CAYNE

About

CAYNE is a single player action game with horror and science fiction themes. It was developed by THE BROTHERHOOD and was released on January 24, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

CAYNE is a free, single-player horror point-and-click game with an amazing story and graphics. Players help Hadley, the expecting protagonist, escape from a mysterious facility and uncover the truth about her baby. The game boasts isometric backgrounds, 3D animated characters, quality FMV, and intuitive puzzles, making for a gritty and immersive experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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77%

Audience ScoreBased on 901 reviews

story201 positive mentions

grinding18 negative mentions

Great atmosphere and graphic design that immerses players in a dark sci-fi horror setting.
Interesting premise with a compelling story that keeps players engaged.
Strong voice acting that enhances the overall experience.

Bad level design and convoluted puzzles that often lack logical solutions.
The main character's dialogue can be annoying and disrupts the horror atmosphere.
Significant backtracking required, which can be tedious due to slow character movement.

story
495 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
54%
5%
The story of "Cayne" is a dark and disturbing narrative set in a grotesque sci-fi universe, featuring a pregnant protagonist navigating a nightmarish facility. While the plot is intriguing and filled with twists, it is often undermined by unlikable characters and inconsistent pacing, with much of the backstory conveyed through extensive PDA entries that some players found tedious. Overall, the game offers a compelling, albeit unsettling, experience that may appeal to fans of horror and point-and-click adventures, especially given its free price point.
- “The story is interesting, yet disturbing.”
- “The story never lost me for a moment, though I’ll admit some of the puzzles did; they were maybe a little poorly designed but also rewarding to solve.”
- “The characters are well developed; you are fed backstory in great ways and the twists that happen are such that the clues were there all along but were subtle enough I was still surprised at how it all ended up.”
- “It's plot is interesting, but is let down by characters who are utterly odious and dubious people.”
- “Witty, quippy, humorous dialog has been shoved into the body horror setting, eliminating any ability to take the story or characters seriously.”
- “The story is barely coherent.”
graphics
199 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
49%
2%
The graphics in the game have received widespread praise for their atmospheric and detailed design, effectively creating an immersive horror experience. Many reviewers noted the impressive combination of 2D and 3D elements, with a strong emphasis on grotesque visuals and a unique art style that enhances the storytelling. While some critiques mentioned inconsistencies in cutscenes and minor issues like pixel hunting, the overall visual presentation is considered a significant improvement over its predecessor, "Stasis."
- “The game's visuals are hauntingly detailed, creating an immersive and eerie atmosphere that perfectly sets the tone for the horror that awaits.”
- “Visually, it's a point-and-click spectacle with some very impressive and imaginative graphics, generally at its strongest when showing off the grotesque sci-fi body horror elements.”
- “Cayne offers some great atmosphere and great graphics with sound design that is top-notch.”
- “The graphics aren't the greatest, and the cut scenes look visually weird, but I can forgive this for a small team of developers.”
- “Basic graphics don't do justice to any video card or monitor post-1980.”
- “Derivative graphics from the poser-era that deliver no real sense of atmosphere or tension.”
atmosphere
148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
45%
3%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, immersive, and often grotesque qualities, effectively creating a gripping horror experience through detailed visuals, sound design, and storytelling. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke tension and unease, although some note that humor and character inconsistencies can detract from the overall atmosphere. Overall, the game's atmospheric elements are considered its strongest feature, making it a compelling choice for fans of the genre.
- “Cayne is atmospheric—and quite horrific—and I felt very immersive, with a very sympathetic main character.”
- “The game's visuals are hauntingly detailed, creating an immersive and eerie atmosphere that perfectly sets the tone for the horror that awaits.”
- “From the moment I entered the world of Cayne, I was captivated by its atmospheric and foreboding environments.”
- “The ridiculous Marvel-style humor dialogues kill all atmosphere the rest of this game tries to build.”
- “This constant sarcasm and irreverence drains any tension and kills the atmosphere.”
- “There is no atmosphere, no existential dread, nothing that makes a horror game a horror game.”
gameplay
130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
63%
13%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its reliance on traditional point-and-click mechanics, which can feel clunky and unintuitive. While some appreciate the polished graphics and atmosphere, others criticize the slow character movement, linear progression, and frustrating puzzles that often require trial-and-error. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a blend of engaging storytelling and flawed mechanics, making it a hit or miss experience for players.
- “Playing as a new character, with the same mechanics but much more polished, was a breath of fresh air.”
- “The gameplay is pretty straightforward; you click on points of interest and use items either on each other or on said points of interest.”
- “Cayne offers a lot of gameplay for a free game.”
- “The gameplay consists of point and click object searching and puzzle solving, and both of these are flawed.”
- “The game design is just not good; I feel like the gameplay could've been easily fixed if the devs had play-tested it first.”
- “Gameplay feels sluggish; you spend most of your time trying to get from point A to point B.”
humor
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
91%
2%
7%
The humor in the game is polarizing, with many players finding the protagonist's attempts at dark humor and witty dialogue to be either cringe-worthy or disruptive to the horror atmosphere. While some appreciate the absurdity and occasional laughs, others feel that the humor undermines the game's tension and character depth, leading to a mixed reception overall. The writing often falls flat, with jokes that feel out of place or unrealistic given the game's grim context.
- “Its a free point and click adventure with a bit of horror and humor mixed together.”
- “I really like the main character and her reactions to some of the stuff she reads on the PDAs, quite some dark humor in there.”
- “Cayne is an isometric point and click adventure that looks and feels like a horror game, but has a strange sense of humor that makes it hard to take seriously.”
- “The truest line she says is 'don't make a joke, Hadley, it's not funny.' You could argue that she's trying to cope with the horror, but it's too consistently done and bluntly unfunny.”
