The Stanley Parable is a first person exploration game. You will play as Stanley, and you will not play as Stanley. You will follow a story, you will not follow a story. You will have a choice, you will have no choice. The game will end, the game will never end.
User reviews:
Recent:
Very Positive (343 reviews) - 88% of the 343 user reviews in the last 30 days are positive.
Overall:
Very Positive (24,705 reviews) - 91% of the 24,705 user reviews for this game are positive.
Release Date: 17 Oct, 2013

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Buy The Stanley Parable

11,99€
 

About This Game

The Stanley Parable is a first person exploration game. You will play as Stanley, and you will not play as Stanley. You will follow a story, you will not follow a story. You will have a choice, you will have no choice. The game will end, the game will never end. Contradiction follows contradiction, the rules of how games should work are broken, then broken again. This world was not made for you to understand.

But as you explore, slowly, meaning begins to arise, the paradoxes might start to make sense, perhaps you are powerful after all. The game is not here to fight you; it is inviting you to dance.

Based on the award-winning 2011 Source mod of the same name, The Stanley Parable returns with new content, new ideas, a fresh coat of visual paint, and the stunning voicework of Kevan Brighting. For a more complete and in-depth understanding of what The Stanley Parable is, please try out the free demo.

System Requirements

Windows
Mac OS X
SteamOS + Linux
    Minimum:
    • OS: Windows XP/Vista/7/8
    • Processor: 3.0 GHz P4, Dual Core 2.0 (or higher) or AMD64X2 (or higher)
    • Memory: 2 GB RAM
    • Graphics: Video card must be 128 MB or more and should be a DirectX 9-compatible with support for Pixel Shader 2.0b (ATI Radeon X800 or higher / NVIDIA GeForce 7600 or higher / Intel HD Graphics 2000 or higher - *NOT* an Express graphics card).
    • Storage: 3 GB available space
    • Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c compatible
    Minimum:
    • OS: Mac OS X 10.8 or higher required
    • Processor: 3.0 GHz P4, Dual Core 2.0 (or higher) or AMD64X2 (or higher)
    • Memory: 2 GB RAM
    • Graphics: ATI Radeon 2400 or higher / NVIDIA 8600M or higher
    Minimum:
    • OS: Ubuntu 12.04
    • Processor: Dual core from Intel or AMD at 2.8 GHz
    • Memory: 2 GB RAM
    • Graphics: nVidia GeForce 8600/9600GT, ATI/AMD Radeon HD2600/3600 (Graphic Drivers: nVidia 310, AMD 12.11), OpenGL 2.1
    • Storage: 4 GB available space
    • Sound Card: OpenAL Compatible Sound Card
Customer reviews
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Recent:
Very Positive (343 reviews)
Overall:
Very Positive (24,705 reviews)
Recently Posted
Goobzz
( 0.6 hrs on record )
Posted: 13 August
Played this game stoned and nearly died
420/10 would trip balls again
Helpful? Yes No Funny
pkp
( 9.6 hrs on record )
Posted: 13 August
The Stanley Parable is a thrilling walking simulator where you witness first-hand the battle between talented narrator Kevan Brighting and a drawn-out, pseudo-intellectual script.

Pros
+ Likable protagonist
I found myself really rooting for Brighting because he has an English accent. (The good kind. Not that cockney crap.)

+ An unambiguous villain
A refreshing lack of moral grays. The script is truly bad. You'll be left wondering what atrocity it'll commit next.

+ Easy fandom
Some fandoms expect a lot of effort out of their members. Parable makes it easy.
  • No need for fanart or cosplay. You only briefly see one character and no one cares about her.
  • No need for tumblr shrines. Game creator Davey Wreden has already erected the ultimate shrine to his game in his game.

+ Accessible
In Parable, you'll replay the same parts of the game numerous times. Finally, a game accessible to those with memory disorders.


Cons
- The final outcome was a little too obvious. Some have called Brighting a vocal alchemist, able to turn leaden words golden. But if that's the case, then Parable's script must exist outside of the periodic table. Brighting has no choice but to follow the ruinous path imposed by the script.


