The Promise

Editorial Has potential

The Promise is an ambitious sandbox with strong character writing and compelling branching storylines—particularly Michelle's slow transformation and the variety of relationship routes—that has earned genuine appreciation from players who've replayed it multiple times. However, the game is hamstrung by relentless, often pointless grinding (fitness, work loops) that many find exhausting rather than engaging, and by a development cycle that has stretched the first part across 8 years with frequent "end of this route, wait months" dead ends. Community sentiment is divided: some praise the realism and storytelling depth, while others have abandoned it due to content removal (the incest/NTR tag was taken down, confusing longtime players), slow progress on certain characters—particularly the daughter—and the overall sense that Part 1 should have concluded long ago. The game delivers on its creative promise for patient players who accept the grind, but it tests their tolerance severely.