The Stanley Parable Review
Posted: 5 months ago, last updated yesterday.
Author: Andy Robertson.
Overview
As the narrator explains, Stanley works in an office and is tasked with monitoring data on a computer screen and pressing buttons appropriately without question. But one day the screen goes blank and Stanley starts to explore the building.
There are various points at which you need to make a decision. Will you follow the narration and keep the story on track, or choose to disobey and cause the narrator to adjust his story to get the player to return to the "proper" path. Depending on your choices there are different endings.
An upcoming rerelease, The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe, will bring an updated version of the game to PlayStation, Xbox, Switch as well as PC.
Details
Rating: Not rated by PEGI or ESRB
Release Date: 31/07/2011
Platforms: Mac, PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Tips
View our choice of games like The Stanley Parable. This game is good if you want to:
Commitment
Players: This is a single player game.
Costs
Age Ratings
No ratings available for this game.
Accessibility
Difficulty
How you can adjust the challenge of play, and assistance the game offers when you fail or get stuck.
Cognitive Pressure
Reaction-time Not Critical: Individual game actions don’t need quick reactions.
Low Pressure: Game tasks aren’t time-limited or with a high emphasis on performance. Or there is a low pressure play-mode available.
Reading
How much reading or listening comprehension is required, and how accessible this is.
No Reading: No reading is required.
Text Visibility
Large Clear Text: Text is large and clear, or can be adjusted to be.
High Text Contrast: Text colour contrasts to background.
Subtitles
Large Clear Subtitles: Subtitles are large and clear, or can be adjusted to be.
Any spoken content has subtitles: All spoken content has subtitles, or there is no speech in the game.
All Dialogue is Voiced: All of the game dialogue and narrative can be voiced.
Controls
How you control the game, different options for alternative inputs and whether you can remap these settings to suit your needs.
Multiple Buttons & Two Sticks: Can play with multiple buttons and two sticks.
Mouse and Keys: Can play with mouse and multiple keys.
Remap Controls
You can customise the controls for the game as follows:
Remap Buttons: Re-map all buttons/keys.
Remap Game Menu Access: You can remap buttons to pause and access game menu.
Invert X/Y Axis: You can invert the direction required to control looking and aiming.
Holding Down Buttons Optional: Holding down buttons not required or can be turned off or switched to toggling the action on and off.
Vibration Optional: Controller vibration not used in the game or you can disable it.
Adjust Mouse/Stick Sensitivity: Adjust how sensitive mouse/stick controls are.
Image
How you can adjust the visuals to suit your needs, and offer additional information if you can't hear the game.
No Screen Shake: No screen shake effect or this can be disabled.
Colourblind friendly: Game doesn’t rely on colour or can switch to colourblind friendly mode.
Clear Interface: The game navigation, maps and information are clear to read, large or adjustable.
Audio
How you can adjust the audio of the game and whether audio cues compensate for aspects of the game that are hard to see.
Balance Audio Levels: Set music and game sound effects separately.
Play Without Hearing: No audio cues are necessary to play the game well
System Settings
Windows has extensive accessibility features. Some, like colour correction, work with games. Lots of accessibility software can be used with PC games, from voice recognition to input device emulators. PlayStation 4 has a range of accessibility settings. Some are system only, some work in games (invert colours and button mapping). Xbox One has a system features, the excellent co-pilot share controls mode and adaptive controller support for all games... read more about system accessibility settings.
Supported by PlayabilityInitiative and accessibility contributors: @JonahMonaghan
Games Like The Stanley Parable
The following games are like The Stanley Parable. They address a similar topic or offer a similar way to play. They are good options to play next and also good alternatives to The Stanley Parable for younger age ratings.
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