The Beginner's Guide

Best story game i've played in years. The visuals still hold up today and the music is amazing, and the story is deep and makes you think. I played this after seeing Jacksepticeye play years ago but decided to put a review in now.

I STRONGLY SUGGEST THIS GAME.

What an intense, bizarre, powerful, weird piece of art. Pushes the limits of what this genre (video games) is supposed to be capable of. Moving, baffling, fun. More of a movie you play than a game, but still great.

This is an interesting game. It's a collection of short, simple games that try to make you understand what the creator of them is struggling with and how that person feels about it. You just have to play the game to understand it.

1st playthough i didnt really get it, 2nd playthrough it clicked more, for an hour and a half of gameplay at its base price i think is quite pricy for a one play game, even though the story is the realest shit ever put in a video game that i have ever played so far, its uncomfortable how honest it is

It is easy to have mixed thoughts about this game. For me it was easy to understand and sympathize with the developer in the course of the game, otherwise without that emotional connection you would just call it a walking simulator that lasts a hour.
Skip a meal to buy this one you won't regret it.

I nice narrative driven experience that is worth walking through. Takes a little less than two hours to finish.

Its good; its a video game for sure, but it pushes what a video game is... like fundamentally and artistically. Its not for everyone. A note about playing it in 2025 however: first the game's engine does not support CPUs that have more than 12 cores. You must temporarily change the count of your CPU (if its more than 12) by manipulating the core count in "msconfig" (Start Menu > Run > msconfig). Within msconfig: boot tab > advanced options > check the "Number of processors:" box land select 8 from the drop down > OK > Apply j> OK > restart your computer. Also, make sure your running HDMI 1.1 and not 1.4; this was an issue I had but I do not know where the cut off is. This is almost a decade old game after all. You may need to manipulate your monitor's settings on its OSD.

The game itself was great, eye-opening even.

But 10 euros for 1.5 hour of playtime is just stupid
I would say it's worth your time if you receive it for free/ on sale

It was genuinely as intriguing of an experience as the reviews mentioned it out to be. The messages and themes behind the game are very somber in nature but with interesting things to intake for oneself if you are creative in some nature. Regardless of what you practice with your imagination, this does tackle a subject many may understand, have yet to understand, or simply want to understand simply because of the reputation of the developers themselves. Buy and play it whenever you feel yourself comfortable with an hour and a half experience that delves deep into a new way of understanding the art that one makes. The length is a true as the steam description states and is as good as the reviews make it out to be but your interest, time, alongside your wallet will determine if and when you play through this game.

It is usually $5 on sale if that helps. ;]

When I first played this game, I thought it was nothing more than just sad. I thought it was good, but it is a sad story. After replaying it again after so many years, and having incidents in my life that are similar to what happened in the game, I realized that this is much more than just a game. It's an experience. It was almost like looking into a mirror at points. I'm not sure what I can do now that I have replayed it, but one thing is for certain, I will be returning to it whenever I feel down, because this was a powerful experience.

After finishing this game i don't really know what I feel, I don't know how to to look at it and contextualize it. I'm not a game developer but am someone who lives in a creative field so I can see myself in both characters of the story. This is a very real game with a very real story. I don't want to spoil the story because that's what this game is its a story. I was brought to tears at multiple parts of this game and connected with it on a very emotional level. I would highly recommend this game for anyone in any sort of creative field whether its professional or just in spare time.

I enjoy games that offer new types of gaming experiences, and this one definitely does that. I haven't played many games with this video-essay style of gameplay, and there's something unique about it. It allows the creator to communicate their message much more effectively than most other genres. The game focuses on artist burnout, which is an interesting topic, but not everyone may relate to it.

I somehow expected to learn a bit about Game Design going into this. That…didn’t exactly happen.

Instead I got to experience something unique and raw in a short amount of time.

I’m still not completely certain how to feel about it and I will need to do more research to understand the context. However, I am certain that this is the best medium for presenting such a story.

