Citizen Sleeper

Very good TTRPG! Chill gameplay, engaging story, unique artstyle and fantastic OST!

I was really enjoying the game and then it forced me down a path that ruined my run. I stole codes for a guy, not realising the game would then force me to hand them over, instead of having the freedom to choose as was the case the entire game thus far. By being forced to hand them over, I was also forced to end my run a couple days later, ending my run and ruining the game for me. Because it auto-saved immediately after the action, I couldn't go back and revert what felt like a flaw in the game. Maybe I'll want to replay it again in future, but maybe the same thing will happen and ruin my run. Hopefully, this isn't an issue in the sequel because I did like the game, but do not wish to recommend it anymore.

A beautiful narrative game in a post apocalyptic space opera sci fi setting. Strongly reminds of Disco Elysium in terms of gameplay, although it doesn't have voice acting, it's text only. The writing is good, I connected to the characters (although not as much as in DE). I couldn't stop playing until I got to the end of the multiple storylines, it has that "one more turn" effect. Very nice game overall.

When I first discovered Citizen Sleeper I got attracted by the whimsical character designs of Guillaume Singelin and bought the game on a whim upon noticing the sci-fi setting. However, while advertised as a game with the freedom and flexibility of a TTRPG I would much rather describe Citizen Sleeper as a light mix of visual novel, management-sim and dice-game. The role-playing aspects of Citizen Sleeper are in fact largely cosmetic i.e. my choice of character had no deeper bearing on game-play and the story is running mostly on rails without player agency. Dialogue choices are by and large an illusion leading to the same quest outcome. For example, quite regularly I was given the option to Stay Silent in a conversation, only for my conversation partner to go on a monologue, which mimicked responses to the dialogue choices I hadn't actually clicked on. The idea is clever, but its execution doesn't quite sustain itself throughout the 10+ hours of run-time. My only way to opt-out of a particular quest would have been to not show up. In fact, it is possible to skip entire quest-chains as quite a few of them are designed to lead to one of the game's numerous endings. Nevertheless, the game only rewards skill-points for completing drives / quest-chains, i.e. indirectly nudging us to complete as many as possible. I do not think describing Citizen Sleeper as a light visual novel would have been to its detriment either. In fact, for me personally, the most charming aspect of Citizen Sleeper is its similarity to a visual novel, while neither showing too much nor too little of the setting. The descriptive writing of Gareth Damian Martin interspersed with the occasional character designs of Guillaume Singelin was enough to form a solid spring-board for my own imagination. In the initial hours of Citizen Sleeper I found myself to be thoroughly captivated by the highly rewarding effort of fleshing out the world with my own imagination. I walked the cable-strewn back-alleys of the Lowend, felt the warm humid breeze flowing across the overgrowth of the Greenway, I saw places bustling with people who had been stranded on the Eye for one reason or another, I even imagined my own synthetic skin having this smooth and silky touch and the oddity of sensory information not arriving as a sensation but a set of warnings and numbers. It was an infatuating experience. The management-sim and dice-game aspect initially added a sense of urgency and acted as a welcome pacemaker to keep my imagination on the move through this world. Yet, I eventually found myself comfortably self-sufficient and never at the whim of an urgent timer or bad dice-roll. At this point in the game a lot of impetus got replaced by tedium. The patterns of unlocking new areas, earning trust and working jobs were on rinse and repeat. The story wasn't flowing, instead I felt it got held up by an increasingly incessant amount of clicking and tracking back and forth across the map with the mouse-wheel. If it weren't for my patience waning at the half-way mark, I may not have given Citizen Sleeper's story further scrutiny, but at this point I also began to fall out of favour with the writing. Now, I am not one to oppose Martin's aspirations in telling his story, after all I came along for the ride willingly. Yet, I did not appreciate being also told what to think and what to feel repeatedly throughout the story. The story is already pretty much on rails, so I would have preferred to explore my thoughts and feelings, just like I was exploring the world of Citizen Sleeper. It feels almost cliche to be writing this, but please: show don't tell. In my opinion the game hits a low point during the DLC, when Martin's writing has become as nuanced as a soccer-ball to the face and the game-play as tedious as a smartphone clicker-game. Curiously, this is also the part where the highest amount of literary 'touching the Sleeper's shoulder' is happening, i.e. I am interpreting this as a sign of fatigue on the side of the developers. On the upside, the final ending of the DLC's third chapter is somewhat refreshing, giving good closure and surprising with some character appearances that are partly dependent on the ending(s) you have chosen during the main-game. In conclusion, if I could give this game something in-between recommend and do not recommend, I would. If you like visual novels and enjoy filling in the blanks with your imagination, this is in part a really fun experience. If you are looking for a choice-driven RPG, even though the very first word of this game's description reads 'role-playing', Citizen Sleeper is honestly quite far from it. I really had a good time with this in the beginning, but I also struggled with it for about half of its run-time. A very hesitant I do not recommend.

