Black Chapter

About

Black Chapter is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Spire Studio and was released on October 24, 2020. It received very positive reviews from players.

Black Chapter is a mystery-horror game inspired by Japanese RPG Maker classics with modern components mixed in. Play as Evan Gray, a high school student on a field trip to the famous Durhal Cathedral. Things take a terrifying turn when the class finds themselves imprisoned inside the cathedral. They then discover a killer demon lurks among them, pretending to be human! You must work together with …

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 46 reviews

story13 positive mentions

stability1 negative mentions

Engaging and intriguing story with multiple endings and a well-executed mystery that keeps players invested.
Strong horror atmosphere enhanced by effective jump scares, great soundtrack, and clever puzzle design.
Good character design and artwork combining pixel art and anime style, contributing to the overall charm.

Certain gameplay mechanics can be frustrating, including some cheap instant death traps and clunky controls.
Lack of autosave and occasional forced backtracking after deaths can cause player frustration.
Writing quality is inconsistent, with some bland dialogue and stereotypical character portrayals that may detract from immersion.

story
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
50%
9%
The story is generally praised for being engaging, mysterious, and well-crafted, with intriguing world-building and unique characters that maintain player interest throughout. Multiple endings and a blend of horror, puzzle-solving, and investigative elements add depth, though some frustration arises from certain gameplay sequences rather than narrative shortcomings. Overall, the atmosphere and unfolding plot provide a captivating experience that keeps players invested until the end.
- “The story is interesting enough, and does a good job keeping you guessing as to what is going on in the big picture.”
- “The cathedral's dark past unfurls as the game progresses and journal entries scattered across various rooms add to some much appreciated world building and backstory.”
- “Really fun game, clever puzzles without being frustrating or way too easy, a whodunit kind of plot with Phoenix Wright/Danganronpa style interludes between puzzle sections, did scare me quite a few times and the overall plot of what happened in the monastery in the past and how it relates to what is happening now I really enjoyed.”
- “Like I said, the story was interesting, and it kinda sucks that a poorly implemented sequence is the reason I gave up on this.”
- “I like it a lot more when choices throughout the game determine the ending, rather than the final scene being the game-changing moment for the whole story.”
- “The story itself isn't that deep and scary, but the atmosphere makes up for it.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The music in the game is widely praised for its fitting, eerie, and atmospheric quality that enhances immersion and complements the dark tone. Some users note that the soundtrack strategically appears and disappears, which adds to the tension and avoids monotony. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong and integral part of the experience, with many expressing appreciation and willingness to support the creators.
- “The soundtrack is very fitting to the game, eerie and yet doesn't bore.”
- “Music appears and disappears when it is necessary and, from my humble point of view, that is one of the best decisions the team could make, as it lets you be immersed in the game.”
- “The atmosphere is dark and eerie, with a good amount of jump-scares and a great soundtrack.”
- “Music sometimes stops by itself, making the room just soundless (maybe it's intentional? But I would love to hear the music here and there).”
- “Music: being the kind of game it is, I was expecting creepy and eerie music everywhere, but it isn't and it does not need it.”
- “[Spoiler] I thought the music was fitting with the atmosphere but it is what it is.”
gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
37%
27%
Gameplay in Black Chapter is engaging and tense, combining jump scares, chasing scenes, and detective mechanics that keep players invested. While some find the mechanics clunky or unforgiving, the mix of puzzle-solving, investigation, and original discussion elements provides a compelling experience reminiscent of classic horror RPGs. The game is relatively short but offers multiple endings, encouraging replayability.
- “Black Chapter contains very good jump scares and chasing scenes, as well as some minor detective mechanics, which I enjoyed very much.”
- “The gameplay and story are enthralling and kept me engaged all the way to the end.”
- “The gameplay is enjoyable; it's a mix of solving puzzles and investigating what's happening as you progress through the story.”
- “The mechanics are very clunky.”
- “Gameplay: it is very fluent and the discussion parts are quite original, it just only needs to have a bigger hitbox for some objects.”
- “Not a long game, around ~4 hours of gameplay but 4 different endings (of which I currently have 2, but I will be playing for the rest).”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
44%
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its dark, eerie, and tense mood, enhanced by an effective soundtrack and well-timed jump scares. While the story may not be deeply complex, the suspenseful environment—particularly in sections like the crypt—successfully creates a genuine sense of fear and engagement reminiscent of classic 90's RPGs.
- “One of the most important things for a 2D horror RPG is the atmosphere and feeling of suspense it creates.”
- “The game had mostly jumpscares, but also created a tense atmosphere, especially in the crypt section, where I felt I was genuinely being chased and needed to hide.”
- “Old school RPG with a great atmosphere that keeps the tension right and engaging, combined with the unforgiving mechanics of the '90s games (save often).”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The graphics combine charming pixel-art with anime-style character designs, evoking a nostalgic blend reminiscent of classic SNES RPGs and graphical adventure games. The artwork is highly praised for its quality and style.
- “The artwork and soundtrack are of the finest quality!”
- “The artworks are very nice, especially the character designs.”
- “Graphics are a mixture of anime and pixel art.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits occasional glitches when players walk against or stand near objects, affecting overall stability.
- “There were some glitches when you walked against or stood near objects.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game performs reliably with no crashes or lag, indicating stable and satisfactory optimization.
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor is highlighted by very hilarious moments that complement a great story, making the overall experience enjoyable and entertaining.
- “Very hilarious moments and great story.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game struggles to create a strong emotional impact due to insufficient character development, resulting in moments that fail to resonate deeply with players.