Journal on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information

Quick menu

Enter the pages of the hand painted world of Journal. A journey through the life of a young and troubled girl as she tries to face up to the choices and responsibilities that come with childhood. An experience that questions the reliability of how we choose to remember events and explores the truths hidden within our dreams.

Journal is a indie, adventure and female protagonist game developed by Locked Door Puzzle and published by Lupus Studios Limited.
Released on February 17th 2014 is available in English on Windows, MacOS and Linux.

It has received 350 reviews of which 274 were positive and 76 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.3 out of 10. 😊

The game is currently priced at 9.75€ on Steam.

The Steam community has classified Journal into these genres:

Indie Adventure Female Protagonist Hand-drawn Walking Simulator Interactive Fiction Casual Visual Novel Singleplayer Short Point & Click 2D Story Rich

Media & Screenshots

Get an in-depth look at Journal through various videos and screenshots.

Journal screenshot
Journal screenshot
Journal screenshot
Journal screenshot
Journal screenshot
Journal screenshot

System requirements

These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.

Windows
  • OS *: Windows XP
  • Processor: 2GHz Dual Core
  • Memory: 2 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Shader Model 3.0
  • Storage: 250 MB available space
MacOS
  • OS: OSX 10.6
  • Processor: 2GHz Dual Core
  • Memory: 2 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Shader Model 3.0
  • Storage: 250 MB available space
Linux
  • OS: Ubuntu 10.10
  • Processor: 2GHz Dual Core
  • Memory: 2 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Shader Model 3.0
  • Storage: 250 MB available space

User reviews & Ratings

Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.

May 2025
Whoa. The story was really well written. The dialogue was so real. It was written by people that understand the human experience, who understand all the nuances of life. So many things to unpack here. Very happy I stayed all the way through.
Expand the review
Read the review on Steam
March 2025
A nice little narrative experience, found it in my library and played it through for the achievements. I wasn't ready to get /this/ involved in the game. I'd recommend you get this game for an hour or two of entertainment, if you're into these kinds of games.
Expand the review
Read the review on Steam
July 2024
Circus as a metaphor For a story told using paper cutouts, the beguilingly simple distraction-less game mechanic elevates the art of story telling. Journal is hard to describe, without spoiling the expertly written plotline that will have you lied to, believe it and then just as you accept you have been a sucker, you realise that you have lived the same plotline. And then it ends, it's that good. I'm not normally so excited to write a review, so I'll explain what I liked about this game/story right away and not spoil anything for you. Clean [*]The soundtrack is just so well mixed to drive the mood exactly where it needs to go, every day has it's own sound that builds to an epic crescendo as the week progresses. It even had me walking back and forth just to see if I was reading the colour and tempo in each location correctly. Music thanks to Kevin MacLeod who hosts incompetech.com . [*]Narration : You have 2 narrators, this is a story about a young girl, and about a circus. So each has their own narrator, and they compete for different halves of your brain. Play it and you will find out why this works so well. [*]Hand drawn backgrounds, childlike, creating this immersion because it removes all distraction and gives the game makers so much more control over what you see. The backgrounds are places you move through, all look run-down. And for me it was weird that there is so much damage depicted in the scenes of your life. After a while it dawned on me, that the child's drawings are actually more honest than they appear. [*]Script, well this script should make you cry or at least tear up, eventually you will recognise some of your own train-smashes of life in the story. I certainly recognised a lot of my growing up, a lot of my diss-appointments with my own self, and behaviour I have seen in others. There is a fair bit of reading in this game, I suggest you do take it slowly though, it's literally 1.6 hours if you do read it all. Loss Yes, this is ultimately a story about loss, and the collateral damage that is creates. You have been warned. But it does have a good ending. For more games just like it check out this curated list which you can click on and even follow for more https://store.steampowered.com/curator/41773079-EmpathyGames/list/91748/
Expand the review
Read the review on Steam
July 2024
Wonderfully written story-based game, highly recommended. It is definitely more melancholy than many, so just be aware.
Expand the review
Read the review on Steam
July 2024
A solid narrative game doubling as a cool art project. Starts a bit awkwardly but finds its stride in chapter 3, then gets progressively more serious up until an effective ending that neatly ties everything together. The basis for its drama may be as old as time, but the story manages to freshen it up by focusing on a different kind of consequences, as well as by refusing to add any sort of superficial silver lining to them. Unlike with [url=https://store.steampowered.com/search/?tags=21&developer=Locked+Door+Puzzle]the other adventure titles by the same developer, you don’t need to solve any puzzles here, only walk around and talk to people. You’re also not in any danger of missing the author’s intent due to vague storytelling, because this time the message is articulated fully and clearly. And while the design might feel clunky or unruly (a flowery font that can be hard to read at first, a jump button that’s never needed yet still present for some reason, etc.), it doesn’t detract from the overall experience.
Expand the review
Read the review on Steam

