That Dragon, Cancer Reviews

That Dragon, Cancer is ranked in the 86th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
10 / 10.0
Jan 18, 2016

Like any good art That Dragon, Cancer redefines the boundaries of its genre. This is creativity unfettered, matched in weight only by the likes of The Last of Us.

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Jan 15, 2016

While nothing can ever bring back their little boy, I am glad the Greens had that faith. And I am glad they were brave enough to share it with us.

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Jan 11, 2016

That Dragon, Cancer is a family's beautiful tribute to faith, loss, and love

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5 / 5.0
Jan 14, 2016

With the emotionally draining effect that That Dragon, Cancer will have on you in mind, I'd still implore you to play it. If only to further understand the harm that cancer brings, not only to those diagnosed with the disease, but to their family and loved ones too.

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10 / 10.0
Jan 23, 2016

It's a slow paced game that can be difficult to watch at times but if you want a strong story and all the feels, then this is the one to turn to. It pushes the boundaries of games as art and it's genuinely the most emotional game I've ever played and I can't recommend it enough. Keep Kleenex nearby.

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9.7 / 10.0
Jan 19, 2016

he Green family's interactive memoir dedicated to their son's battle cancer is not just a video game—it is a work of art. The way that Numinous Games has chosen to tell the story is absolutely superb. That Dragon, Cancer is something everyone should experience for themselves.

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9.5 / 10.0
Jan 14, 2016

That Dragon, Cancer is a difficult thing to approach. It is barely meant to be fun. It is dark and occasionally deeply disturbing, but that's because it has to be. It is also full of hope and love.

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9 / 10
Jan 13, 2016

Heartbreaking, painful, and important.

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Alana Hagues
Top Critic
85%
Feb 19, 2016

An extremely personal game which confronts cancer head on, it shines brightest when telling its story and examining the effects of grief.

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8.3 / 10.0
Jan 11, 2016

That Dragon, Cancer is an emotional powerhouse that doesn't hold anything back; it's a hard game to get through with dry eyes. Narratively it will please those who are looking for a game that allows the player to explore a game world, linear as it is, that merges together perfectly with the game design.

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83 / 100
Jul 17, 2017

Seldom does a game come around so powerful that it leaves a long-lasting impact on the player. An experience so dramatic, that is forces those who played it to reflect on their own lives in the real world, outside of the game. That Dragon, Cancer is that game. That Dragon, Cancer is a two hour-ish click adventure game that you can play on PC via Steam or iOS device around $10. That Dragon, Cancer focuses more on narrative than it does gameplay, a trend that has led many titles being dubbed as walking simulators (some positively, others not so much). That Dragon, Cancer however is one walking simulator you should play. It’s true, there is not much more to do in That Dragon, Cancer besides walking around and interacting (point & click) with objects. In the short time you’ll play the game you will encounter a curveball here and there that spices up the fun. Whether it is a kart race around a room, some interesting puzzles to crack or a side-scrolling retro platformer, there are parts in the game that add enough interaction to warrant That Dragon, Cancer classified as a video game and not just a visual novel.

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IGN
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Jan 15, 2016

Although not every part of That Dragon, Cancer works, it's a crushingly intimate game that left me thankful for the people who are still in my life, and reflective on those who are not. I'm so grateful to the Greens for sharing their experience.

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Jan 15, 2016

That Dragon, Cancer is a game that you will lose. You will not beat it. You don't win. Even This War of Mine has "winning" conditions. It is so fitting that this is a game, not a movie. From the jilting scene transitions to selective interactions, the dioramic games within the game to the increased level of abstraction and perspective changes, the mode of storytelling works. But it mostly excels at being a lesson that as much as you can "game-ify" elements of life, you will be confronted with perma-death—real death.

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8 / 10.0
Jan 19, 2016

A moving and incredibly poignant game, that succeeds in what it's trying to accomplish despite its many missteps. If you're into interactive narration, you should definitely give it a try.

Review in Italian | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Jan 30, 2016

This is a brave, important experience, and one that feels like a form of therapy for the creators. That Dragon, Cancer is truly unforgettable.

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8 / 10
Jan 19, 2016

The representation of a familly dealing with the protracted illness of a child is well done, but wasn't as interesting to me as the exploration of faith that was inextricably woven into it.

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Jan 18, 2016

This autobiographical game explores the death of a boy and shows the possibilities of the medium of video games

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Jan 18, 2016

While it's far from the typical video game adventure, That Dragon, Cancer is a reminder that games can be so much more than just wish-fulfillment power fantasies. It's an important and unforgettable experience, full of pain, love and grace.

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8 / 10.0
Feb 10, 2016

The Greens tell a brave story with That Dragon, Cancer. Joel Green's life may have been short, but it was an important, beautiful life that's now being shared with the world.

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8 / 10.0
Jan 13, 2016

Although perceptibly divisive in execution and theme, it becomes difficult to imagine an individual that would experience That Dragon, Cancer and not feel richer and better off for having been immersed in its bittersweet storytelling as the end credits roll. While some might be understandably put off by the slim pickings of traditional genre fare on offer here, That Dragon, Cancer staunchly remains as an experience that everybody should let into their lives regardless.

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