Blood Orange

About

Blood Orange is a single player casual role playing game with a horror theme. It was developed by Decent Treatment and was released on November 3, 2023. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Blood Orange: Definitive Edition" is a free, character-driven psychological thriller set in the Amazon river basin. Explore ruins and photograph dolphins with your underwater camera, all while experiencing beautiful, surreal environments. With 3 distinct endings and an atmospheric soundtrack, the game offers a unique and immersive adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 139 reviews

story17 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game features stunning pixel art and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the eerie atmosphere.
It offers a unique and engaging story with multiple endings, encouraging replayability.
As a free game, it provides a compelling experience that blends psychological horror with exploration.

The gameplay can feel tedious at times, especially when trying to achieve different endings due to unclear objectives.
Some players experienced frustrating bugs and issues with enemy mechanics that detracted from the overall experience.
The story may come off as vague or confusing, leaving some players wanting more clarity and depth.

story
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
55%
7%
The game's story is a blend of surrealism and psychological themes, often described as cryptic yet compelling, with multiple endings that encourage exploration. While some players found the narrative engaging and atmospheric, others felt it lacked cohesion and clarity, leaving certain elements open to interpretation. Overall, the story is appreciated for its artistic presentation and emotional depth, despite some critiques regarding its brevity and complexity.
- “The story is excellent and pulled me in immediately, and I can recommend this game enough to anybody looking for some late-night spooks!”
- “The multiple endings were very interesting, as were the drip-fed bits of story throughout.”
- “Art in general was just gorgeous - a warm environment to contrast the slow chill that builds while playing through the story.”
- “The story isn't very cohesive and fails to come together in a satisfying way.”
- “Honestly, it's hard to feel pulled into a story where you are dropped in the middle and characters start talking about it before you're even given any clarity into what's going on.”
- “Personally, I found the story quite boring, bland, and overly vague on whatever it was trying to pursue.”
music
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
45%
10%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to create an immersive and atmospheric experience, perfectly complementing the visuals and narrative. Reviewers highlighted the soundtrack's uniqueness, emotional depth, and how it enhances the overall mood, with many noting its effectiveness in establishing an unsettling ambiance. Overall, the combination of music, sound design, and voice acting is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
- “The music that plays in your boat is amazing.”
- “The eerie visuals in the preview images completely drew me in, and the accompanying soundtrack (which I listen to as I write this, I enjoyed it that much!) couldn't be more fitting - they play off each other perfectly to create a unique experience that few (if any) other games come close to replicating.”
- “Being a bit of a brainy soundtrack nerd, I would say the music was the biggest highlight for me, the way you manipulated the little sounds and static just gave the game a very good sense of immersion.”
- “Right from the main menu, the soundtrack was already succeeding in creating an unsettling and ominous mood, and the rest of the game really delivered on that.”
- “Pretty much the entire game I didn't feel like there was anything in terms of music that didn't belong; I think it's something that when done correctly often goes unnoticed. Even just the random uncanny dolphin noises added so much to the atmosphere, just a very immersive experience.”
- “Being a bit of a brainy soundtrack nerd, I would say the music was the biggest highlight for me. The way you manipulated the little sounds and static just gave the game a very good sense of immersion.”
atmosphere
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
26%
12%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating and eerie qualities, enhanced by fantastic art and a haunting score. Reviewers highlight its ability to create an immersive experience, with many noting the game's strong emotional themes and well-executed design that contribute to a memorable and chilling ambiance. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, making the game a compelling choice for fans of horror and atmospheric storytelling.
- “I turned off my TV and lights as soon as I heard the title screen theme because its atmosphere was just so captivating.”
- “A short game with an incredibly distinct atmosphere and style that will stick in my mind for a long, long time.”
- “Pretty much the entire game I didn't feel like there was anything in terms of music that didn't belong; even just the random uncanny dolphin noises added so much to the atmosphere, just a very immersive experience.”
