AUTO-CRISIS

About

AUTO-CRISIS is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by The Otherworldly Studios and was released on August 29, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

AUTO-CRISIS is a short, atmospheric psychological horror game set on a stormy night where your car breaks down on a forest road. With perfect graphics and immersive sound, you navigate eerie, surreal events tied to trauma and survivor's guilt, unraveling a haunting mystery in about 4 hours of single-player gameplay. This experience avoids cheap scares and conventional puzzles, focusing instead on mood and story.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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92%

Audience ScoreBased on 59 reviews

story7 positive mentions

grinding1 negative mentions

The game features stunning graphics and unique creature designs, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
AUTO-CRISIS offers a fresh take on psychological horror, with a compelling story that keeps players engaged despite its short length.
The gameplay, while primarily a walking simulator, includes tense moments of evading monsters that add excitement and challenge to the experience.

The game suffers from repetitive objectives, particularly in the early stages, which can detract from the overall pacing and engagement.
Some players found the story to be unclear or lacking depth, leading to confusion about the narrative and its themes.
The enemy AI is simplistic, which can make encounters feel tedious rather than genuinely scary, reducing the horror impact.

story
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
44%
17%
The game's story is a minimal yet intriguing psychological journey that blends mystery with abstract elements, leaving players both curious and confused. While some found the narrative lacking in clarity and depth, others appreciated its unique and thought-provoking nature, enhanced by subtle storytelling and atmospheric graphics. Overall, the story is seen as a compelling aspect, albeit one that may not fully satisfy those seeking a more traditional horror experience.
- “The story, while minimal, was an interesting psychological journey.”
- “Although this game is very short, the abstract story, creature design, and beautiful scenery have been living in my mind for days.”
- “The story is a well-crafted mystery and I was both curious and confused as I was playing.”
- “I will recommend this on the caveat that it isn't really a horror game and the times that it tries to do some kind of story element, it just falls kind of flat.”
- “The story is not super clear, but it does become clearer somewhat later so you have to really roll with it.”
- “The story is there, one of those told by vague mutterings of a haunted and fractured mind.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
81%
6%
13%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals, particularly in 4K resolution, with well-crafted environments and impressive weather effects. Players appreciate the game's optimization, especially given its use of Unreal Engine 5, noting that it runs smoothly while maintaining a strong atmosphere. Overall, the aesthetic is described as beautiful and thematically cohesive, contributing significantly to the immersive experience.
- “I really enjoyed the aesthetic, and the game was very well-optimized, especially for a UE5 game with lots of outdoor sets.”
- “Graphics were beautiful and the landscapes were unique; the game ran so smooth for me (was not expecting this with Unreal 5).”
- “Although there was the occasional discrepancy in graphical fidelity and foley, the atmosphere remained strong, protecting immersion.”
- “In 4K resolution on max graphical settings, the environments looked very nice.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The gameplay primarily revolves around navigating a tense environment while evading unique monsters, offering a mix of walking simulation and puzzle-solving elements. While some players found the objectives repetitive and the mechanics somewhat limited, the overall experience is enhanced by clever monster interactions and a compelling narrative, making it a satisfying short horror game. The unpredictable twists and strong environmental design contribute to a suspenseful atmosphere, appealing to fans of dark psychological horror.
- “Its more on the walking sim side of the gameplay world, the ending is somehow very surreal but also really satisfying, and it does have some good tense moments evading monsters and solving what accounts for puzzles.”
- “The monsters feel unique enough with familiar mechanics that made the game enjoyable and suspenseful.”
- “A short and intense horror game with clever monster mechanics, excellent environmental design, and a great ending.”
- “The primary gameplay element is trying to get around creatures without dying.”
- “Gameplay-wise it lacks a bit; repetitive objectives and slow-running from or dodging between monsters isn't super fun, but the tension is always there to keep it exciting.”
- “Its more on the walking sim side of the gameplay world; the ending is somehow very surreal but also really satisfying, and it does have some good tense moments evading monsters and solving what accounts for puzzles.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
11%
22%
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its immersive and unsettling qualities, effectively blending elements of horror with a unique narrative centered around trauma and driving. Players appreciate the strong visuals and creative enemy design, which contribute to a creepy and surreal experience that keeps them engaged throughout. Despite minor graphical inconsistencies, the overall ambiance remains compelling and enhances the game's distinct storytelling.
- “This is a very weird, disturbing, immersive, atmospheric horror game about breaking down in your car and trying to face your current situation and past trauma surrounding cars and driving.”
- “The atmosphere in this game is really well done, and the premise is refreshingly different from most horror titles I’ve played.”
- “Although there was the occasional discrepancy in graphical fidelity and foley, the atmosphere remained strong, protecting immersion.”
- “The stormy atmosphere, the desolate wastelands, the crazy surreal nightmares, loved it all.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The music in the game is widely praised for enhancing the atmosphere and complementing the visuals, with many users highlighting its quality and fit for different areas. However, some players noted that the music can loop or cut too abruptly at times, detracting from the overall experience.
- “The vibe was incredible, the scenery was beautiful, and the music was perfect for every area.”
- “I absolutely love the premise, the art direction, monster designs, and the music rocks as well!”
- “Music is fantastic.”
- “The music loops or cuts a little too obviously.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highly praised, eliciting strong reactions such as laughter and applause from players. Many found the comedic elements engaging and entertaining, particularly enjoying the unexpected twists that kept them chuckling throughout the experience.
- “It made my jaw drop, and I couldn't decide if I wanted to fall out of my chair laughing or stand up and start clapping.”
- “It made me laugh out loud.”
- “I hoped Act 2 would be interesting, but everything is too well lit, and I was still chuckling at the 'twist' at the end of Act 1.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, particularly impressive for a UE5 title featuring extensive outdoor environments, enhancing the overall aesthetic experience.
- “I really enjoyed the aesthetic, and the game was very well-optimized, especially for a UE5 game with lots of outdoor sets.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with enemy encounters lacking excitement and failing to evoke a sense of challenge or fear.
- “I didn't really enjoy any of the enemy encounters; they're usually too repetitive and just kind of tedious rather than scary.”