BrokenLore: LOW

About

BrokenLore: LOW is a single player survival action adventure game with a horror theme. It was developed by Serafini Productions® and was released on February 20, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

BrokenLore: LOW is a psychological horror game set in the eerie Japanese village of Kirisame-mura, haunted by the legendary Gashadokuro skeleton. Players unravel dark secrets and deep-seated hatred while navigating a circular, claustrophobic village structure that symbolizes an endless cycle of tragic events. The story follows Naomi Montgomery as she confronts sinister forces linked to an ancient temple.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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80%

Audience ScoreBased on 166 reviews

story37 positive mentions

optimization9 negative mentions

The game features excellent sound design and atmosphere, creating a genuinely creepy experience.
The graphics are impressive, with a unique blend of realistic and retro styles that enhance the horror elements.
The story tackles heavy themes and offers a thought-provoking narrative, making it stand out in the horror genre.

The gameplay is often tedious, with long walking segments and limited interaction that can feel repetitive.
The game suffers from optimization issues, leading to performance problems even on capable hardware.
Many players found the story confusing and lacking depth, with an abrupt ending that left them unsatisfied.

story
120 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
66%
3%
The game's story receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its atmospheric and creepy elements, as well as its ties to Japanese folklore, while others find it fragmented, confusing, or lacking depth. Many appreciate the visual storytelling and thematic depth, but some criticize the pacing and linearity, feeling that the narrative could benefit from more development and coherence. Overall, the story is seen as a compelling aspect for some, but a source of frustration for others, particularly those seeking a more traditional or cohesive narrative experience.
- “This game was actually absolute cinema; the story made sense, the horror factor was there, and the graphics were great!”
- “The storytelling is subtle yet gripping, and the visuals support the unsettling vibe without ever feeling overdone.”
- “The game is a great visual story about some really tough topics that are very real, done in a tasteful yet disturbing fashion.”
- “The story is definitely there, but it feels more like random ideas than a narrative.”
- “The storytelling is fragmented, with details scattered through notes, diary entries, and environmental storytelling rather than direct exposition.”
- “The story is serviceable but doesn’t offer much depth beyond its initial setup, leaving horror veterans feeling like they’ve been here before.”
graphics
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
47%
5%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful visuals and unique art styles that blend hyper-realistic and retro aesthetics, creating an immersive atmosphere. However, some players criticize performance issues and inconsistent quality, particularly in certain sections that feature low-resolution textures. Overall, while the graphics are often described as stunning and atmospheric, optimization concerns and varying artistic choices have led to a divided reception.
- “The graphics are gorgeous and the atmosphere is so immersive and perfectly sets the tone for the terrifying moments ahead, making the game world feel alive and unsettling.”
- “From a visual standpoint, the game boasts exceptional graphics, seamlessly blending a realistic style with the distinctive PSX aesthetic to create a unique visual contrast rarely seen in the gaming industry.”
- “Claustrophobic atmosphere, stunning graphics, and a story that will keep you stuck on the screen.”
- “Horrible graphics.”
- “Brokenlore: low's first section is set in a generic, stock UE5 asset-looking fog-filled Japanese town, with abysmal performance even on a relatively capable PC, forgettable PT-inspired horror imagery that appears on repeated loops through the confined environment, and a tastelessly heavy-handed scene of implied sexual assault; this is followed by a drastic shift to PS1-esque graphics in a section where you have to collect eight mirror shards while being pursued by a monster through a tedious maze.”
- “The only thing I do not like about this game is when it shifts to a dream state where the graphics suddenly turn to 'Minecraft' graphics.”
atmosphere
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
39%
6%
The atmosphere in "Brokenlore: Low" is widely praised for its chilling, immersive quality that enhances the psychological horror experience. Reviewers highlight the game's stunning graphics, sound design, and ability to build tension, creating a deeply unsettling environment that keeps players engaged. While some note that the atmosphere can become monotonous at times, the overall consensus is that it effectively captures the essence of horror, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.
- “The game leans heavily on atmosphere, tension, and subtle storytelling to keep you on edge from start to finish.”
- “It excels in atmosphere, sound design, and psychological terror.”
- “The visuals are impressive, with most of the game featuring hyper-realistic graphics that draw you into the unsettling atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere tricks you at the very beginning, creating tension, but by the middle of the game, it becomes so boring that it's just dreadful.”
- “This game doesn’t stray far from the formula, and while it attempts to deliver an unsettling atmosphere, it struggles to break free from horror game clichés.”
- “As an avid fan of horror games and stories, I can confidently say that this game offers an experience that’s not only spine-chilling but deeply disturbing, thanks to its unsettling atmosphere.”
gameplay
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
69%
