A Demon's Game: Episode 1

About

In "A Demon's Game: Episode 1," players navigate a dark and atmospheric world as a former detective turned supernatural bounty hunter. The game features a unique blend of puzzle-solving and combat, as players face off against a variety of demonic enemies using an array of weapons and spells. The first episode sets the stage for a larger narrative, leaving players eager for more.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 40 reviews

atmosphere7 positive mentions

stability6 negative mentions

The game excels in creating a tense and eerie atmosphere, relying on psychological horror rather than cheap jump scares.
It features intricate storytelling with multiple paths and choices that enhance replayability.
The developer shows passion and dedication, actively working on improvements and updates, which is commendable for a solo project.

The game suffers from numerous bugs, including crashes and unresponsive achievements, which detracts from the overall experience.
Gameplay is often repetitive, primarily involving navigating bland sewer environments and solving simplistic puzzles.
The AI is poorly designed, making encounters with the monster less frightening and more frustrating due to predictable patterns.

story
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
71%
14%
The game's story is characterized by atmospheric dread and intricate storytelling, offering a refreshing take on horror that diverges from typical jump scares. While some players find the narrative engaging with interesting lore and multiple branching outcomes, others criticize it for being generic and lacking depth in character relationships. Overall, the story is seen as a mix of intriguing elements and familiar tropes, with potential for further development in future episodes.
- “If you’re tired of horror games that think loud noises are scary, this game’s atmospheric dread and intricate storytelling are a refreshing nightmare.”
- “A demon's game - episode 1 is a horror game that focuses on bringing a scary atmosphere that makes you feel uneasy, and a story with different branches that makes the game replayable for you to witness different outcomes of the story.”
- “The game has pretty good voice acting and interesting lore and story.”
- “Have no idea about the story, something one guy betrayed another?”
- “Just samey, dingy corridors where you roam around with a flashlight, trying to avoid the monster and get to the next area, and finding small journals giving a bit more backstory.”
- “Not unique as described; seems rather generic running through corridors (in this case a sewer) finding switches and where to put switches to make it to the next level. There's not really enough to keep me interested, why do I care about John and Dave?”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
29%
21%
The game's atmosphere is a mixed bag, with some players praising its intricate storytelling and effective use of ambient sounds to create a sense of dread, while others criticize the lack of genuine scares and the broken AI of the monster. Many appreciate the well-crafted graphics and lighting that enhance the eerie environment, making it a refreshing alternative to jump-scare-heavy horror games. Overall, the atmosphere is noted for its potential and thoughtful design, though it may not fully deliver on the horror experience for everyone.
- “If you’re tired of horror games that think loud noises are scary, this game’s atmospheric dread and intricate storytelling are a refreshing nightmare.”
- “A demon's game - episode 1 is a horror game that focuses on bringing a scary atmosphere that makes you feel uneasy, and a story with different branches that makes the game replayable for you to witness different outcomes of the story.”
- “The atmosphere and lighting provide a great wombo combo that feels like a fresh breath after the sudden jumpscares that most recent horror games have taken a light to.”
- “Can't call this horror much really. Sorry, no jump scares, minimum atmosphere and music, just one monster chasing you for a little bit, but the AI is pretty broken; if you are quiet, he will not get you.”
- “The demon itself isn't overly terrifying, and while there were some attempts to build atmosphere where you could see distant shapes scampering through the darkness, it never really goes anywhere.”
- “The idea is there and it could have some potential if it gets out of the small corridors, adds more atmosphere, and buffs the monster to somehow actually scare.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The gameplay is primarily focused on switch-pulling mechanics and basic puzzle-solving, which many find repetitive and mediocre. While it features standard FPS controls and attempts to create an atmospheric experience, the execution is marred by a lack of innovation, poorly designed mechanics, and an overall feeling of disjointedness. Despite being a one-man project, the gameplay struggles to rise above a collection of uninspired elements, leaving players wanting more depth and engagement.
- “Gameplay-wise, it plays well enough, like an old school Half-Life mod, with standard FPS controls.”