This game was at it's best game play wise during the first few hours where resources were tight and you had deadlines after that there is no challenge. At this point, with how much reading you're doing and how simple and easy the game play is, the game might've been better off being a book. However, i did enjoy the writing of the characters and story.

Disco Elysium-lite writing + VIsual Novel time management. Nice for a couple days worth of simple fun. I say disco elysium-lite because although both the presentation and writing style being eerily similar, it fails miserably in getting anywhere close to the writing quality in DE, to the point that it feels a bit embarrassing, if not presumptuous, that they even tried. It is also really preachy in a middle school kind of way, while being filled to the brim with pretentious sci-fi tropes. Still, worth-it if you want something to click mindlessly for a couple days while you busy yourself with other work.

a good little RPG with an interesting setting! i REALLY wish there was a manual save feature. in a game with multiple endings, and no text auto-skip function, it is really annoying to go back and re-play the same content :/

This game is a hybrid between a time management game and a visual novel. While the premise is quite grim - you have just escaped corporate slavery in an artificial body that has built-in planned obscolesence features to basically k*ll you if you don't receive corporate medicine - the overal tone is hopeful. You are an adept mechanic in a world made of failing machinery. You are without hope, yet you give hope to anyone you touch. There's a beautiful melancholy surrounding the story, the feelings of looking at the stars and wondering about freedom. It's a masterpiece of storytelling, that might choke you up at a couple of times. Choices do actually matter, but not in a way you would expect. It's not just choosing the right lines in dialogues, it's spending actual effort and time to solve things. There are multiple endings, I have seen two thus far, both brilliant in their own right. There are some character build options, but they mostly affect the early game and become irrelevant after a couple of hours.

such a good game. the story isn't especially complex, but the world is compelling, the art style is very nice and the characters are very endearing. also there's a cat.

fresh idea after fresh idea. the writing is consistently engaging, intriguing, and frankly literary, it's a lot harder than i thought it was going to be, but the repeat dialogue is simple enough to get through to get back where you were, and to me the "cycle system" feels like Celeste where you had control of the room you were in til you mastered it. there are lots of clocks going on but somehow absolutely no rush to it. of course, you wind up cornering yourself and are left to dangle with your lost cause. but it's really refreshing to be able to lose side quests and still hope to get lucky from another storyline. really great gameplay and great ideas throughout. i'm on my third playthrough now and have resorted to pen and paper to write down notes, names, missteps, etc. i was spreading myself too thin and now have to find a way to save currency very easy to lose track of where you went wrong. total blast.

Played this on a whim after seeing a tweet, just booted it up to poke around and maybe put an hour in tops. I then finished the whole thing in one day, gripped by this world from start to finish. The gameplay is nice and chill, yet still involved enough that it felt like more than a VN. The music and ambience were perfect, some of the most fitting and natural of any game I've played. I got super attached to the characters, to my friends, in this world, and enjoyed each of their quest endings. If this setting looks interesting to you, I'd highly recommend you pick this up, or at least grab it on sale sometime.

