Christmas Nightmare
- December 3, 2023
- JustTomcuk
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"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.
Windows
Reviews
- Beautiful graphics and atmospheric design, especially with the Christmas decorations and lighting.
- Offers a decent experience with some effective jump scares and a heartfelt story about family and redemption.
- Good value for the price, providing a fun and festive horror experience perfect for the holiday season.
- The game is very short, lasting around 45 minutes to an hour, which may leave players wanting more.
- Performance issues such as frame rate drops and loading screens detract from the overall experience.
- Jump scares can be predictable and not very effective, leading to a less intense horror experience.
- story19 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally described as simple yet impactful, emphasizing the significance of small choices, though some players found it confusing or tedious at times. While it features a charming narrative and decent jump scares, opinions vary on its overall engagement, with some enjoying the pacing and others feeling it lacked depth. Overall, it is seen as a visually appealing experience with a mix of horror elements and a sweet message.
“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 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.”
“It's got a decent, yet confusing story since I wasn't sure if I had killed my family or not.”
“But I also have to admit that after a little bit, the story did get a little tedious after a while but still pulled you in to see what happened next.”
“I think there are two choice options all together, and the story was not great.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 81 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received widespread praise for their beauty and vibrant scenery, particularly during festive settings, enhancing the overall experience. However, some players noted issues such as frame rate drops and persistent loading screens that detracted from the visual enjoyment. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, contributing to the game's atmosphere despite some technical shortcomings.
“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.”
“This was a lovely festive horror game with beautiful graphics and colorful scenery.”
“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.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its unsettling and darkly immersive qualities, enhanced by effective jump scares. Reviewers highlight its visually stunning environments and a blend of sweet yet terrifying storytelling, making it a fitting choice for seasonal horror. Overall, the atmosphere is described as intense and engaging, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“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.”
“The atmosphere is unsettling at times but not creepy in itself.”
“The atmosphere is very creepy.”
“There are lots of jump scares and a really intense spooky atmosphere.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as simple and cozy, featuring a unique blend of Christmas spirit with horror elements. However, some users feel that the short duration of about an hour does not justify the full price, suggesting it may be better to wait for a sale.
“It's a simple (both plot and gameplay) and nice game, pretty cozy.”
“Here is my YouTube gameplay; I loved the mix of Christmas spirit but with a horror twist.”
“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
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative 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 convey a wholesome message reminiscent of a dark twist on a classic tale, evoking feelings of both nostalgia and reflection.
“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.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received criticism, with users noting that performance issues detract from the overall experience. While the game is appreciated for its horror elements, many feel that it suffers from poor optimization typical of low-budget indie titles.
“Decent little horror game, just the performance could be better.”
“This is a cheap first-person indie horror game with poor optimization.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative 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.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is well-timed and complements the gameplay, though some users noted that the volume can be excessively loud, especially towards the end. Additionally, there is a desire for options to adjust the music volume for a more personalized experience.
“The music is on cue, and the tasks are decent.”
“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.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find that while the grinding aspect can become tedious over time, it ultimately maintains enough engagement 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.”
“I found myself losing interest as the grinding dragged on, overshadowing the excitement of the story.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative 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 varied content makes replaying feel tedious.”
