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Betrayer

It starts promising and gets better in the final act, but the bulk of Betrayer's journey is let down by inconsistent quality, repeat enemies, and investigative drudgery.
Betrayer Game Cover
72%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, replayability
83% User Score Based on 2,367 reviews
Critic Score 60%Based on 9 reviews

Platforms

PCSteam DeckWindows
Betrayer Game Cover

About

Betrayer is a single player open world shooter game with horror, fantasy, mystery, thriller and others themes. It was developed by Blackpowder Games and was released on March 23, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Betrayer is a first person action adventure game that takes you to the New World at the turn of the 17th century. The year is 1604. You sailed from England expecting to join a struggling colony on the coast of Virginia. Instead, you find only ghosts and mysteries. What catastrophe blighted the land and drained it of color and life?

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83%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,367 reviews
story517 positive mentions
grinding94 negative mentions

  • Unique and striking art style with a monochrome palette and red accents that enhances the atmosphere.
  • Engaging story that unfolds through exploration and interaction with ghosts, providing a sense of mystery and intrigue.
  • Solid sound design that plays a crucial role in gameplay, enhancing immersion and tension.
  • Repetitive gameplay loop that involves backtracking and completing similar tasks across different areas.
  • Combat mechanics can feel clunky and unbalanced, with a reliance on slow-reloading weapons that can lead to frustration.
  • The ending feels abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving many questions unanswered and diminishing the overall experience.
  • story
    1,553 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "Betrayer" is a complex and intriguing narrative set in a haunting colonial America, where players uncover the fates of lost souls through exploration and interaction with ghosts. While the storytelling is primarily delivered through text and notes, many players appreciate the depth and atmosphere it creates, despite some finding the gameplay repetitive and the quests somewhat tedious. Overall, the narrative is engaging, with a mix of personal tales and overarching themes of betrayal, though it may require patience and attention to fully appreciate.

    • “This is a must play, and the story is amazing.”
    • “The story is well-crafted, although as some characters recall their past actions, almost all NPCs come off as sociopathic and narcissistic, making a majority of the ghosts difficult to empathize with.”
    • “The story offers a few twists, but it's heavily inspired by the devs' former work on fear.”
    • “The story is the most cliché noble savage Disney narrative that teamed up with Netflix.”
    • “The story itself is okay, almost a noir style set during a time period with muskets, Indians, and Spaniards.”
    • “The story is a little sparse; that could be a good or bad thing depending on your tastes, but as someone who generally likes very story-heavy games, I think this one struck a good balance.”
  • gameplay
    872 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in "Betrayer" is a blend of first-person shooter mechanics with stealth and exploration elements, set against a unique 17th-century backdrop. While the game introduces interesting mechanics, such as a sound-based stealth system and a dual-world exploration feature, many players find the core gameplay loop repetitive and lacking in variety, often reducing to fetch quests and combat against similar enemies. Overall, the game is praised for its atmosphere and narrative, but its gameplay can feel simplistic and monotonous over time.

    • “Betrayer is full of fresh ideas like FPS gameplay with fairly authentic 17th-century weapons, a unique American colonial setting, and a heavy emphasis on audio-based exploration.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and the story is engaging.”
    • “The mechanics were really fun and the stealth was rewarding.”
    • “The gameplay loop suffers from basically ticking off marks on a map and then rinse and repeat for the next area.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive and tedious, the end game is a mess that's only navigable with extensive research online, and the 'twist ending' is both ridiculous and comes out of nowhere.”
    • “The gameplay gets old and samey pretty quickly.”
  • atmosphere
    706 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in "Betrayer" is widely praised for its eerie, immersive quality, enhanced by its unique black-and-white art style with splashes of red, and effective sound design that creates a sense of dread and isolation. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke a haunting ambiance reminiscent of classic horror titles, making it a standout feature despite some criticisms regarding repetitive gameplay and lack of depth in other areas. Overall, the atmospheric experience is considered the game's strongest aspect, drawing players into its unsettling world and narrative.

    • “The atmosphere is so hauntingly immersive, it's like stepping into a nightmare you never want to wake up from.”
    • “The atmosphere is incredible and certainly a highlight of the game.”
    • “Betrayer is an atmospheric survival horror / exploration game.”
    • “Apart from a couple of conquistadors and some mystical enemies popping up out of nowhere, the game feels really empty, and in spite of the convincing summer forest stroll atmosphere that it conveys so well through its beautiful visuals and sounds.”
    • “The atmosphere is thick, uneasy, and sometimes even serene.”
    • “The atmosphere, graphics, and gameplay still holds up.”
  • graphics
    678 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a striking monochrome art style, often described as eerie and atmospheric, with red accents highlighting important elements. While many players appreciate the unique aesthetic and atmospheric depth it provides, some have noted technical issues, such as graphical glitches and performance problems, particularly on certain hardware. Overall, the visuals are seen as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience, despite some criticisms regarding repetitiveness and the potential for eye strain.

