Cabin Fever
- July 12, 2021
- Steamy Buns Games
- 3h median play time
In "Cabin Fever," players must survive in a remote forest cabin while battling anomalies and resource scarcity. Use stealth and survival skills to gather resources, craft tools, and fend off supernatural enemies. With permadeath and procedural generation, each playthrough brings new challenges in this atmospheric horror experience.
Reviews
- The game features beautiful artwork and great voice acting, enhancing the overall experience.
- The story is emotionally engaging, with multiple endings that encourage replayability.
- The characters, especially Mallory, are well-developed and relatable, making players feel a strong connection.
- The game is quite short, taking only a few hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more.
- Some choices feel inconsequential, leading to frustration when trying to achieve different endings.
- The themes of loss and anxiety related to the pandemic may be triggering for some players.
- story257 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and heartwarming themes, focusing on the relationship between two characters in a post-apocalyptic setting influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. While many players appreciate the short yet impactful narrative, some express a desire for more content and varied endings, as well as a few critiques regarding pacing and character development. Overall, it is described as a touching and relatable experience that resonates with players, making it a memorable visual novel.
“Though small in scope, it's full of heart, and it's a story I keep coming back to.”
“It's a beautiful and heartwarming story.”
“The story is fantastic and wholesome, although it has sad and dark themes as well.”
“I can't say I was very deeply moved by the story; I think things were a bit short, and also right before I got to the good part, I made the mistake of taking a break, reading the credits, and getting spoiled that a thing was gonna happen.”
“The story just made no logical sense.”
“My only real complaint with the story is that the majority of the choices you make don't have any bearing on the overall story and only serve as flavor, changing some scenes slightly.”
- emotional78 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with players noting its ability to evoke a range of feelings from heartwarming joy to deep sadness. Many reviews highlight the impactful storytelling, relatable characters, and the effectiveness of multiple endings that resonate with players, often leading to tears. Overall, the game is described as a touching experience that combines humor, warmth, and poignant moments, making it a memorable journey for those seeking emotional depth in their gaming experience.
“Got emotionally invested in the characters and shed a tear.”
“This game is the most heartwarming and heartbreaking story I've ever played, especially when it comes to fighting off a killing virus.”
“The story was wonderful; I laughed, I cried, and had a wonderful time feeling immersed in the beautiful artwork and music.”
- music33 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its ability to enhance the emotional experience and atmosphere, while some found it forgettable or lacking in variety. Overall, the soundtrack is described as beautiful and cohesive with the art and story, contributing significantly to the game's immersive qualities. While some players enjoyed the music deeply, others felt it could have benefited from more diverse tracks to match various settings.
“I genuinely just sat on the title screen watching the animation and listening to the music for about half an hour after I completed the game.”
“The music was fantastic and added a lot to the different scenes.”
“The music, the voice acting, the art, the pace, and tones of the story were so beautifully well done that I couldn't put it down!”
“The music is a little forgettable.”
“And if I were to rate the soundtrack, I'd put it at above average, but not fantastic.”
“The music and art are very well done, certainly sets the vibes for the warm, yet lonely cabin the story takes place in.”
- graphics29 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beauty and intricate artwork, with many reviewers highlighting the expressive character designs and detailed backgrounds. The art style is described as both adorable and emotionally resonant, effectively complementing the game's storytelling and voice acting. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the immersive experience, earning high marks from players.
“In short, this is: a genuinely beautiful game, with amazing artwork and intricate storytelling.”
“The visuals are all fantastic, with intricate backgrounds and a highly expressive, adorable main character named Mallory.”
“The artwork is beautiful, the voice acting is perfect for each scene, the plot flows smoothly, everything lines up perfectly to make a beautiful game.”
“The artwork is not quite as potato as some of the pieces in 'Crush Crush', but still rather amateurish, to be frank.”
“A for artwork.”
“I've experienced happiness and sadness through the soundtrack and artwork alone.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a blend of darkly comedic elements, heartwarming character interactions, and funny achievements that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the balance of humor with emotional depth, finding both laughter and poignant moments throughout the story. The inclusion of comical scenes, particularly in the NSFW DLC, adds an extra layer of amusement, making it a recommended choice for those seeking a funny and engaging visual novel.
“Overall, I heavily recommend this game to anyone that's looking for a wholesome and funny slice-of-life visual novel to play.”
“The story and character interactions are very humorous and heart-warming.”
