Carnival

About

Carnival is a single player action game. It was developed by Beyond Booleans and was released on August 25, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Carnival is a single-player atmospheric adventure game set in a richly detailed, folk horror-inspired Venice. Players follow journalist James Maynard as he uncovers dark local secrets while grappling with narcolepsy, memory, and perception in a dense, eerie world. The game features captivating pixel art, multiple endings influenced by player choices, and an immersive soundtrack.

Genres & Tags

Adventure

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

100%

Audience ScoreBased on 49 reviews

story25 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Carnival features a captivating and atmospheric narrative set in a richly detailed historical context, effectively blending folk horror with Lovecraftian themes.
The pixel art and soundtrack are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall immersive experience and contributing to the game's eerie ambiance.
Despite its simplicity, the game offers meaningful choices and multiple endings, encouraging replayability and engagement with the story.

The puzzles are generally easy and lack complexity, which may disappoint players looking for more challenging gameplay.
Some players noted that the dialogue-heavy nature and slow start could detract from the pacing, making it feel less engaging initially.
The low-resolution text and absence of voice acting can make it difficult to fully appreciate the narrative and character emotions.

story
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
43%
6%
The story is widely praised for its compelling narrative, strong character development, and atmospheric setting, particularly in its depiction of 1930s Venice. Reviewers highlight the effective pacing that builds tension and dread, reminiscent of Lovecraftian themes, while also appreciating the detailed writing and historical context. Although some noted a desire for more gameplay elements, the overall consensus is that the story is engaging and well-crafted, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The story was exceptionally well written and well researched with an incredible amount of detail, but impressively it didn't feel crammed in or force-fed.”
- “The dev really understands that the heart of Lovecraft is his pacing; the story starts off quite normal, with beautiful details as you explore Venice and do your job as a journalist, and then the slow buildup of dread as you move inexorably towards something horrific.”
- “I was completely captivated by the story, really eager to find out what happens next, but also curious to see what would have happened if I had made different choices.”
- “The story places you in the shoes of James, a journalist who has just arrived in Venice with the goal of writing an article about a proposed new road.”
- “I can't say the plot about traditionalists worshipping an ancient chthonic horror is fresh or original, but otherwise it's a great, atmospheric little game.”
- “The confident slow burn storytelling takes its time in immersing you in 1930's Venice and gently ratchets up the horror until your skin begins to crawl (and mutate).”
atmosphere
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
13%
14%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and haunting qualities, enhanced by a well-crafted soundtrack and detailed storytelling that often draws on historical context. Despite some critiques of the writing and narrative impact, players find the overall experience to be deeply atmospheric, with a blend of suspense and aesthetic appeal that effectively captures the essence of atmospheric horror. The pixel art style and sound design contribute significantly to the game's unsettling and engaging environment, making it a standout in the genre.
- “Brilliant game with an amazing atmosphere and story.”
- “Dripping with atmosphere and suspense, brilliantly crafted by a solo developer.”
- “The soundtrack is going to be the most praised aspect of this game, and for good reason: it is highly adaptable and fits almost every scene perfectly, matching the atmosphere with a rugged elegance.”
- “I think the writing is generally hit or miss, and while the effectiveness of the atmosphere will be dependent on your engagement with the historical context of the game, the script just has this early internet creepypasta amateurishness that I could not detach myself from.”
- “But the atmosphere is at times mysterious and unsettling, heightened by the haunting soundtrack and sound effects.”
- “Has a creepy feeling all the time on what is going on and lots of little details that add to the atmosphere.”
music
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
17%
18%
The music in the game is widely praised for its adaptability and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with a standout soundtrack that perfectly complements the narrative and setting. Reviewers highlight its haunting and melancholic qualities, which effectively evoke feelings of eeriness and foreboding, although some note that sound effects can occasionally overshadow the music. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a major strength, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “The soundtrack is going to be the most praised aspect of this game, and for good reason: it is highly adaptable and fits almost every scene perfectly, matching the atmosphere with a rugged elegance.”
- “The sound track is phenomenal, and hits all of the eeriness you'd want for a horror game.”
- “The super lo-res visuals are incredibly evocative, the music is pitch perfect in every scene, and what to say about the writing, which blends the most mysterious aspects of Venetian history with the unsettling whispers of ancient rites that to this day haunt the city's alleyways.”
- “But the atmosphere is at times mysterious and unsettling, heightened by the haunting soundtrack and sound effects.”
- “Nuanced writing, dark, melancholic soundtrack (hello Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble).”
- “(+) You handled the mood really well; I thought the occasional jump scares never felt too forced, and the gloomy music always playing in the background gave it a nice foreboding vibe.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a well-executed pixel art style that effectively creates an atmospheric experience, reminiscent of early point-and-click adventures. While the visuals are praised for their beauty and evocative nature, some players noted a desire for more detail and scope in certain areas. Overall, the pixel graphics contribute significantly to the game's aesthetic appeal and storytelling, enhancing the overall immersion.
- “The pixel graphics worked really well and every pixel was used to maximum effect.”
- “The pixel-art sceneries are truly beautiful and the pixel art works perfectly to blur some of the most disturbing or explicit scenes.”
- “The super lo-res visuals are incredibly evocative, the music is pitch perfect in every scene, and what to say about the writing, which blends the most mysterious aspects of Venetian history with the unsettling whispers of ancient rites that to this day haunt the city's alleyways?”
- “The pixelated art style serves its purpose, though sometimes I missed some objects or details, and it would have been nice to have a little more 'there' there.”
- “Actually, it's a great game in terms of substance if you don't mind its simple aesthetic. The only thing that holds this game back is scope; the writing is good, but it's not voice acted, and the art is a bit too small, even though you did a good job with it.”
- “Visually, the game deliberately adopts the aesthetic of early point-and-click adventure titles.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The gameplay is primarily narrative-driven, featuring simple puzzles and straightforward mechanics that prioritize story over complexity. While some players feel that additional gameplay elements could enhance the experience, the compelling narrative and atmospheric presentation often overshadow these shortcomings, making it an engaging journey despite its light interactivity. Overall, the gameplay is familiar and accessible, appealing to those who appreciate a strong story.
- “A little more gameplay would have gone a long way, but the story is compelling enough that from now on I will always remember that someone who wears a mask might be hiding even more than just their face.”
- “The pixel graphics are well made and the gameplay feels like home.”
- “Where it lacks are the puzzles, which are rather simple and easy to solve as long as you pick up everything along the way, but I don't think it really needs more complexity in gameplay as the focus is the narrative and you get enough interactivity by making decisions that feel like they matter.”
- “It’s very much narrative-focused and light on gameplay, but the amount of research put into it is astounding, and along with the detailed close-up character portraits and the brilliantly atmospheric soundtrack, it is easy to ignore its few hiccups and let yourself be swept along by an increasingly dark story.”
- “Gameplay remains simple and familiar.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game features multiple endings, which enhances its replayability by encouraging players to explore different choices and outcomes.
- “This adds significant replayability as the game offers multiple endings.”
- “The variety of choices and paths keeps me coming back for more.”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh due to the different character interactions and story outcomes.”
- “This adds some replayability as the game offers multiple endings.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
- “The lack of varied gameplay mechanics makes replaying feel tedious.”