Agony

42%
Game Brain Score Based on 914 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
Agony Game Cover
Agony is a game that is better left in the deepest part of hell, or at very least, the discount bin.
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"Agony is a single-player horror shooter game with a good plot, impressive graphics, and a semi-open world. As a tormented soul in Hell, you'll need to possess demons and interact with other souls to survive and escape. Despite some bugs and grinding, Agony offers a unique and atmospheric experience, with multiple paths, endings, and secrets for players to uncover."

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

42%
Audience ScoreBased on 914 reviews
graphics91 positive mentions
gameplay71 negative mentions
  • Stunning visuals and atmosphere that effectively depict a grotesque version of hell.
  • Unique gameplay mechanics, including the ability to possess demons and other characters.
  • Interesting lore and multiple endings that encourage exploration.
  • Clunky controls and movement that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • Frequent bugs and glitches, including getting stuck in the environment and crashes.
  • Poor voice acting and character models that detract from immersion.
  • gameplay328 mentions

    The gameplay of "Agony" has been widely criticized for its clunky mechanics, frustrating navigation, and numerous bugs, leading to a tedious experience that often feels like a chore. While the game's atmospheric visuals and unique setting are praised, they are overshadowed by repetitive tasks, poorly explained mechanics, and a lack of engaging gameplay elements. Overall, many players find the gameplay uninspired and disappointing, detracting from the potential of its intriguing concept.

    • “The gameplay is mostly stealth-based, so Agony can be classified as a survival horror game on a very, very mild level.”
    • “The gameplay feels natural (when the terrain isn't causing issues) and the stealth mechanics are extremely well done.”
    • “For people who enjoy the helpless gameplay of sneaking through one of the most incredible versions of hell conceived in a video game, I highly recommend this game.”
    • “This game is terrible to navigate, super cluttered and visually dark which causes visibility issues, the gameplay is a chore, and it's incredibly buggy.”
    • “Interesting idea but almost unplayable due to the bad gameplay and storytelling issues; the game was expanded on purpose by developers by adding empty and repetitive content but it did not end up well.”
    • “While the setting is unique and brutal, the gameplay is mediocre at best.”
  • graphics277 mentions

    The graphics of "Agony" are a mixed bag, with many players praising the game's stunning and grotesque visual design that effectively captures the horror of hell. However, criticisms abound regarding graphical inconsistencies, downgrades from initial trailers, and issues with visibility due to overly dark environments. While the art style is often described as unique and captivating, the overall execution suffers from bugs and a lack of polish, leaving some players disappointed.

    • “With its intense visuals, sound, and atmosphere, the game immerses its audiences in a highly detailed underworld.”
    • “The graphics, art style, and level design are top-notch.”
    • “The visuals are fantastic, but you're constantly having to wade through total darkness where visuals stop meaning anything.”
    • “Then a full release came, visuals have been downgraded, the game got censored, gameplay is a mess and so is the performance.”
    • “The graphics are severely outdated and not at all like I would expect a game to look like in 2018.”
    • “The graphics got a downgrade from what I've seen, the gameplay is boring and uninspired, a 62 fps lock (wtf?), and overall it's just wasted potential.”
  • story244 mentions

    The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it convoluted, weak, and poorly executed, often struggling to understand the plot and objectives. While some appreciate the dark themes and potential for an interesting narrative, they criticize the lack of coherent storytelling and engaging gameplay, leading to frustration and confusion. Overall, the narrative is seen as a secondary element to the game's visuals and atmosphere, with many players feeling that it fails to deliver a compelling experience.

