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Close Your Eyes

87%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
grinding, replayability
87% User Score Based on 544 reviews

Platforms

MOMac OSPCPCWinWindows
Buy Nowfrom $8.99
Buy NowGet on Steam$8.99

About

"Close Your Eyes" is a psychological horror adventure game. Players are equipped with a detective kit to solve puzzles and uncover the dark secrets of a cursed village. The game features a unique mechanic where players must close their eyes in-game to reveal hidden hints and clues.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Close Your Eyes screenshot
Close Your Eyes screenshot
Close Your Eyes screenshot
Close Your Eyes screenshot
Close Your Eyes screenshot
Close Your Eyes screenshot
Close Your Eyes screenshot
Close Your Eyes screenshot
Close Your Eyes screenshot
Close Your Eyes screenshot
Close Your Eyes screenshot
+2

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 544 reviews
story76 positive mentions
grinding15 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique and immersive horror experience with a compelling story and atmosphere.
  • The voice acting and sound design are excellent, enhancing the overall creepy vibe of the game.
  • There are multiple endings, providing replayability and encouraging players to explore different outcomes.
  • The puzzles can be confusing and sometimes feel tedious, leading to frustration.
  • The story can be hard to follow, leaving players with unanswered questions.
  • The graphics are simplistic and may not appeal to everyone, potentially detracting from the experience.
  • story
    221 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is characterized by its abstract and obscure nature, requiring players to piece together clues and theories to fully grasp the narrative. While some players found the storytelling compelling and immersive, with multiple endings that deepen the experience, others struggled with its vagueness and convoluted plot. Overall, the atmosphere and unique storytelling elements are praised, though the execution can leave some feeling confused or unsatisfied.

    • “The game offers 8 endings in total, each giving you more insight into the story.”
    • “The twists and turns that the story takes keeps you on the edge of your seat, theorizing theory after theory as to what's going on, only to most likely crush them with a reveal just around the corner.”
    • “The story is a classic open to interpretation mysterious adventure.”
    • “In more than 30 years of playing video games, I've never seen worse gameplay or a less irritatingly meaningless, fragmented, and baffling story.”
    • “The story seems simple, but somehow becomes convoluted when different paths yield different endings: some straight up sad, some horrifying, but mostly you'll just be left wondering what just happened.”
    • “It doesn't make any sense; when I finished the game, I was unsatisfied and confused. I had no explanation; the storyline was chopped, and I was hoping that whilst I played, the story would unfold and make sense.”
  • graphics
    103 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a simplistic, 2D art style that some players find charming and effective in creating a creepy atmosphere, while others criticize them as poor or reminiscent of amateur designs. Despite the minimalistic visuals, many reviewers appreciate how the artwork complements the game's unsettling themes and enhances the overall horror experience. Overall, the graphics may not be sophisticated, but they contribute to the game's unique aesthetic and emotional impact.

    • “Despite the 2D, paint-like doodles and artwork, the map was quite immersive with a diverse range of themes; from bustling crowds outside to empty hallways, a train station, and even abstract-looking areas filled with confusion and awe. I found myself becoming more and more anxious about what the ending would reveal.”
    • “The graphics just work; I found it to be effectively disturbing with the right set of headphones and just the right lack of surrounding light to play it. Some parts of the game will keep you on edge.”
    • “The overall design and art style of the game is unique and beautiful.”
    • “The graphics are simple, with scattered hand-drawn details that add a surreal dissonance to the environment.”
    • “The graphics were messy and the plot really confusing, and most of the time you just had no idea what to do, which made the gaming experience pretty fast boring and frustrating.”
    • “It was one of those moments where I went 'holy sh*t...' the graphics look like they've been drawn by a mentally disturbed 7-year-old, and the so-called 'creepy' song sounds like some girl tried to go on stage and sing a song out of a creepypasta but failed horribly.”
  • atmosphere
    102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its ability to create a deeply unsettling and immersive experience, relying on sound design, minimalistic graphics, and a sense of distortion and madness rather than traditional jump scares. Players appreciate the game's unique approach to horror, emphasizing tension and psychological unease, although some find the gameplay mechanics and puzzles can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its strongest asset, effectively engaging players and enhancing the horror elements throughout.

