CRUELTY

About

CRUELTY is a single player survival simulation game with horror and violence themes. It was developed by 838sManiacs and was released on June 17, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

"Cruelty" is a single-player horror simulation game that uses a third-person perspective and 3D graphics. The game takes place in a nightmarish, gory world where players must solve puzzles and evade or hide from monstrous beings to survive. With high-quality graphics, cinematic movie scenes, and fully-voiced characters, "Cruelty" provides an immersive and frightening experience, with a playtime ranging from 30 to 60 minutes and a difficulty level selection function.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 44 reviews

atmosphere8 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of PlayStation 2 horror games, with unsettling monsters and fantastic gore.
Despite its short length, the game provides a thrilling atmosphere and engaging gameplay, making it worth the price.
The graphics and sound design are impressive for a solo developer, contributing to a genuinely creepy and immersive horror experience.

The third-person camera perspective is clunky and can hinder gameplay, making it difficult to navigate and appreciate the game's visuals.
The game is plagued by bugs and technical issues, including soft-locks and performance problems that detract from the overall experience.
Some players found the gameplay to be linear and lacking in depth, with a low cost-to-playtime ratio.

gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
65%
21%
The gameplay is generally balanced, offering a fair challenge without being overly difficult, though some users noted issues with controls and frame drops that can hinder the experience. Additionally, the cost per minute of gameplay value is considered low, and players may need to navigate some technical hurdles to enjoy it fully. Overall, while there are some drawbacks, the gameplay remains engaging and worth experiencing.
- “+ The gameplay was balanced, not too hard or too easy.”
- “The cost per minute of gameplay value is pretty low, and I had to jump through quite a bit of hoops to get it running well.”
- “While the controls and frame drops can impede the gameplay, they don't completely detract from the overall experience.”
- “It's alright, the story was fine and easy to follow, gameplay was okay.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its superb and eerie art design, reminiscent of horror classics like "Saw" and "Silent Hill." Reviewers highlight the effective use of sound, particularly a haunting knocking noise that enhances the tension, contributing to a gory yet engaging experience. Overall, players are excited for future titles from the developers that promise similar atmospheric thrills.
- “Short but sweet with a great atmospheric and eerie art design, looking forward to more terrifying horror experiences from the devs 838s maniacs with similar 3D art style.”
- “+ the atmosphere in this game is superb, it's like Saw mixed with Silent Hill.”
- “+ high quality sound design, there is one knocking noise in the background at times which was atmospheric and fun.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The graphics in the game are praised for their atmospheric and eerie art design, marking a significant improvement in realism for 838smaniacs while still showcasing their signature horror elements. Many users appreciate the game's visual quality, noting it as the best in the developer's library, and express excitement for future titles with a similar 3D art style. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's immersive horror experience.
- “Short but sweet with a great atmospheric and eerie art design, looking forward to more terrifying horror experiences from the devs 838s Maniacs with a similar 3D art style.”
- “This game marks 838s Maniacs' leap into more realistic graphics while maintaining their signature storytelling and horrific imagery.”
- “The graphics in Cruelty are the best in 838s Maniacs' library.”
- “This game marks 838smaniacs' leap into more realistic graphics while maintaining their signature storytelling and horrific imagery.”
- “Short but sweet with a great atmospheric and eerie art design, looking forward to more terrifying horror experiences from the devs 838s maniacs with similar 3D art style.”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
40%
40%
The story is generally well-received, featuring a clear narrative that encourages players to explore permadeath mechanics after the first playthrough. It combines realistic graphics with the developer's signature storytelling and horror elements, although some players found it merely satisfactory. Overall, the narrative is engaging and complements the gameplay experience.
- “This game marks 838smaniacs' leap into more realistic graphics while maintaining their signature storytelling and horrific imagery.”
- “After finishing the first playthrough, the story elements, especially the ending scenes, make an attempt at a permadeath playthrough inevitable.”
- “It's alright, the story was fine and easy to follow, gameplay was okay.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been criticized for its significant stability issues, with multiple users reporting numerous bugs that led them to seek refunds.
- “This game was so buggy that I immediately refunded it.”
- “This game was so buggy that I immediately refunded it.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express frustration with the game's emotional impact, citing discomfort from the head bob feature and difficulty navigating overly dark areas, which detracts from their overall experience.