8Doors: Arum's Afterlife Adventure

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 181 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
8Doors: Arum's Afterlife Adventure Game Cover
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8Doors is Metroidvania style 2D action platformer game based on Korean afterlife world view. Explore 8 different area of purgatory by becoming the main character 'Arum'. Solve the mystery of happening on purgatory through fight against the specter and lead fugitive souls to the right path.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 181 reviews
story35 positive mentions
grinding5 negative mentions
  • Beautiful hand-drawn art style that captures a unique aesthetic, inspired by Korean folklore.
  • Engaging gameplay with tight controls, challenging boss fights, and a variety of weapons and abilities to explore.
  • A compelling story that unfolds through interactions with characters, providing emotional depth and a sense of investment in the narrative.
  • Some gameplay mechanics can feel clunky, particularly with weapon switching and hitbox issues during combat.
  • The game can be overly linear, requiring players to follow a specific path and limiting exploration, which may frustrate some players.
  • Translation errors and grammar mistakes in dialogue can detract from the overall experience and clarity of the story.
  • story85 mentions

    The game's story, centered around a touching quest to find the protagonist's father in the afterlife, is praised for its emotional depth and incorporation of Korean mythology, though some find it basic and lacking polish. Players appreciate the engaging characters and evolving dialogue that enrich the narrative experience, while others note that the story can be straightforward and easy to follow, making it accessible for those who prioritize gameplay over plot. Overall, the story is seen as a strong aspect of the game, enhancing its charm and replayability.

    • “The most outstanding part about this game, for me, is the story.”
    • “Loved its fast-paced combat and the wonderful story that even came with an extra bonus since it teaches about Korean afterlife mythology.”
    • “Incredible game with a touching storyline and memorable characters.”
    • “The story is baffling; I think I know what happened in the end, but the game doesn't tell you this. NPCs get whole swaths of new dialogue every time you reach a milestone in the game, so exhausting all conversations might make the story work better if story is important to you.”
    • “Even the story is kind of clumsy: a sizable chunk of it is told through cutscenes that show the bad guys advancing their evil plan in places the protagonist can't actually see.”
    • “The story is bland, the gameplay is bland, the lore is bland.”
  • graphics62 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their unique and beautiful art style, often described as a charming blend of hand-drawn aesthetics with a limited color palette that effectively utilizes black, white, and red. Many players appreciate the detailed character animations and the overall visual atmosphere, which enhances the storytelling and gameplay experience. While some critiques mention a few visual inconsistencies, the majority find the graphics to be a standout feature that adds depth and appeal to the game.

    • “A lovingly crafted and endlessly detailed metroidvania, with a clean, cartoonish art style that was always a joy to look at.”
    • “The art style and animation are great as well; you can feel the developers' passion for this game.”
    • “Beautiful hand-drawn graphics that range from adorable to sometimes unsettling.”
    • “Personally, the art style is a turn-off; it feels too flashy.”
    • “Hitboxes that don't match the graphics, button prompts that show up just a bit before you can actually perform the relevant action, weird wall-clinging mechanics; there's something a bit wrong with most aspects of the game, so the overall experience is pretty clunky.”
    • “For sure, it can use polishing in a lot of areas such as visuals, some platforming sections, and the information the map gives.”
  • gameplay56 mentions

    The gameplay of this metroidvania is generally described as smooth and enjoyable, with a mix of fun mechanics and challenging boss fights, though it lacks the depth and innovation found in titles like Hollow Knight. While some players appreciate the intuitive level design and responsive controls, others criticize the combat for being simplistic and repetitive, with a lack of variety in enemy behavior and weapon effectiveness. Overall, the game offers a solid experience for genre enthusiasts, but may not stand out significantly for those seeking more complexity or originality.

    • “The gameplay was smooth and the boss fights were challenging enough.”
    • “A really well designed metroidvania that captivates with smooth controls, interesting abilities, fun combat mechanics, diverse enemy design, and tons of secrets.”
    • “Good level design, feels pretty intuitive and does a good job of teaching mechanics without constant tutorials popping up.”
    • “Hitboxes that don't match the graphics, button prompts that show up just a bit before you can actually perform the relevant action, weird wall-clinging mechanics; there's something a bit wrong with most aspects of the game, so the overall experience is pretty clunky.”
    • “The gameplay is standard platformer fare, as there are upgrades and new abilities to unlock to help you through the adventure.”
    • “The lack of variety is tough to handle; all weapons function almost the same, and some are terrible in combat. The enemies are kind of lame, and in the late game, I would just dash through everything because it was not worth it to fight anyone.”
  • music35 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its beautiful and atmospheric qualities, particularly the incorporation of traditional Asian instruments. However, some players find the soundtrack unremarkable or repetitive, noting that it lacks the emotional impact and memorability seen in other titles. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, it may not leave a lasting impression for all players.