- “The protagonist told herself a horribly unfunny abortion joke, then chastised herself 'inappropriate, but funny -- soooo funny...'”
- “The only gripe I have with it are the voice acting, since sometimes the lines of the main character sound a bit off (both in terms of writing and performance - why would she constantly try to crack unfunny jokes?).”
music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
45%
13%
The music in the game is generally well-received, enhancing the atmosphere and complementing the visuals effectively, though it may not leave a lasting impression. While the soundtrack and sound design are competent and contribute to the feelings of dread and horror, they often play a subtle role rather than taking center stage. Overall, the combination of music, voice acting, and sound effects is praised for its quality, particularly when experienced with headphones, adding to the immersive experience.
- “Great atmosphere, great music, good graphics, and the voice acting (especially that of Hadley and her 'helper') are great.”
- “The music and sound design are great, and the gameplay is relatively straightforward; click this, put this here, click a button... you get the idea.”
- “The music and background sounds are appropriate and effective, but do not take a prominent role, just as if this was a movie.”
- “Further, the sound/music never really grabbed my attention; I think I could hear some royalty-free tracks once or twice.”
- “There was some scary music at points, but it always petered away quickly, and there was just no pressure on me to do anything.”
grinding
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
9%
86%
The reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is marked by tedious gameplay, characterized by excessive backtracking, slow character movement, and unintuitive puzzles that often require trial and error. While the production values and story are praised, the overall experience is marred by the frustration of repetitive tasks and a lack of clear guidance, making it less enjoyable for many players.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “But it gets tedious and cringy quickly.”
- “Combined with the horrible backtracking, it becomes a tedious rage bait.”
- “Despite the stellar presentation, the absolute nonsense puzzles, lack of clues, and the tedious backtracking derail what could have been a great showpiece.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
Overall, the game's optimization is commendable, maintaining a steady frame rate of nearly 60 fps with only minor drops. The voice acting, particularly that of the main protagonist, is a standout feature, enhancing the emotional depth of the narrative, though some inconsistencies in tone and delivery were noted. The graphics and sound design are polished, contributing to a visually and audibly engaging experience.
- “Performance was great, being at an almost constant 60 fps aside from a few seconds where it dropped to the low 50s.”
- “The cutscenes are of a good standard and the sound design is stellar; the voice acting in particular is brilliant, with the main character’s voice actor standing head and shoulders above performances in other, more expensive games.”
- “Both the graphics and the voice acting are extremely polished, with beautiful prerendered backdrops, quality CG cutscenes, and overall solid performances by the voice cast.”
- “Both the graphics and the voice acting are extremely polished, with beautiful prerendered backdrops, quality CG cutscenes, and overall solid performances by the voice cast. The only real blemish being the main character, whose tone shifts inconsistently, with sudden yells and hoots that are jarring and out of context.”
- “The only gripe I have with it is the voice acting, since sometimes the lines of the main character sound a bit off (both in terms of writing and performance - why would she constantly try to crack unfunny jokes?), and the ending that could have been explained better.”
- “Every performance wasn't spot-on, but I love cheesy stuff and it really added a touch of camp to an otherwise oppressive atmosphere.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, unresponsive controls, and glitches that detract from the overall experience. While some players found it playable despite these issues, the consensus indicates that the game's stability is a significant drawback, impacting enjoyment and gameplay.
- “Buggy and unresponsive controls, almost unplayable.”
- “Cayne is super buggy and unresponsive.”
- “Too many glitches and black screens.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
Character development is well-executed, fostering emotional connections with the characters, particularly the main character, Hadley. The art direction complements this development, enhancing the overall sci-fi horror experience. While some reviews note that other titles like Stasis offer deeper character arcs, the concise storytelling in Cayne evokes nostalgic feelings reminiscent of classic sci-fi tales.
- “Character development was nice, gets you to care about some of the characters.”
- “The character development is really good.”
- “I also loved the character development of Hadley, the main character.”
- “Whereas Stasis is a big project with better character development, in-depth puzzles, and a more satisfying story, Cayne reminds me of those tales I'd read as a kid in sci-fi anthologies; short but sweet, with a requisite twist (although you might see it coming a mile off!).”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its well-written narratives and complex characters, which evoke significant emotional suffering and depth. Players appreciate the rich lore and unsettling atmosphere, while strong voice performances enhance the overall emotional impact of the story.
- “These games are well-written narratives filled with depth and detail, featuring enjoyable, emotionally complex characters in a world rich with fascinating (and unsettling) lore that genuinely feels interesting and is the most intriguing aspect of this series.”
- “The voice performances breathe life into the characters, adding to the emotional impact of the story.”
- “Costs nothing, but still delivers all the emotional suffering you're after in a horror adventure game.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has little to no replayability, with most players noting that the only incentive to replay is to achieve hidden objectives, which may require a walkthrough. However, given its quality as a free game, this lack of replay value is often considered a minor drawback.
- “Little to zero replayability.”
- “Replay value is nil; however, unless you are going for achievements that are not obvious, I would just suggest a walkthrough from the first playthrough.”
- “The only negative is the lack of replay value, but for a free game of this quality, that is a non-issue.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game is perceived as a promotional tool for the developer's other title, Stasis, leveraging its free-to-play model to attract players into the same fictional universe.
- “Since it's free, I guess it's meant to be an advertisement for Stasis, a different game by the same developer set in the same fictional universe.”
- “The monetization feels exploitative, as it constantly pushes you to spend money to enjoy basic features.”
- “I find the in-game purchases to be overpriced and unnecessary, making it hard to progress without spending real money.”