An amazing world with interesting characters and concepts hiding around every corner. The story pulls you in so many directions its certainly a game I will replay. Very satisfying to queue up actions and struggle against the limited actions and cycles your character has left. The tutorial pages can't be revisited (at least I couldn't find them in the options menus) so screenshot them when you see them. And the later stages of the core game include lots of clicking through travel locations if you need to access different ends of the map.

I was recommended this, by an IT coworker, and aside from the reading…. lol I absolutely love this game. Just finished my first run and can’t wait to try one of the many other ways

The gameplay was not that exciting but fitted well for this kind of story telling. However, the art style and story 9/10 both of them.

Completed the game from the first attempt in 6 hours. So it's pretty short and easy. I had fun playing it, but I'm not sure if I'm going to replay it. The starting choice of the character isn't that important outside of the early game since you will increase (and max out) your stats during the game, which seems to be the only different thing between the characters. Many of the things will have to be repeated between runs, although you can choose several different ways to finish the game. Also, the game has quite a lot of text with lore, which I wasn't very interested in, so I kind of skipped most of it. You don't really need to read it to complete the game, which is probably good since there is too much text for my liking. Overall, nice gameplay, but perhaps somewhat lacking in content and challenge.

Great game - can't wait to play the next one! It might be a little bit too linear for a RPG but choice and consequences do exist. Story, setting, art, gameplay, and duration are perfect (5/5),

I went into this game with pretty moderate expectations and mostly to catch up before playing the second one but this game is so well done, the dice rolls add enough amount of tension to the extremely well written characters and plot, especially the later added free dlc chapters are so well done. My only complaint is the game got wayy too easy by the end when I had enough credits to buy the entire eye. 8/10

Beat it, only did one ending so far. Really enjoyable. I would simply describe it as if Disco Elysium and Blade Runner had a baby. Very well written and thought provoking.

Incredible atmosphere, story and music in this deep space masterpiece of a game.

Beautify written story, filled with moments of stress but tasks never felt impossible to achieve. Some moments can go wrong due to bad luck, but it didn't feel like it hindered the game experience. I played through the whole game at least twice, and never felt bored. Just be ready to read, and enjoy!

This is NOT really a game. It's story telling through gamification. And it's amazingly great! As a lecturer on game design, I used to reference "To The Moon" for great story telling via game titles, and these often present more of an experience than an actual game. Citizen Sleeper has now become my main reference today to my students on this topic. The writing is really really good, and the immersion is awesome. The game is super low budget with mostly text and some pictures, and then one single 3D model of a space station that honestly isn't even difficult to sculpt at all. And it works - The writing simply carries it all. And the best part about the game is that it does not overstay its welcome. The length is perfect. Kudos!

First time playing a game like this. Overall great experience, the dice roll mechanic was interesting. The art style was nice and the soundtracks went well with the game. There are multiple different paths and relationships to explore. Some better than others. I believe it has 8 different endings, so it does have a lot of replay value. Only complaints I have, the way you navigate the eye could be better/faster and the dice roll mechanic can become tedious at times, more so toward the end. Overall great game, that i will return to in the future. 8.5/10

The writing is excellent, the story is thoughtful. The characters are archetypal but engaging. There aren't many games that I think about when I'm not playing, but Citizen Sleeper is good enough that I do think about it in those off hours.

Probably the most immersed I have ever gotten in an RPG. The cyberpunk/space setting is one of my favourites and even as a text-based game the few visuals did wonders to enhance the experience. The characters feel believable, realistic and relatable. It was easy to get immersed into the position of the Sleeper and to feel like part of life on the Eye. The only thing I would change is more interaction with certain characters after their storylines are 'over'. Quite a few characters you meet and grow attached too are just kind of 'gone' when you finish the respective drive. This was quite disappointing and broke my immersion a little. Overall a fantastic experience and one a wish I could play again for the first time.

I stumbled across this game with no expectations, and I have to say it was a beautiful experience. It's not a game you can rush through, you need to slow down as it's really text-heavy, but it's absolutely worth it. The choices you make, the stories you discover and the questions the game explores about humanity, existence, community and perseverance are all wonderfully narrated. The gameplay is easy to learn, the art style and music are great and the story made me cry. 10/10

Absolutely recommend, one of the best games ever made. The environment is fantastic, your choices matter to the story, and the vibes are immaculate.

