Cease to Breathe

About

Cease to Breathe is a single player action game with a horror theme. It was developed by Sam Thul and was released on July 3, 2023. It received positive reviews from players.

Cease to Breathe is retro-inspired adventure heavily influenced by the Commodore Amiga games of the late 1980's / early 90's.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 20 reviews

atmosphere4 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Cease to Breathe captures the essence of classic point-and-click adventure games, reminiscent of titles like Shadowgate and Uninvited, providing a nostalgic experience for fans of the genre.
The game features a spooky atmosphere, engaging puzzles, and a variety of interactive elements that encourage exploration and experimentation.
The developer is responsive to feedback and shows a commitment to improving the game, which enhances the overall player experience.

The game suffers from numerous spelling and grammatical errors, which detracts from the immersive experience and can be frustrating for players.
Some puzzles may be overly challenging, leading to potential frustration for players who are not accustomed to the difficulty level of classic adventure games.
Navigation can be unintuitive, making it tedious to explore rooms and interact with objects, which can hinder the overall enjoyment of the game.

atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
50%
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its spooky and unsettling qualities, enhanced by impressive graphics and ambiance. However, some players feel that certain modern slang detracts from the intended mood, and navigation issues can hinder the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the atmosphere remains a highlight, with many appreciating its creepy art and logical puzzles.
- “That being said, the graphics, ambiance, atmosphere, and overall package of this game is pretty great.”
- “Sentimental feelings aside, the game is fun, very descriptive, and the creepy atmosphere is just well done and unsettling in a good way!”
- “Cease to Breathe is a great game with a spooky atmosphere, for all that miss the adventure games of the past and very much worth the price.”
- “The writer's use of phrases like 'yeet' and 'fo' reals' ruins any chance the game has at maintaining a spooky atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
- “Despite some interesting concepts, the overall atmosphere fails to engage, leaving players feeling disconnected.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The graphics of the game are praised for their neatness and effective recreation of a retro style reminiscent of late 80s games, contributing to a great ambiance and overall enjoyable experience. Players appreciate the fun and engaging atmosphere, enhanced by the game's visual presentation.
- “The graphics, ambiance, atmosphere, and overall package of this game are pretty great.”
- “The graphics were neat, and having the ability to try anything you wanted made it a really fun time all the way through.”
- “If I was told the game was developed in the late 80s, I would totally have believed it, as developer Sam Thul absolutely nails the graphic style, gameplay, and ambiance of those games perfectly.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The gameplay of "Cease" is praised for its nostalgic 80s style, effectively capturing the graphics and ambiance of that era. While it features challenging puzzles, it is noted to be less punishing than classic titles like Shadowgate, making it more accessible to players.
- “If I was told the game was developed in the late 80s, I would totally have believed it, as developer Sam Thul absolutely nails the graphic style, gameplay, and ambience of those games perfectly.”
- “"Cease" isn't quite as unforgiving gameplay-wise with the puzzles as, say, Shadowgate for instance.”
- “No walking dead mechanics.”
- “The gameplay lacks engaging mechanics, making it feel stagnant.”
- “The puzzles are not as unforgiving as those in games like Shadowgate, which diminishes the challenge.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by snarky writing and a variety of amusing scenarios, leading to memorable and laugh-out-loud moments. Players appreciate the freedom of action that allows for humorous outcomes, including unexpected achievements tied to immature choices. Overall, the game balances humor with a less punishing death mechanic, enhancing the comedic experience.
- “What I loved most was the freedom of action and the snarky writing, especially with the results. Finding all the deaths and various funny things was a highlight.”
- “I already had some good laugh-out-loud moments, but the one that made me come here and leave a positive review for sure was when my inner 12-year-old took over and did something pretty immature (I'll be vague to avoid spoilers) - and it resulted in popping an achievement, which had me laughing hard.”
- “You don't seem to die as much as in the other games I mentioned, which can be a good thing, and it's still plenty funny. I actively tried to find ways to die and discovered two so far.”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The story is well-received, featuring a rich narrative with plenty of content to explore and engage with.
- “The story is engaging, and there's a ton of stuff to see and do.”
- “The narrative is rich and immersive, keeping me invested throughout.”
- “The character development is exceptional, making the story feel personal and impactful.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The game offers multiple endings influenced by various player choices, which enhances its replayability and encourages players to explore different outcomes.
- “There are multiple endings based on different actions, which encourages replayability.”
- “The game offers various paths and choices, making each playthrough feel unique and inviting for replay.”
- “With its branching storylines and diverse character interactions, the game keeps you coming back for more.”
- “There are multiple endings based on a few different actions, which can encourage some replayability.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players appreciate the game's cool atmosphere and creepy art, but find the navigation unintuitive, leading to a tedious grinding experience as they search for puzzles and interact with various elements.
- “The game has a cool atmosphere and creepy art, but the navigation is unintuitive, making it tedious to go through rooms, interact with objects, and search for puzzles to progress.”
- “Grinding feels like a never-ending chore, with little reward for the time invested.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay engaged, as it often feels like I'm just going through the motions without any real sense of achievement.”