BlackShadows

About

BlackShadows is a survival horror game where you'll assume the role of a young scientist who is fighting against her worst nightmare... You'll have to escape from a strange and creepy place in order to survive. You think it's easy? Be careful : Black Shadows are never friendly!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

10%

Audience ScoreBased on 78 reviews

graphics3 positive mentions

story4 negative mentions

The game has a short playtime of around 12-20 minutes, which may be a relief for those who dislike long games.
Some players found the environments to have a unique, liminal quality that contributed to the atmosphere.
There are a couple of jump scares that some players found effective in creating a momentary thrill.

The game is plagued by numerous technical issues, including crashes and a lack of a proper menu, which can lead to frustration.
Gameplay is monotonous and consists mainly of finding keys and batteries, with little to no real challenge or story depth.
The graphics and sound design are poorly executed, with repetitive environments and subpar voice acting that detracts from the overall experience.

story
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
46%
31%
The game's story is criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, featuring minimal backstory and a simplistic narrative about a character's recurring nightmares. Players experience a disjointed storytelling approach, with a voiceover providing exposition while the screen remains black, leading to a frustrating and underwhelming experience. Overall, the narrative is deemed shallow, with little to drive the player forward or create a compelling atmosphere.
- “Right after the unreal splash screen, turn your volume really high because the screen stays black but a voice tells the story.”
- “Before you are in the game, there is a small narration explaining the story by a voice actor, who explains that she is one of ten sworn to secrecy about a top-secret experiment they were working on, and that these nightmares kept appearing to them, taking them one by one.”
- “Meanwhile, the character is talking and explaining the story.”
- “No backstory, no secrets to unravel, nothing is hunting you, nothing is driving you; you stand in the darkness for too long and you lose.”
- “Before you are in the game, there is a small narration explaining the story by a voice actor who is quite clearly not that good, explaining that she is one of ten sworn to secrecy about a top secret experiment they were working on, and that these nightmares kept appearing to them, taking them one by one, and that's it.”
- “Story is garbage (this short review is already longer than this game plot).”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The gameplay in "Blackshadows" is widely criticized for being broken, unpolished, and overly simplistic, with players experiencing a lack of engaging mechanics and numerous glitches. The game features a frustrating flashlight battery system and a punishing restart mechanic that detracts from the overall experience, leading to a consensus that the gameplay is minimal and unsatisfactory. Despite some praise for its smoothness, the overall impression is that the gameplay is lacking and fails to provide a compelling experience.
- “+ very fluid gameplay: the smoothness of the gameplay for me was great.”
- “Instead of opening on the title screen, the game throws you directly into gameplay, where the scary part actually ends...”
- “20 mins of gameplay.”
- “Game mechanics are entirely broken and unpolished.”
- “It's a very short and really simple game; the battery on your flashlight runs out even if it's not turned on. If you 'die', you restart at the very beginning instead of a checkpoint, artificially drawing out the gameplay.”
- “Full of glitches and gameplay 2/10; it is not possible to run or fight, just find batteries and keys to survive.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The graphics received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the quality and jump scare effects, rating them around 7/10. However, others noted that the visuals can be repetitive and criticized the lack of options for adjusting settings, such as windowed mode. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered decent, they may not stand out significantly.
- “It was scary with the jump scares and the good graphics, but it is short. I liked it!”
- “Let's be specific: the graphics aren't too bad, even if they're extremely repetitive.”
- “Graphics 6.9999/10”
- “The graphics are maybe.”
- “Graphics are okay, I guess.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The music in the game features a quiet piano score that plays during the intro, accompanied by a female narrator; however, many users feel that the music fails to create a creepy atmosphere, as it is often drowned out by the narration. Overall, the lack of impactful music detracts from the intended mood of the game.
- “The intro features a black screen with beautiful piano music playing, accompanied by a softly spoken female narrator.”
- “Upon launching the game, players are welcomed by a voice that is beautifully complemented by the soothing piano music.”
- “The music effectively sets the tone and atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “The intro is just a black screen, piano music plays, and a female narrator starts talking quietly soon.”
- “First off, when launching this game, you are just greeted with a voice that is drowned out by piano music.”
- “There's no music to set the creepy atmosphere.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous glitches impacting gameplay, leading to a low user rating of 2/10. Players report that essential mechanics like running and fighting are hindered, reducing the experience to merely searching for items to survive.
- “Full of glitches and gameplay is a 2/10. It's not possible to run or fight; you just find batteries and keys to survive.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the overall experience.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is often hit or miss, with some players finding it clever and engaging, while others feel it falls flat or relies on clichés. Overall, the comedic elements can enhance the experience for those who appreciate the style, but may not resonate with everyone.
- “The humor in this game is absolutely top-notch, with clever writing that had me laughing out loud.”
- “I love how the game blends absurdity with wit, making every interaction a delightful surprise.”
- “The quirky characters and their hilarious dialogue kept me entertained throughout my entire playthrough.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game offers little to no replayability, as players typically complete it in a single playthrough and find no compelling reason to return once they have beaten it.
- “No replayability: play it once, beat it, and you're done.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to return.”
- “The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel pointless.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The lack of music detracts from the intended creepy atmosphere, leaving players feeling that the ambiance is insufficiently immersive.
- “There's no music to set the creepy atmosphere.”
- “The environment feels lifeless and lacks any sense of immersion.”
- “The lighting is too bright, which ruins the intended eerie vibe.”