Incredible. Only critique being that there is a lack of change-ups within the actual gameplay, but the writing, music, and art are all pure excellence. Guillaume Singelin, how you spoil us with your talents.

Great graphics, simple but telling of both the characters and their environment. Story works well in where it lacks dialogue routes it has choices on what to do per day and who to work with e.c.t. Didn't expect much getting it on sale but getting the sequel after I'm done, which should be soon because I'm binging this one

Hell of an experience, and while I get that a second play through won't be as 'magical' because I will have seen many of the story beats, I will see what happens if I make opposite choices on some of the stuff next time. Really interesting game mechanics that fit the theme perfectly and are neat to learn and push the boundaries of.

Incredible game. Deserves every 10/10. Its like Fallout New Vegas without the combat.

the single greatest work of narrative fiction ever created. 10/10.

Great story that makes you face ethical quandaries and characters you become attached to. Makes the player feel desperate to survive similar to the main character.

Some really nice writing solidifies this entire experience. Great world building with interesting and varied characters and story lines. The gameplay itself is very lean and barely "a game" but it is enough to keep you going and you always want to find the next little mystery in these character's lives.

Engrossing narrative-led game (think Disco Elysium) with an interesting dice system and with compelling characters and story beats. The music is arguably the best part of the game, I'll be listening to the OST while reading sci-fi for years to come! The first 4-5 hours are extremely immersive, as you feel trapped in this hyper-capitalist station that makes you suffer in order to get the resources needed to last another cycle. Then as the story progresses it gets easier and soon loses the charm of those excruciating first hours. The different endings are really good and the DLC, although a bit long for my taste and overstuffed, had some really good moments. Looking forward to the sequel! 8/10

Really wanted to like this game, but after a full playthrough, I just didn’t connect with it. The story drags, the characters are fun but a little one-note, the mechanics are stale after an hour or two. Soundtrack is great, premise is interesting, and in theory the dice mechanics are cool and their limitations really sell the idea of a deteriorating machine. I wouldn’t say it’s a waste of time, especially if the description piques your interest — it is what it says on the tin. But it’s not much more.

The characters in this game are exceptional, and their respective stories had me pressing forward for more. Granted, the game part fell away in the endgame as your dice rolls get more powerful, but at that point it transitions from TTRPG to visual novel. Loved every second of it, plus you get to pet the cat.

Uma ótima história de ficção científica que crítica os limites no capitalismo numa sociedade espacial, recomendado para fãs de jogos narrativos e distópicos.

The gameplay has its ups and downs, but at its tightest (the beginning) it's a challenging and satisfying game of just surviving to the next cycle. Where this game is best though is in its atmosphere and its music. Amos Roddy is a favourite composer of mine and this as well as Kingdom Two Crowns have some of the best soundtracks out there.

This game is awesome! The gameplay is deceptively simple - choices on what to do with your day turn into a complex web that really lets you feel the tension of the world growing tighter and tighter around your neck as each decision you make begins to matter more and more. This tension makes the story and world of the game immersive in a way that I have never quite felt before. The characters that you encounter feel layered in a way that makes every plot line compelling, which is enhanced by the game's beautiful artwork. The game's soundtrack is a perfect accompaniment to the rest of the experience- it made the whole game feel melancholic and atmospheric and bittersweet. The ending I achieved on my first run of the game made me burst into tears. Can't wait for my next save file.

I think about Citizen Sleeper all the time. Despite its far-future setting, I think it's one of the most accurate depictions of what it means to just exist under the crushing weight of our current dystopia that I've ever seen. Erlin's Eye and the Helion System are deeply interesting settings, chewed-up and spat out by capitalistism and left behind. Its people are as fascinating and loveable as they are mundane, and in fact that mundanity is what makes them so incredible. The Sleeper has one of the most touching and personal queer stories I've ever seen, touching upon themes of otherness, what it means to have a body you didn't choose, and how to deal with that body. The art direction and atmosphere is really immersive, and the music is not just among my all-time favourite video game OSTs but also just one of my favourite albums. The dice system is fun, but also a bit too simple and I'd say it simplicity is the only flaw. Everything else is incredible.

