Clea

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 57 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Clea Game Cover
Don’t let its children’s book aesthetic and promise of being “jump scare free” fool you. Clea is an effectively creepy survival horror game that requires plenty of patience and courage when you’d rather just run.
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Clea is a single-player Horror Action game with a splendid story, good gameplay, and pretty visuals. You play as Clea, trying to escape from the monster-infested Whitlock Mansion while outwitting the Chaos Servants and solving intricate puzzles. The game focuses on skill-based gameplay, with no jump scares, and offers a deep dive into the dark history of the Whitlock family through collectible memory orbs.

  • Mac OS
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 57 reviews
story14 positive mentions
stability3 negative mentions
  • The game features a captivating art style and atmosphere that enhances the horror experience.
  • Clea offers a unique gameplay experience with its stealth mechanics, requiring players to rely on sound to navigate and avoid enemies.
  • The story is engaging with multiple endings and a rich lore that keeps players invested throughout the game.
  • The game can be frustrating due to its limited save system, requiring players to manage resources carefully and potentially replay sections.
  • Some players may find the gameplay mechanics challenging, particularly if they are not accustomed to stealth and puzzle elements.
  • The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content and depth in the story.
  • story29 mentions

    The game's story is praised for its intriguing and well-structured narrative, complemented by strong character development and atmospheric elements. While many players appreciate the unique plot and multiple endings, some note minor plot holes and a desire for deeper exploration in certain sections. Overall, the storytelling effectively engages players, making them eager to uncover all aspects of the narrative.

    • “Great, simple 2D survival horror game with some fun mechanics, a solid structured story, and great setting!”
    • “The story is unique, enemy concepts are great, and the replay value is excellent as there are multiple difficulties and endings to behold.”
    • “Absolutely loved this game - the hand-drawn graphics, the ambience, the story, and the puzzles, with certain keys unlocking essentially a side quest/story.”
    • “The story could use a little more oomph in the first section of the game.”
    • “I felt like there were some plot holes in the story or some things didn't make sense.”
    • “I hope the story can be expounded for more endings.”
  • gameplay18 mentions

    The gameplay of this 2D survival horror game is praised for its engaging mechanics, including puzzles, stealth, and unique enemy interactions, which keep the experience fresh and challenging. While the atmosphere, art style, and story are highlighted as strong points, some players find the initial learning curve frustrating due to a lack of guidance on mechanics. Overall, the game offers a rewarding experience that combines exploration, strategy, and a compelling narrative.

    • “Great, simple 2D survival horror game with some fun mechanics, a solid structured story, and a great setting!”
    • “Puzzles, sneak mechanics, lore, easy and hard modes, multiple endings, and awesome art.”
    • “Clea combines horror with stealth and puzzle gameplay.”
    • “Gameplay is basically: save point, explore ahead, die, repeat, until you know how to run/survive the next section, then do a good run through that section and save at the next point.”
    • “It can be frustrating with the first sections of gameplay not knowing exactly what is going on, and not being taught directly on how to play.”
    • “I do like the atmosphere, music, and art, but I shouldn't have to spend an hour just figuring out the mechanics of how to play the game.”
  • graphics16 mentions

    The graphics of the game are highly praised for their unique art style and atmospheric design, contributing significantly to the overall horror experience. Players appreciate the hand-drawn visuals and the attention to detail in character design, which enhance the storytelling and gameplay mechanics. While some minor issues, such as sound synchronization, were noted, the overall aesthetic is considered a standout feature that aligns well with the game's themes and challenges.

    • “What I like in this game are the art style, atmosphere, storytelling, and the characters.”
    • “As someone who loves a good, original concept for the horror genre and an adorable art style to go with it, this game really hits all of my standards.”
    • “Absolutely loved this game - the hand-drawn graphics, the ambience, the story, the puzzles, and 'certain keys' unlocking essentially a side quest/story.”
    • “The graphics and sounds of the kid's footsteps are also out of sync.”
    • “So Clea is definitely a difficult game to get through, but the game does reward you different rewards based on the missions you complete in each level (missions like getting through a level without saving/without being seen) and the rewards range from the amazing sketches and the complete versions of the artworks of the game to skins for your character, and you get this nice feeling after completing each level, so even though I spent a lot of time on levels I felt rewarded.”
    • “Since I don't want to go on forever writing (even if I'd like to, I love Clea), I will talk just a little about graphics and sound.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its excellent art style, fitting music, and effective storytelling, contributing to a spooky and immersive experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to create tension and fear, although some note that the mechanics can be challenging to grasp initially. Overall, the combination of visual and auditory elements enhances the game's atmospheric horror, making it a standout feature.