- “This was a nice little game jam that had a very eerie atmosphere.”
- “Atmosphere is haunting.”
- “This game is more complex than your typical horror game as it prefers the spine-chilling atmosphere and story over the classic jump scare or spooky chase scene.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The graphics of the game have received high praise for their unique art style, atmospheric visuals, and effective use of color, which enhance the overall experience. Many reviewers noted the strong synergy between the graphics and the soundtrack, creating an immersive and eerie atmosphere that complements the game's themes. However, some critics mentioned that while the visuals are appealing, they may not fully compensate for the game's basic gameplay and short narrative.
- “I love the style and unique graphics!”
- “The pixel artwork is well done for the atmospheric environment it seemed to be going for.”
- “However, the pros are that the art style and the way the characters come across eerily creepy is perfectly done and really brings the thalassophobia in.”
- “The eerie visuals in the preview images completely drew me in, and the accompanying soundtrack couldn't be more fitting - they play off each other perfectly to create a unique experience that few (if any) other games come close to replicating.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the exploration and camera mechanics, while others find it slow and limited by an invisible stamina system. Frustrations with bugs and underdeveloped chase sequences were noted, and while the visuals and audio are praised, many feel that the basic gameplay and short story do not provide a fully immersive experience. Overall, the gameplay is seen as simple yet engaging for a brief adventure, but it may not satisfy those seeking depth or complexity.
- “The camera mechanic was really fun and easily my favorite part.”
- “Very simple gameplay that still keeps you engaged throughout, great story as well.”
- “I think it was a good length for its gameplay.”
- “However, the gameplay is honestly a bit slow for my taste. Limiting our ability to sprint with an invisible stamina bar might work on the first playthrough, but if you're hunting for achievements, it can get tiresome.”
- “Not much use of the hide in lockers mechanic, as I was chased once and the dolphin didn't appear in other rooms.”
- “Visuals and audio are appealing, but I don't think they can carry the experience alone when gameplay is basic and the story is quite short. Admittedly, I'm not sure how it could in such a short time that the game lasts.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game manageable for exploring different endings, though some report that figuring out certain endings can be challenging. This difficulty can lead to subsequent playthroughs feeling tedious, even if they are relatively short.
- “Not too tedious to replay for the different endings, though it was a little hard to figure out ending B.”
- “This made the subsequent playthroughs more tedious, despite their short length.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game offers decent optimization for mid-range PCs, allowing for a playable experience with reasonable graphics settings. However, some users report occasional performance dips and stuttering, suggesting that further optimization could enhance stability and frame rates. Overall, it performs adequately but may require adjustments for optimal play on less powerful systems.
- “The game runs smoothly even on mid-range PCs, showcasing excellent optimization.”
- “I was pleasantly surprised by how well the game performs on my older hardware; the optimization is top-notch.”
- “The developers have done a fantastic job optimizing the game, allowing for a great experience without needing high-end specs.”
- “The game struggles with mid-range PC optimization, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “Despite having decent hardware, I found the optimization lacking, resulting in long loading times and inconsistent performance.”
- “The optimization for mid-tier systems is disappointing; I expected better performance given the game's requirements.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users have noted occasional issues with menu dialogues, which may appear buggy due to unexpected regressions, though it's unclear if this is a design choice or an actual bug. Overall, stability seems to have some inconsistencies that could affect user experience.
- “The way some menus randomly regress in dialogue feels buggy, but I'm not sure if it's a bug or just the design choice.”
- “I frequently experience crashes that disrupt my gameplay, making it hard to enjoy the game.”
- “The game often freezes during loading screens, which is incredibly frustrating.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the game's ability to deliver a brief yet impactful emotional experience, highlighting its heartfelt narrative about love, stunning art, and an impressive soundtrack that enhances the overall journey.
- “If you want a short emotional journey and have an hour or two to spare, give this free game a try.”
- “Came for the creepy dolphins and ended up playing a game with amazing art, a heartfelt narrative about two lovers, and an awesome soundtrack (the credits song is my favorite!).”