“That's all the criticism I have though ^^ the artwork is beautiful, it has humor and heart, I liked that I could customize my character some, and several endings made me cry.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is centered around making impactful choices throughout the chapters, leading to varied outcomes that enhance the immersive storytelling experience. Players appreciate the engaging narrative and relatable characters, with some highlighting the emotional depth and realism, resulting in a mix of ratings from 6/10 to 10/10 for gameplay quality. Overall, the gameplay effectively draws players into the protagonist's journey, making it a compelling experience.
“Amazing story, great gameplay, the characters are so likable and your face not being shown at all really lets you easily slip into the protagonist and be entranced into the world, and the ending really keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
“10/10 for realism and gameplay, will never better myself again.”
“The gameplay is basically you making choices in different parts of the chapters and seeing the outcome of those choices.”
“I may have cried some actual tears during my early hours of gameplay due to cabin fever.”
“Gameplay/choices: 6/10”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the visual novel is generally gentle and inviting, with a mix of wholesome contentment and moments of unease. While the music and sound effects contribute positively, the limited ambient tracks detract from the immersive experience. Some reviewers felt that the elements of fear and paranoia seemed out of place, suggesting a disconnect between the character portrayal and the intended atmosphere.
“It's a brief, one-girl visual novel with a generally gentle atmosphere that I'd love to live in.”
“The atmosphere ranges from wholesome contentment to unease and worry, peril, even.”
“The novel has some good music and a bunch of sound effects, but only two ambience tracks, and they really create an appropriate atmosphere for the place.”
“Novel has some good music and a bunch of sound effects, but only 2 ambience tracks. They really create an appropriate atmosphere for the place, so why not add some more for the forest or rain? Considering the fact that there are tons of free sound banks and you have voiced every line for every character (in 2 versions for the protagonist).”
“The atmosphere of fear and paranoia felt completely out of place with how the main character is portrayed. It feels more shoehorned in than an essential part of the story; every part of the storyline could've happened if it were just a young off-gridder who had a young woman stumble into their property.”
“The atmosphere ranges from wholesome contentment to unease and worry, even peril.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly when it comes to farming and navigating through dialogue that offers little variation. While the game is enjoyable and heartwarming, many recommend waiting for a sale due to the overwhelming nature of certain tasks and the lack of meaningful changes in dialogue.
“This game is really good and heartwarming but kind of tedious in some parts. I got the best ending and just skipped through to get the other endings, mainly because the dialogue hardly changed. I was also expecting more for my price, but it's good; although I would say only buy it on offer. My rating for this is an 8 out of 10, still will be getting your other projects.”
“But, it gets very tedious and a bit overwhelming just tapping away on my space bar to skim through unnecessary dialogue that I already know the outcome of based on trial and error.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in this visual novel is highly praised, with players forming deep emotional connections to the characters as the story unfolds, leading to impactful and memorable experiences. The ability to achieve multiple endings further enhances the attachment to the characters, making the game a recommended choice for those who appreciate strong narrative arcs.
“The story in this visual novel was very good. I was playing it and a friend was watching me, and the further we got into the story, the more it made us cry. The character development was really good; you get really attached to the characters. I highly recommend this visual novel, and this game will stick with me forever. I will be replaying it even after I 100% the whole visual novel.”
“The character arcs in this game are incredibly well-crafted, making each decision feel impactful. I found myself genuinely invested in their journeys, and the emotional depth added a layer of realism that is often missing in other games.”
“I was amazed at how the characters evolved throughout the story. Their growth felt natural and relatable, and I loved how my choices influenced their development. It made the experience feel personal and engaging.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that the game's replayability is high due to its diverse gameplay options, multiple endings, and varying character paths, encouraging players to explore different strategies and experiences. Many users appreciate the added content and updates that enhance replay value, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging. Overall, players find themselves returning to the game for new challenges and discoveries.
“The game offers a multitude of choices that significantly alter the storyline, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
“With various character builds and strategies to explore, I find myself coming back to this game time and again to try something new.”
“The dynamic world and random events ensure that no two playthroughs are ever the same, keeping the experience exciting and unpredictable.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making replaying it feel like a chore rather than an adventure.”
“Once you've completed the main storyline, there's little incentive to dive back in; the side quests are repetitive and uninspired.”
“While the graphics are stunning, the gameplay doesn't change enough on subsequent playthroughs to keep me engaged.”