Azurael's Circle: Chapter 1

About

Azurael's Circle: Chapter 1 is a single player role playing game with horror and mystery themes. It was developed by Enkian Games and was released on May 23, 2018. It received positive reviews from players.

Azurael's Circle: Chapter 1 is a horror-mystery adventure game where you must find the truth about your mother's death. What evils await you in the depths of the Lancaster farmhouse? The further you go, the more strange things get.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 72 reviews

story19 positive mentions

gameplay5 negative mentions

The visual style combines pixel art with a dark atmosphere, effectively creating an engaging mood.
The story, while not highly original, is intriguing enough to spark interest in the main character and his mission.
The game is free to play, making it an accessible introduction to a potentially interesting series.

The gameplay feels outdated, with a simplistic combat system and minimal player engagement required.
Item interactions can be frustrating due to poor click detection and items blending into the background.
The lack of voice acting and a more complex narrative detracts from the overall experience.

story
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
56%
6%
The story of the game is generally seen as intriguing and well-written, with a promising premise that captures players' attention, though it often lacks depth and complexity. Many reviewers appreciate the atmospheric build-up and the engaging backstory revealed through exploration, but some feel the narrative is too simplistic and predictable, leaving them wanting more development. Overall, while the story serves as a solid introduction to the game, it is perceived as needing further elaboration in future chapters.
- “The story for me is what sells this game; it's intriguing and refreshing to see in a pixel-bit style game.”
- “Awesome game, the mechanics are great, the story is intriguing, can't wait for chapter 2.”
- “Thank you for creating and releasing this game, Jordan Allen; it was an incredibly compelling story with creepy moments.”
- “The story feels nonsensical, so I can't say I'm interested in the game or its sequels.”
- “The downside is that the storyline has practically no time to develop.”
- “The story is very uninteresting; it doesn't catch my attention at all.”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
55%
28%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it linear and simplistic, often likening the puzzles to mere checklists rather than engaging challenges. While some appreciate the atmosphere and storytelling, others criticize frustrating mechanics and a lack of depth, leading to a general sentiment that the game could benefit from more complexity and length. Overall, the gameplay is seen as average, with some players expressing a desire for improvement in future chapters.
- “Simple gameplay and lots of creepy details—some appear as you progress.”
- “Fun retro style and nice gameplay to keep you going.”
- “Awesome game, the mechanics are great, the story is intriguing, can't wait for chapter 2.”
- “However, the gameplay was very linear and the puzzles were more of a checklist of things to click on, rather than a puzzle to solve.”
- “This might sound like the gameplay is lacking a bit and I probably wouldn't disagree, but the storytelling and atmosphere makes up for it.”
- “I could feel my blood pressure rise as I wondered why someone would deliberately make gameplay so eye-rollingly obnoxious.”
monetization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy for "Azurael's Circle" has been criticized as misleading, as it presents itself as a game while primarily functioning as an advertisement that requires an $8 purchase to unlock full content. Reviewers argue that this approach detracts from genuine game developers and misleads consumers, equating the experience to consuming free advertisements rather than engaging with a complete game. Overall, the monetization model is viewed as harmful and unworthy of gamers' time and investment.
- “If you enjoy advertisements, you can consume them for free on the web or on YouTube without needing to add them to your game library, download them, and then launch the advertising.”
- “While it might seem like an innocuous mistake, publishing demos and advertisements as if they are full games is misleading and in some ways harmful.”
- “It's impossible for me to recommend this incorrectly published advertising spam to gamers; you deserve better than adverts.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
The music in the game is generally praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and set the tone, with some users highlighting its effectiveness in building tension and evoking fear. However, there are complaints about moments of silence that disrupt the experience, suggesting a need for more consistent audio engagement. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong element that complements the gameplay and narrative.
- “I also enjoyed the eerie music of this game and when it used silence to bring out the scares.”
- “The music sets a good mood for the game along with the limited light vision distance your character has while running around.”
- “Music was outstanding for setting the tone.”
- “Sometimes the music stops and the game is dead silent.”
- “Once the music stops, the game is dead quiet.”
- “The horror comes from the build-up of plot tension and atmospheric cues such as sound and music; only cheap hacks need to make use of darkness to try to convey fear.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its strong evocation of old mystery and detective stories, with a focus on subtlety and tension rather than jump scares. Reviewers appreciate the storytelling and atmospheric elements, such as sound and music, which contribute to an immersive experience that feels distinctly British. Overall, while some gameplay aspects may be lacking, the atmospheric quality compensates for it, making it a worthwhile experience for those who enjoy a rich narrative environment.
- “If you have some money to spare, this is a really good game to enjoy the atmosphere of old mystery and detective stories.”
- “Most horror these days opt for jump scares and extreme gore, but this game solely aims for subtlety and atmosphere building.”
- “The horror comes from the build-up of plot tension and atmospheric cues such as sound, music, etc.; only cheap hacks need to make use of darkness to try to convey fear.”
- “Most horror games these days opt for jump scares and extreme gore, but this game solely aims for subtlety and atmosphere building.”
- “This might sound like the gameplay is lacking a bit, and I probably wouldn't disagree, but the storytelling and atmosphere make up for it.”
- “Atmosphere is overall pretty decent.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The graphics have received criticism for being subpar, with some players noting that they are poorly rendered and often obscured by darkness, which detracts from the gameplay experience. Additionally, there are concerns about the game's large file size relative to its low-quality visuals and lack of full-screen capability. Overall, while some players may not prioritize graphics, the consensus indicates that improvements are needed in this area.
- “It means hiding poor graphics behind absolute darkness on the edge of the screen and basically forcing the player to walk on every single possibly clickable square in order to make out the environment.”
- “I don't understand why this small chapter needs so much space on the hard drive; it does not even have full screen capability and has such low graphics.”
- “I already touched upon this in the graphics section, so no point in repeating myself, but it's pretty much the only thing I didn't like in the gameplay department.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and visually unappealing, leading to a frustrating experience.
- “It's hard on the eyes and, worst of all, tedious.”
- “The grinding feels endless and lacks any real reward.”
- “I find myself doing the same repetitive tasks over and over, which makes the game feel more like a chore than fun.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players appreciate the game's storytelling and atmosphere, noting that it evokes a strong sense of place and emotional connection, particularly with its British setting.
- “The story is beautifully crafted, and the atmosphere truly immerses you in the experience.”
- “I felt a deep emotional connection to the characters and their journeys throughout the game.”
- “The game's narrative evokes a range of emotions, making every moment feel impactful.”