ARAYA

68%
Game Brain Score Based on 189 reviews
  • story
  • atmosphere
  • graphics
ARAYA Game Cover
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"ARAYA" is a single-player horror simulation game with an intriguing story that unfolds from the perspective of three different characters in a Thai hospital. The game boasts a good soundtrack and awesome atmosphere, but is held back by bad mechanics and numerous bugs. It supports both Oculus Rift and HTC VIVE headsets, but can also be played without a VR headset. The game is initially being released in English.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

68%
Audience ScoreBased on 189 reviews
story30 positive mentions
graphics8 negative mentions
  • The game has a creepy atmosphere and effectively uses sound to create tension and jump scares.
  • The story is engaging, with multiple character perspectives that add depth to the narrative.
  • The chase sequences are thrilling and well-executed, providing a sense of urgency and excitement.
  • The game suffers from clunky controls, particularly with door interactions and character movement, which can detract from the experience.
  • There are numerous bugs and glitches, including issues with mouse sensitivity and inconsistent gameplay mechanics.
  • The voice acting and some translations are subpar, which can break immersion and affect the overall quality of the game.
  • story96 mentions

    The story of the game is generally well-received, featuring a typical horror narrative centered around uncovering the truth behind a character's death in a haunted hospital, with multiple perspectives from different characters adding depth. While some players found the storytelling engaging and appreciated the incorporation of Thai cultural elements, others noted issues with pacing, clarity, and repetitiveness, suggesting that the execution could have been improved. Overall, it offers a solid, if not groundbreaking, horror experience that keeps players invested in the unfolding mystery.

    • “The story starts out great, spins the yarn well and pulls you in.”
    • “The story is good; I like the idea of playing as three different characters, it gives different angles to the big story.”
    • “The story really had depth and a sense of mystery and it kept me hooked into finding out what happens next.”
    • “I could've used more closure on almost every aspect of the story, and it really feels like this was phoned-in.”
    • “Felt like I was missing a large part of what the story was.”
    • “The story ending was a bit lame.”
  • atmosphere40 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Araya" is widely praised for its creepiness and ability to create tension, effectively immersing players in a haunting environment reminiscent of classic horror titles. Many reviewers highlight the game's effective sound design, jump scares, and psychological elements that enhance the overall experience, making it a strong choice for fans of atmospheric horror. Despite some criticisms regarding graphics and story, the unsettling ambiance and exploration aspects are consistently noted as standout features.

    • “Well to start, the atmosphere is great and creepy, and helps to keep you on edge throughout the game.”
    • “The atmosphere walking around an abandoned location, along with all the sounds, makes this an incredibly immersive experience, especially with the volume up loud.”
    • “Araya is an atmospheric horror adventure that takes place inside an extremely creepy Thai hospital.”
    • “Atmosphere 4/10”
    • “Camera does whatever it wants when the atmosphere is creepy.”
    • “Let me begin by saying that this game has flaws and is not perfect by any means (much like this review), but let's focus on what the game gets right - atmosphere.”
  • graphics38 mentions

    The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the attention to detail and atmospheric design, while others criticize them as outdated and lacking polish, particularly in character models and animations. Many note that the visuals are acceptable for an indie title but fall short of modern AAA standards, with some experiencing bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience. Overall, while the graphics may not impress everyone, they contribute to the game's eerie atmosphere.

    • “Graphics and sound are very good and turn the old hospital into a place where you better not walk around at night.”
    • “Impressive graphics for an old game.”
    • “Overall, I'd still consider the graphics good just because of the attention to detail and because it's 'just' an indie title with a small budget instead of a AAA title from a big company.”
    • “Graphics aren't the best, and they definitely get a ton of mileage out of what few assets they use.”
    • “The graphics are horrible, the characters look like the only emotion they can show is plastic surgery.”
    • “Other than that, the graphics look like something from a game made at least 7 or 8 years ago, and the entire game gives off this Outlast meets Cry of Fear situation with lots of weird psycho things.”
  • gameplay31 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it below average due to clunky mechanics, frustrating chase sequences, and poor controls. While some appreciated the story and atmosphere, the overall experience was marred by glitches and a lack of engaging interactions, leading to a consensus that the gameplay needs significant improvement to enhance player enjoyment.

