Brukel

About

"Brukel" is a single-player horror simulation game with an intriguing and emotional story. As the player, you explore your grandmother's abandoned childhood home, taking pictures with a camera phone to illustrate her authentic stories of growing up during World War II. The game's dense atmosphere and primary mechanic of photography create an immersive experience as you uncover the traumatic events of her past.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 118 reviews

story26 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

Brukel offers a unique and personal storytelling experience, allowing players to explore the memories of the developer's grandmother during WWII, which adds emotional depth to the narrative.
The game effectively combines historical anecdotes with immersive gameplay, where players take photos of objects to unlock audio clips of the grandmother's stories, creating a strong connection to the past.
Despite its short length, the game is impactful and thought-provoking, providing a haunting glimpse into the life of a civilian during wartime, making it a valuable experience for those interested in history.

The game features some technical issues, such as poor lighting and occasional bugs, which can detract from the overall experience.
Some players found the pacing slow and the gameplay mechanics simplistic, leading to moments of boredom, especially in the early stages of the game.
The inclusion of supernatural elements and jump scares felt out of place for many, as they distracted from the poignant storytelling and the real-life experiences being shared.

story
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
64%
4%
The game's story is a deeply personal and immersive narrative based on the creator's grandmother's experiences during WWII, blending elements of horror with poignant storytelling. While some players found the pacing and supernatural elements distracting, many appreciated the emotional weight and authenticity of the grandmother's narration, making it a compelling experience for those who enjoy narrative-driven games. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its unique approach and ability to evoke reflection on historical events and personal memories.
- “It's a heartbreaking, familiar story, and hearing it from the mouth of a survivor adds so much weight.”
- “Brukel has a striking true story, which is told from a very personal perspective.”
- “It's very reasonably priced and the story is beautiful, immersive, and authentic.”
- “My biggest complaint was the spacing between getting more of the story to progress seemed to have arbitrary time limits rather than once I had explored a certain area or turned the camera away from a specific point.”
- “Starts off as a game about taking photos to piece together the grandmother's story, but abruptly turns into a very different sort of narrative game, with more literal recreations of wartime events that perhaps exceed the developers' limited resources, and an ill-advised detour into the supernatural.”
- “I'm not 100% sure what purpose the trope-y horror gameplay segments serve to the overall feel of the game - they were flattened by the grandmother's wonderful delivery, and I was far more engaged with just hearing her tell the story than by being jump scared every five minutes.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The gameplay is intentionally slow-paced, focusing on exploration and photography rather than traditional horror mechanics, which some players found refreshing. While the graphics and mechanics are praised, the action sequences feel unpolished, and the shift in gameplay dynamics can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers minimal gameplay elements and is relatively short, appealing to those who appreciate its unique storytelling approach.
- “The graphics were nice, the mechanics were smooth. I liked the idea of using your phone and taking pictures in order to progress; that's a concept you don't see often in games, if at all.”
- “Gameplay-wise, you are mostly walking around the house and taking pictures of stuff, then the grandma will tell you something about it.”
- “Not a long game, the gameplay is fairly simple, but that is Brukel's charm.”
- “The gameplay is really slow, but that's how it's meant to be.”
- “Gameplay in the action sequences part of the game is a little unpolished.”
- “Also, the game offers minimal gameplay elements and is way too short.”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game delivers a profound emotional experience, weaving together heartwarming and heartbreaking narratives that explore themes of war, survival, and memory. Players are taken on a poignant journey that contrasts cheerful moments with the harsh realities of past traumas, leaving a lasting impact that resonates deeply, even evoking tears for some. The storytelling, particularly through the perspective of a survivor, adds significant weight to the emotional journey, making it a memorable and touching experience.
- “It's a heartbreaking, familiar story, and hearing it from the mouth of a survivor adds so much weight.”
- “The stories of war, hardships, close encounters with fatalities, and the aftermath that follow really were heartbreaking to hear.”
- “As time passes and you keep exploring, the house takes you on an emotional journey through some of the dramatic events that [spoiler] lived through.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
82%
9%
9%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its ability to evoke a deep, immersive experience, blending a creepy ambiance with historical storytelling. Players appreciate the contrast between the initial cheerful tone and the intense, haunting atmosphere that follows, enhanced by effective voice work and narrative depth. Despite minor technical issues, the overall setting and emotional weight of the story create a compelling and atmospheric journey.
- “Surprisingly, it managed to deliver this creepy good atmosphere using mainly the granny's voice from an interview setting that syncs perfectly with the background, history, and reality of war.”
- “A very atmospheric war story, with so many deep interpretations and meanings.”
- “Her soothing voice creates a cozy atmosphere, and it makes you feel like you’re sitting near the stove on a cold winter day, listening to stories of old times.”
- “It was a complete 180 from the cheerful and wholesome atmosphere that was in the first half of the game.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The graphics in the game are generally well-received, with users noting that while they may not be as polished as AAA titles, they effectively support the immersive storytelling experience. The unique mechanic of using a phone to take pictures adds a fresh layer to the visuals, although there are minor issues, such as overly bright elements in certain scenes. Overall, the graphics complement the autobiographical narrative, enhancing the game's emotional impact.
- “The graphics were nice, the mechanics were smooth. I liked the idea of using your phone and taking pictures in order to progress; that's a concept you don't see often in games, if at all.”
- “You could view this game as somewhat of an interactive interview with accompanying visuals.”
- “The graphics of the game are nothing hugely fancy, but they are good enough that they rarely break immersion.”
- “The only noticeable major graphical issue was the river outside the house appearing very bright when seen through the window.”
- “The graphics aren't as nice as the AAA games we know set in WWII, but you have to keep in mind that what everything looks like and sounds like comes from the subjective memory of a scared teenage girl.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised for stable performance without noticeable frame drops. However, some players feel that the storytelling takes precedence over gameplay, and the consistently dark scenes hinder visibility.
- “Performance seems pretty good; I didn't see any frame drops or anything.”
- “The game focuses too much on storytelling performance but neglects gameplay, and the scenes are always too dark to see.”
- “Optimization is lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “The game feels unresponsive and sluggish, making it difficult to enjoy the experience.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The music in the game is widely praised for its great soundtrack, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
- “The soundtrack is absolutely fantastic!”
- “I love the variety and quality of the music in this game.”
- “The music really enhances the overall experience and atmosphere.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspects of the game to be overly tedious and nitpicky, leading to frustration during gameplay.
- “Some portions feel so nitpicky and tedious.”
- “The grinding is repetitive and feels like a chore rather than fun.”
- “It takes too long to progress, making the game feel like a never-ending grind.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is often derived from relatable observations, particularly the amusing similarities found among grandparents, which resonates with players on a personal level.
- “On a more superficial level, I found it funny just how similar all grandparents can be.”