The Stanley Parable (2013)

Galactic Cafe

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
Remove Ads with Grouvee Gold

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

Related

Standalone expansions

Remove Ads with Grouvee Gold

Featured in lists

Rating distribution

5 stars
1215
4 stars
1461
3 stars
770
2 stars
162
1 star
51
Remove Ads with Grouvee Gold

Community All Reviews Statuses

StarscReen

Status StarscReen Jan 14, 2025

I just found out there's an achievement for not playing for five years so I looked it up in my Steam library thinking it probably has been five years already.

...

I played this over 10 years ago.

10 years.

I'm officially old now.

May_Odaigahara

Status May_Odaigahara Dec 21, 2023

some interesting ideas but the narrator's voice + the "humor" in the writing irritate me so much that I don't think I'll ever finish this one lol

Kleytonamor

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 more

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 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
RxBrad

Status RxBrad May 27, 2022

I've seen a few "endings". I even got an achievement saying I beat the game. Am I done with the game? Maybe? I'm so confused.....

(NOTE: I'm playing the original release of the game, and not Super Ultra Deluxe XL Whatever It's Called)

MarioPrime

Status MarioPrime Apr 27, 2022

So I know that usually game re-releases get folded into the regular game listing on this site, but, uh, motion to make a separate entry for The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe? Because, uh, well... it's complicated.

Lygodesma

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 more

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) has philosophical implications and really 'makes you think' lol. Recommendable.

Read less
MyChaos

Status MyChaos Apr 7, 2020

I didn't know what kind of game this would be, but I liked it. The narrator itself is comic but also evil. A Walking Simulator where every decision the player takes will have an influence on one of the game's endings. In my walkthrough I had several that I liked the most was Freedom Ending. An interesting game for anyone …

Read more

I didn't know what kind of game this would be, but I liked it. The narrator itself is comic but also evil. A Walking Simulator where every decision the player takes will have an influence on one of the game's endings. In my walkthrough I had several that I liked the most was Freedom Ending. An interesting game for anyone to play.

Read less
Sadaharu_TR

Status Sadaharu_TR Mar 17, 2020

Nice ideas. But didn't really catch me. I was already done playing it after 5-6 endings. I watched the whole 18 endings tho. It was more fun to watch than playing. I don't know why.

savilizabeths

Status savilizabeths Feb 12, 2018

I made the narrator mad because I inputed the code into the keypad before he told it to me so he made me listen to 'soothing' new age music. This game is a delight.

ManuelGurrola

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 …

Read more

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.

Read less
spigelwii

Status spigelwii Jun 29, 2017

After getting off to a hot start in 2017 (finished 17 games in the month of January alone!) my pace has slowed to a crawl, having completed only 9 games since February. Going to knock out a couple of walking simulators to increase my odds of beating 52 games this year.

AlexGarbus

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 …

Read more

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.

Read less
AlfredoSalza

Status AlfredoSalza Jun 26, 2015

I didn't actually "play" this game, but watched a full all-endings let's play. One of the (very) few game I know that takes humor seriously and embraces it as the core of its presentation.

Jess

Status Jess Oct 18, 2013

I think I've managed to sniff out just about every ending and secret. Took me just under 5 hours. So not a very long game, but a very enjoyable one. I highly recommend picking this one up!