COVEN

About

"Coven" is a single-player Horror Shooter game with excellent gameplay, featuring a young girl accused of witchcraft who seeks revenge in an alternate 1600s. Armed with weaponry and magic, players can dash, slide, and slow down time, while consuming the flesh of the dead to regain health. With a haunting soundtrack by John S. Weekley, explore different places in time across two additional episodes, each set in a unique historical setting.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 209 reviews

gameplay17 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features a unique and engaging combat system that combines guns and magic, allowing for varied playstyles and strategies.
The atmosphere and level design are exceptional, creating a dark, immersive experience that enhances the gameplay.
The gore mechanics, including the ability to consume enemies for health and mana, add a satisfying layer of strategy to combat.

The game suffers from some clunky mechanics and bugs, particularly in combat and enemy interactions, which can detract from the overall experience.
Some players have noted that the level design can lead to repetitive backtracking, making exploration feel tedious at times.
The game lacks a quicksave feature, which can be frustrating during challenging sections, as players must rely on save points.

gameplay
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
57%
7%
The gameplay is characterized by a fast-paced and fluid experience, featuring unique mechanics such as corpse eating and resource juggling that enhance the overall enjoyment. While the game offers a satisfying blend of action and exploration, some players criticize the level design for excessive backtracking and a frustrating save point system. Overall, it is praised for its originality and engaging mechanics, making it a standout title in the retro shooter genre.
- “Very solid game with fun mechanics, a nice visual style and fluid gameplay.”
- “Gameplay is slick and fast-paced, but can also take a turn to a very chilled pace when wandering around having a look for a secret, or just potential missed items, so is very nicely balanced.”
- “Super satisfying gameplay with some very crunchy gore (love that you can eat your enemies after dispatching them)!”
- “Great game mechanics but horrendous level design and execution.”
- “75% of the gameplay is backtracking the same nearly identical levels (and sublevels).”
- “However, the save point mechanic is frustrating.”
atmosphere
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
34%
10%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique blend of dark fantasy and retro aesthetics, creating an immersive experience that resonates with both nostalgia and modern design. Reviewers highlight the exceptional level design, atmospheric environments, and engaging music, all contributing to a compelling narrative that appeals to fans of both FPS and horror genres. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a powerful and satisfying element that enhances the gameplay experience.
- “A truly unique, atmospheric and satisfying experience.”
- “Now nearly 4 hours in... and this has some of the best, most unique atmosphere/level design and combat I've experienced in the indie retro-shooter space.”
- “Coven is well-designed and allows for much freedom in tackling combat, and its pixelated look pairs rather well with its gloomy atmosphere.”
- “Oozes a spooky Halloween atmosphere and the retro-inspired graphics are done beautifully.”
- “An absolute power fantasy FPS, drenched in an atmosphere of medieval occult horror, in which you play a woman who was burnt alive by a bunch of people who accused her of being a witch.”
music
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
27%
12%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with players praising its ability to enhance the overall experience and match the game's intense atmosphere. The soundtrack is described as dynamic and fitting, ramping up during combat to heighten tension, while also being diverse enough to avoid monotony. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that complements the satisfying gameplay and vibrant visuals.
- “The music fits tremendously with the theme of the game and ramps up when enemies are a'comin, which adds to the intensity of some situations.”
- “The visual style and music also really lend a lot to the experience.”
- “Satisfying weaponry, loads of gore, vibrant visuals, nice music - easy recommendation!”
- “I would appreciate some variety in the soundtrack per level, but with additional episodes coming and not being charged again if you've already purchased, I think this solo dev has earned and will continue to earn every penny and the hearts of an audience that AAA studios have abandoned long ago.”
- “The soundtrack isn't just boring, djenty metal; the combat has some cool weapons and gimmicks so far, but I like what I am seeing so far.”
- “The music fits tremendously with the theme of the game and ramps up when enemies are approaching, which adds to the intensity of some situations.”
story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
82%
12%
6%
The story is a grim yet fun revenge narrative that combines humor with intense action, featuring badass female protagonists and intriguing lore. Players appreciate the engaging character motivations and the unique premise, which includes over-the-top violence and creative gameplay elements. Overall, the storytelling stands out positively compared to typical boomer shooters, despite some minor gameplay bugs.
- “Unlike a lot of boomer shooters, the story is great.”
- “The lore/story so far has been quite intriguing already.”
- “The story and character motivation are fun as well.”
- “However, in mission 6 of episode 1, I started encountering bugs like not being able to consume enemies after I beat them, not being able to target enemies with the gallows spell, and enemies not aggroing to me even when I'm standing next to them.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
25%
17%
The graphics are heavily stylized, featuring a grim, horror-inspired aesthetic filled with darkness, blood, and gore, reminiscent of a "grim Valheim." Many players appreciate the unique and vibrant visuals, which create a spooky Halloween atmosphere, while some find the intense imagery overwhelming. Overall, the art direction is praised for its satisfying and immersive qualities, enhancing the gameplay experience.
- “Oozes a spooky Halloween atmosphere and the retro-inspired graphics are done beautifully.”
- “Satisfying weaponry, loads of gore, vibrant visuals, nice music - easy recommendation!”
- “Graphics are heavily stylised, sort of a grim Valheim, and the art direction is pure horror with an abundance of darkness, blood, and gore.”
- “Not normally a fan of these games, but I was hooked by the unique aesthetic and vibe; however, I ended up getting nauseous very quickly.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its effective use of dark humor, complemented by engaging action, well-designed maps, and a memorable soundtrack. Additionally, the voice acting adds a humorous touch that enhances the overall experience.
- “The action, maps, music, and dark humor are fantastic.”
- “The voice acting is really funny.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, often moved to tears and feeling a strong sense of patriotism. The experience resonates profoundly, highlighting the game's ability to evoke powerful feelings and reflections on national pride.
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect to be disruptive to the gameplay experience, often describing it as tedious and frustrating.
- “This is hugely jarring to the flow of gameplay and frankly is tedious as hell.”
- “The grinding feels endless and takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
- “I find myself doing the same repetitive tasks over and over, which makes the game feel like a chore.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its smooth gunplay and solid weapon variety, alongside great performance and effective environmental storytelling, contributing to an engaging experience.
- “The gunplay is smooth, the weapon variety is solid, and the performance is great.”
- “The environmental storytelling is well done, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “The gore is plentiful, adding to the immersive atmosphere of the game.”