Tale is a beautiful short, quite relaxing point and click virtual novel game and quite educational as well, now then the story. Charlie is a recently graduated young woman who lands a job as a mortician, her job as a mortician is to prepare bodies for their final trip; this is her story from her beginning to where she ends up.
So then the likes, the story is very good following this young woman at her time as a mortician in a simple Mom and Pop Mortuary to a more corporate one to much later, it was quite good, the story is also really educational as the story delves on how the mortuary process takes place and what needs to be done it's also pretty lgbtq-friendly which I really liked.
The gameplay is nice and simple you just prepare bodies for their funerals, it was also quite educational on what actually goes into preparing corpses like embalming and cremation.
The graphics are very good, pretty cozy with a nice soft look especially for its designs of characters, scenery; it also has a very good use of the color purple. The levels were good it's very simple you just have a preparation room and the actual funeral room, it was nice and very detailed while still being a bit minimalistic.
The characters were good each one felt like a real person I particularly like Matthew as he was quite entertaining and seemed like a down-to-earth kind of guy and Jennifer as she seemed like a cool and good friend to hang out with. The music is very good very soothing that really fits the game very well.
So then the dislikes, the game can be a tiny bit dull sometimes I mean if you're not really interested in the story and the characters then there's not a lot to the game. I also wish we could have explored another part of the mortician job like dressing bodies and putting on makeup.
Okay now that I have told you this A Mortician's Tale is a beautiful short, quite relaxing point and click virtual novel game and quite educational as well, with a very good story, very good graphics and good characters, I recommend this game if you're interested in the mortuary process then this could be the game for you, also here's hoping that they make a sequel.
A nice little game, simple but thoughtful.
Cool yet very short VN about funerals and the business side of it. Learned a thing about cremation too.
L'ambiance de ce jeu est très agréable, et malgré le thème et les mécaniques de jeu, je l'ai trouvé très respectueux. La bande originale est également de qualité.
[h3]A Different World[/h3]
I picked up this game, thinking, hey, basic retro graphics, but with a really interesting premise : "you are a mortician".
Death is not a topic people talk about enough in the western world. We are scared of dying, we give it too much power, for a thing that is, inevitable. Death is taboo to many, even though it is a guaranteed thing for every one of us.
[h3]The Premise[/h3]
The game starts out, learning a bit about the job of the mortician. But quite quickly draws you into the persona. A kind of person and the workplace, which we see as completely unconnected to our lives. Not being into tattoos or any kind of gothic and dark stuff, might also drag you out of your comfort zone. So I tried to imagine Abigail Beethoven Sciuto, the lab technician in the engaging CSI crime series. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abby_Sciuto instead. Which I hope will set the scene, someone who has principles, and sticks to them in spite of a workplace and industry focused on only money and death. You get to see the compassionate side of the profession and people.
It's a long while since I played the game, it's a really short game. It was so short I forgot to even review it I guess. 1 hour or so max. Unexpectedly it did give me a definite boost of confidence that I was in the right place mentally, and just need to keep at things. Even though it felt like things were stacked against me. Weird, but I enjoyed it so much I hoped and still do, there would be a new chapter at some point.
If you enjoy games with a life lesson to them, grab a scan of this list of similar : https://store.steampowered.com/curator/41773079-EmpathyGames/list/91358/
Cozy and heartwarming. Loved this cute little short game
Fun.
A Mortician's Tale is a game that explores some of the practices of the death industry. The game does not shy away from how families can be exploited by some funeral homes in the aftermath of their loved ones death.
This game is very short but manages to fit a lot of information and story within the emails that you receive at the start of each game day.
I liked playing A Mortician's Tale because it was informative and got me thinking about how I would like my remains to be taken care of when I pass away. I also learned about the importance of having witnesses when you put forth your will because without witnesses your will is USELESS. This game also shines a light on how predatory the funeral industry can be by showcasing some methods frequently used, which is.... saddening but good to know.
Overall I would recommend A Mortician's Tale because it does have information on the inevitable.
Wasn't expecting to cry as much as I did. 10/10
não é ruim, só fraco
A short and very simple game.
Learned a bit about the funeral process that I didn't know before.
The game itself isn't "fun" per-say, but was more about prompting thought, which I it did.
This was a touching game. Death has been traumatic for me, but this game was comforting. To take care of the deceased, and their loved ones. Very beautiful game.
Ps. Death Sweeper is like Minesweeper on steroids, and then more steroids. It's genius and had me hooked for hours. Huge props to the dev that came up with that idea.
It is a short game that has a beautiful story.
A visual short-story about death that has a distinct feel and some points about death and the "western" (but really, probably US) funeral industry which it makes very clear.
