Cave of Illusions

About

Cave of Illusions is a single player arcade puzzle game with horror and mystery themes. It was developed by Vidas Games and was released on October 30, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"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

Skip User Reviews

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 40 reviews

story14 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features a unique and unsettling atmosphere that effectively conveys a sense of dread and anxiety.
The story is intriguing with solid narrative shifts and emotional depth, keeping players engaged throughout the experience.
The sound design, including voice acting and music, is well-executed and enhances the overall immersion of the game.

The gameplay mechanics are inconsistent, leading to frustrating platforming sections and poorly designed puzzles.
The graphics and presentation are considered cheap, detracting from the overall experience and immersion.
Many players found the jump scares to be overused and not genuinely scary, undermining the horror elements of the game.

story
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
57%
8%
The story has received mixed reviews, with many praising its intriguing narrative shifts, thematic depth regarding reality and perception, and strong voice acting that enhances the overall experience. However, some players felt the plot was loosely structured and criticized its short length and unsatisfying ending. Overall, while the game captivates with its atmosphere and thought-provoking elements, opinions vary on its execution and depth.
- “This story is a lot about reality and perception of reality, and the game doesn't slack at tackling this thematic point.”
- “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.”
- “The story is solid and fresh, and overall it really holds your attention and has a great ending.”
- “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.”
- “And now the story, and without giving away too much, it doesn't earn its ending, and doesn't seem to really care.”
- “The storyline itself calls to mind older, almost grim fairy tale style fears.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The music in the game is described as spectacular and moody, effectively enhancing the atmosphere and adding a sense of anxiety during gameplay. While the two main tracks are praised for their beauty and emotional impact, some reviewers feel that the limited number of musical pieces stretches the experience thin. Overall, the music, along with the voice acting, contributes significantly to the game's immersive storytelling.
- “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 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.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Gameplay is criticized for its inconsistent mechanics and frustrating platforming challenges, with players experiencing difficulty in puzzles due to poor design. The constant shifts in gameplay elements, while intended to enhance storytelling, result in a disjointed experience where various mechanics clash, leading to confusion and frustration.
- “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.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is consistently described as tense and unsettling, effectively creating a sense of paranoia and the feeling of being pursued. The droning ambiance enhances the experience, contributing to a loss of grip on reality, while the progression of level design aesthetics further enriches the overall atmosphere.
- “I really enjoyed the way the atmosphere and aesthetics of the level design progressed.”
- “The atmosphere is very unsettling, and the droning ambiance really sells the feeling of losing your grip on reality.”
- “I thought the tense atmosphere and the feeling of constantly wanting to look over my shoulder as something might be chasing was handled well.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The graphics received mixed feedback, with some users criticizing them as cheap and lacking quality, particularly in voice acting and effects. However, others appreciated the atmospheric and aesthetic progression of the level design, highlighting its positive impact on the overall experience.
- “I really enjoyed the way the atmosphere and aesthetics of the level design progressed.”
- “The graphics look cheap and outdated, making the entire game feel unpolished.”
- “The visuals are subpar, lacking detail and depth, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- “The art style feels rushed and uninspired, failing to create an immersive environment.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The game offers notable replayability, featuring multiple endings and unlockable content that encourages players to revisit it after completing the initial playthrough. While some elements, like unnecessary jumpscares and sound effects, detract from the experience, the overall structure supports extended gameplay beyond the initial hour.
- “There seems to be some replayability and probably two endings.”
- “And once you beat it, there are things to unlock for replayability, which pushes the game beyond the hour or so it takes to complete.”
- “However, some jumpscares are not needed, same for the volume of some sound effects (it is really not needed in a good horror game). Also, there seems to be some replayability and probably two endings.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively weaves emotional depth into its narrative, enhanced by heartfelt voice acting and evocative music themes. This grounding in reality, combined with interesting level design, enriches the overall experience and adds substantial emotional layers to the gameplay.
- “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.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding in this horror game to be tedious and mind-numbing, detracting from the overall experience and making it feel like a waste of time and money. The lack of engaging content amplifies the frustration, leading to a negative reception.
- “My score: 25% - tedious, sloppy, and mind numbing.”
- “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.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is criticized for its poor optimization and lack of polish, contributing to an overall lack of enjoyment. Reviewers note that it feels directionless and fails to deliver a satisfying experience.
- “This game lacks a defined vision, lacks polish, poorly optimized, and most importantly, it just isn't fun.”