I will return with more thoughts.

Edit: Now that I’ve done a bit more research I can comment further but I am leaving my original thoughts there. No spoilers from me though and I will remain vague.

I gotta emphasize that this was really well presented. Though I did not learn about Game Design in a traditional sense, this does give a unique perspective on aspects of it. Definitely recommend this to anyone. Powerful start to the New Year (greetings from 2025)!

There's a lot of media that likes to try to reach beyond the boundary of fiction and present itself as though there are real world consequences to the story. Not in the consumption of the story, but merely in the fictional events. They will make believe that the villain has escaped into the real world, or imply that through your actions as a viewer/reader/player/consumer you have genuinely hurt or helped fictional characters. I enjoy engaging in these fantasies, but no matter how much suspension of disbelief I put in, it is inescapable that these works aren't actually real. The consequences are all in my head, of course they are! Never before has a piece of media given me a genuine sense of *relief* in learning that the events therein are a fiction.

Unique concept using video games as a sort of short story media

This game means so much to me. I first played it when I was 12 and have played it at least once every year since then (turning 20 soon). Each time I take something new from it, especially as a rising game developer now. The combination of this, the Stanley Parable, and Portal 2 sparked my interest in walking simulators and really shaped my taste in games over the years. I can't wait for Wanderstop :)

At first it was very heavy, Then it got lighter. The realization was both intense and refreshing. Thank you for this experience. I recommend this to everyone, regardless of what you're looking for, I hope you buy this and get just as much out of it as i did. Thank you.

just play it. no reviews, no speedrun, no recording, no nothing, just play it. all by yourself. you and the game.

I really don’t know how to feel about this one. You would expect a pretentious commentary about the horrors of creativity, but it really is something else. I’m not entirely sure what it is, just play it and figure it out for yourself. It is cheap, it is short.

I think it is about the reason for creativity, why we create, is it for ourselves or the world, does exposing it and sharing it make it better or destroy it? Is art something to be thrown into the crucible of public opinion, or something to be cradled, to be kept secret and safe, to grow in a cocoon.

We are so quick to celebrate and uplift and show off that which we don’t really understand. How our personal experiences can make us see something far differently than what it actually was. What is the creatives intention? Does their intention matter at all?

It is something to think about - likely for a long time - if anything in this speaks to anything in you.

One of the most thought-provoking and best games I have played on Pressurized Air. It is an experience and I really recommend it. Cabbage shapes our nation.

Fantastic game. Very short, but holy moly, did I get a lot out of it.

I'm reviewing all the games I played in my 600+ library. This is 20th.

This game didn't touch me as most as others, but that may be because I've been a pro game designer for 8+ years now and my own opinion diverges a bit from the author's, and I didn't really discover something.

Also this is very much a walking sim, it's short, and it's only point is getting a message to you.

But here is the trick: if you've learned about this game or if you're intrigued by it, then you're likely to be touched by its message. If you're new to game making and are afraid your game will suck like hell, play this game. It's really a love letter to people making games for the joy of making them, and clearly we focus most often to much on the finality and not the road

So yes, I'll recommend it. It is a bit pretentious in displaying the author's opinion as some absolute truth, but who cares, it's a very interesting opinion anyway.

eye opening, WAOW, loved the npc design ^v^
Very fun and not to long, perfect game to end 2024 with

Surreal game that re-contextualizes the game development and art process in general. This game made me hate the game developer by the end but it is in no means a bad game.

I was glad to learn that this was a fictional scenario and no game developers were harmed in the making of this game.

I often find myself reflecting on the work of my peers and old friends, seeing what they were doing and what made them tick. This may not be a universal experience, but I feel like for those who have, it is such an interesting and unique experience you may find nowhere else.

