BrokenLore: DON'T WATCH

BrokenLore: DON'T WATCH offers a more intense, close quarters horror experience than its predecessor. Once again being just over an hour long, this can be completed in one sitting and builds up to what is looking to be a great anthology horror set.

88%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

optimization, replayability

93% User Score Based on 167 reviews

Critic Score 70%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

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About

BrokenLore: DON'T WATCH is a single player survival simulation game with horror, mystery and thriller themes. It was developed by Serafini Productions® and was released on April 24, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

BrokenLore: DON'T WATCH is a first-person psychological horror game following Shinji, a reclusive young man trapped in his Tokyo apartment, battling isolation and anxiety. As you explore his unraveling mind, a sinister entity called Hyakume watches silently, threatening to strike. The boundary between safety and danger blurs in this unsettling experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 167 reviews

story33 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game effectively explores themes of isolation and mental health, providing a deeply immersive and unsettling experience.
Visually stunning with great sound design, the atmosphere keeps players on edge throughout the short playtime.
The unique gameplay mechanics, including the eyeball-popping element, add a creative twist to the horror experience.

The game is very short, with a runtime of about an hour, which may leave some players wanting more content.
Some gameplay segments, particularly in the middle, feel tedious and detract from the overall pacing of the story.
There are minor performance issues reported, which can affect the experience, especially on lower-end systems.

