WHAT WE’RE PLAYING
Should Stanley Rebel or Obey?
The Stanley Parable: UD
Stanley’s having a weird day. While tapping away at his monotonous office job, the conscientious worker suddenly finds himself all alone, surrounded by empty cubicles, with no work to do.
What happens next in The Stanley Parable is up to you—though trying to predict what’s to come in this surreal, hilarious adventure is as futile as asking “why are we here?” (sushi, for one). Here’s what to expect from this existential crisis:
It’s about following (or breaking) rules
Despite the game’s title, the real star here is the Narrator, who “helpfully” tells you what Stanley is about to do, moment by moment. Should you follow his lead and take the door on the left when the door on the right is also open? Head upstairs as you’re told—or see where that shady elevator takes you? Stanley’s life may hang in the balance! Countless jokes and wry observations will have you questioning the very nature of videogames—and the people (us!) who play them.
It starts when it ends
Where does it all lead? Lots of places! Every playthrough is an opportunity to change Stanley’s fate. Maybe he’ll get smushed by some contraption or fall off a stairwell to his doom, or perhaps he’ll just get restarted because that’s how the Narrator happens to feel about it. Finding every unexpected ending is part of the fun.
It’s mobile-friendly
While The Stanley Parable first found life on PC, developer Crows Crows Crows added great touches for iPhone and iPad. Multiple controls schemes, support for both landscape and portrait formats, and all the bonus content from earlier versions (this is the Ultra Deluxe version, after all) make this all-time great feel as fresh as the day Stanley was first hired.