Apsulov: End of Gods

About

Apsulov: End of Gods is a first-person horror game set in a futuristic, cybernetic world inspired by Norse mythology. Players must explore a mysterious facility, solve puzzles, and fight for survival as they uncover the dark secrets of the gods. With a focus on atmospheric storytelling and psychological horror, Apsulov offers a unique and unsettling experience for players seeking a challenging and immersive gameplay experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 653 reviews

story199 positive mentions

grinding12 negative mentions

Apsulov: End of Gods features a captivating story that intertwines Norse mythology with a futuristic setting, creating a unique and immersive experience.
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by excellent sound design and visuals, contributing to a sense of dread and tension throughout the gameplay.
The mechanics, including the use of the Jarngreipr arm and the vision ability, add depth to the gameplay, allowing for both stealth and combat options.

The game suffers from pacing issues, with a significant amount of backtracking and some areas being overly dark, making navigation frustrating.
Enemy AI can be predictable and not very threatening, which diminishes the horror experience and allows players to easily bypass encounters.
The voice acting and dialogue can be hit-or-miss, with some lines feeling awkward or lacking emotional depth.

story
408 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
47%
4%
The story of "Apsulov: End of Gods" is a captivating blend of Norse mythology and sci-fi elements, featuring a protagonist who navigates a tragic narrative filled with moral dilemmas between gods and mortals. While the plot is intriguing and well-structured, some players found it predictable and lacking in emotional depth, with gameplay mechanics that occasionally detracted from the storytelling experience. Overall, the game is praised for its unique atmosphere, engaging lore, and strong visuals, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of narrative-driven horror games.
- “The plot spirals to tragedy according to the protagonist's path, which culminates in a dilemma between gods and mortals.”
- “Apsulov: End of Gods is a fantastic horror game with amazing atmosphere and an intriguing story.”
- “The story unfolds as you explore a research station that has discovered many ancient Norse artifacts.”
- “The story did not really get that much attention and felt a bit lacking in emotional investment; it also feels like an unnatural mix between elements of different worlds.”
- “The story's details are so limited and short that the relatively short length of this game feels too far dragged for how far and in between the story is being fed to the player.”
- “The plot felt like a series of checklists; it would've been a bigger surprise if the 'big twist' hadn't been there, and the emotional beats about dead family members were lifeless.”
gameplay
207 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
60%
12%
The gameplay of the game is often described as basic and repetitive, primarily revolving around exploration, stealth, and minimal combat mechanics, which can lead to a sense of tedium over time. While some players appreciate the atmospheric elements and unique mechanics, many criticize the lack of depth and variety, noting inconsistencies between the narrative and gameplay experience. Overall, the game is seen as more focused on story and atmosphere than on delivering engaging gameplay, with mixed opinions on its execution of mechanics and pacing.
- “The gameplay mixes minor combat with stealth and exploration in a familiar survival horror feel without the helplessness that most modern horror exploration games present.”
- “The graphics, gameplay, and story were great!!!”
- “The gameplay is a step above 'walking simulator' but not quite Resident Evil.”
- “The gameplay is very basic.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive; it turns the game quickly into a chore.”
- “While the game's general story and setting are interesting enough to grab the player's attention, its mechanics and gameplay loop fail to keep the player engaged.”
graphics
149 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
31%
3%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning visuals and unique art style, particularly in the context of an indie title. However, some users noted issues such as graphical glitches, z-fighting, and poorly aligned textures, which detracted from the overall experience. While the environments and atmosphere are often highlighted as impressive, there are criticisms regarding the game's dark visuals and occasional performance hiccups.
- “The graphics are marvelous; I can't believe it is an indie game. The story is great, and the atmosphere, combining the grotesque and dark scenery with some exceptionally creepy sounds, makes you feel like you are constantly stalked by some weird creature.”
- “The graphics are outstanding! The visuals and atmosphere are amazing, and the game really knows how to use its surroundings.”
- “The graphics are top-notch on very high settings, maintaining a smooth frame rate at 2K, often exceeding my max refresh rate. It's absolutely no hitching or stuttering.”
