Butcher's Creek

About

In "Butcher's Creek," play as a captive fighting to escape a gang of killers using whatever weapons you can find, from hammers to box cutters. Use your environment to your advantage by kicking props into enemies or sending them into hazards. Document your grim journey by photographing murder scenes to regain health, and explore decaying locations in the Appalachian Forest. This game offers a unique, cinematic gore experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,196 reviews

atmosphere140 positive mentions

replayability8 negative mentions

The atmosphere is immersive and unsettling, effectively capturing the horror genre.
The melee combat is satisfying and visceral, providing a fun gameplay experience.
The game ties into the lore of previous Szymanski titles, adding depth and intrigue.

The game is very short, taking only about 2-3 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more.
Enemy AI can be inconsistent, often leading to bugs where they get stuck or hit through walls.
The combat can become repetitive, with limited enemy variety and mechanics.

atmosphere
270 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
47%
1%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and unsettling qualities, drawing comparisons to classic horror titles like "Condemned" and "Manhunt." Reviewers highlight the effective sound design, environmental storytelling, and a palpable sense of tension that enhances the overall experience, making it a standout feature of the game. Many players found themselves fully engaged and often terrified, with the atmosphere being described as thick, gritty, and masterfully crafted.
- “The atmosphere is so tense, and the story and delivery is so deranged it's absurd.”
- “The sound design and atmosphere are incredible - this game is a masterpiece in that regard, it's very unsettling, and it fits into the larger David Szymanski world lore.”
- “The atmosphere is immaculate and the gameplay is engaging in terms of how captivating it is.”
- “The atmosphere is bleak and does not have even a glimmer of hope.”
- “The atmosphere was genuinely terrifying and the story was just the right amount of messed up to pique my interest.”
- “Filled with oppressive darkness, gritty atmosphere, and apocalypse cultists calling you a penis.”
gameplay
220 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
64%
9%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its simplicity and repetitiveness, often drawing comparisons to classic titles like "Condemned: Criminal Origins." While the melee combat and unique mechanics, such as using photography for health recovery, provide some enjoyment, many players find the overall experience lacks depth and variety, leading to a sense of monotony over its short runtime of about 2-3 hours. Despite these criticisms, the game's atmosphere and narrative elements are praised, making it a worthwhile experience for those who appreciate its horror themes.
- “The gameplay is simple but satisfying (like all David Szymanski's games) and throughout the game new mechanics/weapons/enemies are introduced so it never gets stale; especially the way you can use the environment to your advantage is great fun.”
- “The combat system is this tiny little sandbox with a couple pieces but the feedback from hitting enemies and the constant scrounging for weapons and the satisfaction of throwing a gas can or kicking somebody into a buzzsaw is super addicting, and you're just cruising through dudes until you miss 1 swing and now half your health is gone and you're running away looking for a 'health kit' that you missed, this is a great gameplay package for $10.”
- “There are many other game mechanics referencing other titles that work beautifully with this system - the use of taking photos of crime scenes as a way of regaining health is a darkly comic way of tying the narrative and gameplay together, while also serving as a neat connection to how Dead Rising integrates photography into your skillset.”
- “The gameplay is pretty repetitive as every encounter basically ends the same, with the same 4-5 enemies, same quotes and methods being used till the very end.”
- “However, the primary gameplay is too basic and lacking; 10 minutes in and you've seen all the gameplay there is.”
- “That being said, the gameplay is really repetitive and boring.”
story
192 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
68%
2%
The game's story is primarily conveyed through extensive notes and environmental storytelling, which some players found engaging while others felt it disrupted immersion due to the volume and length of the text. The narrative is dark and absurd, often blending humor with horror, and features connections to previous works by the developer, enhancing its appeal for lore enthusiasts. Overall, while the story is intriguing and atmospheric, its delivery may not satisfy those seeking a more traditional narrative structure.
- “The atmosphere and story are really well done too, a lot of environmental storytelling and notes to read to help understand the world you're in, which leads to a pretty decent ending.”
- “Fun, brutal melee combat with just enough depth that I'm likely to replay it on hard mode at some point, a pitch-perfect aesthetic, writing that rides the line between hilarious and terrifying, and a surprisingly good story and sense of escalation throughout all make this one of Szymanski's strongest showings.”
- “Highly recommended game, you don't need to take in the story as it's mostly told via notes, but I would advise you do because it's told in a cool way that brings things full circle.”
- “The game wasn't bad, but for someone who loves lore and reading, there was just a bit too much story being told through notes that were so incredibly long, and piecing it together becomes kind of tiring.”
- “The story is told almost entirely through notes you find, and while it's cool to uncover the story yourself, it sometimes ruined immersion when I had to stop to read three notes in one room.”
- “It's really predictable and doesn't really push the player to keep exploring the story.”
music
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
54%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its dark, industrial tones and horror-inspired soundscapes reminiscent of 2000s metal soundtracks. The soundtrack effectively complements the game's visuals and gameplay, creating a tense and immersive experience that keeps players on edge. Overall, the sound design and music are considered top-notch, significantly contributing to the game's unsettling ambiance and storytelling.
- “The brutal visual style and discordant (mostly) music suits it perfectly, and I appreciate the artistry in general.”
- “The soundscape alone made me feel uneasy to progress in places; the music is very atmospheric, the sound of leaking pipes, blowing wind, humming electricals, steam, television static—it's just masterful work.”