7%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it tedious and lacking depth, often reducing it to a walking simulator with minimal progression. However, others appreciate its unique mechanics, atmospheric storytelling, and varied experiences that keep the gameplay engaging despite its brevity. Overall, while the game may not offer traditional gameplay elements, it successfully creates a creepy and immersive horror experience.
- “It embraces ambiguity and atmosphere over clarity and mechanics, offering a horror experience that lingers in the mind rather than shocks the senses.”
- “The gameplay is intuitive, yet it maintains a level of engagement.”
- “One of the standout moments was the low-poly sequence where you must find broken mirror pieces—a simple yet brilliantly unsettling mechanic that adds to the eerie storytelling.”
- “Boring gameplay, boring story, tedious enemy encounters.”
- “Gameplay-wise, a lot of it boiled down to walking in one direction… turning around… then walking back the other way for a bit.”
- “The gameplay here is incredibly dull, and the monsters are ridiculously dumb.”
optimization
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
49%
38%
The optimization of "Brokenlore" has received significant criticism, with many players experiencing poor performance even on capable PCs, particularly in the game's initial sections. Users noted that the game struggles with stuttering and frame drops, regardless of the graphics settings, and that it requires a powerful GPU for acceptable performance. Overall, better optimization is deemed essential for improving the gaming experience.
- “One big note would be that this is a game that uses Unreal Engine 5, so it can be pretty demanding and you may experience some performance issues, but I feel that's something that comes with the territory of an engine that takes a lot of work to optimize.”
- “Better optimization is a must if future titles are to avoid the same pitfalls.”
- “With a few patches, I think the performance could be even better.”
- “The game is not optimized whatsoever.”
- “Awful optimization.”
- “It's not optimized well; when you change the graphics settings, nothing really changes.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
43%
19%
The music in the game has received high praise for its haunting melodies and effective use of ambient sound, which enhances the overall atmosphere and emotional depth of the story. The voice acting is noted for its quality, particularly in the karaoke scenes, and the soundtrack is described as stunning, contributing significantly to the game's somber and introspective tone. Overall, the combination of music and sound design creates a captivating auditory experience that complements the game's narrative.
- “Rather than overusing loud effects, it cultivates tension through subtle auditory cues—wind whispering through leaves, distant footsteps, and dissonant musical notes that rise and fall without warning.”
- “The music combined with the environment was magic.”
- “The voice acting is sparse but effective, and the soundtrack, though minimal, blends ambient dread with haunting melodies that perfectly match the game’s introspective tone.”
- “The music adds to the somberness of the story and the voice acting was easy to listen to.”
- “Soundtrack killed.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
15%
71%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many describing the gameplay as boring and slow-paced. The environments and enemy encounters contribute to a sense of monotony, making the experience feel like a prolonged walking simulator rather than an engaging adventure. Overall, the grinding elements detract from the potential of the story and aesthetics, leading to frustration among players.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Boring gameplay, boring story, tedious enemy encounters.”
- “Some critics have pointed out that the repetitive layout and slow pacing can become tedious over time, and there is validity in that perspective.”
- “The gameplay was tedious, as you spend a majority of it walking.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
43%
The emotional aspect of the game is deeply intertwined with its themes of personal failure, identity, and psychological stasis, creating a haunting narrative that resonates with players. While some find the gameplay and story tedious, the immersive world and unique visual aesthetic contribute to a cerebral horror experience that explores the toll of ambition and spiritual decay. Overall, it offers a memorable journey for those open to its emotionally charged exploration.
- “However, this very repetition is also part of the game’s thematic DNA, emphasizing Naomi’s emotional and psychological stasis.”
- “Its horror is not just about fear of the unknown, but also fear of personal failure, irrelevance, and emotional collapse.”
- “For those who are open to a more cerebral and emotional kind of horror—one that explores identity, ambition, and spiritual decay—this haunting journey through Kirisame Mura offers a memorable and artistically ambitious experience.”
- “The gameplay is boring, the story is unengaging, and the enemy encounters feel tedious.”
- “I didn't feel any emotional connection to the characters or the storyline.”
- “The game failed to evoke any real emotions; it felt flat and uninspired.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report a stable experience with no noticeable glitches or bugs, indicating a solid performance in this aspect.
- “There are no glitches or bugs that I have noticed.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or interruptions.”
- “I appreciate the consistent performance; it feels very stable.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users generally feel that the game lacks significant replayability, indicating that once completed, there is little incentive to play through it again.
- “Besides this, there is no real replayability.”
- “The game lacks incentives to play through again.”
- “Once you finish the story, there's little reason to return.”