Scoring genre clarity...

We Are Counting capsule

We Are Counting

A short experimental visual novel about obsessive counting.

$0.99Mostly Positive(27)
Visual NovelPsychological HorrorHorror
Mystael studioJan 13, 2026

We Are Counting scores 62/100 — better than 4% of Visual Novel capsules (n=1,147).

Mostly Positive (27 reviews) · $0.99 · Released Jan 13, 2026 · By Mystael studio

Explore:Visual Novel capsulesPsychological Horror capsulesHorror capsulesSteam page optimisationCapsule design best practices

Quick text summary

We Are Counting scored 62/100 on Steam Analyzer — Solid for a Visual Novel capsule. Top priority fix: [genre_clarity] Add a visual or textual cue that hints at the counting mechanic, such as overlaid numerals, tally marks, or a subtle UI element that signals visual novel narrative gameplay.

Capsule scores by dimension

  • Genre Clarity: 4/10 — Unclear genre messaging. The image shows a stylized animal face against a neon pink and black background, which could suggest horror, surrealism, or artistic indie game, but does not clearly communicate that this is a visual novel about counting mechanics. At tiny size, the composition reads as abstract art or possibly a psychological thriller rather than a casual narrative experience. The visual doesn't hint at the core mechanic or narrative intent.
  • Title Readability: 8/10 — Strong white title, excellent contrast. The white sans-serif text 'WE ARE COUNTING' is bold, well-spaced, and positioned clearly in the upper left portion of the composition against dark background. It remains readable at small and tiny sizes due to high value contrast and clean letterforms. The placement avoids the central animal subject, preserving legibility across all viewing scales.
  • Contrast & Color: 7/10 — Good value separation, neon pop. The bright magenta/pink accent creates strong separation from the dark black and grayscale animal silhouette, reading well at all sizes. The high-contrast white title reinforces this separation. However, the grayscale animal and black textured background create some mid-tone merging that reduces silhouette clarity in grayscale test, though the neon pink compensates for overall visual pop against Steam's dark background.
  • Uniqueness & Polish: 6/10 — Stylized but conceptually generic. The distorted animal head with neon color treatment shows intentional art direction and a grainy, experimental aesthetic that fits indie sensibility. However, the surreal animal silhouette plus neon pink is a common indie visual trope without a clear connection to the 'counting' mechanic or visual novel identity. The design feels polished in execution but lacks a distinctive hook that signals what makes this game unique beyond its experimental nature.
  • Brand Consistency: 5/10 — Limited identity, repetition unclear. Without access to the store screenshots, internal consistency cannot be fully judged, but the capsule itself lacks a recognizable motif or iconic element that would carry brand identity. The distorted animal face and neon scheme are visually cohesive within this single asset, but there are no obvious signature symbols, color palette cues, or rendering style markers that would make this recognizable as a specific game's visual language at a glance.
  • Composition: 7/10 — Clear hierarchy, slight edge cropping risk. The title anchors the top-left with strong hierarchy, while the animal head provides a secondary focal point on the right side, creating diagonal balance. The layering of grayscale subject, neon accent, and textured background establishes depth. At tiny size, the composition still reads; however, the animal's left ear and facial details clip close to the right edge, risking Steam crop artifacts on different aspect ratios.

What works

  • Excellent title contrast and readability. White bold sans-serif text reads clearly at all sizes, including tiny, due to strong value separation from dark background and clean positioning.
  • Neon color pop against dark background. The bright magenta accent immediately draws attention on Steam's #1b2838 background and maintains visual impact during quick scroll.
  • Intentional experimental aesthetic. The grainy, distorted animal treatment and high-contrast color scheme convey indie credibility and a deliberate artistic vision.

What hurts the capsule

  • Genre and mechanic unclear at small size. The surreal animal imagery does not communicate visual novel, narrative, or counting gameplay; it reads as abstract art or horror instead of casual indie.
  • Generic indie visual trope. Distorted animal + neon color is a common indie design pattern without a distinctive brand signal or memorable identity marker.
  • Edge cropping vulnerability. The animal subject's left ear and facial details sit dangerously close to the right margin, risking Steam crop cutoff on certain aspect ratios.

Priority fixes

  1. [genre_clarity] Add a visual or textual cue that hints at the counting mechanic, such as overlaid numerals, tally marks, or a subtle UI element that signals visual novel narrative gameplay.
  2. [uniqueness_polish] Develop an iconic brand motif or symbol (e.g., a signature animal character, repeated visual pattern, or UI flourish) that connects the capsule to the game's core identity and is memorable across marketing assets.
  3. [composition] Shift the animal subject slightly left to add safe margin on the right edge and reduce crop vulnerability across Steam's display variants.

Store copy priority fixes

  1. [feature_communication] Add a line explaining the player's interaction model: 'Click to progress through the narrative' or 'Observe a fragmented sequence unfold' to clarify how players engage with the text.
  2. [uniqueness] Expand the differentiation beyond comp titles by adding 1–2 sentences explaining what aspect of counting or obsession this game explores that others don't (e.g., 'explores how ritualistic behavior masks deeper dread' or similar).
  3. [feature_communication] Briefly describe the emotional arc or intended impact—does the game resolve, subvert, or embrace the obsession?—so players understand the narrative payoff.

Related guides

Steam app ID: 4233450 · Tags: Visual Novel, Psychological Horror, Horror, Experimental, Abstract