Befriended Curse
- July 30, 2024
- Yellow Basement Games
Get on Steam"Befriended Curse" is a single-player adventure game with a dense atmosphere and intriguing story. As Jonathan, a final year psychology student, you'll find yourself trapped in a remote location with a creepy old woman lurking in the woods. With your car missing and your employer nowhere to be found, you must explore the dark corners of the house and forest to uncover secrets and unravel the mystery of the young girl who may hold the key to your escape. Gameplay is focused on exploration and story uncovery, providing a horror walking sim experience with an average completion time of 1h20m.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a tense atmosphere and great sound design, effectively building suspense and delivering solid jump scares.
- The graphics are impressive, with detailed environments and a creepy ambiance that enhances the horror experience.
- The story is interesting and well-crafted, providing a captivating narrative that keeps players engaged throughout the short playtime.
- The game is quite short, leaving some players wanting more content and additional jump scares.
- There are occasional glitches and issues with item interactions that can disrupt gameplay.
- Some players found the pacing slow at times, with moments of wandering that could lead to frustration.
- story32 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally well-received, with many players finding it interesting and well-crafted, particularly in the horror genre where it builds tension and suspense effectively. While some reviews mention minor confusion or a lack of depth towards the end, the overall narrative is praised for its engaging plot twists and immersive storytelling. The combination of good graphics, sound design, and a captivating atmosphere further enhances the storytelling experience.
“This game does a great job in building tension and suspense, which is always a great sign of a well-made horror game. Most of the time spent starting out is filled with unknown and careful steps as you navigate your way through the house and the story being told. Although near the end the tension was mostly gone for me, the overall design and structure of this makes it well worth the price being asked for in my mind.”
“A surprisingly well-crafted story without relying on cheap jump scares.”
“The atmosphere is amazing... the game is beautiful to look at... the sound design is perfectly done... and the story actually hits pretty well.”
“Just a little story about [not saying here maybe a spoiler] I really don't get it or what happened next.”
“High quality visuals, some puzzles, and a short, serviceable story that doesn't overstay its welcome.”
“The plot adheres to the genre stereotypes, but holds together just fine.”
- atmosphere19 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 16 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively combining visuals, sound design, and pacing to create a tense and unsettling experience. Reviewers highlight the balance between jump scares and a haunting ambiance, noting that the atmosphere significantly enhances the overall gameplay and storytelling. Overall, it is described as a beautifully crafted environment that captivates players and contributes to the game's horror elements.
“All jokes aside, the game plays well, and the tension and atmosphere that's built through this short experience feels tangible, constricting, and tight at times.”
“The atmosphere is amazing... the game is beautiful to look at... the sound design is perfectly done... and the story actually hits pretty well.”
“Developer has a good sense for pacing and a solid understanding of using audio and visuals to create an atmosphere.”
“The game is a walking/reading/puzzle game set in a haunted house with plenty of jump scares, but the atmosphere feels lacking.”
“While the game has a few decent jump scares, the overall atmosphere fails to create a lasting impact.”
“The atmosphere, music, and mood are present, but they don't come together to create a truly immersive experience.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are consistently praised for their high quality, detail, and realism, contributing significantly to the overall atmosphere and immersion. Players appreciate the combination of sharp visuals and effective sound design, which enhances the spooky environment and storytelling. Overall, the game is noted for its solid optimization and smooth performance, making it a visually impressive experience.
“The graphics are amazing in this game -- very detailed and realistic.”
“Right from the very beginning, I fell in love with the overall feel of the graphics, the sharp crisp sound effects, the sudden pop noises as you walk, the totally creepy sounds from the woods; this game takes you on a journey where you get lost in time...”
“Very spooky environment, decent graphics.”
“High quality visuals, some puzzles and short, serviceable story that doesn't overstay its welcome.”
“On the technical side, the game is well optimized, and the graphical assets mesh together well.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as a solid walking simulator with effective scares and decent puzzles, complemented by smooth mechanics and a well-crafted atmosphere. While some players experienced minor frustrations, these were often attributed to personal skill rather than flaws in the game itself. Overall, it offers an engaging experience, particularly for those who enjoy horror elements.
“The game's a solid walking simulator, with reasonable scares, the puzzling is decent and the gameplay and scripting is pretty on-point. I think at times, there were little things I got stuck on, but I think that's more my own skill issue than anything else.”
“Very smooth gameplay in a spooky house with horrible wiring.”
“Good gameplay and atmosphere.”
“The game's a solid walking simulator, with reasonable scares, the puzzling is decent and the gameplay and scripting is pretty on-point - I think at times, there were little things I got stuck on, but I think that's more my own skill issue than anything else.”
- music4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's music and sound design are highly praised for creating an immersive and eerie atmosphere, particularly noted for the unsettling disappearance of music during key moments. Reviewers appreciate the quality of the background music, which enhances the overall mood and adds to the game's chilling experience.
“Good quality, the music gave me chills.”
“The game has great sound design, and the creepiest thing was how the music that initially plays upon entering the home suddenly disappears once things start happening.”
“The atmosphere, music, and mood is what really made this stand out for me.”
- stability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is praised, with many users reporting no significant glitches and a smooth experience. However, a few minor glitches were noted, which is not uncommon shortly after release.
“This game was definitely well made, with no glitches or anything not working. I can't wait for your other game to come out in February next year. Well done to the devs! As I said, it's very playable with great sounds, and it made me very aware that I was not alone throughout. I'll rate you a 10/10 for the hard work put into making this game. Thank you! People, go grab a bargain game; you won't be disappointed.”
“There were a couple glitches, which is to be expected only one day after release.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development is highlighted by the appealing design of the witch, suggesting a strong visual identity that enhances the overall narrative experience.
“I loved the character design of the witch.”
“The character development is incredibly deep and engaging.”
“Each character's backstory adds layers to the overall narrative.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the grinding aspect for its balance, noting that the engaging story maintains interest while minimizing tedious backtracking, making the experience feel less repetitive.
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its strong optimization, with users noting that the technical performance is solid and the graphical assets integrate seamlessly.
“On the technical side, the game is well optimized, and the graphical assets mesh together well.”
