title image

Fran Bow

Adventure

Ratings

Age

18+

Category

Adventure

Languages

English

Fran Bow is a story-driven adventure game that follows Fran, a young girl witnessing the gruesome deaths of her parents. Imprisoned in Oswald Asylum, she must use self-administered medication to enter the Ultrareality—a sinister hidden world that holds the keys to her escape. Together with her cat Mr. Midnight, Fran journeys through 70+ hand-painted locations and interacts with over 50 unique characters to uncover the truth and return home.

Dinsun Expert Review

Our Expert Score

92/100

Fran Bow is a hauntingly beautiful descent into madness that stays with you long after the credits roll. As a psychological horror adventure, it tackles heavy themes of grief, trauma, and mental illness through the eyes of a young girl with a startlingly resilient spirit. The hand-drawn art style is reminiscent of a dark children's book, creating a contrast between its 'cute' aesthetic and the visceral, grotesque imagery of the Ultrareality.

The core mechanic—self-medicating to shift between worlds—is both narratively significant and mechanically clever. It forces you to witness the hidden horrors of Fran's world to solve puzzles, creating a constant sense of unease. The writing is top-tier, filled with dry, quirky humor that provides just enough levity to keep the experience from being overwhelming. It’s a point-and-click masterpiece that respects the player's intelligence while delivering a deeply emotional story.

Dinsun reviewed on: Fri Feb 27 2026

Features

1

Deep psychological horror narrative

2

Unique hand-drawn 2D art style

3

Dual-world puzzle mechanics

4

Over 70 hand-painted locations

5

Integrated arcade mini-games

Tips & Walkthrough

Gameplays

Screenshot

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Q&A

No, Fran Bow is rated 18+ (or 13+ depending on the region) due to mature themes, graphic violence, and horror elements. It is intended for mature audiences.

Ratings & Reviews

Glitching makes somethings un-itiatable
Mon Apr 08 2024 Clay M Roland

Hi, I know this game, have for awhile, and I got it on my phone to actually play it for myself. Come to fine out I can’t give the bun to the guard to initiate the next part of the game in chapter one. I do see some of gotten pass though, not sure how, but that chapter four had problems with filling a water bucket from other reviews. If you want the game I’d wait for an update that fixes that or get it on a different platform because it is a good game, it’s just not figured out on mobile yet.

Fascinating, macabre, lovely
Sat Feb 03 2024 marge bjork

I’m don’t game a lot but this has me hooked and needing more. The structure of the game is a mix of devices that always keeps things interesting. There’s story, mini games to progress through the larger story, puzzles, moon logic, world exploration, and a lot meeting different people and creatures. You play as the character of Fran Bow, an 11 year old girl whose parents were murdered and who is trying to find her cat and the truth about what has happened to her. In order to progress she must play with the folds of reality and time which takes her to many different world. The atmosphere is macabre and beautiful. There’s also an underlying story of journeying through mental health and facing your fears and the ugliness that you may feel is inside you. I’ve just barely finished the game and I feel like I’ve gone on my own personal journey of healing from playing it. Some other takeaways: -If you’re feeling stuck, brush your hair and drink some water -Spines are a thing all humans have in common I’ll definitely be seeking out some more games by Kill Monday. ❤️

Pretty good
Mon Feb 10 2025 CindiL

I enjoyed this game. A hint system would’ve been nice, I feel like I bumbled around a lot trying to figure out what to do next. I had to use on-line walk throughs on quite a few occasions to go further in the game. If you like this, I’d suggest Silent Age and Midnight Girl.

I have a little issue
Fri Nov 03 2023 Callmehcharlie

This is an amazing game, I love playing it but I have an issue with the chemistry in chapter 4, I solved the chemistry but it’s not doing anything to move on, I would try to click the beakers but it would just make Fran say that she wonders what’s in the beakers, can you please fix this

LOVVEDDD
Fri Jul 25 2025 Fran bow fan

I love this game so much then after I played little misfortune (which is another game done by the same creators) and it was great too and now I'm scouring the internet trying to find another game like those..... I can't !! They are great highly recommend

Incredibly Memorable and Unique
Fri Oct 24 2025 Sono Hayate

It’s hard to even put the experience of this game into words. It’s a wondrous view into the way an innocent child can see things, and a dark exploration of mental illness on top of that, with the forces of good and evil clashing in such a way where you don’t really know what’s real. If you like classic point and click style games and horror games with deep, fantastical, yet dark plots, then this one is for you. 10/10 experience, although I think an HD rerelease would be quite nice.