    • “What I like in this game are the art style, atmosphere, storytelling, and the characters.”
    • “The atmosphere in this game is excellent!”
    • “Clea isn't the exception; it's a solid atmospheric horror game with an amazing art style.”
    • “I do like the atmosphere, music, and art, but I shouldn't have to spend an hour just figuring out the mechanics of how to play the game.”
    • “Atmosphere and music are pretty fitting, but the overall experience is hindered by other issues.”
  • music8 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its creepiness and effectiveness in setting a haunting tone. While some mention a limited soundtrack, the individual tracks are described as subtle yet impactful, contributing positively to the overall experience. Additionally, the voice acting and ambient sounds further enrich the game's immersive qualities.

    • “Subtle but nice music.”
    • “Atmosphere and music is pretty fitting; controls are smooth.”
    • “The soundtrack and the enemy designs are creepy, especially that chaos clea thing that appears in the hallucinations and on the game over screen. The characters are enjoyable, the voice acting is great, and the ambiance is also creepy.”
    • “This game is splendid and it refers to mechanics (to every enemy you have to find a way to outsmart them), music (unfortunately the list is not very rich, but separate of them can create a very good atmosphere).”
    • “I do like the atmosphere, music, and art, but I shouldn't have to spend an hour just figuring out the mechanics of how to play the game.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers solid replayability through various difficulty options, multiple endings, unlockable costumes, and different game modes, catering especially to completionists. While it is linear and short, the diverse elements encourage players to revisit the game for a fuller experience. Overall, the replay value is considered high, making it a worthwhile purchase.

    • “The game has multiple endings, unlockable costumes, different modes and difficulties, which all add to the replay value!”
    • “The story is unique, enemy concepts are great and the replay value (if you're a completionist that likes to hold onto those sweet, sweet achievements) is great as there are multiple difficulties and endings to behold.”
    • “The game is linear (with some bonus areas to find) and short, but you have many difficulty options and game modes to add some replay value.”
    • “The game is linear and short, with only a few bonus areas to find, which limits its replayability despite having multiple difficulty options and game modes.”
    • “While the game has multiple endings and unlockable costumes, the overall experience feels repetitive, diminishing its replay value.”
    • “Although the game is inexpensive and offers some replay value, the lack of substantial content makes it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Reviewers praise the character designs and voice acting, highlighting their appeal and quality. However, some express a desire for more depth and length in character development, suggesting that the narrative could benefit from further exploration. Overall, the character design is a standout feature, contributing positively to the game's experience.

    • “I'm super in love with the character designs, and the voice acting is great as well. Although I wish the game were slightly longer, it was worth everything I paid for.”
    • “But then, all of a sudden, the character designer who worked with InvertMouse on his previous projects came back.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while the controls are generally acceptable and the visuals are appealing, players report issues such as slow running speeds, visual glitches, and problematic AI behavior where monsters can camp hiding spots, necessitating the use of an item to reset them.

    • “The controls aren't too bad and the game looks pretty good too, but running can feel kind of slow at times. There are sometimes visual glitches, like a character poking out of a closet, and a bug where the monsters camp your hiding spot, forcing you to use an arcane candle to hopefully 'reset' them.”
    • “The game frequently crashes during key moments, making it frustrating to progress. I lost my progress multiple times due to these stability issues.”
    • “I encountered several instances where the game froze completely, requiring me to restart my console. This really detracted from the overall experience.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game somewhat varied due to the unique mechanics of each enemy, which helps prevent monotony; however, encounters with certain characters, like Clea's mom and little brother, can become tedious. Overall, the engaging art style enhances the experience.

    • “The grinding in this game feels endless and often tedious, especially when facing certain enemies like Clea's mom and little brother.”
    • “While each enemy has slightly different mechanics, the overall grinding experience can become monotonous over time.”
    • “The repetitive nature of grinding detracts from the otherwise beautiful art style and engaging gameplay.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

64% average critic score

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