- “The horror element in the game is also clearly inspired by Silent Hill 2, most notably how it combines the visuals with the off-putting soundtrack that often makes it hard to distinguish if you are under threat or not.”
- “Truly horrible setting and music; David is too good at making horror.”
- “The music puts you on edge, never allowing for any moments of levity; it feels like you're being watched or that danger is just around the corner.”
graphics
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The game's graphics are praised for their gritty, VHS-inspired aesthetic that effectively captures a dark and disturbing atmosphere reminiscent of early 2000s horror titles. Reviewers highlight the attention to detail in textures and lighting, which enhances the overall experience, although some note that the quality can vary in well-lit areas. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's engaging and unsettling vibe, making it a standout for fans of retro horror aesthetics.
- “The graphics are perfect for the analog vibes, and David always creates such unique mechanics for saving and healing.”
- “Atmosphere and visuals are as gritty and chilling as you can get.”
- “Smart work playing with this, but when an area has more lighting, you can usually visually tell that there's a downgrade in quality.”
- “The art direction is far less colorful than in David's better-known titles, but there's a clear attention to textures and details that help the VHS aesthetic shine through in a way that doesn't require heavy blur effects that are very common in other games of this type.”
- “I really liked the locations, level, art, atmosphere, foley, OST, lighting, shaders, textures-- I've noticed I've become increasingly picky about indies. Whenever I feel like there was below 10% effort in lighting levels and they just go for a flat grey look and hope some cartoony art style will carry it, my eyes glaze over and I put it in my 'maybe if I've burned through everything else' pile.”
humor
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in the game is characterized by a dark, dissonant tone that balances well with its grim subject matter, often resulting in moments of absurdity and laughter amidst the horror. Players appreciate the clever writing, funny physics, and engaging combat, which contribute to a unique blend of brutality and comedy, making the experience both disturbing and entertaining. While some may prefer a more serious narrative, the game's trademark crude humor and well-placed gags provide a refreshing contrast to its oppressive atmosphere.
- “Fun, brutal melee combat with just enough depth that I'm likely to replay it on hard mode at some point, a pitch-perfect aesthetic, writing that rides the line between hilarious and terrifying, and a surprisingly good story and sense of escalation throughout all make this one of Szymanski's strongest showings.”
- “It's immersive as hell, the art direction is fantastic, and despite the depraved subject matter, the game has a sense of humor to it.”
- “Szymanski's games always have such a great balance of tone where the points in the game that are meant to be funny still shine in the dreadful atmosphere.”
- “I guess it's supposed to be funny.”
replayability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
45%
36%
Overall, the game has limited replayability due to its linear progression and lack of post-completion features, with many players expressing a desire for additional unlocks or modes to enhance replay value. While some appreciate the sandbox approach to gameplay, the absence of achievements and meaningful incentives to replay the game leaves it feeling short and lacking in depth. Players may enjoy revisiting the game for its unique atmosphere, but those seeking extensive replayability may be disappointed.
- “This would definitely benefit from some sort of endless combat mode to add to the replayability, but overall, amazing game!”
- “Could really get a lot of replayability out of people by adding reasons to rerun the game, like Resident Evil/Cry of Fear styled unlocks, special non-breakable weapons for playthroughs, or even outfits for your kick attack by finishing the game on different difficulties and in certain speedruns.”
- “But definitely feels replayable with the sandboxy approach to your toolset, so there's a low barrier for returning to this hellscape.”
- “With only 11 levels, the experience ends as quickly as it begins, and there’s a noticeable lack of post-completion features or replay value to maintain player interest...”
- “There is no reason for me to play this again because there is 0 replay value, 0 achievements to get.”
- “Unless you wanted to completely re-experience the game, there's no replay value here.”
emotional
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have praised the game for its ability to evoke intense emotions, particularly tension and unease, reminiscent of classic horror experiences. The atmospheric sound design significantly contributes to this emotional impact, creating a sense of dread that enhances the gameplay. Additionally, the game's authentic depiction of rural life resonates deeply with players, further enriching their emotional connection to the experience.
- “It's been a while since I played a horror game that made me feel genuinely on edge while playing; the only other example (in recent memory) being Cry of Fear.”
- “The soundscape alone made me feel uneasy to progress in places; the music is very atmospheric, with the sound of leaking pipes, blowing wind, humming electricals, steam, and television static—it's just masterful work.”
- “I don't think I've ever played a game that made me feel quite how this game feels.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report minimal glitches and no significant issues, others have encountered bugs such as freezing enemies and routing problems. The experience seems to vary, with some users experiencing more stability than others.
- “The game is a bit buggy; I saw some enemies freezing in poses (especially after loads since enemies will keep aggro after saving) and many enemies that couldn't route to me properly.”
- “The game is a bit buggy; I saw some enemies freezing in poses (especially after loads since enemies will keep aggro after saving) and many enemies that couldn't route to me properly.”
- “I didn't experience many glitches like lots of others did.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
Overall, players report that while the game's performance is impressive, optimization could be improved, as it varies significantly based on individual PC specifications. Additionally, minor lighting issues have been noted.
- “The performances were awesome, and I would have liked to hear some more variety from the bad guys.”
- “The only other negatives are that there are some slight lighting issues, and performance will depend on your PC.”
- “The game could be better optimized.”
- “The only other negatives are that there are some slight lighting issues and performance will depend on your PC.”