- “I want you all to realize that this is a one-man project, and to see on the level he has created these levels and thought of all the things like the ambient sounds, gameplay, and graphics is really astonishing. The atmosphere and everything that comes along with it is just really thought through.”
- “Gameplay: it's the usual horror game where you can walk, run, crouch, and you have your trusty flashlight along with various kinds of goodies for your enjoyment.”
- “Gameplay hinges pretty much exclusively on pulling switches in order to progress to the next section of the sewer, and that's every bit as fun as it sounds.”
- “And puzzles-wise, the game at least tries to avoid the key hunt gameplay we've seen in other Steam atrocities, with some variety, like finding a keycode, but it never rises to anything above mediocre.”
- “A boring, broken, poorly thrown-together mish-mash of store-bought assets, bad writing, goofy dialogue, and painful trial/error mechanics.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including numerous bugs and glitches that affect gameplay, such as problematic lighting, rudimentary enemy AI, and difficulties with movement on uneven surfaces. These technical shortcomings detract from the overall experience, making it unpolished and less engaging.
- “Every element is unpolished; the lighting is buggy, the voice acting is clearly just the game dev with a voice changer, and the enemy AI is rudimentary at best.”
- “It was buggy trying to move on anything that wasn't flat (stairs, planks, etc.), and it didn't seem to reduce sight from the demon (from what I could tell).”
- “But as mentioned previously, the game is buggy, and had this not been so – had it functioned the way the devs intended it to – I might've been able to forgive the flaws.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The graphics are generally praised for their impressive quality, with a well-executed atmosphere enhanced by greenish-dark undertones and effective lighting. Despite some minor graphical issues, the textures have been significantly improved in updates, contributing to a visually appealing experience that complements the game's eerie ambiance. Overall, the one-man development effort is commended for achieving a high level of visual detail and immersion.
- “Graphics are nice with just the right amount of greenish-dark undertones and enough light to see straight, which is actually a huge plus in this day and age.”
- “I want you all to realize that this is a one-man project, and to see the level he has created with the ambient sounds, gameplay, and graphics is really astonishing. The atmosphere and everything that comes along with it is just really well thought out.”
- “Visuals: the first thing that catches the player's eye. I must say that since the developer updated the textures, it's an all-new game visually, and it's good to see some eye candy.”
- “There were a few graphical issues I noticed near the end, like the demon standing mid-air in the elevator.”
- “Visuals: the first thing that comes to the player's eyes, I must say that since the developer updated the textures, it's an all-new game visually and it's good to see some eye-candy.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The music in the game is noted for its relaxing qualities, providing a calming backdrop that contrasts with the horror elements. However, some users feel that the lack of atmospheric music and jump scares diminishes the overall tension, while others appreciate the effective use of pumping music that enhances the surprise of unexpected scares.
- “The pumping music, the jump scares that come unexpected is definitely something other developers can learn from!”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “Cant call this horror much really also sorry, no jump-scares, minimum atmosphere and music, just one monster chasing you for a little bit, but AI is pretty broken; if you are quiet he will not get you.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
"A Demon's Game - Episode 1" offers strong replayability due to its branching storylines, allowing players to experience various outcomes and maintain a sense of suspense and unease throughout. The horror atmosphere enhances the desire to revisit the game for different narrative paths.
- “A Demon's Game - Episode 1 is a horror game that focuses on creating a scary atmosphere that makes you feel uneasy, with a story featuring different branches that enhances replayability, allowing you to witness various outcomes.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is highlighted by a witty monologue delivered by a character named Lucy, which sets a comedic tone for the experience. Players find this introduction amusing and indicative of the game's overall lightheartedness.
- “Things open up with an admittedly funny monologue given to you by the devil - I mean Lucy.”
- “The humor in this game is spot-on, with clever jokes that had me laughing out loud.”
- “I love how the characters have such witty banter; it really adds to the overall charm of the game.”