    • “The graphics are stunning, and the way the trees and shrubs move in the breeze is beautiful.”
    • “The visuals are hauntingly beautiful, with a striking monochrome art style that uses red to highlight important elements.”
    • “The black and white graphics provide a unique atmosphere, and the way the visuals interact with the sound design creates an immersive experience.”
    • “The graphics are standard-fare for a 2014 game.”
    • “The graphics eventually become a strain on the eyes, as you try to squint and find a flash of red in the repetitive black and white landscape.”
    • “I wanted to like this game but sadly I was unable to play much because of graphical glitches that AMD GPU users have been getting since 2014 that have not been fixed.”
  • music
    119 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's music aspect is largely characterized by its minimalism, with most players noting the absence of a traditional soundtrack throughout the gameplay, relying instead on ambient sounds like wind and wildlife. While some appreciate this approach for enhancing immersion and creating a haunting atmosphere, others feel that the lack of music detracts from the overall experience, suggesting that a more varied soundtrack could have enriched the game. Overall, the sound design is praised for its effectiveness, but many reviewers express a desire for more musical elements to complement the game's visuals and narrative.

    • “The soundtrack and the noises themselves are great; the music really gives off an effect of being in a spooky and mystical place whilst also making you uneasy and restless while encountering enemies throughout the land.”
    • “The chilling music and sounds combined with the monochrome look make the atmosphere of this game one of the best I have ever played.”
    • “The soundtrack is also one of the key aspects of the game here, since it enhances the atmosphere by a great deal, creating a feel of dread at every corner.”
    • “The only musical track in the game is a one and a half minute drumbeat on the main menu, overlaid by ethereal chanting.”
    • “There's also virtually no music outside of the main menu and the ending, so the sound design only helps to reinforce that you're a lone individual in a mostly uncharted land.”
    • “There is no music or dialogue/speech sounds in the entire game making things feel unfinished, it does add to the creepy factor though.”
  • grinding
    95 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often detracting from the overall experience. While some enjoy the challenge of achievement hunting, many express frustration with the excessive backtracking, fetch quests, and the lack of clear objectives, which can make gameplay feel like a chore. Despite these criticisms, a few players appreciate the unique atmosphere and story, suggesting that the game has redeeming qualities, even if the grinding can be overwhelming at times.

    • “Despite incidental noises being the only sounds the game provides, the tension of always listening for the next encounter means actionless stretches are not tedious.”
    • “The grind in this game feels rewarding, as each small victory builds up to a larger sense of achievement.”
    • “I appreciate how the grinding mechanics are designed to keep players engaged, making every moment feel purposeful.”
    • “The problem is that this game is fun for about an hour at the start, and about an hour at the end, but the 5 or 6 hours in between are incredibly tedious, repetitive, and pointless.”
    • “Unfortunately, in order to beat the game you must essentially perform a series of fetch quests that grow very tedious and confusing very quickly.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive and tedious, the end game is a mess that's only navigable with extensive research online, and the 'twist ending' is both ridiculous and comes out of nowhere.”
  • replayability
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is generally considered low, with many reviewers noting that it lacks significant value after the initial playthrough due to repetitive gameplay and linear storylines. While some players appreciate the option to adjust settings or play on different difficulty levels, most agree that once the story is completed, there is little incentive to replay. A few users mention that the game is still enjoyable for its price, but the consensus is that replay value is minimal.

    • “It's a cheap game that offers a reasonably long questline and moderate replayability due to the open-world style maps and the ability to adjust your experience from color to black and white.”
    • “The game does play pretty quickly, but has decent replay value with the several difficulty options and the option to switch to full color mode as well (although I personally love the gritty black and white texture because it reminds me of old horror films).”
    • “Branching dialogue with NPCs should make for replay value as I imagine the responses have some effect on the outcome.”
    • “There isn't much to be said otherwise, 'Betrayer' is a relatively short game with low replayability.”
    • “Not much replayability, because it is repetitive as it is.”
    • “The game has little if any replay value except for playing on more difficult settings; however, I shall play it again when I get time as an adventure and concentrate on following the story.”
  • stability
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with some players reporting a smooth experience at 60 fps and no significant issues, while others encounter frequent crashes, graphical glitches—especially on AMD cards—and various bugs that disrupt gameplay. Despite some users experiencing minimal problems, the overall consensus highlights persistent stability issues that detract from the enjoyment, particularly for those using certain hardware.

    • “Performance - great, locked 60 fps, no drops, no freezes.”
    • “Skyrim came out in 2011, has vast terrain, mountains, hills, forests, you can see far away, runs great.”
    • “Different, atmospheric, and bug free.”
    • “Stylish game but quite buggy.”
    • “Oh also, it's buggy as hell, crashing to desktop when moving from one zone to the next, really annoying.”
    • “The game has some persistent graphical glitches that even two years after release, haven't been addressed.”
  • emotional
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a range of responses, from heartbreak and psychological immersion to frustration over its delivery. While some players appreciate the depth and dramatic moments, others find the storytelling lacking, particularly due to the reliance on text prompts that diminish emotional impact. Overall, the game succeeds in creating an emotional roller coaster, but its execution leaves some players feeling disconnected from the characters and their stories.