    • “One of the most weird and experimental types of horror I've ever seen in games of the genre. It's really different from all horror games we have in recent times. The game is not really focused on jumpscares; the graphics, illumination, and level design are simplistic and sometimes even confusing, but it adds to the feeling of distortion and madness of the game. Here lies the charm of 'Close Your Eyes,' which is its atmosphere and tension building, complemented by a creepy sound design.”
    • “The atmosphere feels void and empty, distorted and deranged, and sometimes you can just feel someone is there following you.”
    • “The game has an engrossing, terrific atmosphere that favors subtlety and sound design over jump scares. There are only a few in the game, and when they appear, they're very effective.”
    • “When a horror game has a lot of tedious tasks, repetition, and dark rooms for no reason like this one, it completely takes me out of a horror atmosphere.”
    • “The game relies on text throughout in an attempt to create a Lovecraftian atmosphere, but when there are constant errors in the spelling and grammar, it's extremely distracting and annoying.”
    • “The atmosphere feels void and empty, distorted and deranged, and sometimes like you can just feel someone is there following you.”
  • music
    90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the eerie atmosphere, with many players noting its effectiveness in creating tension and unease. The soundtrack is described as beautiful and haunting, featuring catchy tunes and well-executed voice acting that contribute significantly to the overall experience. While some players found certain musical transitions awkward, the majority agree that the audio elements are a standout feature, elevating the game's horror elements without relying heavily on jump scares.

    • “The music, the sound effects, the story; it's an original horror game!”
    • “The soundtrack in my opinion was great, it had an uneasy air to it, whereas the songs in the game were pretty catchy.”
    • “The music provides a great atmosphere and creates a light churn of anxiety and uneasiness within you.”
    • “The only complaint was that the music did seem to change at awkward points, and there was really no lead in or out to it.”
    • “Also, the game music was pretty much just a really short part of singing (or a simple short melody) looping all over again, quickly getting really annoying.”
    • “When you're not grimacing at the pops, clicks, whistles, and hisses during the voice acting, you're either bored by the soundtrack or having a sense of déjà vu, but not in a good way.”
  • gameplay
    41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game is polarizing, with many players finding it a mix of intriguing atmosphere and frustrating mechanics. While some appreciate the chilling experience and engaging story, others criticize the clunky controls and minimalistic graphics, suggesting that the gameplay may not appeal to everyone. Overall, it offers a unique experience with multiple endings and replay value, but its execution can detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “The story is vague yet interesting, the vintage display has a charm, the soundtrack is nice, the gameplay is very entertaining and even though it is not a classical horror game, it managed to give me the chills at times.”
    • “The gameplay has an erratic rhythm; at no point can you expect a set measure of puzzle > story > puzzle > story or some such.”
    • “There's quite a bit of replay value as well, considering the multiple endings and various different routes of gameplay.”
    • “In more than 30 years of playing video games, I've never seen worse gameplay or a less irritatingly meaningless, fragmented, and baffling story.”
    • “I think it's a good experience despite how absolutely dull the gameplay itself is: needless to say, if there was no horror theme to this game, it'd be about a 2/10.”
    • “The gameplay has an erratic rhythm; at no point can you expect a set measure of puzzle>story>puzzle>story or some such.”
  • grinding
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is characterized by tedious tasks, repetitive puzzles, and unnecessarily long dialogue, which detracts from the overall horror experience. While some players appreciate the atmosphere and artwork, many find the gameplay frustratingly contrived and lacking in meaningful engagement, leading to a diminished enjoyment of the story and puzzles. Overall, the grindiness is seen as a significant downside that hampers the game's potential.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “When a horror game has a lot of tedious tasks, repetition, and dark rooms for no reason like this one, it completely takes me out of the horror atmosphere.”
    • “The puzzles are often tedious, boring, and nonsensical, so it's hard to enjoy the game from an intellectual perspective as well as from an emotional one.”
    • “I never finished the game because I reached a puzzle that was just too tedious, and it was not worth finishing.”
  • humor
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark and quirky elements, featuring comedic easter eggs and eccentric characters that elicit genuine laughter. Players appreciate the balance of humor with heavier themes, noting that the host character's unsettling yet funny demeanor adds to the overall experience. Despite some complexity in the humor, many find it engaging and integral to the game's appeal, making it both entertaining and memorable.

