itch.io

The atmosphere you are starting to create is really good! Very on point for what little there is to go on so far, knowing that this is just the very basic groundwork for what I'm assuming is going to be a larger game.

Some things to consider/keep in mind while moving forward with this project: there are three very important pieces to the horror genre (in terms of audio/visual media), which are pacing, story, and sound design. Don't be afraid to use silence and background noise to your advantage. What is the story you are trying to tell? Is it one that is important to you? Why? What makes a horror story compelling, at least to me, is what it says about the human condition. The perspective that you add to that through the story you're telling is what will make the game stand out. Finally, watch your pacing. I say this as a advice from someone who has had to work through pacing issues in my own writing lmao. Pacing matters in most media, but horror especially because you're trying to build suspense so that the scares hit harder when they come. I've also stalled in several horror games due to frustration when the game's mechanics overshadowed the story.

Anyway, apologies for writing a novel here lmao. I just really love the genre, and genuinely want to help if I can. You might know all this already, and obviously will have your own ideas about what works. Either way, I really look forward to seeing what you come up with!

no problem! I'm glad it was helpful. I look forward to playing your next game!

Firstly, apart from the jump scares, the sound design is where your game really shines. the music and the ambient noises were very well placed and have the most potential to carry over into future projects. Good job!

I do think the jump scares took away from the game rather than added to it. The house level had the most Silent Hill-like atmosphere, and the door jump-scare was actually quite good.  The third Chapter seemed out of place and lacking context- it was also kind of confusing to navigate.

I think the idea of interconnected stories is a good one, but you need to flesh it out more. Firstly, you have to decide what your game is about. What was this game about? The one common theme I could find was that the characters' realities in their minds do not match the reality of the world they inhabit. Once you have that core concept, you need to really dig into what is scary about that. The thing about horror games is that they are narrative games- you're telling a story that the player is unfolding as they engage with the game.

For an interconnected story, there would need to be not only a common theme, but an adjoining narrative. If it all takes place in the same world, that's cool, but then they could be separate games. For example: what if the child from Chapter 1 is the son of the couple in Chapter 2? How could the narrative and gameplay change to reflect this?

There's also the issue of the mental health aspects in the game, and how mental health can easily be stigmatized in media. I think you'll find more concepts to play with if you focus on the theme you've started of "what is reality, and is what I think to be true actually true?". That's a very interesting concept, and what I liked most about your game besides the sound design. And it's a theme that can easily be about mental health, or it can be about alternate realities, hauntings, possessions, etc.

Sorry I've written like 89 paragraphs or whatever lol. You'll continue to improve for as long as you keep at it, and you have some solid skills to build on. Good luck!

This was actually a really good game! The atmosphere was great and created tension, and although it was a bit clunky in places, it was definitely an enjoyable experience. I'm assuming a lot of the assets were free or cheap, including the monster. And, out of all of them, the monster was the only real problem. It just didn't fit with the atmosphere of the game, which built up a lot of creeping dread (my favorite type of horror). Using whatever assets are available to you is fine, as long as the story and the horror is there. The story could be fleshed out more, as it wasn't really clear what was happening.

Spoilers!

Who was the monster? Does the house belong to him?? Do I get hazard pay for working there??? I feel like I should get hazard pay for cleaning an interdimensional demon house. I don't know, this game has really good bones, but the monster and maze chase seemed like they belonged to a different, far less enjoyable game.  Short horror games are good, because they don't let you get used to the scares, but when you see it kinda all hanging out like that it's not a mystery anymore. I think the monster needs to be seen less, heard more. When I was cleaning the upstairs rooms he was just kinda hanging out by the front door downstairs & I was like "Sir, are you lost?" LOL. That takes some of the scare out of him. The thing you don't know is always scarier than the thing you know well, so the less we see of the monster, the scarier it is. What I really enjoyed was how the house changed, with doors disappearing and reappearing, and the use of the cleaning mechanic with that was excellent as well.

Overall, a really good experience and I look forward to seeing more of your games! :)

I'm having the same issue :(