Final Words
Shallower than a baby pool minus the pee.
Helpful? Yes No Funny
Hand of Sheog
( 6.9 hrs on record )
Posted: 13 August
I took the narrator's suggestions, and I got a pretty decent ending. I disobeyed the narrator, and I got to see parts of game dev, limitations, vindictiveness, and despair I wouldn't have seen otherwise. A wise-cracking game where there's either no story...

Or ALL the story.
Helpful? Yes No Funny
Turkish Spaghetti
( 7.6 hrs on record )
Posted: 13 August
the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end the end is never the end
Helpful? Yes No Funny
The Dead Skull
( 6.7 hrs on record )
Posted: 13 August
OH, DID U GET THE BROOM CLOSET ENDING? THEB ROOM CLOSET ENDING WAS MY FAVRITE!1 XD
Helpful? Yes No Funny
zzidzodzap
( 0.6 hrs on record )
Posted: 13 August
Product received for free
I bought this one based on reviews and yes it's quite a different experience but I can't seem to be able to make myself like it. Maybe I don't get it? Maybe its the story? Maybe theres not enough to do? I don't know, however what I do know is that it's been sitting on my desktop with no gameplay for a long time now. This game is definitely for an aquired taste. I'm still on the fence but more on the thumbs down side.
Helpful? Yes No Funny
Je66b
( 0.8 hrs on record )
Posted: 13 August
I believe i got this game in a humble bundle so price isnt really an issue. Its a very clever game and made me grin a lot given the narrarators reaction to your actions, a lot of them i wasnt initially prepared for, and even if you are it still might catch you off guard. I stumbled upon the ending and my time played reflects exactly how long it took me to beat the game.

Id reccomend this game if it were priced less than $5.
Helpful? Yes No Funny
The_Crunchy_Pig
( 0.3 hrs on record )
Posted: 13 August
Product received for free
this is awsome
Helpful? Yes No Funny
slack04
( 7.5 hrs on record )
Posted: 12 August
Brilliant if you like games. Ridiculous if you don't.
Helpful? Yes No Funny
][ ( {- m@n
( 2.7 hrs on record )
Posted: 12 August
Short and Sweet, Awesome support TEAM!!!
Helpful? Yes No Funny
Most Helpful Reviews  In the past 30 days
8 of 8 people (100%) found this review helpful
Recommended
0.5 hrs on record
Posted: 10 August
Short game with many different endings and possibilities. Whatever you do, the game reacts to you.

I thought I had finished the game but no... it tricked me. It only gave me a long ending to show me how ignorant I was to the world around me.

You can bend and break the rules but are you ready to face the consequences? Nobody is invulnerable.

What the heck am I talking about? You'll have to play the game to find out! :)
Was this review helpful? Yes No Funny
5 of 5 people (100%) found this review helpful
4 people found this review funny
Recommended
0.9 hrs on record
Posted: 21 July
It took 6 hours of smashing space button to protect a baby and advance. It was worth it
Was this review helpful? Yes No Funny
3 of 3 people (100%) found this review helpful
Recommended
2.7 hrs on record
Posted: 21 July
Great game. Great ''story-ies'' . This narator just.... Messed up with your mind. Different ending. It's a masterpiece
Was this review helpful? Yes No Funny
3 of 3 people (100%) found this review helpful
Recommended
0.2 hrs on record
Posted: 2 August
You can disobey and break the game.
10/10
Was this review helpful? Yes No Funny
4 of 5 people (80%) found this review helpful
Recommended
9.9 hrs on record
Posted: 16 July
Product received for free
If you play the free demo you'll know whether or not you like this game, so this review is pointless and futile, which is entirely appropriate as the game itself revolves around pointlessness and futility.

You know how some games have hidden "easter eggs" that you can find by doing unexpected things? Well this is what you do throughout the game. You have to constantly restart from the beginning (Stanley's office), take different routes around the building, push different buttons and interact with different items. By doing this you eventually reach various different "endings" to the game. When you think you've found them all you can check one of the Steam Guides to see if you've missed any. There are one or two that you're extremely unlikely to find on your own. There are also several hidden secrets that you may or may not discover on your travels.