story
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
51%
4%
The game's story is centered around Shinji, a hikikomori grappling with isolation, debt, and family issues, delivering a unique psychological horror experience that resonates with players. While the narrative is praised for its depth and emotional impact, some found it confusing or lacking in engagement, though many appreciated its strong atmosphere and visuals. Overall, the storytelling effectively explores themes of anxiety and societal judgment, making it a compelling choice for fans of story-driven horror.
- “The story follows Shinji, a young man living as a hikikomori, trapped not only by his apartment walls but by mounting debt, strained family ties, and a paralyzing inability to face the outside world.”
- “This indie gem does a great job blending psychological horror with a well-crafted story, and I really enjoyed the idea of making a horror game based on the concept of a hikikomori.”
- “Don’t watch grounds its story in something far more human: isolation, anxiety, and the slow collapse of the psyche.”
- “Honestly, the game should have stuck with just unfolding a story inside of the apartment.”
- “The plot was so confusing, it was kind of boring and I felt the voice actors weren't really yelling when they should have been.”
- “And lastly, as I said, the story doesn't make sense to me.”
graphics
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
32%
6%
The graphics in the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the stunning visuals, atmospheric design, and the effective blend of realistic and retro art styles that enhance the horror experience. Players noted that the graphics contribute significantly to immersion and storytelling, creating a memorable and eerie atmosphere. While some mentioned minor performance issues, overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature that showcases the developers' passion and creativity.
- “Its mysterious storytelling and creepy visuals work perfectly together, creating a short but memorable psychological horror experience.”
- “The visuals are incredible and show the developer has a clear vision and passion for this project.”
- “The game’s graphics are a standout feature, blending beautifully detailed environments with intentionally retro-styled sequences.”
- “Every time I opened the game, I needed to set the language and the graphical options to medium again, as clearly a Steam Deck is not able to handle epic as a standard texture definition.”
- “However, there is a lot of room for improvement, for example, graphics optimization, voice acting, weird Japanese voice lines, and storytelling.”
- “Like BrokenLore: low, you have a PSX graphics section.”
atmosphere
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
28%
10%
The atmosphere in the game is consistently praised for its eerie, immersive, and unsettling qualities, effectively enhancing the horror experience. Reviewers highlight the strong sound design, solid graphics, and the ability to build tension without relying heavily on jump scares. Overall, the game's atmosphere captivates players, creating a haunting environment that complements its narrative and themes.
- “Brokenlore: don’t watch blends eerie atmosphere with smart tension-building to keep you constantly uneasy.”
- “Fantastic oppressive environment/atmosphere, well done sound design as well as wonderful visual aesthetics really pack into a wonderful package for a short horror experience.”
- “From the moment I stepped into its eerie world, I was captivated by its haunting atmosphere and rich story.”
- “The game has a creepy atmosphere, but it's short, has performance issues, and the gameplay is more of a running around tasks.”
- “At times the game reminded me of dreams I've had, mixed in with an atmosphere of melancholy and oppressive horror.”
- “With great voice acting and a soundtrack that creates an oppressive, stressful atmosphere.”
gameplay
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
64%
11%
The gameplay is characterized as minimalistic and straightforward, often described as a short experience that can be completed in under an hour, with some players noting a lack of depth and repetitive tasks. While it features innovative mechanics and a strong narrative, the gameplay is intentionally restrained, focusing more on emotional impact than replayability or complex mechanics. Overall, it appeals to fans of narrative-driven horror but may disappoint those seeking action or extensive gameplay.
- “The gameplay itself is good too—even if my soul briefly left my body every time another eyeball showed up.”
- “Excellent short horror game that has some interesting mechanics I haven't seen before in a small indie game like this.”
- “At its current price, Brokenlore: Don't Watch is definitely a worthwhile pick for fans of narrative-driven horror with innovative gameplay mechanics.”
- “Gameplay is intentionally restrained.”
- “The game has a creepy atmosphere, but it's short, has performance issues, and the gameplay is more of a running around tasks.”
- “If you want action, combat, or deep mechanics, look elsewhere.”
optimization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback. While some players report stunning graphics and solid performance, others experience performance issues, particularly on higher settings or older hardware. There is a consensus that optimization could be improved, especially regarding graphics and system resource management.
- “Graphics and performance are stunning.”
- “This game is definitely a step up in quality and performance from the first entry in the BrokenLore series.”
- “It looks good and it runs smoothly and is easy to navigate.”
- “The game has a creepy atmosphere, but it's short, has performance issues, and the gameplay is more of a running around tasks.”
- “Only bad thing that comes to mind is the technical performance of the game.”
- “When this game is running, my PC goes crazy with the fans when other well-optimized game titles don't affect it that much.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its exploration of societal expectations, fear, and anxiety, creating a deeply personal and relatable horror experience. It emphasizes emotional vulnerability and real-life struggles over traditional scares, leaving players with a lasting emotional impact rather than replayability. The intimate storytelling and focused setting enhance the sense of progression and purpose, inviting players to confront discomfort and reflect on their own experiences.
- “Brokenlore: Don't watch is an intimate and deeply disturbing psychological horror experience that finds its strength not in spectacle, but in suffocating familiarity and emotional vulnerability.”
- “The horror it represents is not about physical harm, but about scrutiny and shame, making its presence emotionally potent rather than conventionally threatening.”
- “These elements anchor the horror in real emotional pain, making the supernatural aspects feel like an extension of lived experience rather than abstract scares.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
12%
25%
The music and sound design in these games are highly praised, with many reviewers noting the effective use of understated soundtracks that enhance the atmosphere and build tension. The combination of beautiful music, excellent voice acting, and immersive environmental sounds contributes to a psychologically engaging experience, making it one of the best in the genre. Overall, the audio elements significantly elevate the gameplay, creating an oppressive yet captivating ambiance.
- “The soundtrack and sound design for these games are also top tier.”
- “Both the music and sound design lend themselves extremely well to emphasize mood and the building of tension.”
- “With great voice acting and a soundtrack that creates an oppressive, stressful atmosphere.”
- “Music is understated, often absent, allowing environmental sounds and psychological discomfort to dominate the experience.”
- “Both the music and sound design also lend themselves extremely well to emphasize mood and the building of tension.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is intended to be completed in one or two sessions, focusing on delivering a strong emotional impact rather than providing replayability through gameplay mechanics.
- “It is designed to be experienced in one or two sittings, leaving a lingering emotional aftertaste rather than offering replayability through mechanics.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there’s little incentive to go back and play it again.”
- “The lack of varied outcomes or branching paths makes replaying the game feel redundant.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its bizarre Japanese dialogues, which are both unconventional and amusing, contributing to a lighthearted and entertaining experience rather than a serious tone.
- “The combination of bizarre Japanese dialogues that people never actually use makes the whole game experience hilarious rather than serious.”
- “The humor in this game is so unexpected and quirky, it keeps you laughing throughout the entire playthrough.”
- “I love how the game blends absurd situations with clever wordplay, making every interaction a delightful surprise.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the initial grinding mechanics engaging, but the experience quickly turns tedious as they progress beyond the early stages of the game, leading to a sense of frustration and the feeling that extensive grinding is necessary to continue.
- “The first time you need to stab eyes on the wall is really neat, but once you leave the apartment and venture into the hallways, the game quickly becomes tedious.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The character development is noted for its strong design, but the overall experience is marred by poor sound design, leading to a mixed reception.

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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews

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2h Median play time

2h Average play time

2-2h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

BrokenLore: DON'T WATCH is a survival simulation game with horror, mystery and thriller themes.

BrokenLore: DON'T WATCH is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 2 hours playing BrokenLore: DON'T WATCH.

BrokenLore: DON'T WATCH was released on April 24, 2025.

BrokenLore: DON'T WATCH was developed by Serafini Productions®.

BrokenLore: DON'T WATCH 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 optimization.

BrokenLore: DON'T WATCH is a single player game.

Similar games include BrokenLore: LOW, Little Nightmares, REVEIL, Layers of Fear, The Medium and others.

BrokenLore: DON'T WATCH

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