Underplayed Gems

Norman's Great Illusion (2019)

Norman's Great Illusion cover
Developer
Civil Savages
Platforms
Windows
Genres
Adventure, Indie, Simulation
Rating
3.3 of 5, 41 player ratings
Typical playtime
about 1.0 hours
Where to get it
Steam

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The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A reflective, text-driven experience that immerses you in a politically charged atmosphere where every choice feels weighty and the narrative slowly unfolds.

politicalatmosphericthought-provokingslow-pacedseriousstory-richtext-basedinteractive fiction

What players say

Players are split on Norman's Great Illusion. Many praise its political message and call it more art than game, but others are driven away by the mandatory math mini-game that only accepts arrow-key input with no mouse support. Some find the difficulty intentional, others call it unplayable.

Screenshots

Norman's Great Illusion screenshot 1Norman's Great Illusion screenshot 2Norman's Great Illusion screenshot 3Norman's Great Illusion screenshot 4Norman's Great Illusion screenshot 5

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More by Sometimes You

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.