Good games have nice graphics, good gameplay, cool music... but how many would you describe as having great narration? That's what this game is all about: listening to a very English narrator, dripping with sarcasm and deadpan wit, giving a running commentary on Stanley's (your) actions - or lack of. Like listening to Howard Stern, you'll keep playing just to find out what he's going to say next. Who knew that standing in a broom closet doing nothing could be so entertaining? The theme/philosophy of the humour is to gently poke fun at the way gamers chase objectives, thinking they have choices, but really it's all futile. Have a look at the ridiculous achievements and you'll see what I mean.

Minor Gripes

The graphics details are set to low resolution by default within an obscure advanced options menu. I only discovered this after I'd more or less completed the game. Dammit. They're pretty good anyway but I would have liked to play the whole game in high def. Come to think of it, maybe this was part of the game...

Sometimes the game restarts before you've had time to read all the interesting stuff on the whiteboard or whatnot.

Major Gripe

This game is too short, there's barely 3 hours of unique gameplay. The nature of the game means you'll replay parts of it multiple times, but like a good joke it inevitably wears thin.

Highlights

The Broom Closet and the '430' achievement. Hilarious! There is a beautiful acoustic guitar song hidden deep.

Conclusion

Like a fine wine, this is a game to be sipped and savoured because as exquisite as it is, there's not enough of it. Buy it on sale and you'll get good value for your money.

This review is part of the Steamified Community Review program. For similar reviews and fantastic giveaways please visit http://steamified.com.
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2 of 2 people (100%) found this review helpful
Recommended
3.1 hrs on record
Posted: 18 July
Brilliant in the most puzzling way.

I bought this game on sale this summer, and I kind of put it off until now. I can't believe I waited that long, because this is one of the most fun games I have ever played.
Although it can get a bit confusing, I find that is what makes it fun. If you get this game, though, I don't reccomend reading any guides until you've had your fill of tooling around. To me, at least, it makes the suprising game much more fun.


Pros
First off, the price! I think this should be worth much more.
The narrator has a personality, and will indeed say different things depending on what you do throughout the game.
There are SO many different endings, and I'm currently trying to get to them all. That being said, it is a time-well-spent undertaking since each one (most of them, at least) eludes to a bit more of the.. "Story"
The story isn't actually a set one.
The acheivements- take a look at them, real quick. The developers are genuises.
Each of the endings gives you something different.
Its freaking hilarious. That's the main thing.
The creativity behind it all. Play the game to understand.

Cons
As I said, it can get somewhat confusing, especially for gamers looking for a straightforeward story.
The story is pretty wavering. I still don't understand it fully.
You get NO instructions at the beginning of the game, even though the controls are basic WASD and the mouse.


At least 9/10, Please just give it a go.
I've never laughed this hard at a video game before.
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2 of 2 people (100%) found this review helpful
1 person found this review funny
Recommended
7.2 hrs on record
Posted: 21 July
i have brain cancer :D
Was this review helpful? Yes No Funny
2 of 2 people (100%) found this review helpful
1 person found this review funny
Recommended
2.8 hrs on record
Posted: 21 July
And then Stanley realised that he is on the best walking simulator of all time.
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6 of 10 people (60%) found this review helpful
Not Recommended
1.4 hrs on record
Posted: 8 August
The Stanley Parable is well made, interesting, and humorous. I would highly recommend you play the game, but not at the price point of $15 let alone $10. A more-or-less complete run of the game is two hours and after the first hour you've seen most of the options. After that it becomes repetitive as you perform slight variations to evoke a different ending

After your 2 hours there is no replay value. Don't get me wrong, it's a great game and I highly enjoy it, but buy on sale for $5 and not more. To be clear I don't think any 2 hour game is worth $15, at least none that I've played

On a side note it's not compatible with 4k resolution, but runs at 300 fps at 2715x1527 on gtx 970
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1 of 1 people (100%) found this review helpful
Recommended
4.9 hrs on record
Posted: 21 July
Truly awesome 10/10
Was this review helpful? Yes No Funny