Chiyo

About

Chiyo is a single player simulation game with horror and mystery themes. It was developed by Nimbus Games and was released on January 18, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

"Chiyo" is a first-person puzzle game set in Edo era Japan, where you play as Idate Chiyo, a paranormal investigator exploring an abandoned mansion filled with malevolent spirits and devious contraptions. With a focus on hardcore escape room styled puzzles and a haunting atmosphere, players must use Chiyo's unique supernatural abilities to survive and uncover the dark family history within. Join the Discord community for lore discussions and updates.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 40 reviews

story8 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

Chiyo excels in creating a chilling atmosphere with its detailed sound design and immersive environments, effectively building tension and dread throughout the gameplay.
The game features well-crafted puzzles that encourage exploration and critical thinking, rewarding players with a satisfying sense of achievement as they uncover the mansion's dark history.
The narrative is emotionally grounded, offering a haunting story that unfolds through environmental storytelling and character interactions, making it resonate deeply with players.

The game suffers from a frustrating checkpoint system that can lead to lost progress, particularly if players quit during certain chapters, which may deter some from fully enjoying the experience.
Performance issues and bugs, such as sound cutouts and control stick deadzones, can disrupt gameplay, especially on older hardware, impacting the overall immersion.
Some players may find the puzzle difficulty to be overly challenging or vague, which could lead to frustration, particularly for those less experienced with escape room-style games.

story
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
42%
16%
The game's story is praised for its dark and captivating narrative that unfolds through discovery rather than direct exposition, creating a chilling atmosphere that enhances the horror experience. While some players found the plot initially confusing, it ultimately reveals itself in a well-paced manner, with well-developed lore and intriguing characters like Chiyo, a young paranormal investigator. Overall, the combination of a gripping story, immersive gameplay, and a variety of puzzles contributes to an unforgettable experience, despite some players feeling it could benefit from additional narrative depth.
- “Where the game’s story excels is in the way it unfolds through discovery rather than exposition.”
- “Its chilling atmosphere, gripping story, and challenging gameplay combined to create an experience that is truly unforgettable, especially at the shadow mannequin gameplay.”
- “Without giving anything away, the game's lore and story is everything I had hoped it would be when I played the demo.”
- “The story is quite captivating, but I felt like it's still missing some tiny pieces here and there.”
- “The story is confusing at first, but everything unravels in time and the way they pace it is good.”
- “Scattered the story by pieces around the mansion for me to discover.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
The gameplay in Chiyo is characterized by engaging puzzles that draw on escape-room logic, featuring hidden patterns, coded notes, and environmental storytelling that enhances the chilling atmosphere. Players can expect 6 to 8 hours of immersive gameplay focused on exploration, clue-finding, and puzzle-solving, with some unique mechanics for managing chases. While there are minor areas for improvement, they do not significantly detract from the overall experience, which has received ratings around 6.5 to 7 out of 10.
- “Many puzzles are reminiscent of real escape-room logic: patterns hidden in decor, coded notes, mechanical contraptions, and environmental storytelling that gradually reveals the tragic history of the people who lived—and died—within these walls.”
- “For a reasonable RM32 price tag, Chiyo boasts an impressive 6 to 8 hours of gameplay.”
- “Great gameplay, puzzle elements, and narrative.”
- “Definitely a room for improvement here, but it does not affect the gameplay much.”
- “The gameplay mainly consists of exploring the mansion, finding clues, solving puzzles, and avoiding the ghost.”
- “Gameplay: 6.5/10”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
30%
The atmosphere in Chiyo is widely praised for its chilling and immersive qualities, effectively creating a sense of dread and unease that enhances the horror experience. Reviewers highlight the game's haunting visuals and sound design, which contribute to a gripping narrative and a feeling of constant vulnerability. While some may find the pace slow and the lack of action limiting, those who appreciate a meticulously crafted atmosphere find it to be a standout feature that lingers long after gameplay.
- “For those who come seeking action or high-intensity fear, the game may feel restrained — but for its intended audience, it stands as a haunting, atmospheric piece that lingers well after the final puzzle is solved.”
- “They nailed the atmosphere of the levels; nowhere do I feel safe from the horrors lurking in who knows where.”
- “Its chilling atmosphere, gripping story, and challenging gameplay combined to create an experience that is truly unforgettable, especially at the shadow mannequin gameplay.”
- “Chiyo is a tightly focused first-person horror experience that draws its strength from atmosphere, cultural texture, and slow-building dread rather than combat or constant shocks.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
23%
33%
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, showcasing atmospheric visuals that enhance the overall aesthetic and gameplay experience. However, performance may vary on older hardware, and while many players appreciate the polished design and improvements since the demo, some express a desire for even better visuals. Overall, the graphics are rated positively, with an average score of 8/10.
- “I played the demo initially and remained interested in the game after - the changes made from the demo release to now are massive, and the game feels very finished and polished in terms of overall aesthetics, set design, puzzles, and animations.”
- “Besides, the textures, graphics, and lore are truly nice!”
- “Additionally, as with many visually driven indie titles, performance can vary depending on hardware, and the atmospheric visuals demand enough fidelity that older systems may struggle.”
- “Graphics are fine, but I was expecting better.”
- “The visuals need no better introduction than the screenshots and trailer.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes a profound emotional response by focusing on understated tragedy and the complexities of family dynamics, rather than relying on gore or spectacle. This culturally nuanced narrative leaves a lasting impact, making players reflect on their own experiences and emotions.
- “Rather than leaning into gore or spectacle, the narrative builds its horror from understated tragedy — a family undone by secrets, obsessions, and emotional pain.”
- “It is this emotional grounding, filtered through a culturally specific lens, that gives the game a lingering impact.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The music in the game effectively enhances the emotional and terrifying atmosphere, featuring a Japanese-inspired soundtrack that complements the horror and puzzle elements. Reviewers rated the music and sound effects an impressive 8/10.
- “Overall, it is a Japanese version of songs of horror, puzzles, and demons you can't fight back.”
- “Music and sound effects: 8/10”
- “The soundtrack that goes along with it amplifies the emotions and terror that is being conveyed.”
- “Overall, it feels like a Japanese version of songs about horror, puzzles, and demons you can't fight back against.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the protagonist's unique and amusing ability to light up her finger with qi, which users find both fresh and entertaining.
- “The way the main protagonist lights up her finger with qi is fresh and hilarious; I love it!”
- “The humor in the dialogue is clever and keeps me laughing throughout the game.”
- “The quirky characters and their funny interactions make every moment enjoyable.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization of the game is inconsistent, with performance heavily reliant on hardware capabilities; older systems may struggle to maintain smooth gameplay due to the demanding atmospheric visuals. Overall, users report that performance is often subpar.
- “Additionally, as with many visually driven indie titles, performance can vary depending on hardware, and the atmospheric visuals demand enough fidelity that older systems may struggle.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been reported to have significant stability issues, with multiple users noting that it is quite buggy.
- “The game is buggy.”
- “Unfortunately, it’s a bit buggy.”