You find mountains and mountains of weird and pointless experiences, some funny, experimental, and overall just meaningless in nature. But you see patterns, recurring themes, and you slowly gain a basic understanding of how they work, what is interesting to them, what they like to make. Regardless of if you know that person, you begin to understand a side of them that would be unseen if you were to interact with them physically. It's a wondrous and alluring experience unobtainable otherwise.

This is what The Beginner's Guide is about.

It isn't a grand experience, it isn't even particularly something I'd say you HAVE to see. But what it is, is something you won't find anywhere else. Just a pure, authentic look, at what makes a single person tick.

The most meta game imaginable, this art-house story about a self-defeating game designer manages to outdo the Stanley Parable at its own self-referential game.

Like Stanley, it's an superbly narrated visual novel, and while it's not as witty or fun-filled as Stanley, it's a fascinating glimpse into what it takes to create true art in a game, and what compromises need to be made.

Talk about learning not to think and feel, I can't appreciate this game! Now I feel like I've been scammed, but I shouldn't feel that yknow, cuz I payed for this experience, and there's no compensation for not getting it. 10/10 At least I'll play Wipeout on splitscreen after new year. Oh, and I'm not refunding this, that's just a dick move.

if i say anything about the gameplay it'll ruin the detph

if you're okay with story focused walking simulators this is a good game

I've heard this is a really wonderful experience, however it consistently crashes before getting to the gameplay on my hardware configuration (Ryzen 9 7950X, RTX 3080 Ti).

Looking at the Steam discussions, this is not an uncommon problem for more modern hardware and isn't always solvable. The community solutions did improve it from "crashing as soon as the game opens" to "crashing immediately after seeing the controls".

I dont know how to describe what this game is about without spoiling the experience, go into it blind. Enjoy the surroundings, the story. Its incredible.

I'm not sure I can just say yes or no, recommending this game or not. It's not for everyone, but it can be.

It hurt so bad, but it was cathartic.

It felt like a cleanse of sorts, but like I was also downing a vial of poison.

The Beginner's Guide is an experience more than it is a guide, a game, a walking sim, or a series of elaborate prisons.

Play at your own risk. But don't let me sway you. If you're interested, get it, play it through.

This game is truly worth your time and money. It may even help replenish some of the missing mental tools in your social arsenal. What’s it about? Well... It’s a descent into the raw, unfiltered sensations of helplessness and the desperate urge to fix what feels the need of repair. In the process, you may find yourself projecting onto these "things"—not for altruism, but for the selfish need to feel something, anything. And that realisation? It’s revolting. This game left me feeling disgusted, heartbroken, and profoundly weak, all at once.
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Even though you might not want to experience similar emotions, I strongly recommend at least giving it a try. After all, you can always return the game if you feel it wasn’t worth your time and money. Sometimes, growth demands suffering—and this game is the perfect example of that.
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This game makes you feel things, you get taken on a journey you did not know you where ready for or had in you. You are confronted with your own mind, your own thought.

It’s really hard to describe this game, but it’s an experience that’ll resonate with you one way or another. This game is an amazing piece of introspective art; it’s able to capture the artistic process in such a personal and devastating way–at least to me.
I’d like to revisit this game every once in a while in the future. I think it’s a genuinely good think-piece on what it means to be a creative.

Don’t have much else to say about this game except this isn’t a traditional game–It won’t be as fun or as witty as The Stanley Parable. Play this game as a narrative.

And if you like this game, I recommend watching or reading [i]Look Back[i] by Tatsuki Fujimoto as well.

A subversive masterpiece that gives the player a front-row seat to Davey Wreden's inner turmoil. :)

this is just another dime a dozen boring walking simulator game, don't bother playing this game because all you really do is just experience ego death

For the sake of not spoiling anything, I am not going to say much in this review. If you've never played this or haven't seen a playthrough, I cannot recommend it enough. I just finished it myself and I'm still processing what it had to say about games as a medium and how we as people view them and view ourselves. Do yourself a favor and carve out the hour and a half to play this. I'm going to have this game on my mind for a long while.

