Cave of Illusions

About

"Cave of Illusions" is a psychological horror game where players step into the shoes of private phenomenon investigator Lesley Jacobson. Returning to her childhood home of Looninville, New Hampshire, Lesley must uncover the truth behind her best friend's disappearance over two decades ago. With the sudden reemergence of a mysterious cave, Lesley's memories of the past and present begin to blur, leading to a harrowing journey of self-discovery and horror. Can you solve the mystery and make peace with the past?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 27 reviews

story8 positive mentions

atmosphere3 negative mentions

Intriguing plot with a unique narrative that keeps players engaged.
Visually appealing with cute graphics and a captivating atmosphere enhanced by great music and full voice acting.
Offers interesting puzzles and two different endings, providing replayability and a sense of accomplishment.

Gameplay mechanics are inconsistent, leading to frustrating platforming sections and poorly designed puzzles.
The voice acting and sound design are subpar, with issues like loud volume and poorly mixed dialogue detracting from the experience.
The story lacks a satisfying payoff and can feel tedious, with some players finding it boring or lacking depth.

story
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
52%
13%
The story of the game is generally well-received, praised for its intriguing narrative shifts, strong voice acting, and atmospheric elements that enhance the horror experience. While some players found the plot to be loosely connected and the ending unsatisfying, many appreciated its thematic depth regarding reality and perception, as well as its ability to provoke thought and maintain engagement. Overall, the story is considered a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's appeal, especially for fans of indie horror.
- “This is possibly one of the best indie horror games I personally enjoyed. I played it on stream, and the whole stream tuned in and stayed glued to the story just like myself. The story makes you think, and the voice acting and music in the game are very well done.”
- “The story is solid and fresh, and overall it really holds your attention and has a great ending.”
- “There was clearly a lot of deep thought put into the story, and after the first playthrough, you will be left with much to ponder.”
- “And now the story, and without giving away too much, it doesn't earn its ending, and doesn't seem to really care.”
- “Add to all of these a story that is tedious and boring rather than interesting and you have yet another lame horror game on Steam that serves no real purpose except to rob you of your hard-earned money and waste valuable time that could be better spent rolling dice on the floor and screaming at yourself in the mirror to try and 'jump scare' yourself every 20 seconds.”
- “The storyline itself calls to mind older, almost grim fairy tale style fears.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
14%
29%
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and emotional impact, enhancing the overall atmosphere and tension, particularly in horror moments. While some reviewers noted a limited number of tracks, they appreciated the moody and beautiful compositions that effectively complement the storytelling and voice acting. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the immersive experience, though a desire for more variety, such as jazz elements, was expressed by some players.
- “This is possibly one of the best indie horror games I personally enjoyed. I played it on stream and the whole stream tuned in and stayed glued to the story just like myself. The story makes you think, and the voice acting and music in the game are very well done.”
- “The level design is interesting, the voice acting is heartfelt, and the music themes are really, really nice.”
- “The music is spectacular and very moody.”
- “This is all before mentioning the presentation; while there is passion put into the project, it stretches its two musical tracks thin and keeps putting its weaker elements into full view.”
- “There are times where all you want to do is find your way out, and the music really adds a strong sense of anxiety.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its tense and unsettling quality, effectively immersing players in a creepy environment that enhances the dark narrative. Striking visuals and atmospheric sound design contribute to a feeling of disorientation, while the level design progression keeps players engaged throughout the experience. Overall, the focus on atmosphere over jump scares creates a compelling and immersive gameplay experience.
- “I thought the tense atmosphere and the feeling of constantly wanting to look over my shoulder as if something might be chasing me was handled well.”
- “The atmosphere is very unsettling, and the droning ambiance really sells the feeling of losing your grip on reality.”
- “There are jump scares like the ones in those games, but they take a back seat to the trippy environments, creepy atmosphere, and dark story.”
- “I thought the tense atmosphere and the feeling of constantly wanting to look over my shoulder as something might be chasing was handled well.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The gameplay has been criticized for its inconsistent mechanics and poorly designed platforming puzzles, which can lead to frustrating experiences. While the shifting gameplay elements aim to enhance storytelling, they often feel disjointed and clash with one another, detracting from immersion. However, there is optimism for future improvements, as the developer has shown progress in their recent titles.
- “It's worth noting that puzzle gameplay is a fairly new undertaking for this developer, and seeing the progress they've made in recent games alone makes me confident the next foray into that area will be even better.”
- “Encountered a jumping across platforms puzzle that took me the better part of an hour to complete due to poor mechanics and platforming.”
- “The gameplay shifts constantly, and while that could be a good way to convey the story, the elements seem loosely strung.”
- “This jumble of ideas creates problems as all the mechanics seem at odds, hearing abrasive loud noises the entire time, then, suddenly trying to listen out for a small jingle.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The graphics are characterized by a cute and bright aesthetic that enhances the overall atmosphere of the game. While some users noted a sense of cheapness in certain elements, the striking visuals and well-designed levels contribute positively to the storytelling experience, making it engaging for players throughout its duration.
- “This time, the focus is on the story, the visuals, and the atmosphere.”
- “It was interesting enough to keep me happily playing for the ~45-minute duration, with striking visuals and atmospheric sound design.”
- “I really enjoyed the way the atmosphere and aesthetics of the level design progressed.”
- “Cheap graphics, cheap voice acting, cheap effects, cheap puzzles.”
- “The visuals are lacking depth and detail, making the game feel outdated.”
- “The character models are poorly designed and lack any real personality.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is criticized for being tedious and requiring excessive patience, with some players finding the experience boring and frustrating. This has led to a perception that the game is a waste of time and money, detracting from its overall enjoyment.
- “Good game, but there are parts that are tedious as hell, so you need a lot of patience for this game.”
- “Add to all of these a story that is tedious and boring rather than interesting, and you have yet another lame horror game on Steam that serves no real purpose except to rob you of your hard-earned money and waste valuable time that could be better spent rolling dice on the floor and screaming at yourself in the mirror to try and 'jump scare' yourself every 20 seconds.”
- “My score: 25% - tedious, sloppy, and mind-numbing.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game offers notable replayability with multiple endings and unlockable content that encourages players to revisit it after completing the initial playthrough, extending gameplay beyond the typical hour-long experience. However, some players feel that certain jumpscares and sound effects detract from the overall experience.
- “There seems to be some replayability, with probably two endings to explore.”
- “Once you beat it, there are things to unlock for replayability, which extends the game beyond the hour or so it takes to complete.”
- “However, some jumpscares are not needed, and the volume of some sound effects is excessive; this detracts from the overall experience. While there seems to be some replayability and possibly two endings, it doesn't significantly enhance the game.”
- “Once you beat it, there are things to unlock for replayability, which pushes the game beyond the hour or so it takes to complete.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is enhanced by its grounding in reality, with heartfelt voice acting and evocative music themes that enrich the overall experience. The interesting level design further contributes to the game's emotional depth.
- “There is also just enough grounding in reality, and the emotional layers enrich the substance of the game.”
- “The level design is interesting, the voice acting is heartfelt, and the music themes are really nice.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from poor optimization and a lack of polish, leading to an overall unrefined experience that detracts from enjoyment.
- “This game lacks a defined vision, lacks polish, is poorly optimized, and most importantly, it just isn't fun.”