An interactive drama of psychological unease

The Funny Thing About The Deer is a free, narrative-driven game based around text. As an HTML file, it is designed to be played in your browser. The intricate story involves a character visiting their family home and confronting their troubled past.

Although an interactive work of fiction rather than a typical game, this is very different from visual novels like CUPID and Dawn Chorus. For one, it is text-based, not visual. Another difference is the lack of romance typical for the genre.

A poetic storyline

The Funny Thing About The Deer conveys its story largely through text. First, the player will be shown a poem that will move to the next couplet when the final word is clicked. After this comes a choice of links: the setting is the garden, so the player can choose to examine the trees, grass, gate, or house.

A dark, unsettling story

The game continues to alternate between poetry and multiple-choice interactivity. As the player-character explores their old family home, their story will unfold for the player. Various dark and disturbing elements from the character’s past are described or hinted at through the poetic writing.

Disturbing but not graphic

The game is unsuitable for children. The disturbing elements, from the hints of suicide to the character’s traumatic backstory (which involves being transgender) may also be unsuitable for sensitive adults. That said, the lack of visuals means that there is no graphic violence or sexuality.

An engrossing storyline

As is often the case with narrative-driven games, The Funny Thing About The Deer lacks replay value. Even with the multiple-choice aspect, it is easy to see all that the game has to offer in a single twenty-minute play-through. While it lasts, it provides an engrossing storyline rich with emotion and atmosphere. The character’s journey has true psychological depth.