- “Much of the artwork required refining and polishing.”
- “So much of the environment is pitch black, meaning you need the night vision on in order to see where you're going, meaning when the bar runs out you have to turn it off and hold still (or navigate blindly) until it recharges, meaning for the most part, the game's unique aesthetic is either shrouded in darkness or in a shitty green/blue filter that barely makes it 2 meters ahead of you.”
- “To add insult to injury, an in-game mechanic, consider it as a night vision-esque visual filter which you’ll need to navigate 90% of the maps, adds a constantly shifting rainbow shade onto basically everything… the graphic quality is there, but the style just seemed cheap.”
atmosphere
132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
37%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating blend of Norse mythology and futuristic elements, creating a dark and immersive experience that draws players in. Reviewers highlight the effective use of sound design, music, and visuals to enhance the eerie and unsettling ambiance, although some note that the gameplay and story may not fully match the atmospheric quality. Overall, the game is recognized as a strong atmospheric horror experience, appealing to those who appreciate tension and mood over traditional jump scares.
- “This captivating game combines Norse mythology with futuristic elements to create a unique, dark atmosphere that draws the player in from the very first minute.”
- “The atmosphere is incredibly good; it has such an air of anxiety around it, and I can tell how much thought was put into it.”
- “Apsulov delivered and then some with a unique sci-fi/Norse horror atmosphere, engaging story, and awe-inspiring visuals.”
- “The presentation, visuals, and atmosphere are all there, but it sadly lacks in gameplay and story.”
- “The voice acting is jarring and pulls you out of the atmosphere; half the game was essentially a haunted house where you walk through and have sounds play from points where nothing is to try and scare you.”
- “While the plot and atmosphere are reminiscent of Doom 3 and Dead Space, the gameplay is more akin to Outlast and probably other excellent games I can't remember.”
music
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
39%
4%
The music in the game has received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many praising its atmospheric qualities and ability to enhance the overall experience. While some found the soundtrack captivating and well-suited to the game's themes, others noted that certain elements, like the use of electronic instruments, felt out of place. Overall, the sound design and musical score contribute significantly to the game's immersive and eerie atmosphere, making it a standout feature for many players.
- “The musical score is perfect, and the tension built by the ambiance is absolutely heart-pounding.”
- “The music has a dark tone and it fits really well with the atmosphere.”
- “The audio design is amazing with screams, groans, ambiance, and music that sell you on the atmosphere that it creates.”
- “On the other hand, the soundtrack isn't captivating.”
- “The music isn't all that memorable, but some set pieces really set the mood for the whole experience.”
- “Nothing really stands out, the ambient sounds are usually way too loud and clash with other music/sound effects happening.”
optimization
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
43%
29%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players reporting smooth performance and high frame rates even at maximum settings. However, some users experienced occasional performance drops and minor issues, particularly in specific areas of the game, suggesting that while the optimization is solid, it may require a decent spec system for the best experience.
- “The graphics were also very good and the game is optimized well with fluid gameplay.”
- “Graphics are for the most part pretty good and the game ran at 1440@144fps (max detail) which also indicates pretty good performance as far as I'm concerned - running a 3060ti.”
- “Everything is gorgeous and seriously well optimized.”
- “There's a lot of forced shaky cam used to express motion of the world which is really jarring and annoyed me, and there are a few optimization issues that kind of break the tension, but ultimately, those aren't massive issues.”
- “I did notice quite a lot of performance issues, specifically my FPS dropping below 60 and my GPU and CPU usage dropping in places they shouldn't.”
- “For the graphics it delivers, Apsulov definitely is optimized decently enough, but still I recommend at least a decent spec system to run it properly.”
grinding
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
92%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly after the initial hours of gameplay. Many reviews highlight the lack of variety in enemies and gameplay mechanics, leading to a slog of backtracking and monotonous tasks that detract from the overall experience. While the art and story are praised, the gameplay is often described as joyless and frustrating, making it difficult to stay engaged.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel well-earned.”
