Boreal Tenebrae Act I: "I Stand Before You, A Form Undone"

About

Boreal Tenebrae Act I: "I Stand Before You, A Form Undone" is a single player action game with horror and mystery themes. It was developed by Snot Bubbles Productions and was released on May 19, 2020. It received positive reviews from players.

Delve into the dream of a dying town in 'Boreal Tenebrae', a retro-style adventure with horror elements. Taking cues from the fixed-camera angle games of the PS1 era, and the dream logic of works like 'Yume Nikki', vignettes beget vignettes in this web of Trees and Streets. Explore the interweaving narratives of a northern community, cast adrift in an increasingly urbanized world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Boreal Tenebrae Act I: "I Stand Before You, A Form Undone" screenshot

Skip User Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 36 reviews

story8 positive mentions

stability5 negative mentions

The game features a unique art style and intriguing story that captivates players.
It has a surreal atmosphere that enhances the exploration experience, reminiscent of classic PS1 games.
The soundtrack and sound design contribute significantly to the overall ambiance, making it a memorable experience.

The game is plagued by numerous game-breaking bugs that hinder progress and frustrate players.
It ends abruptly with a 'to be continued' message, leaving many players feeling unsatisfied and concerned about the game's future.
The save system is inadequate, with limited slots and issues that can lead to lost progress.

story
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
52%
13%
The story of *Boreal Tenebrae* is a magical-realist narrative that follows a group of friends in a small, troubled town grappling with an otherworldly infection, while exploring themes of debt, loss, and societal power dynamics. Players can switch between characters, allowing for intersecting storylines that enhance the game's mysterious and atmospheric quality. Despite some bugs affecting gameplay, the compelling plot and unique art style have garnered praise, though the game currently ends on a cliffhanger, leaving players eager for more.
- “It's like a more magical-realist take on a stranger things-type story, a group of kids riding bikes through summery suburban neighborhoods, solving a mystery without assistance from adults.”
- “The story has a lot going on in it to be honest and a lot that we still need to know about.”
- “A unique art style and intriguing story make this game well worth it.”
- “The story also talks about topics like debt, uncertainty, apathy, and loss.”
- “You can easily miss parts of the story, or play them out of order so it seems weird.”
- “Systems of power play a big role in every story in Boreal Tenebrae, tangibly through threats of violence and death but also intangibly through poverty, desperation, and exhaustion.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
The game's graphics are praised for their unique art style and retro aesthetics reminiscent of PS1 games and 2000s TV shows, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While the visuals are engaging and colorful, some players noted the presence of game-breaking bugs that detract from the enjoyment. Overall, the graphics are a significant draw, contributing to the game's charm despite its rough edges.
- “The main appeal of this game is most likely the visual design, a large amount of video filters over very vivid colors and appealing character design, with great prerendered cut scenes.”
- “A unique art style and intriguing story make this game well worth it.”
- “With its cassette tape-like aesthetics, the game at times feels like you're watching a forgotten home movie of people you never met.”
- “The game is executed in the vein of a PS1 game, with low-quality, yet endearing graphics, and a heavy amount of puzzle-solving, via using/combining items in your inventory found throughout the game.”
- “Visuals kinda remind me of 2000’s TV shows that would be on during that time.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its surreal, mysterious, and dreamlike qualities, reminiscent of anime like "Serial Experiments Lain." Reviewers highlight its charming retro style, intriguing story, and immersive sound design, which collectively create a captivating and sometimes spooky environment. Overall, the game is noted for its rich, atmospheric experience that enhances the exploration of its many small stories.
- “Perfectly nails the dream atmosphere, great surreal exploration game.”
- “The atmosphere is mysterious and spooky, the story is intriguing, the retro style is charming.”
- “This game had everything to be one of the best indies I've ever played in my life: it has a surreal, intense, psychedelic, and magnificent atmosphere, with its own philosophy.”
- “I feel bad because I do like the concept and atmosphere of this 2.5-3 hour game (reminds me a lot of Serial Experiments Lain anime)... and what's there is enjoyable.”
- “The atmosphere is mysterious and spooky, the story is intriguing, the retro style is charming (though I ended up bumping the resolution up a bit).”
- “+ gloomy, mystical atmosphere.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The gameplay is generally considered passable, featuring simple puzzles and a generous hint system, but lacks the challenge and polish some players expect. While some view the mechanics as amateurish, others argue they intentionally support the game's narrative and themes. Players also express concerns about encountering game-breaking bugs, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “Some might consider the gameplay and the game systems amateurish or not polished enough, but I will argue that it is highly intentional to enhance the game's narrative and themes.”
- “Nice atmospheric adventure game with Grim Fandango-style gameplay.”
- “The mechanics of the game resemble the 'Alone in the Dark' series, only there are no action elements.”
- “As for the gameplay, it’s passable; there’s not really much risk for failure. Some of the puzzles are pretty simple (there's no real Silent Hill 2 hangman puzzle, which I would have appreciated), but there is a generous hint system if you get stuck.”
- “I'll have to satisfy myself by watching some gameplay from a lucky player who had the privilege of not encountering any major bugs throughout their journey, so that I can enjoy the narrative, which, I repeat, seems to be incredible.”
- “It's a new type of horror game; on top of the gameplay, you're in constant fear of the many game-breaking bugs you'll encounter.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game's soundtrack has received high praise for its quality, with many players expressing a strong appreciation for the music, even purchasing it post-game. However, there are mixed feelings about certain tracks, with one song noted for being particularly unpleasant. Overall, the music and sound effects effectively contribute to an unsettling atmosphere.
- “The soundtrack is excellent, and I purchased it immediately after completing the game.”
- “Music and sound effects are at just the right level of unsettling.”
- “Great music and sounds.”
- “One song in particular hurts my ears, and I dreaded being in that area.”
- “The music is quite bothersome.”
- “The soundtrack is disappointing.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is frequently described as buggy, with users reporting various glitches that affect stability. Despite these issues, many players appreciate the game's personality, atmosphere, and story, indicating that the bugs do not significantly detract from their overall enjoyment.
- “However, regardless of everything I like about this game, it is extremely buggy.”
- “The problem, however, is that it's buggy all over the place.”
- “Encountered a few glitches along the way.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the game's visuals and character design are highly praised for their vivid colors and appealing aesthetics, there is little emphasis on character development itself, suggesting that the focus may be more on visual appeal than on deep narrative or character growth.
- “The character designs and color work are great!”
- “The main appeal of this game is most likely the visual design, a large amount of video filters over very vivid colors and appealing character design, with great prerendered cut scenes.”

