.redruM

About

.redruM is a horror walking simulator that serves as a work of art to communicate a message, with minimalistic gameplay focusing on realism and visual experimentation inspired by liminal spaces and crime scenes. As a crime scene photographer, you must uncover the identity of a murderer in this disturbing and reflective experience, lasting around an hour and crafted by a solo developer.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 14 reviews

atmosphere4 positive mentions

The game features stunning graphics and a beautifully crafted atmosphere that effectively captures the essence of liminal spaces.
The gameplay mechanic of taking photos at crime scenes adds a unique twist to the horror experience, encouraging players to engage with their surroundings.
The sound design enhances the immersive experience, making it more engaging when played with a good headset.

The game suffers from slow movement and lengthy walking sequences that can detract from the overall enjoyment and pacing.
There is a lack of coherent storytelling, with abrupt transitions between locations that may leave players confused about the narrative.
Some players found the jump scares predictable and the gameplay repetitive, leading to a feeling of emptiness despite the intriguing concepts.

story
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
The game's story is perceived as fragmented and difficult to grasp, with players noting a lack of coherent narrative despite attempts to convey themes through environmental storytelling. While some appreciate the artistic choice to avoid dialogue and text, many feel that the disjointed locations and sluggish gameplay detract from the overall experience, leaving the story feeling underdeveloped and unengaging. Overall, the narrative fails to resonate, with an obvious twist that does not compensate for the lack of depth or connection between the game's elements.
- “I liked the use of environments instead of dialogue/text to tell a story.”
- “The dev reached out to me via email to explain the ending of the game and to also explain their intention with telling a story through this form of art.”
- “I did appreciate the stylized choice of not including any text or voice overs to tell a story, and to rely solely on environments and gameplay to tell it instead, but when this happens it forces the player to interpret for themselves whatever it is they are experiencing.”
- “The locations change but... there's nothing connecting a coherent story here.”
- “Unfortunately, I felt your game's story was a difficult one to process and understand for myself in the way it was told.”
- “Unfortunately, there is no story, and the twist is obvious from a mile away.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The gameplay is praised for its unique liminal space concept, utilizing light guidance and atmospheric exploration to create an immersive experience. While the camera mechanics encourage thoughtful interaction, some players desire more narrative context and the ability to pause gameplay. Overall, the blend of stylized storytelling and environmental discovery offers a compelling, albeit sometimes frustrating, exploration experience.
- “The whole gameplay is based on the liminal space concept, so in most of the levels you are somehow guided by brighter lights.”
- “Personally, I love the atmosphere and the mechanic with the camera!”
- “Searching for answers in these desolate landscapes and wondering which mechanics to expect only makes you sink in further into the world the developers wished to create, making you learn how to become part of it, and your discoveries unravel later on.”
- “What little substance I did get to experience in between these long moments of walking simply wasn't enough for me to justify the gameplay choice of endless walking.”
- “Personally, I think that the possibility to stop the gameplay and resume it later would be nice to have, and maybe a little more storytelling at the beginning of each 'level' would also be great.”
- “I did appreciate the stylized choice of not including any text or voiceovers to tell a story, and to rely solely on environments and gameplay to tell it instead, but when this happens it forces the player to interpret for themselves whatever it is they are experiencing.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its meticulous crafting, creating a dreamlike experience that oscillates between serene and intensely disturbing scenes. Players appreciate the effective use of audio, particularly with a headset, to enhance the immersive quality, although some critique the reliance on loud sounds for scares rather than building tension. Overall, the atmosphere is noted for its variation and ability to evoke strong emotional responses throughout the gameplay.
- “The meticulously crafted atmospheres transform the journey into an almost dreamlike experience, where the familiar becomes strange and the mundane turns disturbing.”
- “Incredible how well it nails the atmospheres, especially given how many times it changes throughout the game.”
- “The variation is great too, as it really hits all extremes; from simple, subdued atmospheres where things are relaxing, all the way to super intense ones, where you almost want to exit the area immediately due to the unbearable feeling that comes with it.”
- “The game also uses loud sounds to scare instead of building up atmosphere to something actually scary, which is not a great way to do horror.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The graphics of Redrum are praised for their unique adaptation of liminal space aesthetics, featuring hyper-realistic yet intentionally grainy visuals that evoke an old videotape feel. Players appreciate the stunning color combinations and immersive environments, although some find the abrupt transitions to backroom-style settings disrupt the narrative flow. Overall, the game is celebrated for its impressive graphics that enhance the exploration experience.
- “Stunning graphics, truly impeccable color combination that makes the gaming experience even more immersive.”
- “The entire game strives for hyper-realism, but with purposefully dusty and grainy visuals that make it appear like you are watching an old videotape.”
- “While the themes of backrooms and liminal spaces are present, they are not taken literally; instead, the developer has skillfully adapted this aesthetic to create something unique and original.”
- “Redrum lies in its aesthetics of liminal spaces and unsettling environments.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report that using a good headset enhances the emotional experience of the game, particularly by evoking feelings of fear and tension.