It’s incredible and it will go as fast or slow as you’d like it to. Incredible soundscape that pulls you into the world. It’s just perfect in every way. On top of all that it’s short! Easily can be completed in under 10 hours… It’s the coziest game I’ve ever played by a mile. I’m getting emotional just thinking about it

A wonderful entry in the "single player TTRPG" genre I've gotten a kick out of post playing Disco Elysium. Where Citizen Sleeper shines is its slow meditative pacing and worldbuilding. As the player uses dice rolls to uncover new locations and resources, these locations shift from confusing new structures to lived in worlds with quietly layered characters. The game asks you to choose which corners of The Eye you want to make your usual haunts and which you will leave undiscovered. The resolution of the arcs in Citizen Sleeper are beautifully bittersweet as well. Often times something ends in an anticlimax or with a cathartic shift that feels realistically messy. The game's moments of warmth however, even within tiny moments of kindness or temporary normalized comfort within a turbulent world, are equally stunning and deep reaching.

Beautiful art, amazing storytelling. The world feels as though you are dropped into it, not that it is shaped around you and your actions. Characters have their own agendas, and will go on with them, even if you decide to postpone it.

Phenomenal. Before playing this Citizen Sleeper, I had never really tried a game like it. After seeing the trailer, I thought this would be one of those games with incredible artwork but really poor gameplay. The more I looked into it though, I saw more things I liked. Of course the game has incredible artwork and pleasing visuals but I also noticed the queer representation, I thought, maybe the gameplay was more fun than it looked, so I got it on sale. I have never been so glad I took a chance on a game. Citizen Sleeper might be my new favorite game of all time. Incredible characters, the kind of story that latches into you and consumes you emotionally, the gameplay that seemed boring initially turned out to be pretty engaging. It's more a vehicle for the story than anything but it can't be left out. Admittedly, if you don't like reading, you'll hate this game. I love reading though, so it was perfect for me. I was so glad to find out there's a sequel. I am the Eye's number one soldier.

I'm torn on Citizen Sleeper cos I feel like it both really should have been longer and more complex than it was, while also having to admit that it provides a lot of content and is satisfying just the way it is. Really gorgeous artwork and general vibe to the game - I loved the mellow soundtrack and the generally melancholy-but-hopeful feel of the game. Really cute little storylines about finding home, and what home is to someone who isn't even at home in their own body. I can't imagine replaying it unless I wanted to knock off a few more achievements - but I don't think replayability is necessarily a must for a game like this. Nevertheless I'm very happy I finally got around to it, and I'm very excited about the prospect of Citizen Sleeper 2 being bigger and better. For what it's worth, my favourite ending is 'STARWARD PASSAGE'.

A great time with an unforgettable aesthetic and a cozy heart crossed with a set of (at least throughout the first half of the game) nerve-wracking survival mechanics. The gameplay is cleverly tied into the themes of the game, creating a uniquely immersive experience that I didn't expect from a text-based game.

This is the type of game that needs writing strong enough to carry it. Unfortunately, 'serviceable' is not quite good enough.

"I laughed. I cried. It moved me Bob." I played it 9 hours straight, got 21/27 achievements just playing blind. Ended up saying no to every possible ending except for the one I left for last, I could not bring myself to stay behind. I didn't finish the FreeLC because of that but I finished every other plot thread. It was a bit easy, especially because I was playing blind and made some mistakes but was still able to do everything and basically max my character out statwise (only one stat wasn't a +2 at the end). I was hoping for a bit more risk but in the end the story rewarded me much much more than I ever could've expected. It was very moving.

The world is interesting, the setting is cozy. Good for when you really need a chill pill. Edit. I reached the true ending of the game from the story expansions. The feels man. the feels. Where's the damn double thumbs up button?

Nicely written choose your own adventure with dice drafting, attuned graphics & soundtrack, and well-balanced duration. This will not be my last playthrough.