The Novelist
A spectral observer influences a family's vacation and their hidden desires.
The Novelist is an independent video game released in 2013, created by Kent Hudson under his studio Orthogonal Games. It launched on 10 December 2013 via Steam. The game offers two distinct ways to play: a stealth mode and a storytelling mode. Its narrative follows the Kaplan family during a vacation, with the player taking the role of an unseen spectral figure observing their daily lives.
The story centers on Dan Kaplan, a novelist struggling with writer's block who hopes the family trip will help him reconnect with his wife and son while finishing his book. His agent pressures him to complete the promised novel, while his wife Linda wants to mend their strained marriage and pursue her own art career. Their son Tommy, sensitive and lonely, seeks his father's attention through crayon drawings.
In storytelling mode, the player guides the plot by making choices that affect one or more family members. Clues about each character's desires and secrets are scattered throughout the vacation home in diaries, letters, and pictures. Players can also access characters' memories at certain points to learn more. In this mode, the player can be seen, but being spotted has no effect on gameplay.
In stealth mode, the Kaplan family can detect the player. To avoid being seen, the player must move behind the characters or possess light fixtures. If the player is caught more than twice in a single chapter, they lose the ability to influence the family's decisions.
Critical reception was mixed. The game holds a score of 66 on Metacritic based on 18 reviews. IGN criticized the limited number of endings, saying this oversimplifies the game's otherwise nuanced portrayal of family dynamics. Wired found the reliance on notes, diaries, and pictures to convey character thoughts felt ungenuine, and panned the stealth mode as a mostly meaningless obstacle to the story. Conversely, GameSpot praised the choices for having meaningful consequences and confronting real-life issues in a truthful way. Polygon gave a mostly positive review, highlighting sincere, realistic writing and an inspired approach to player choice. Despite the mixed reception, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated The Novelist for Outstanding Achievement in Story at the 17th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Kent Hudson
- Publisher
- Orthogonal Games
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux
- Released
- 10 December 2013
- Modes
- First-person storytelling, first-person stealth
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Novelist tells the story of Dan Kaplan, a novelist who brings his family on vacation hoping to reconnect with them and overcome writer's block. His agent pressures him to finish his novel, while his wife Linda seeks to mend their marriage and pursue her own art career. Their son Tommy, sensitive and lonely, tries to gain his father's attention through crayon drawings. The player, as a ghostly presence, observes and influences the family's choices. In storytelling mode, the player makes decisions that affect the plot, with information about characters' desires and secrets revealed through diaries, letters, pictures, and memories. The player can be seen in this mode, but it does not affect gameplay. In stealth mode, the Kaplans can detect the player, who must avoid being seen by hiding behind characters or possessing light fixtures; being seen more than twice in a chapter removes the ability to influence choices.
Reader's Guide
The Novelist received mixed critical reception, holding a Metacritic rating of 66 from 18 reviews. IGN criticized the limited number of endings, arguing this oversimplified the game's nuanced portrayal of family dynamics. Wired found the reliance on personal notes, diaries, and pictures to convey character thoughts ungenuine, and dismissed the stealth mode as a mostly meaningless obstacle to the story. Conversely, GameSpot praised the meaningful consequences of player choices, stating the game confronts real-life issues in a way that rings true. Polygon gave a mostly positive review, highlighting sincere, realistic writing and an inspired approach to player choice. Despite the mixed reception, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated The Novelist for Outstanding Achievement in Story at the 17th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards.
Did You Know?
- The Novelist was developed by Kent Hudson through his company Orthogonal Games.
- The game was first released on 10 December 2013 via Steam.
- In stealth mode, the player can possess light fixtures to avoid detection.
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