Orwell: Keeping an Eye on You

Critic reviews

• The Escapist

  Lizzy Finnegan · Dec 20, 2016

  7.0

  The game isn't perfect - I often had to close out of tabs and re-enter them because certain Datachunks wanted to be difficult - but overall, Orwell is an enjoyable and thought provoking game that, while it may not meet one's traditional idea of "fun," is more than worthwhile.

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• Game Informer

  Javy Gwaltney · Dec 16, 2016

  6.0

  Games should always be engaging – at least for a few moments – but I did not find myself interested in what Orwell had to say about terrorism or totalitarianism. For the bold face it puts it on, Orwell is simply content to repeat what novels and films have more eloquently said about the terrifying intersection of our lives and technology. That’s a shame, because games could tackle those heavy subjects in a thought-provoking manner. Unfortunately, Orwell doesn’t.
• PC Gamer

  Phil Savage · Dec 13, 2016

  7.8

  It's an enjoyable way to interact with a world—the voyeurism creating a distinct, enjoyable power dynamic that I refuse to self-reflect on any further. It's not at all subtle—it's called Orwell, after all—but it's a well told mystery framed by a captivating storytelling device.

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• GameSpot

  James O'Connor · Nov 30, 2016

  8.0

  Orwell is a hard experience to pull back from, even as the dirtiness of your job sinks in. It uses simple mechanics to tell a complex and engaging story, one that feels particularly relevant right now. This is a game where your choices matter and resonate, and which will leave you with plenty to think about once it’s over.

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• Polygon

  Colin Campbell · Nov 29, 2016

  9.0

  Orwell grabs the problem of how we balance our own liberty and our safety and turns it into a thrilling adventure. It unfolds complex debate points into a dazzling satire, that neatly presents all the relevant arguments as a series of moral problems, dressed up in a frighteningly convincing world.

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• Game Grin

  Andrew Duncan · Oct 27, 2016

  9.0

  In a way, it’s like Watch_Dogs in reverse. Whereas in that, you were working against CTOS, and whoever was controlling that, in Orwell you are CTOS. So far there’s no car chases, but you never know… However, given the polish which the game has, and the fact that it’s only £8 at full price, I’ve no qualms about scoring this high. I eagerly await the next three episodes, and am already hoping for a sequel.

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