Brush Burial

About

Brush Burial is a single player action adventure game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Knife Demon Software and was released on December 1, 2023. It received positive reviews from players.

"Brush Burial" is a lite immersive sim, focusing on atmosphere, exploration, and surreal storytelling. As Fennel, a nimble thief, you must kill the Witch God Yenneloch to free the woods from her influence and earn eternal rest. The game features abstract levels, meaningful environmental interactions, expressive movement, raw combat, and a variety of characters to interact with. The grimy visuals and dark science-fantasy setting add to the overall eerie atmosphere.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 190 reviews

gameplay22 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

The movement mechanics are fluid and enjoyable, allowing for quick traversal and engaging combat.
The game has a unique atmosphere and aesthetic, reminiscent of classic immersive sims, which adds to the overall experience.
Exploration is rewarding, with plenty of secrets and environmental interactions that encourage player curiosity.

Act 2 is frustratingly designed, with convoluted puzzles and a lack of clear objectives that can lead to confusion and aimless wandering.
The pixelated visuals can make it difficult to see enemies and interactable objects, detracting from the gameplay experience.
The inventory system is clunky, with limited slots that can hinder gameplay and force players to make tedious decisions about what to carry.

gameplay
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
Gameplay in this title is a mixed bag, with Act 1 praised for its engaging mechanics, immersive world, and fun movement, reminiscent of games like *Thief* and *Ultrakill*. However, Act 2 is criticized for its confusing puzzles and lack of clear objectives, leading to a frustrating experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment. While the game showcases unique mechanics and a stylish aesthetic, many players feel that the gameplay could benefit from more polish and consistency throughout its acts.
- “The gameplay is a lot of fun and feels like an in-between of Dishonored and Ultrakill - something I never knew I wanted but now can't go without!”
- “This game is the consequence of taking the gameplay and mechanics of Thief (sneaking and stealing) and ramping it up to 11 by increasing your speed and jump height tenfold.”
- “I'll keep it short and sweet, this is an absolute treat to play, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of stealth and immersive sims with a really creative spin, a very interesting world, nice soundtrack and audio, and a cool non-human character that you can really feel in the gameplay.”
- “Act 2 is a bit of gameplay whiplash, and while I personally didn't have trouble with the puzzles or gimmick, they can be anything but intuitive or exhilarating.”
- “Now you are in a temple, there are no enemies to fight, barely any loot to collect, and all of the gameplay is replaced with movement challenges where you climb up impossible-looking areas, solve incredibly cryptic puzzles that are absolutely impossible to figure out without using a guide, and I just lost all drive to play the game.”
- “The style and feel of the game, as well as the exploration in the first act, are top notch; however, I feel that the second act of the game is a bit unclear on what it wants you to do, and I spent a bit of time meandering while trying to figure it out, making the gameplay elements of that act start to get a bit repetitive and tedious.”
graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
30%
10%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising its unique art style, immersive aesthetics, and strong worldbuilding that contribute to an engaging experience. While some players appreciate the charming PSX-style visuals and the overall presentation, others criticize the pixelation and muddy textures that can detract from gameplay clarity. Overall, the graphics are seen as a defining feature that may not appeal to everyone but adds significant personality to the game.
- “This is a very interesting and fun game, the graphics look a little harsh at first but I got used to it way quicker than I ever anticipated and learned to appreciate it.”
- “Really liked the visuals, they have a lot of soul to them.”
- “The art style and overall presentation oozes personality.”
- “The graphics are just muddy and pixelated to hell.”
- “The concept of the game is fun and the movement is snappy and responsive, but the pixelation filter, muddy visuals, low contrast, and winding level design make it quite unpleasant and disorienting to play.”
- “But my biggest problem is visuals - it's really stylish overall, and I do like it, but it also makes the game actively hard to play.”
atmosphere
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
13%
14%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its surreal and immersive qualities, enhanced by a fitting visual style and evocative soundtrack that ranges from eerie to industrial. Players appreciate the unique world design and the charm of its janky elements, which contribute to a captivating and mysterious experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as both engaging and delightful, making it a standout feature for many reviewers.
- “Stuffed with atmosphere, the world design is neatly surreal.”
- “Especially delightful little game, the atmosphere is dark and surreal and is conveyed perfectly through the visual style and soundtrack which varies from eerie ambience to something approaching industrial noise.”
- “My favorite aspect was without a doubt the atmosphere and visual design of the world.”
- “Jank is plentiful, but overall it adds to the atmosphere and is genuinely charming in a strange way.”
- “I'm not really equipped with the language skills necessary to articulate just how well-manifested the atmosphere and overall sense of place are in this game.”