    • “In October 2019, the game actually received a content update that overhauled the graphics and added a bit of new gameplay.”
    • “The foundation of the gameplay relies on object hunting and chase sequences.”
    • “Once you get past the initial awkwardness of the door-opening mechanics, this is actually a pretty scary game.”
    • “It doesn't really achieve anything outstanding, nor does it do anything special, and its constantly flip-flopping mechanics get a tad frustrating.”
    • “This game really moved me to request a refund because of all these glitches, terrible controls and crashes during gameplay.”
    • “Overall gameplay is a bit below-par in my opinion.”
  • music16 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for creating a creepy atmosphere, with a mix of subtle and intense tracks that enhance the horror experience, especially during chase sequences. However, some players find the soundtrack repetitive and occasionally mismatched with the gameplay, leading to moments of annoyance. Overall, while the sound design has its flaws, it is considered a strong aspect of the game that contributes significantly to its immersive quality.

    • “Very creepy atmosphere, subtle yet scary music, and longer than many VR horror titles.”
    • “I also enjoyed the music, which takes a step back during exploration but kicks in with a hammering soundtrack during the chase sequences.”
    • “Spooky but generally subtle music gives way to banshee-like shrieks and a din worthy of hell itself, often at the shortest of notices.”
    • “By the time you are onto another 'scary' chase scene, you will be less scared and more annoyed at the loud and obnoxious noise/music choices for that bit.”
    • “The music is also getting annoying after a short while.”
    • “The soundtrack loops over after what seems like every 30 seconds, some of the sounds seem low quality, the voice acting seems off.”
  • stability12 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and control problems that detract from the overall experience. Players have encountered frustrating camera glitches, delayed sound, and game-breaking errors that can lead to unplayable situations. While some users still enjoy the game despite these issues, the prevalence of instability has led others to seek refunds.

    • “The game is full of bugs and glitches.”
    • “This game really moved me to request a refund because of all these glitches, terrible controls, and crashes during gameplay.”
    • “Very buggy; in my case, the game saved when my character dropped under the ground and became unplayable unless I restarted the whole game.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often requiring excessive effort to progress, with some suggesting that it feels like a chore rather than an engaging part of gameplay.

    • “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
    • “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
    • “After the first model flashed by a few times, some chairs flew across the room; it was just tedious.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its awkwardness, which many players find amusing, alongside the comedic elements of jumping that add to the overall fun.

    • “So awkward it was funny.”
    • “Also, jumping is hilarious.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Users note that the game offers a degree of replayability, particularly enhanced by the use of an Xbox controller, though they believe that adding touch support could significantly improve the experience.

    • “If you'd like to go back to it again, there's definitely some replayability.”
    • “So if you'd like to go back to it again, there's some replayability.”
    • “The Xbox controller with my Rift makes it much more playable, but touch support would take it to another level.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players report that the emotional experience of the game can be negatively impacted by motion sickness, particularly in VR, which detracts from their overall enjoyment and immersion.

  • optimization1 mentions

    The game's optimization is criticized for clunky mechanics, poor audio mixing, and abrupt cutscenes, detracting from an otherwise above-average horror experience.

    • “This otherwise above-average horror game is marred by clunky mechanics, bad audio mixing, abrupt cutscenes, and poor optimization.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is generally viewed as average, with decent designs and animations, but lacks depth and uniqueness in the characters themselves.

    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
    • “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that impact character growth throughout the game.”
    • “The characters seem one-dimensional, and their arcs are predictable and uninspired.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

95% average critic score

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