It is well done. The writing style, the music and the graphic style all work. I thought the range of backgrounds of the deceased, and their funeral service scenes, were really well judged.
It is though very simple, very short and couldn't be more than its one hour or so play length without new mechanics or new plot points. There also isn't much subtlety in its point making: the owners aren't just bad, they are *terrible*; the monthly industry email seems like a campaign newsletter that quickly ticks off standard culture topics.
However I certainly don't regret spending a few pounds and an hour or two experiencing it.
实际通关时间为30分钟。啥都提了一点啥都没展开的读邮件游戏，题材很感兴趣打完挺失望的。
トピックは不気味だが、アートは魅力的だ。音楽はシンプルながらぴったり。ゲームプレイはかなり繰り返しに感じることもあるが、とても短いゲームなので気にならなかった。正直なところ、ゲームプレイの要素を少し取り入れた短編小説／映画のように感じた。
ストーリーは感情的で示唆に富んでいる。しかし、簡素で短い。死後に訪れるもの、そしてその喪失に対処するために残された人々の人生について、別の視点から捉えることができたと思う。また、私たちがこの喪失に対処するのを陰で支える人々も。
このゲームを終えたとき、「もっと良くなるのに、もっとこうだったら......」という思いが頭を駆け巡った。しかし、人生と同じように、いつ終わるのか、長いのか短いのか、私たちにはどうすることもできない。
誰もが死というトピックに馴染めるわけではないと思うし、それがこのゲームを勧めない唯一の理由でもある。また、非常に短いので、多くの人がお金を払っただけのものを得られなかったと感じるかもしれない。だからセールで買うことをお勧めする！時間があれば、ぜひ体験してほしい。
Played this game with all possible paths that I could think of. A very lovely game with much more information about how death affects the people around us, and what the scientific methods of different processes to handle a body - each person has their own story, and how friends and family perceive us, including the character we're presented with in each section in the game.
Despite the game feeling like a tutorial, it's a much more calming one even with the topic of death constantly surrounding it. We're also given a glimpse into Charlie's life outside of her work, and how her best friend Jen affects her choices after subscribing her to Funerals Monthly.
There are two things I noticed that I didn't like about the game though, 2nd point being a major spoiler with one of the scenes:
1. [spoiler]This entire game feels like a tutorial. The first time was a really well set up tutorial, but it felt like I wasn't really playing the game, but more of clicking through a 3D visual novel. Some people may enjoy this aspect more, but I personally would've liked the challenge.[/spoiler]
2. [spoiler]There is an option for you to not feel comfortable handling a specific body, and you are given a different one instead if you choose to do so. There is no backstory of how this person died whatsoever, and the dialogues with this person's family/friends are noticeably more shallow and detached than when you choose the first person. It feels very soulless compared to the first option, and this let me down by a bit.[/spoiler]
Overall, I'd still encourage you to give this game a go. It's beautifully made art-wise, and a lot of care has been put into making it.
It is a cute and relaxing game that in my opinion, handles the sensitive topic of death well. I like the color scheme and art. The game play is simple and easy. This is a chill game
A beautiful and insightful game
The simplicity of [I]A Mortician's Tale[/I] belies a complexity of meaning and emotion to its underlying story. The gameplay sees the player carrying out a straightforward series of tasks to prepare the bodies of recently-deceased for their funeral, be that either open-casket or with a cremation. These tasks, though, are punctuated by a series of emails from the funeral director for whom you work, then attendance at the funeral itself, at which you can briefly interact with attendees. Through these, the game effectively captures the sense of loss than the bereaved with feel and the gentleness required to navigate their vulnerability, particularly effective when juxtaposed with the increasing business focus that the player's employer takes (slight vagueness there to avoid spoilers).
Una pequeña historia que parece ser algo personal.
En parte triste, pero realista.
A quiet, quasi-visual novel with a mode of play similar to Wunderdoktor, though the vibes are very different. This game is a memento mori from start to finish, and it fulfils said role with grace.
Touching and Thought Provoking
This game is very special to me as an aspiring mortician. Having followed the artist Jacquelin Deleon who creates some of the artwork for this game (one of my biggest inspirations to start drawing), as well and the game being inspired by Caitlin Doughty and The Order of the Good Death who inspired me to pursue a career in the funeral industry, this game was a treat.
The game is simple, via emails you interact with co workers and family members of the deceased, you prepare the body for the funeral by embalming or cremation, attend their funeral giving a chance to speak to their loved ones. In it's simplicity, it is really insightful, touching and through provoking throughout. x
2024年12月8日白金了A Mortician's Tale。
流程不长的小游戏，但是话题比较沉重。对这个游戏题材感到敏感或者不适的，不建议玩。