    • “But 8doors does have a unique and beautiful art style, beautiful music and sound design, a plethora of mythology to explore, and offers an enjoyable story along with the usual back-tracking, secret-finding elements these sorts of games tend to offer.”
    • “Music is great, with tracks that draw inspiration from traditional Asian instruments which makes the OST range from beautiful to epic.”
    • “You can tell a lot of the love put into this game was the creation of the backgrounds, characters, and soundtrack.”
    • “The music is unremarkable, unfortunately.”
    • “This is mostly due to three factors: the music is negligible (sure, it's because you are in the realm of the dead, but listening to the credits song you realize a huge amount of lost potential).”
    • “The soundtrack, although more ambient and background, still gives the areas a nice touch and builds a great atmosphere, but the sounds are not that great. You will hear the same slashing song all the time, and it can get annoying quickly. It doesn't have that 'punch' or 'weight' you would expect from a hit; most of the enemies also screech the same sound over and over, and sometimes I would mute the game to put on some songs from my Spotify.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding in this game to be minimal and rewarding, with challenges that are manageable and enjoyable. However, some note that backtracking can become tedious due to the large areas and sparse connection points, and while boss encounters are visually impressive, they can also feel repetitive over time.

    • “Backtracking isn't inherently bad, but the areas are so big, with so few connection points that are far apart, making backtracking tedious.”
    • “Although the bosses look cool and have unique abilities, the tag and chase gets tedious after a while.”
    • “I will say the final boss for the true ending is a bit tedious, but besides that, if you like a metroidvania with a strong art direction where you get to be a giant frog, you will like this game.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its visuals and soundtrack, which contribute positively to the experience, although some players feel it lacks the depth and complexity found in other titles of the genre. While the map design enhances the overall ambiance, repetitive sound effects and music can detract from immersion, leading some to prefer listening to their own playlists instead.

    • “Especially thanks to the wonderful atmosphere, courtesy of the visuals and soundtrack.”
    • “However, the different areas actually do have some map design characteristics, adding to the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “In terms of atmosphere, world building, characters, and complexity in general, it's lagging far behind a HK.”
    • “The soundtrack, although more ambient and background, still gives the areas a nice touch and builds a great atmosphere. However, the sounds are repetitive; you'll hear the same slashing sound all the time, which can get annoying quickly. It lacks the 'punch' and 'weight' you would expect from a hit, and many enemies screech the same sound repeatedly, leading me to mute the game and play my own music on Spotify.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The game is praised for its emotional depth, featuring a touching storyline and memorable characters that resonate with players. Its beautiful artwork and engaging gameplay elements enhance the overall emotional experience, making it a standout title that captivates and immerses players.

    • “This game really caught me by surprise and just sucked me in with its beautiful artwork, really nice map design, tight movement, great weapon system, and even the story was very touching.”
    • “Incredible game with a touching storyline and memorable characters.”
  • stability3 mentions

    The game is praised for its stability, being well-optimized and free of bugs, with fast loading times and no frame drops. Players report a smooth experience throughout, complemented by engaging gameplay elements and impressive visuals.

    • “It has pretty much everything going for it: good level design, fun combat, an engaging story, great music, and unique visuals, whilst also being well optimized and bug free.”
    • “Lastly, the game was bug free for me, with fast loading times and no frame drops.”
    • “Beautiful game, with amazing graphics and story, challenging bosses, puzzles, secrets, weapon variety, and a smooth, bug-free ride all the way through.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Reviewers praise the character development for its unique and thoughtfully crafted designs and animations, highlighting the appealing art style that enhances the overall experience.

    • “Character design and animations are unique and well thought out.”
    • “I really loved the character designs and the art style.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its amusing hitboxes and overall lighthearted tone, complemented by appealing graphics and an engaging story. Players find the combination of these elements contributes to a charming and entertaining experience.

    • “Has funny hitboxes.”
    • “A funny little game with nice graphics and story.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game is highly recommended for its replayability, driven by a compelling story, well-developed characters, and a unique art style. The inclusion of varied mechanics enhances the experience, making it feel distinct and encouraging multiple playthroughs.

    • “I am recommending this game due to its high replayability and amazing story and characters.”
    • “It's clear that a lot of work and passion went into creating a unique and pleasant art style, which adds a little variety to ensure replayability.”
    • “The game lacks significant differences in gameplay on subsequent playthroughs, making it feel repetitive and dull after the first run.”
    • “Once you've completed the main story, there isn't much incentive to replay the game, as the side quests and additional content feel lackluster and uninspired.”
    • “While the art style is unique and visually appealing, the overall experience doesn't offer enough variety to encourage multiple playthroughs.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game is praised for its strong optimization, running smoothly and bug-free, which complements its engaging gameplay elements such as level design, combat, story, music, and visuals.

    • “It has pretty much everything going for it: good level design, fun combat, an engaging story, great music, and unique visuals, all while being well optimized and bug-free.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

10hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
10-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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