Skip Game Offers

Buy Boreal Tenebrae Act I: "I Stand Before You, A Form Undone"

Boreal Tenebrae Act I: "I Stand Before You, A Form Undone"
See offer on Steam

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Boreal Tenebrae Act I: "I Stand Before You, A Form Undone"

49%1kreviews

Lucius III

2018

Action

68%720reviews

Paradise Lost

2021

Simulation

66%478reviews

Bye Sweet Carole

2025

Survival Action Adventure

85%2.6kreviews

The Descendant

2016

Action

53%733reviews

The Uncertain: Light At The End

2020

Simulation

More games like Boreal Tenebrae Act I: "I Stand Before You, A Form Undone"

Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Boreal Tenebrae Act I: "I Stand Before You, A Form Undone" is a action game with horror and mystery themes.

Boreal Tenebrae Act I: "I Stand Before You, A Form Undone" is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

Boreal Tenebrae Act I: "I Stand Before You, A Form Undone" was released on May 19, 2020.

Boreal Tenebrae Act I: "I Stand Before You, A Form Undone" was developed by Snot Bubbles Productions.

Boreal Tenebrae Act I: "I Stand Before You, A Form Undone" has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Boreal Tenebrae Act I: "I Stand Before You, A Form Undone" is a single player game.

Similar games include Lucius III, Paradise Lost, Bye Sweet Carole, The Descendant, The Uncertain: Light At The End and others.

Boreal Tenebrae Act I: "I Stand Before You, A Form Undone"

Platforms

About

Buy Boreal Tenebrae Act I: "I Stand Before You, A Form Undone"