The Stanley Parable (2013)
Expanded Game of The Stanley Parable
Linux · Mac · PC (Microsoft Windows)
3.99 from 3659 ratings
8902 members have it in their collection · 75 playing now · 2066 backlogged · 842 wish listed
How long? Main story 2h · with extras 3h · 100% 8h (from 74 logged playthroughs)
A first-person exploration game built around branching narrative choices and an omniscient narrator who reacts to the player's decisions. Players navigate an office environment, choosing whether to follow or defy the narrator's directions, with each choice leading to different story paths and endings. Originally released as a Half-Life 2 mod in 2011, it was remade as a standalone title in …
Read more
A first-person exploration game built around branching narrative choices and an omniscient narrator who reacts to the player's decisions. Players navigate an office environment, choosing whether to follow or defy the narrator's directions, with each choice leading to different story paths and endings. Originally released as a Half-Life 2 mod in 2011, it was remade as a standalone title in 2013 and later expanded with The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe in 2022, which added new routes, environments, and endings across additional platforms.
Read less
Details
- Developers
- Galactic Cafe
- Publishers
- Galactic Cafe, Klei Entertainment
- Genres
- Adventure, Indie
- Themes
- Comedy
- Series
- The Stanley Parable
- Steam
- View on Steam
Release dates
- Oct 17, 2013 (Worldwide) PC (Microsoft Windows)
- Dec 19, 2013 (Worldwide) Mac
- Sep 09, 2015 (Worldwide) Linux
Also available on
- Half-Life 2 (2004) · ANDR, LIN, MAC, PC, PS3, XBOX, X360
- Half-Life 2: Collector's Edition (2004) · PC
- Half-Life 2: Survivor (2006) · ARC
- Dear Esther: Landmark Edition (2016) · MAC, PC, PS4, XONE, iOS
- The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe (2022) · LIN, MAC, NSW, PC, PS4, PS5, XONE, XSX, iOS
Related
Standalone expansions
- The Stanley Parable Demonstration (Oct 2013) · MAC, PC
Featured in lists
Rating distribution
5 stars
1215
4 stars
1461
3 stars
770
2 stars
162
1 star
51
Community All Reviews Statuses
Review Kleytonamor 3/5 · Jul 19, 2022
Really Clever Game
This game is super witty and reminds me a lot of the Portal games. Such a funny play and it is fun to run through the game and not know what you might find next. It is also as long or as short as you would like the game to be. If you want all achievements you might want to …
Read moreThis game is super witty and reminds me a lot of the Portal games. Such a funny play and it is fun to run through the game and not know what you might find next. It is also as long or as short as you would like the game to be. If you want all achievements you might want to look at a walkthrough but they are also pretty clear in the menu, except the secret one :P Would recommend this game to someone.
Read less
Review Lygodesma 5/5 · Feb 2, 2021
Very creative game design, a bit repititive but in this case it's really in the nature of the game. It's the first truly self-reflexive meta game I ever played in the sense that it reflects on what a game is within a game in a very postmodern way. The final solution to beat it (I don't say because of spoiler) …
Read moreVery creative game design, a bit repititive but in this case it's really in the nature of the game. It's the first truly self-reflexive meta game I ever played in the sense that it reflects on what a game is within a game in a very postmodern way. The final solution to beat it (I don't say because of spoiler) has philosophical implications and really 'makes you think' lol. Recommendable.
Read less
Review ManuelGurrola 3/5 · Sep 18, 2017
One of the most unique video games I've ever played (for a couple of hours)
Artistic Value: Graphics, music and sound effects are non-important in this video game; that's not what The Stanley Parable is about. The style and setting of the game is aptly and purposely average on the surface, but hiding something different in the corners; like a boring cardboard cutout with a dick drawn on the back. In less than two …
Artistic Value: Graphics, music and sound effects are non-important in this video game; that's not what The Stanley Parable is about. The style and setting of the game is aptly and purposely average on the surface, but hiding something different in the corners; like a boring cardboard cutout with a dick drawn on the back. In less than two minutes of playing you will notice that the writing breaks the fourth wall constantly; in fact the whole game is self-conscious and self-referencing. Without giving out too much, let me say that the narrator's dialogue is some of the most weird and unique writing you will come across in any video game. Rating = 7/10 for great.
Gameplay: Mechanics, controls and interface are one of the most standard of any video game... but even so, the gameplay is one of the most unique. You just have to move forward and make choices; choices that don't really matter, but they still matter. It is after all an exploration game; but you're not really exploring a map (OK, you're exploring a very small map), you're exploring the game's psyche. It is hard to explain but since the game breaks the fourth wall you can think outside the box and have some fun. Rating = 6/10 for good.
Fun Factor: Narrative story, replay value through the roof, and originality +100% makes this game a lot of fun... for a couple of minutes until it frustrates you and angers you. It feels like the narrator gets to know you better and better with each playthrough, and you get to know the narrator better; it's unavoidable to want to annoy the narrator and he will annoy you back. You'll probably replay this game dozens of times before putting it down, but that's still just a couple of hours. This game is a lot of fun, but very gimmicky. Rating = 7/10 for great.
Final Verdict: One of the most unique video games I've ever played for a couple of hours. Rating = 6.7/10 for Great.
Review AlexGarbus 4/5 · Feb 24, 2017
Great But Short
I really enjoyed the main story of The Stanley Parable. It was fun finding all the different paths and experiencing the narrator read my mind. My problem with the game, however, is how short it is. I was able to play for only about 2 hours before I'd discovered enough to satisfy me, and it only took me a week …
I really enjoyed the main story of The Stanley Parable. It was fun finding all the different paths and experiencing the narrator read my mind. My problem with the game, however, is how short it is. I was able to play for only about 2 hours before I'd discovered enough to satisfy me, and it only took me a week to 100% the game (it probably would've been even shorter if the achievement instructions weren't so vague).
Ultimately, I can only recommend this game if you believe you're getting your money's worth. The game is fun, but that fun only lasts so long.