Similar games

View all
Labyrinthine Dreams
Labyrinthine Dreams Labyrinthine Dreams is a short puzzle game about overcoming the scars of the past and following the right path, even in the face of overwhelming challenges.
Similarity 73%
Price -93% 0.36€
Rating 7.4
Release 26 May 2015
View
MechaNika
MechaNika If it's not cool, it will disappear. If you're not cool, hide. MechaNika is here.
Similarity 72%
Price 3.99€
Rating 8.6
Release 16 Jul 2015
View
Shan Gui (山桂)
Shan Gui (山桂) It is the end of summer. Han Hui, a university student, meets a mysterious young girl named He Jia in the mountains. After this chance meeting, the two embark on a delightful journey.
Similarity 71%
Price 0.99€
Rating 7.0
Release 19 Aug 2014
View
Leaving Lyndow
Leaving Lyndow It's Clara's last day on the island where she grew up. She needs to complete preparations, visit her favorite places, and say her goodbyes before leaving on a journey she may not return from.
Similarity 71%
Price 3.99€
Rating 7.7
Release 08 Feb 2017
View
Once Again
Once Again Make up for lost time with Once Again, If you could travel through time, who’s the first person you’d meet? An interactive story about a boy who spends his summers wandering between past and present... After meeting her, summer will never be the same again...Who is she, and what journey awaits you?
Similarity 70%
Price 3.99€
Rating 8.6
Release 03 Oct 2022
View
SeaBed
SeaBed SeaBed is a yuri-themed mystery visual novel told through the perspectives of three separate characters: Sachiko, Takako and Narasaki.
Similarity 70%
Price -72% 5.59€
Rating 9.1
Release 19 Dec 2017
View
Keepsake
Keepsake Keepsake was a labor of love developed 10 years ago by us as an independent studio. For its anniversary, we thought it would be great to see it live again on steam and gain a new following, as we feel that it is still relevant today.
Similarity 70%
Price 0.79€
Rating 7.7
Release 17 Apr 2018
View
Draw a Stickman: EPIC 2
Draw a Stickman: EPIC 2 Imagination is the key, as you enter a magical storybook full of mystery and wonder, unusual creatures, and enigmatic puzzles! Create your own original Stickman and then watch it come to life in DRAW A STICKMAN: EPIC 2! Jump in to this action-packed adventure that allows for endless creativity!
Similarity 70%
Price 5.69€
Rating 8.3
Release 06 Nov 2015
View
祈風 Inorikaze
祈風 Inorikaze Inorikaze is a Touhou doujin game focus with the theme of pursuing the faith and bond. The main story is about Moriya family when they left Suwa and moved into Gensokyo, the Fantasy Village, and overcome the war between them and Tengus.
Similarity 69%
Price 8.99€
Rating 9.1
Release 13 Feb 2019
View
Peregrin
Peregrin Peregrin is a story puzzle game. A solitary traveller undertakes a perilous voyage through the haunted ruins of a lost civilisation. Seeking to fulfil an ancient prophecy, she will have to use her arcane powers to solve puzzles and survive battles - if she is to find a way to restore the fallen world of Peregrin.
Similarity 69%
Price -80% 1.96€
Rating 7.5
Release 08 Aug 2017
View
Verde Station
Verde Station What do you trust most — what you see, what you're told, or your instincts? On a year long solo mission aboard Verde Station, you will test your wits and question everything, but you may not find answers. Welcome to solitude.
Similarity 69%
Price Free to play
Rating 7.1
Release 18 Dec 2014
View
Gone In November
Gone In November Coming home after visiting your doctor for the last time, you are told that you only have three more days to live. A sequence of short memory fragments flashing through as you try to run away from what you have done.
Similarity 69%
Price 0.99€
Rating 6.1
Release 18 Aug 2016
View
More games like Journal

Frequently Asked Questions

Journal is currently priced at 9.75€ on Steam.

Journal is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 9.75€ on Steam.

Journal received 274 positive votes out of a total of 350 achieving a rating of 7.34.
😊

Journal was developed by Locked Door Puzzle and published by Lupus Studios Limited.

Journal is playable and fully supported on Windows.

Journal is playable and fully supported on MacOS.

Journal is playable and fully supported on Linux.

Journal is a single-player game.

Journal does not currently offer any DLC.

Journal does not support mods via Steam Workshop.

Journal does not support Steam Remote Play.

Journal is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.

You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for Journal.

Data sources

The information presented on this page is sourced from reliable APIs to ensure accuracy and relevance. We utilize the Steam API to gather data on game details, including titles, descriptions, prices, and user reviews. This allows us to provide you with the most up-to-date information directly from the Steam platform.

Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.

Last Updates
Steam data 08 June 2025 15:06
SteamSpy data 10 June 2025 01:49
Steam price 15 June 2025 04:43
Steam reviews 12 June 2025 23:48

If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Journal, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.

  • SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about Journal
  • SteamCharts - Analysis of Journal concurrent players on Steam
  • ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Journal compatibility
Journal
9.75€
7.3
274
76
Game modes
Features
Online players
0
Developer
Locked Door Puzzle
Publisher
Lupus Studios Limited
Release 17 Feb 2014
Platforms
Quick menu
Game Info Media & Screenshots Requirements Reviews Similar Games Frequently Asked Questions Data sources