    • “The story is actually pretty interesting, and this is one of the few games where I'm actually drawn in by it and find myself playing more just to figure out the lore behind everything.”
    • “The story is dark and unsettling, with themes of suffering, temptation, and punishment.”
    • “The story kept me going because people kept saying I was the reason they were there and it's my fault and so on.”
    • “The story is a huge mess.”
    • “The story in Agony is extremely convoluted and incoherent; you play as a man who has died and gone to hell.”
    • “The story is lacking.”
  • atmosphere139 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and disturbing depiction of hell, enhanced by impressive visuals, sound design, and attention to detail. However, some players find that the initial excitement fades as the gameplay becomes repetitive and navigation can be confusing due to poor lighting. Overall, while the atmosphere is a standout feature, it is often overshadowed by gameplay issues and technical shortcomings.

    • “With its intense visuals, sound, and atmosphere, the game immerses its audiences in a highly detailed underworld.”
    • “The atmosphere is eerie and gives you a real sense of being in hell and has a sort of pull that lures you to the aesthetic feel of it all.”
    • “The overall visual of the game and its atmosphere are great; from the beginning to the end, the varied environments make you feel that you are in hell, adding to that a good sound design, and I was genuinely spooked in some areas.”
    • “This game is meant to get you to explore the world, or 'hell', but the atmosphere just tells you to get through this as fast as you can and move on.”
    • “The atmosphere is extremely creepy and you really feel like you’re in hell, especially with those people whispering, screaming and saying a lot of nonsense like they’re crazy.”
    • “That said, the atmosphere doesn't make up for the fact that this game is an absolute abomination to play, movement is clunky as hell and you're constantly getting caught up on an object on the ground or even just sticking to a wall you get too close to.”
  • stability92 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly detract from the overall experience. While some players note improvements following patches, many still encounter persistent issues such as freezing, clipping, and unresponsive mechanics. Overall, the game is perceived as unfinished and riddled with technical problems, making navigation and gameplay frustrating for many users.

    • “Runs great.”
    • “Game runs smoothly, with no buggy issues like I have heard about on console.”
    • “Runs great on my Ryzen 5 1600, RX 580 system at 1920x1080.”
    • “This game is terrible to navigate, super cluttered and visually dark which causes visibility issues, the gameplay is a chore, and it's incredibly buggy.”
    • “Unfortunately, the game is a buggy mess.”
    • “The game is riddled with bugs and glitches; I got trapped in the floor about a million times, watched cutscenes that repeated but the models were invisible, and while running along, got stuck on the tiny cracks on the floor.”
  • optimization54 mentions

    The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including stuttering, low frame rates, and bugs, even on high-end systems. While a few users noted that the game runs smoothly for them, the general consensus is that it is poorly optimized and feels more like an early-access title than a fully released product. Overall, the lack of optimization significantly detracts from the gameplay experience, leading to frustration among players.

    • “The only plus, the game is well-optimized and shows a stable high frame rate.”
    • “Gamma hasn't been much of an issue, it runs smoothly, and I think the detail is disturbingly high (when playing in 4K that is).”
    • “I can't fault a game on its performance if it runs well on my machine.”
    • “This might be one of the most unoptimized games I have ever played.”
    • “Poorly optimized; a lot of it does not match the trailers and screenshots we were shown before release.”
    • “Seriously, I would expect this kind of performance from an early-access game or even a beta, not for a 'fully-released' product that even costs a reasonable $27 USD.”
  • music23 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the eerie and atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the horror experience, while others find it repetitive and forgettable. Voice acting is criticized heavily, detracting from the overall sound design, which is described as inconsistent, with some effective moments overshadowed by mediocrity. Overall, while the soundtrack has its moments, many players feel it lacks depth and variety, failing to elevate the game's narrative or gameplay.