- “I love how the grinding mechanics encourage exploration and experimentation with different strategies.”
- “The gameplay simply gets tedious after a while.”
- “It's a tedious and joyless game, not fun, extremely dark you cannot see anything most of the time.”
- “Many not fun and tedious game elements make the game a slog and not worth playing.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the emotional aspect of the game received mixed reviews, with some players feeling a lack of investment in the story and its characters, describing it as a checklist of plot points rather than a compelling narrative. While the developers are praised for their wholesome nature, the emotional impact of themes like loss and family was perceived as flat and unengaging, despite the game successfully creating a sense of tension and unease.
- “These developers are super amazing and wholesome, which is a fun thing to be able to write as a review on a horror game.”
- “One of the only horror games I have ever played that has actually made me feel on edge.”
- “A rather authoritarian (not to mention emotionally unstable) AI is her first introduction to the world, and as you might assume, an escape is attempted at the first opportunity that presents itself.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
86%
The game's stability is mixed, with some players reporting frequent graphical glitches and bugs that, while not game-breaking, detract from the overall experience. Others have noted a lack of significant issues, highlighting the presence of save points as a helpful feature. Overall, the game appears to have stability concerns that may affect enjoyment for some users.
- “I encountered no glitches while playing.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes.”
- “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it never lags or freezes.”
- “The game can be good graphically, but I encountered a lot of graphical glitches. Nothing game-breaking, but just kind of unsightly.”
- “Super, super, super buggy.”
- “How can they release this game when it's this buggy?”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark comedy and absurdity, with players finding amusement in the awkward behavior of enemies and the humorous edge in the voiceover and script. While the voice acting can be hit-or-miss, it often leans towards being "funny bad," contributing to the overall comedic experience. The game successfully balances dark themes with lighthearted moments, making it an engaging indie title.
- “Like, it's dark, and there's some gory imagery, but honestly watching the enemies awkwardly chase after you is really funny.”
- “The voice over and script has a humorous edge I like.”
- “This game is great for an indie game and despite it only being around 6 hours to complete, it has everything that makes a story interesting, everything from the dark moments to the funny ones.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
Overall, the game offers limited replayability, primarily due to its short 4-5 hour playtime, though it does include multiple difficulty levels and speedrun achievements that provide some incentive to replay. While the experience is enjoyable and fairly priced, many players feel that it lacks the depth and content for extensive replay value, a common shortcoming in horror games.
- “Sure, having a game with tons of replayability or never-ending things to do, or even a massive world that could take an entire year to complete, is all well and good, but a sturdy 5 to 10 hour journey is all you need.”
- “Overall, it's about a 4-5 hour experience, which is more or less fair enough for the asking price (given there's replay value), but I got it heavily on sale, so I definitely got my money's worth.”
- “There's 4 difficulties total (easy, normal, hard, very hard) and they each modify enemy spawns, so there's some replay value there in addition to two speedrun-related achievements.”
- “It is not very long, and besides trying to unlock all the achievements, I don't see too much replayability in it.”
- “Overall, it's about a 4-5 hour experience, which is fair enough for the asking price, but I got it heavily on sale, so I definitely got my money's worth.”
- “Something I find a lot of horror games lack is replayability.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is praised for its strong design and integration with the story, contributing to an engaging atmosphere. While some players may find the combat mechanisms limited, the overall character and visual aesthetics enhance the narrative experience.
- “Character development, enemy introduction, ambiance, and all different details - everything is on point.”
- “The atmosphere, character design, story, and location designs are all very good!”
- “I know this game may not be for everyone, especially with its limited combat mechanics; however, I do think the beautiful visuals, strong character designs, and interesting story are worth it.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy for Apsulov has drawn criticism, with users expressing concerns that the reliance on ads could negatively impact the game's quality if the current content production continues.
- “Ads will ruin the experience if they keep making content like this.”
- “Apsulov is the second game released with excessive ads.”