WOW JUST WOW
Tue Jul 04 2023 vvCrowley

I absolutely loved this game! It had my emotions all over the place! It had everything! Horror, adventure, psychological thriller, it’s the best game I’ve ever played in my life! I highly recommend it. Just be warned, it’s not for the faint hearted.

Best game ever!!
Sat Sep 30 2023 Woofwoofz

little expensive for a game but totally worth it, took me maybe 8 hours to finish and it’s nice, challenging, and interesting game. Listen to the warnings though, a LOT of gore.

Some Youtube Videos found!

News found!

Fran Bow is a deeply unsettling horror game tied together with a pastel pink ribbon, and it's even better the second time ...Fran Bow is a deeply unsettling horror game tied together with a pastel pink ribbon, and it's even better the second time ...

Playing Fran Bow is like experiencing a vivid fever dream. You never quite know what to expect as you navigate through 10-year-old Fran's...

GamesRadar+ Mon Dec 02 2024

Super Rare Opens a Horror Present With Fran Bow Next WeekSuper Rare Opens a Horror Present With Fran Bow Next Week

The next title Super Rare Games is publishing is Killmonday Games' Fran Bow. A gloomy horror game with puzzles aplenty, and a twisted tale...

Hey Poor Player Sat Aug 02 2025

Fran Bow getting physical Switch release Feb. 1st, 2024Fran Bow getting physical Switch release Feb. 1st, 2024

Looking frantastic. 26 January 2024. by rawmeatcowboy 0. image. Prepare for a spine-tingling revelation as Super Rare Games joins forces with Killmonday...

GoNintendo Sat Aug 02 2025

Fran Bow: The Creepy Puzzle Game Comes to ConsolesFran Bow: The Creepy Puzzle Game Comes to Consoles

Explore a twisted world in Killmonday Games' atmospheric point-and-click adventure, now available on Xbox, Playstation, and Nintendo Switch.

Adventure Gamers Sat Nov 02 2024

Fran Bow (XOne) - ReviewFran Bow (XOne) - Review

While a scattershot finale and outdated point-n-click mechanics diminish Fran Bow's broader appeal, there are enough positives for adventure...

VGChartz Mon Dec 02 2024

Interview: Killmonday On Fran Bow, Mental Health, BeautyInterview: Killmonday On Fran Bow, Mental Health, Beauty

You may have seen our mentioning Fran Bow earlier this month. A point and click adventure with an ongoing IndieGoGo cam…

Rock Paper Shotgun Mon Mar 02 2015

Little Misfortune from the developer of Fran Bow is releasing this monthLittle Misfortune from the developer of Fran Bow is releasing this month

After releasing a demo with Linux support back in April, the dark adventure game Little Misfortune now has a release date of September 18th.

GamingOnLinux Tue Mar 02 2021

Today I learnt about a game called Fran Bow < NAGToday I learnt about a game called Fran Bow < NAG

Gather round, point-and-click adventure fans; have I found a delectable treat for you. Fran Bow is a new adventure game by Stockholm based...

www.nag.co.za Sun Apr 02 2017

Creators of Fran Bow Working on Different GalaxyCreators of Fran Bow Working on Different Galaxy

Killmonday Games, the developers behind Fran Bow, are working on a new game called Different Galaxy.

AllGamers Thu Aug 02 2018

'Fran Bow' Resurfaces With a Chilling New Trailer'Fran Bow' Resurfaces With a Chilling New Trailer

It's been far too long since I last wrote about Fran Bow, Killmonday Games' delightfully twisted 2D horror adventure game that will join...

Bloody Disgusting Thu Feb 02 2017

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