    • “Sound is heavily present, making the atmosphere even more intense, with demonic music and sound effects as players explore the world.”
    • “The sound design is also effective, with atmospheric sound effects and a haunting soundtrack.”
    • “While it's not a game for everyone, it offers a unique take on the survival horror genre, and its stunning graphics and haunting soundtrack make it worth checking out for horror fans who are looking for something different.”
    • “Also, I did not like the sounds/music; the voice of the red goddess was really annoying for me.”
    • “Music: 3/10, repetitive, gets old really fast.”
    • “- music was okay but repetitive, and the voice acting was just awful.”
  • grinding16 mentions

    Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is marked by tedious and frustrating gameplay, primarily revolving around solving repetitive puzzles and navigating poorly designed environments. Players often find the experience to be more of a chore than a challenge, with slow pacing and a lack of engaging action contributing to a sense of boredom. While the art design is praised, the overall execution suffers from numerous glitches and a lack of intuitive navigation, making the grinding feel excessive and unenjoyable.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The gameplay doesn't seem to improve over time and can sometimes be tedious.”
    • “The game is basically about solving little puzzles that are more tedious than they are challenging.”
    • “Agony’s vision of hell is breathtaking but its tedious gameplay and plethora of bugs hold it back.”
  • replayability14 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the procedurally generated elements and additional content that encourage multiple playthroughs, others find it lacking in incentive and frustrating, with some suggesting that the experience is better suited for watching online rather than playing. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some praising the abundance of collectibles and modes, while others criticize the limited value of different endings and the overall experience.

    • “One of them is procedurally generated, adding to the already large replay value of the game.”
    • “I believe they have done a great job adding a good amount of replayability in this game.”
    • “- [u]Replay value[/u]: if you don’t mind the experience, the game has a lot of additional content after the main story mode and different endings.”
    • “It's lame and has no replay value; any endings you find are not worth the effort, and you are far better off just looking all the stuff up on YouTube rather than spending hours straining your eyes trying to figure out what the hell you're looking at and what it means and where to go.”
    • “But it lacks replayability.”
    • “Replayability: the game's replayability is limited, with little incentive to play through the game again after completing it once.”
  • humor12 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of unintentional hilarity and absurdity, often stemming from poor voice acting, ridiculous narrative choices, and glitchy mechanics that lead to laughable moments. While some players appreciate the comedic elements amidst the horror, others find the attempts at shock value to be more silly than scary, resulting in a game that can be entertaining for its absurdity rather than its intended thrills. Overall, the humor is seen as a redeeming quality in an otherwise flawed experience.

    • “Great game, I liked it and it's scary in places and funny.”
    • “Seriously, at some point, it just becomes so ludicrous that I start laughing.”
    • “It's a simple and funny survival game set in hell, rather disgusting than horrifying since we are speaking about demons in their element.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with reviewers noting a lack of genuine emotional engagement due to a convoluted storyline and poor execution, including glitches and subpar voice acting. While some visuals may evoke a sense of shock or fear, they fail to create a meaningful emotional connection, leaving players feeling frustrated and disconnected. Overall, the game's technical issues and lack of coherent emotional delivery detract significantly from the intended experience.

    • “There are no redeeming qualities here, it's all heartbreaking failure.”
    • “This area has been iffy for me as in some aspects it did assist in promoting emotional fear but it did seem to not invoke much as more of the visuals did.”
    • “Now this part is a portion of my own emotional response and view of the topic at hand and is a wall of text.”
  • monetization5 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling that the developers prioritized profit over quality, leading to disappointment given the game's initial hype and potential. Many reviewers express frustration over the disparity between the game's promotional material and the actual experience, suggesting that the focus on monetization detracted from gameplay.

    • “This game had such potential but it's nothing more than a cash grab.”
    • “It's so lazy it makes the whole thing feel like a cash grab.”
    • “They did a good job advertising this game and making it look more fun and graphically pleasing than what it is.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the creativity and unique design of certain demons, while others criticize the overall character design as inconsistent and lacking coherence with the game’s environment. The disparity in quality leads to a divided opinion on the effectiveness of character development.

    • “Creativity/character design: 10/10”
    • “Character design is a disappointment, with the exception of some really cool demons.”
    • “Character design is also consistently brutal and twisted.”
    • “Character designs look terrible and make no sense after looking at the detail of the environment you're in.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

41% average critic score

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Play time

7hMedian play time
12hAverage play time
5-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 9 analyzed playthroughs

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