- “I love the game's atmosphere and the weird level design where scenes and people are just there and you have to picture a lore for your own.”
music
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
34%
14%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with a diverse range of soundscapes from eerie ambience to energetic combat tracks that elevate the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's unique quality, noting its effectiveness in creating a memorable vibe and complementing the game's visual style. While some mention occasional audio issues, the general consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's immersive and engaging environment.
- “Complemented by a sick, vapory soundtrack, the vibe makes brush burial something memorable.”
- “Especially delightful little game, the atmosphere is dark and surreal and is conveyed perfectly through the visual style and soundtrack which varies from eerie ambience to something approaching industrial noise.”
- “Slight audio warning, some of the SFX and music can be kind of loud and repetitive.”
- “The soundtrack is also divine; I didn't expect the music to go as hard as it does, but when an enemy spots you, it makes you feel excited and gets you into 'plan B' mode.”
- “The peaking sounds and music kind of added to the vibes.”
story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
47%
18%
The game's story is often described as rough and directionless, leaving players feeling lost with minimal objectives and unclear motivations. While the worldbuilding and unique art style are appreciated, many reviewers express a desire for more narrative depth and clearer guidance throughout the gameplay. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop rather than a driving force, resulting in a mixed reception among players.
- “The vibes, the movement, the music, the weird story, I loved all of it and I'm very excited to get my hands on the second game once it's out.”
- “Super unique art style and music, and the story/worldbuilding is interesting.”
- “This isn't in itself a bad thing, forcing players out of their naturally developed comfort zone is a great way to make them think in specific ways to align with the intention of your story.”
- “I might have been willing to push through if there was more Act 1 type gameplay after Act 2... but I'm pretty sure it's just a boss fight, and since I wasn't given any story motivations to move forward... I don't imagine fighting a boss for reasons beyond my comprehension will make up for the suffering of Act 2.”
- “The story is confusing; your motivations for doing anything are just 'you're a spider-devil-girl-thing who likes stealing', and the path to go is very unclear other than just explore.”
- “As far as the story goes, it seems fairly directionless at the moment.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game particularly frustrating in the second act, where unclear objectives and lack of signposting lead to repetitive and tedious gameplay. While the exploration in the first act is praised, the confusion in the latter stages detracts from the overall experience, making players feel lost and compelled to meander through the environment.
- “The second act of the game is a bit unclear on what it wants you to do, and I spent a bit of time meandering while trying to figure it out, making the gameplay elements of that act start to get a bit repetitive and tedious.”
- “The lack of signposting is just tedious: we don't want handholding, but maybe the door texture shouldn't look 99% like a wall texture - looking at you, ruins lava room, where I found the hidden key way before finding the damn door.”
- “My only caveat is that act two's objectives are grindy and unclear.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Overall, the game is well-optimized and runs smoothly, offering a great experience despite its small file size. However, some users have reported issues with enemy AI, noting that certain enemies exhibit buggy behavior, allowing players to exploit their weaknesses easily.
- “The game is optimized, runs great, and comes in a ridiculously small file size for the amount of fun you can have with this.”
- “I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which makes for a smooth gaming experience.”
- “The stability of the game allows me to focus on enjoying the gameplay without interruptions.”
- “Enemies are buggy, and most of them can be easily killed by crouching because they can't reach you.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress.”
- “I experienced numerous glitches that disrupted gameplay and made it frustrating.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game's emotional impact heightened by its unique character designs, which range from humans to fantastical creatures, creating a tense atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. The varied aesthetics contribute to a forest-like ambiance, evoking feelings of unease and tension, particularly in challenging sections.
- “The game masterfully evokes a range of emotions, from tension to empathy, through its unique character designs and immersive environments.”
- “The varied designs of characters, from humans to deer people, create a rich emotional landscape that enhances the overall experience.”
- “The intense moments in the game, especially in Act 2, made me feel super tense and deeply engaged with the story.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is praised for its phenomenal and unique design, reflecting a significant amount of effort despite the game's short length.
- “The character design is phenomenal and unique; for such a short game, there was clearly a lot of work put into the design of it all.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized as short and sweet, with the main character, Fennel, being particularly likable and funny, contributing to an enjoyable experience.
- “Bottom line: it's short, sweet, and Fennel, the main character, is incredibly likable and funny.”