    • “The totally canon ending was pretty funny and serves mainly as an easter egg for the game, as it is more comedic with the whole alien thing and then the characters all fly away in a spaceship.”
    • “Even if the host character is also unsettling, I have to say I like his character and sense of humor that even I laugh along with his silly jokes.”
    • “This game is a beautifully told story; it made me laugh, made me cry, and at times truly scared the living crap out of me.”
  • replayability
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability due to its numerous varied endings and multiple gameplay routes, encouraging players to explore different outcomes. With around seven to eight distinct endings, players can enjoy a compact yet engaging experience that invites repeated playthroughs. Overall, the game's design ensures that players will find ample reasons to return for more.

    • “Because the different endings are so varied, there's a lot of replayability.”
    • “It's pretty short (my hours are from leaving the game idle), but there are multiple endings (seven, I believe), so it has some replay value.”
    • “There's quite a bit of replay value as well, considering the multiple endings and various different routes of gameplay.”
    • “The game has major replay value until you've achieved everything.”
  • emotional
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its deep exploration of trauma and abuse, which resonates strongly with players, evoking a range of feelings from sadness to fear. While some find the narrative compelling and beautifully told, others feel that the tedious puzzles detract from the overall emotional experience. Overall, the game successfully elicits strong emotional responses, leaving players both unsettled and moved.

    • “10/10 would cry again.”
    • “This game is a beautifully told story; it made me laugh, made me cry, and at times truly scared the living crap out of me.”
    • “Particularly the host and Simon -- they both made me feel so dang unsettled.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the developer has faced criticism, with users noting that several projects, including "Feast Your Eyes," "Red Haze," and the "Close Your Eyes" anniversary remake, have been abandoned in favor of producing short games perceived as cash grabs.

    • “Feast Your Eyes, Red Haze, and the Close Your Eyes anniversary remake have all been abandoned, while the dev continues to make short games as cash grabs.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, with constant prompts to spend money on in-game items that should be earnable through gameplay.”
    • “It's frustrating to see a game that could be great reduced to a series of paywalls and microtransactions.”
  • stability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game has been reported to have significant stability issues, with users experiencing numerous bugs that affect gameplay.

    • “Unfortunately, the game was buggy.”
    • “The frequent crashes made it nearly unplayable.”
    • “I experienced constant lag and glitches throughout my gameplay.”
  • optimization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has been criticized, with users reporting significant performance issues, including low frame rates and long loading times. Many players feel that the game requires further refinement to enhance overall stability and playability.

    • “The game's optimization is abysmal, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
    • “I can't believe how poorly optimized this game is; it struggles to run even on high-end hardware.”
    • “The lack of optimization makes it nearly unplayable at times, with long loading screens and constant lag.”
  • character development
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is criticized for being predictable and lacking depth, with reviewers noting that it fails to create a compelling atmosphere or engaging narrative, ultimately leading to a disappointing experience.

    • “Predictable build-ups that lead to eventual jump-scares or the occasional fake-out, with no great atmosphere, story, or character development.”

Buy Close Your Eyes

5h Median play time
6h Average play time
5-7h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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