    • “The ending is emotional, but blunt, and the seemingly never-ending cycle fits nicely with the idea that a ghost or haunting is just stuck in an eternal loop.”
    • “I certainly recommend this game because it managed to accomplish what I seek in games: the feeling of psychological immersion in ways that stimulate me emotionally, even occasionally raising my blood pressure during tense moments.”
    • “Betrayer put me on quite an emotional roller coaster.”
    • “The boring story, at least in the first hour, is uninteresting and has a 'find it out yourself' theme.”
    • “The emotional depth of the characters feels shallow and fails to resonate with the player.”
    • “I expected a gripping narrative, but the emotional moments fell flat and lacked impact.”
  • optimization
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is highly inconsistent, with some players experiencing smooth performance at 60 fps while others encounter stuttering and frame drops in specific areas. While certain aspects, like weapon performance, are well-optimized, overall feedback indicates that the game suffers from poor optimization, particularly in visually demanding environments. Despite these issues, some users report decent performance when settings are adjusted, suggesting that optimization may vary based on hardware and graphical settings.

    • “Performance - great, locked 60 fps, no drops, no freezes.”
    • “Some of the best optimization I've seen in a game.”
    • “Walking or running around these environments with the color turned on and the effects all the way up made my machine chug a little, but overall the game is well optimized for the number of moving objects on screen at any given time.”
    • “The game's pretty unoptimized, and the devs just left it that way before closing their studio and removing the game from Steam.”
    • “Not the best performance in certain areas unless most of the settings are on low.”
    • “Lackluster performance despite being on the UT3 engine.”
  • humor
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of quirky sound effects, witty dialogue, and absurd enemy designs, creating a unique tone that balances between adventure and horror. Players appreciate the comedic elements, such as the humorous responses from characters and the amusing interactions during combat, which add levity to the otherwise atmospheric experience. While some aspects of the game may feel disjointed, the self-aware humor and clever writing contribute to an engaging and entertaining narrative.

    • “Betrayer operates in this funny gray area between exploratory adventure and atmospheric horror -- I'm a sucker for games with their own unique tone and atmosphere to back it up. (I know I keep saying the word 'atmosphere'. That's how important it is to me. Bet money I won't say it again, I dare ya).”
    • “Some of the answers Allison gives when you choose the hit on her choice, when gift giving, are hilarious.”
    • “There are a few enemies that are basically a skull and skeletal hands with dark vapors for a body - I mention this because killing them is punctuated by a rather funny 'ping!' sound.”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is generally viewed as lacking, with minimal backstory provided for the protagonist and a reliance on stereotypical designs. While some side quests offer well-written narratives, the overall character depth is considered insufficient, leaving players wanting more engagement with the characters' motivations and identities. Despite this, the unique atmosphere and setting may still appeal to those interested in the game's aesthetic.

    • “This game has a great atmosphere and an incredibly unique setting, really solid character design, superb sound design and music, and some of the side quests are written pretty well.”
    • “So after playing through the entire game on the hard difficulty, I would only recommend playing this if you are really interested in the atmosphere like I was, notably the colonial setting, surreal aesthetics, and character design.”
    • “On the side of all the issues, which consist of bad story writing, stereotypical character design (woo skeletons - edgy), and off-putting contrasts over time, the game is worth £2, which I got it for. It provides enough entertainment for a few hours just running around and trying to understand what the game is about, as it does not even give a single detail about the protagonist, like the name, gender, or purpose of being on the ship that crashed.”
    • “So after playing through the entire game on hard difficulty, I would only recommend playing this if you are really interested in the atmosphere, like I was, notably the colonial setting, surreal aesthetics, and character design.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features a straightforward monetization model, lacking DLC or microtransactions, which allows it to focus on delivering substantial content without the distractions often found in AAA titles. Players appreciate this approach, highlighting the game's value despite its small size.

    • “This game is literally tiny, has no DLC or microtransactions, and yet it can deliver a lot more actual content than most of the AAA games we've seen in the last few years.”
    • “This game is literally tiny, has no DLC or microtransactions, and yet still it can deliver a lot more actual content than most of the AAA games we saw in the last years.”
    • “I wasn't sure what to make of Betrayer when I first saw an advertisement for it a few months ago... a first-person action/adventure game set in the 1600s and rendered in a heavily contrasted, black and white environment similar in style to the wood etchings of the time period?”
    • “I guess my only complaint is using ranged weapons: it's not any form of ads, so it has its own learning curve.”
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60%Critics’ scoreBased on 9 critic reviews
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7h Median play time
8h Average play time
4-15h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 29 analyzed playthroughs
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Betrayer is a open world shooter game with horror, fantasy, mystery, thriller and others themes.

Betrayer is available on PC, Steam Deck and Windows.

On average players spend around 8 hours playing Betrayer.

Betrayer was released on March 23, 2014.

Betrayer was developed by Blackpowder Games.

Betrayer has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Betrayer is a single player game.

Similar games include Hell is Us, Witch Hunt, Atomfall, The Beast Inside, Murdered: Soul Suspect and others.