BARK

About

BARK is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by vano and was released on September 16, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"BARK is a single-player action game providing 6 hours of playtime, classified as psychological/survival, stealth, horror. Players experience the world through the eyes of an abused dog, focusing on realism and emotion, with a high difficulty level to simulate the dog's struggles. The game encourages strategic thinking, planning, and emotional involvement in its sad and unfortunate narrative."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 35 reviews

story5 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique perspective by allowing players to experience the world through a dog's eyes, which adds depth to the gameplay.
The horror elements are well-executed, creating a tense atmosphere that effectively conveys the themes of anxiety and survival.
Many players found the game to be fun and engaging, with a solid length of gameplay and a variety of achievements that enhance replay value.

The gameplay can be frustratingly repetitive, with some players feeling that the mechanics lack depth and variety, leading to boredom over time.
Numerous bugs and AI issues detract from the experience, causing players to encounter frustrating moments where the game does not function as intended.
The difficulty level is steep, which may alienate casual gamers, as many players expressed a desire for more accessible options or guidance.

gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
66%
17%
The gameplay is described as challenging yet initially enjoyable, with mechanics that are easy to grasp but become repetitive over time. Players noted a lack of incentive for replayability due to minimal rewards and frustrating AI behavior, leading to a sense of boredom and dissatisfaction, especially for those unfamiliar with stealth mechanics. While the game has a compelling narrative and immersive elements, many reviewers felt that the gameplay ultimately detracted from the overall experience.
- “It definitely is not an easy game by any means, but once I understood the mechanics, I had a blast.”
- “I was very quickly grasping the mechanics as they're fairly easy to understand and follow, especially when going against the owner, as you can use your sense to see where he is heading and just follow behind him at a safe distance until he leaves.”
- “Mechanics feel nice; you do sometimes get immersed and feel like you are in the skin of a dog with anxiety.”
- “I won't be going over every chapter as it's the same thing over and over with some differences here and there, as even the 'lose control' mechanic barely came into play, nor was it a major threat whatsoever.”
- “The main gameplay loop of farming points to get some slight stat increases almost felt pointless, as I felt no different than I did in the first chapter, especially towards the end, as you can use your sense to sprint and then sprint again once you run out of your senses bar.”
- “The only issue is, the game doesn't give me enough reasoning for another playthrough. After spending 3 hours doing the same mechanic with little reward besides some stat increases and possible other perks I haven't seen yet, I see no reason to go through it again, because it doesn't hold my attention enough nor give incentive for me to replay it; there is no replay value; the points are not enough.”
story
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
39%
23%
The game's story is described as engaging yet somewhat superficial, primarily conveyed through radios that provide background context without significantly impacting gameplay. Players appreciate the multiple endings tied to collectibles and choices, while also noting the thematic exploration of anxiety and animal abuse. Overall, the narrative adds depth but could benefit from more integration into the gameplay experience.
- “10/10 story, easily, and a conversation about animal abuse that I really think needs to be more present.”
- “I've noticed some interesting story going on in the background, like the playground out back, the extra bedroom, and even the wrecked painting room.”
- “There is a backstory around the setup as well which you occasionally hear on the radio, which adds a nice layer of depth to the story.”
- “There is a story to the game through the radios in the house; however, it doesn't impact the game in the slightest besides when there is a shooting in the neighborhood.”
- “For story, you are literally playing a dog with anxiety.”
- “But I haven't really figured out what those choices are and how they alter the story and endings.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the point system and achievements that encourage multiple playthroughs, others feel that the lack of compelling incentives and repetitive mechanics diminish the desire to replay. The absence of engaging content and meaningful rewards has led to frustration among some users, suggesting that the game may not hold long-term interest for all players.
- “The replay value is very good for a first game; I actually enjoy the point system and how it assists in leveling up my dog's abilities.”
- “There are plenty of achievements to unlock, adding significant replay value.”
- “The only issue is, the game doesn't give me enough reasoning for another playthrough. After spending 3 hours doing the same mechanics with little reward besides some stat increases and possible other perks I haven't seen yet, I see no reason to go through it again. It doesn't hold my attention enough nor give me an incentive to replay it; there is no replay value.”
- “If your community didn't find your third ending you keep talking about, it's not something to be proud of. It means your game isn't replayable enough or the mechanics are so bad that players can't find everything in it. Think about this next time you try to shame someone in the reviews. I read most of the comments and wish I had read them all before buying the game.”
- “The game lacks replayability, as the mechanics become repetitive and fail to engage players for a second run.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The music in the game is generally well-received, especially the end-of-level tracks, but players express frustration over the lack of warning music during critical moments, such as encounters with enemies, which can lead to unexpected deaths.
- “The music is very nice.”
- “Particularly, the end of the level music is memorable.”
- “Particularly, the end of the level music.”
- “Most of my deaths happen purely at random and without warning, not even the 'danger' music plays to inform me one is about to chase/attack, giving me no chance to even flee.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been criticized for being frustrating and buggy, with some interactions leading to repetitive issues. Despite these problems, players acknowledge that the game still achieves its intended goals.
- “Frustrating, repetitive, and buggy.”
- “Even with the buggy interactions on some objects, the game is good and does what it set out to do.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be largely unfulfilling, as the repetitive farming for minor stat increases does not significantly enhance gameplay or provide a sense of progression, particularly towards the end where abilities feel unchanged.
- “The main gameplay loop of farming points to get some slight stat increases felt almost pointless, as I didn't notice any difference from the first chapter, especially towards the end when I could just sprint and then sprint again once my senses bar ran out.”
- “Grinding for hours just to see minimal progress is incredibly frustrating; it makes the game feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding for resources becomes tedious quickly, and it detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and exaggerated character designs, particularly the owner, whose cartoonishly unattractive appearance elicits laughter rather than intimidation. This unique approach to humor resonates with players who appreciate its lighthearted and whimsical style.
- “I love how cartoonishly ugly the owner truly is; instead of being intimidated, I found myself laughing at his overall design.”
- “The witty dialogue and absurd situations had me chuckling throughout the entire game.”
- “The humor is so cleverly woven into the gameplay that I often found myself laughing out loud at the unexpected twists.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the game to be highly emotional, effectively evoking strong feelings and fulfilling its intended purpose of creating an impactful emotional experience.
- “Playing this game gets me super emotional, which is the point.”
- “The story and characters really tug at my heartstrings, making every moment feel impactful.”
- “I found myself tearing up during key scenes; the emotional depth is truly remarkable.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere in the game is highly praised for effectively delivering a chilling horror experience, with well-executed scares that enhance the overall tension and immersion.
- “The horror aspect is perfectly executed, with scares and atmosphere that are truly on point.”
- “The game's atmosphere immerses you completely, making every moment feel intense and engaging.”
- “The haunting ambiance and detailed environments create a chilling atmosphere that keeps you on edge.”