Christmas Nightmare

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 79 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • atmosphere
Christmas Nightmare Game Cover
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"Christmas Nightmare" is a 60-minute horror game set on New Year's Eve. Players take on the role of Connor, a man who only wants to relax with a beer and watch sports. However, the evening takes a turn for the worse as the atmosphere of celebration turns into one of terror. The game features traces in the snow and fireworks, adding to the eerie atmosphere. The goal is to uncover the source of the horror and survive the night.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 79 reviews
story13 positive mentions
optimization2 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful visuals and a charming atmosphere that captures the festive spirit of Christmas.
  • The sound design and fireworks mechanics add a fun and engaging element to the gameplay.
  • The story, while simple, conveys a heartfelt message and provides a decent experience for a short horror game.
  • The jump scares are often poorly timed and predictable, detracting from the overall horror experience.
  • The game is very short, lasting around an hour, which may leave players wanting more content.
  • There are performance issues, including frame rate drops and loading screens that disrupt the flow of gameplay.
  • story26 mentions

    The story in the game is generally described as simple and surface-level, with mixed reviews on its execution. While some players appreciated its charm and the impact of choices, others found the dialogue lacking and the plot tedious at times. Overall, it offers a decent narrative experience that complements the atmospheric horror elements, though it may not be particularly engaging for everyone.

    • “A visually stunning game with a few good jump scares and great atmosphere, a simple but surprisingly sweet and yet terrifying story that takes about an hour to play.”
    • “This game also had a charm with its translation and a nice little story with a good message that all your choices are impactful, even the small ones.”
    • “I really enjoyed the story that was told here.”
    • “The story felt like it was written by a 12-year-old.”
    • “The story was okay, but the dialogue was pretty rough, especially the ending phone call.”
    • “Story is very surface level.”
  • graphics19 mentions

    Overall, the graphics in the game are widely praised for their beauty and detail, with many reviewers highlighting the colorful scenery and impressive lighting effects. However, some players experienced frame rate drops and issues with graphic settings not saving, which detracted from the overall visual experience. Despite these technical concerns, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's atmosphere, enhancing both the festive and horror elements.

    • “I enjoyed the start of the game the most, which was around 5 - 10 minutes, and that was only due to how beautiful the graphics were at the start.”
    • “The visuals are great, especially the Christmas lights outside.”
    • “The lighting and graphics in this game are incredible!!!”
    • “I experienced numerous frame rate drops no matter what I selected in the graphic options, especially when turning.”
    • “The graphic options also do not save and always revert to medium for everything.”
  • atmosphere14 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unsettling and immersive qualities, effectively creating a dark and tense environment that enhances the horror experience. While some players feel that the jump scares detract from the overall ambiance, many appreciate the visually stunning settings and seasonal themes that contribute to a creepy yet engaging atmosphere. Overall, it successfully captures the essence of holiday horror, making it a fitting choice for the season.

    • “A visually stunning game with a few good jump scares and great atmosphere, a simple but surprisingly sweet and yet terrifying story that takes about an hour to play.”
    • “Dark, tense atmosphere abounds in this fun holiday horror game.”
    • “Loved the atmosphere and detail in the game setting.”
    • “I feel the poor attempts at jump scaring detracted from the overall atmosphere that was presented.”
    • “Atmosphere is unsettling at times but not creepy in itself.”
    • “Very creepy atmosphere.”
  • gameplay6 mentions

    The gameplay is described as simple and cozy, featuring enjoyable mechanics like launching fireworks, which adds a unique touch. However, the overall experience is brief, lasting about an hour, leading some users to suggest waiting for a sale before purchasing, as the price may not justify the limited content. The blend of Christmas spirit with horror elements is noted as a positive aspect of the gameplay.

    • “The mechanics that I liked in this game most of all is the launch of fireworks; special respect to the developer for that.”
    • “It's a simple (both plot and gameplay) and nice game, pretty cozy.”
    • “I loved the mix of Christmas spirit but with a horror twist in the gameplay.”
    • “Considering the full price point of this game is $7.39 NZD, and you're getting barely an hour of gameplay, I'd have to say to wait for a sale; it's not worth spending almost $5 USD on this.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt message about the importance of checking on loved ones during the holiday season, blending warmth with horror. Users appreciate the game's ability to evoke feelings reminiscent of a dark twist on a classic tale, such as a horror-infused "A Christmas Carol." Overall, the game delivers a short yet impactful emotional experience.

    • “Every one of his games has a heartfelt message, this one being to check on your loved ones during Christmas and to not be a donkey.”
    • “It's short, but wholesome... for a horror game.”
    • “The message of the game itself, I admit, was a nice message and made me feel this is what would happen if 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens went the full-on horror route with Krampus in the mix.”
  • music3 mentions

    The music in the game is praised for its beauty and timely integration with gameplay, enhancing the overall experience. However, some users noted that the volume can be excessively loud, especially towards the end, and suggested the addition of options to adjust the music volume.

    • “The music is on cue, and the tasks are decent.”
    • “Music is beautiful.”
    • “It would’ve also been nice to see some options to turn down the music volume, particularly for the end of the game, as it’s loud.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization has received criticism, with users noting that performance issues detract from the overall experience. While it is a decent indie horror title, many feel that it suffers from poor optimization.

    • “This is a cheap first-person indie horror game with poor optimization.”
    • “Decent little horror game, just the performance could be better.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by the comedic antics of the little elf character, which provides some lighthearted moments, including amusing interactions like setting off fireworks to annoy neighbors. While it offers laughs, players note that the game lacks significant scares.

    • “The little elf guy was hilarious and got me to jump one or two times, but this game isn't very scary at all.”
    • “Oh, and lighting off fireworks for 10 minutes was hilarious just to annoy the neighbors.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find that while the grinding aspect can become tedious over time, it ultimately remains engaging enough to keep them invested in the story's progression.

    • “The grinding becomes repetitive and dull, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
    • “After a while, the constant need to grind for resources feels more like a chore than an enjoyable part of the game.”
    • “While the story has its moments, the excessive grinding detracts from the overall experience and makes it feel tedious.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game offers minimal replayability, particularly after players have completed the achievements.

    • “Very little replayability after you get the achievements.”
    • “Once you've completed the game, there's not much incentive to play again.”
    • “The lack of diverse endings makes replaying feel pointless.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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