A suite of micro games that are all very meta while keeping their poetic value, one of my fav experimental game until now

French players: switch to US keyboard layout *before* starting the game else you'll be stuck in WASD on AZERTY

This game is so great and has the best story telling that i have ever experienced in a game. highly recommend playing it

The Beginner's Guide is a unique and introspective experience that takes you through a series of unfinished games created by a mysterious developer. With a slow-paced, narrative-driven journey, it explores themes of creativity, failure, and the complexities of game design. The minimalist art style and thoughtful voice narration make for a reflective and engaging 2-hour experience. It’s not your typical game, but that’s what makes it stand out. Highly recommended for anyone interested in video games as an art form or looking for something different.
Full playthrough of the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRb7zDAA94o

The Beginner's Guide is an absolutely beautiful and concise experience. I've seen some users on discussion boards and reviews point out that this game is 'pretentious' and I'm kinda saddened by that reaction. Although this opinion is totally valid because I won't pretend that my opinion is the best one or the only one for that matter, I'm kinda disappointed that we throw that term around as soon as a medium (being games or films) tries to go off the beaten path and to transmit something more "artistic" to a certain degree that we are comfortable with. Art shouldn't be comfortable, it should break, kill, destroy any sense of security or habit to try to push people's perspectives out of the comfort zone, in my opinion. I think this game does a good job at that. We (generally) aren't really used to that kind of experience and I wholeheartedly think that this is very well put together. The performance (VA) is sometimes lacking (I think), but this remains an immense success in what it is trying to accomplish by stringing together all those bits and pieces of games made in Source. As an inspiring game dev myself, I learned a lot from playing that game. This is an incredible experience about creation, validation and meaning ; so I'm pretty sure that's "mission accomplished" for the devs if I can yap for this long about other peoples' views. I don't think this game is pretentious in the slightest and I think anyone coming in with an open mind should come out of this experience with SOMETHING. I don't know what (your experience may vary), but at least something. And you know what ; if you don't like it, at least you came in with the idea of giving this a chance and I think that's very meaningful.

*edit : grammar (sorry, English is not my first language)

As a beginner game developer (that bought this game because of PirateSoftware's recommendation) I probably didn't get the entirety of the plot nor did I get the ending i expected. What I did understand though is that the games don't always have to be shared, they can be made just for me, my own little worlds that (most of the time) work as I tell them to, stored just on my pc. A safe space not only to play the game but also change it however you like. That's the message I've especially understood with the words "You probably started thinking that I'm making these games for you" (or something like that) . There's also some other stuff but I don't want to spoil it and the review is getting a bit too long.

Maybe this game didn't change the way I see game development but it for sure taught me a valuable lesson about it.

This game seems like it would be the most pretentious game ever, until you realize its the complete opposite.

With that said, I need to work on something. For myself that is.

I dont break into tears often.

if ever, its rare.

This game made me feel intense incredible emotion. Nothing no other show, movie, nor game has ever done. I felt the emotion. Not all the emotion, but enough to make me feel beyond myself as a player alone.

Incredible game. highly recommend.

I feel like analysing this game, reviewing what I liked and didn't like would go against what this game was telling. On one end I feel like I misunderstood something, that I didn't give it my full attention inbetween the sips of my drink but on the other end, I feel like this game was made for me. I think on the otherside of the monitor, I saw a bit of myself looking back, that was special. Thank you.

invites to think and reflect on ones own mind, its no to see the developers thoughts and conclution, but to reflect on ones own answer and closure to something.

This "game" its not a game its an expirience that has double story the one that its told to you and a one that you create yourself its a great product. I dont know how to feel about it other than its unique. It may not suit you but it found a place in my memory and thoughts. I would still recomend buying it and trying.

For the average person, it's a good game with a thought-provoking story. For the average creator, it's a bit of a mind-fuck with a pretty powerful message.

It's a walking simulator and you might see it as pretentious, but I found it to be really neat and something that'll stick in my mind.