Cape Hideous

About

Cape Hideous is a single player action game. It was developed by Jake Clover and was released on October 25, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

A beautiful, cloudless day on the ocean. The hustle and bustle of the crew's activities ring out in an endless drone. The salt spray on the sundried skin - invigorating. Wait, you're facing the wrong way. Turn around... An intense storm cloud, almost black with menace, looms above the world. And we're heading straight for it... We must prepare the ship and ourselves for whatever we find in…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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99%

Audience ScoreBased on 148 reviews

music24 positive mentions

Cape Hideous is a visually stunning and unique experience, filled with intricate details and charming animations that create a captivating atmosphere.
The game features an exceptional soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, making it feel immersive and engaging despite its short playtime.
Players appreciate the game's artistic style and the way it tells a rich, wordless story, allowing for personal interpretation and exploration.

The gameplay is very simplistic and linear, with some players feeling it lacks depth and meaningful interaction, making it feel more like an animated experience than a traditional game.
Some reviewers found the pacing slow and the overall experience too brief, leaving them wanting more content and a more substantial narrative payoff.
The rough art style may not appeal to everyone, leading some to initially dismiss the game as unpolished or lacking in quality.

music
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
20%
9%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting its immersive quality and ability to enhance the overall experience. Described as fantastic, evocative, and even "killer," the soundtrack is often considered the standout feature, complementing the game's unique art style and animations. While some found the music a bit crass or unrefined, the majority agree that it significantly contributes to the game's atmosphere and emotional depth.
- “The music & sound design masterfully captured the feel & emotions of the environments & their respective contexts in the story/to the player.”
- “Incredible music, and beautifully detailed art and animations.”
- “Banger atmospheric soundtrack that complements the art beautifully.”
- “More of a 30-minute music video than a video game, nothing to point or click at.”
- “The music seemed a bit crass/unrefined, to me, but what do I know!”
- “Naive art in game form, elevated by the intense soundtrack.”
graphics
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
30%
12%
The graphics of "Cape Hideous" are characterized by a unique and imaginative art style that blends lo-fi aesthetics with meticulous attention to detail, creating a surreal and captivating visual experience. The animation is praised for its charm and creativity, complemented by an exceptional soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the game's ability to evoke emotion and investment through its distinctive visuals, making it a refreshing departure from generic graphics in contemporary gaming.
- “The animation, visuals, and by god the sound design are all perfect.”
- “A truly imaginative experience with stunning visuals and music.”
- “The visuals are beautiful and the music is great, love everything about it.”
- “The game was able to get me invested in the story within 10 minutes, that along with its rough around the edges, but well thought out art style had me gripped.”
- “In an age where generic, boring and even cheated AI graphics are all over the internet, it's refreshing to find works of such artistic value.”
- “An art style that captivates through attention to detail in storytelling aspects, rather than raw fidelity or realism.”
story
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
54%
14%
The game's story is a unique, wordless experience that relies heavily on visual storytelling and player interpretation, creating a rich atmosphere filled with intricate details and emotional depth. While some players found the narrative direction vague or slow, many appreciated the game's ability to evoke feelings and curiosity through its art style and sound design. Overall, it offers a captivating, immersive journey that rewards exploration and engagement with its environment.
- “It is a deeply esoteric experience that tells a rich story without words, leaving it up to the player to interpret the work.”
- “The music and sound design masterfully captured the feel and emotions of the environments and their respective contexts in the story.”
- “Incredible experiential and atmospheric storytelling wrapped in a short but sweet game that's well worth the price.”
- “The 'story' went nowhere all the way to the end; it all consisted entirely of vibes.”
- “Now, it could very well be that I'm too thick-headed to infer a story or some deep lore by reading into these minor nonsense scenes, but considering the fact that it's only about 30-40 minutes long - and even then it manages to feel really slow, I'm just not feeling it.”
- “Everything the main character does and has happen to them, their role on the ship and their ultimate goal isn’t communicated to the player; yet the distinct style, a masterfully groomed and intricate implementation of MS Paint paired with triumphant, enthralling sound design beckoned me to see my mission through, not out of an obligation to anything specific, but out of compulsion and a burning curiosity.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its intricate world-building, unique art style, and exceptional sound design, which together create a strange yet coherent experience. Players appreciate the depth and detail that enhance the immersive storytelling, making the atmosphere a standout feature that elevates the overall gameplay.
- “This game has really well-realized atmospheric elements and amazing subtle world-building details.”
- “The first thing that stands out is how well done the sound design and music is, which allows the atmosphere to prosper in ways that transcend the game's simplicity.”
- “Incredibly strange and uncanny atmosphere, but coherent in everything that it does.”
- “The first thing that stands out is how well done the sound design and music are, which allows the atmosphere to prosper in ways that transcend the game's simplicity.”
- “I love all the specific little details and the strange atmosphere.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity, focusing on exploration of a quirky pirate ship and its eccentric crew, with minimal mechanics limited to movement. Players are encouraged to enjoy the beautiful visuals and music rather than seek complex interactions, making it a relaxing experience rather than a traditional game.
- “The gameplay is extremely simple; just chill out and explore this bizarre pirate ship and its quirky crew.”
- “Short, no dialogue, and mechanically you can only move, but it's beautiful in every sense, including the music.”
- “A+ octopus gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is extremely simple; you just chill out and explore this bizarre pirate ship and its weirdo crew.”
- “Don't play for the gameplay; you just walk around.”
- “Classic mechanics.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers praise the character development for its exceptional designs, highlighting them as a standout feature of the game. The unique and high-quality character aesthetics contribute significantly to the overall appeal and immersion.
- “The character development in this game is incredibly deep and engaging, making each character feel unique and relatable.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, with their backstories and motivations being revealed in a compelling way.”
- “The character arcs are well-crafted, allowing players to witness significant growth and transformation as the game progresses.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of lighthearted and darker elements, with players appreciating the clever story details and character animations that enhance the comedic experience. The simple narrative allows for ample opportunities to enjoy the humorous moments throughout the game.
- “Everywhere I looked, I was noticing funny little story details, some of which were humorous, while others had a darker nature.”
- “The character animation is really great and amplified by the simple story; you have plenty of time to take in every part of the ship and enjoy small moments of humor.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its impressive animation and worldbuilding, creating a genuinely intriguing and heartwarming experience for players.
- “A genuinely intriguing and heartwarming exercise in impressive animation and worldbuilding.”