Cry of Fear

About

Cry of Fear is a single player and multiplayer shooter game with horror and thriller themes. It was developed by Team Psykskallar and was released on April 25, 2013. It received positive reviews from players.

Cry of Fear is a free, standalone horror game that offers a single-player campaign with over 8 hours of gameplay and multiple endings. Originally a Half-Life 1 modification, it features a co-op mode and over 20 unlockables. The game is known for its psychological horror elements, cinematic experience, and immersive atmosphere, as players descend into madness in a deserted town filled with nightmarish creatures.

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88%

Audience ScoreBased on 35,072 reviews

story1.8k positive mentions

stability516 negative mentions

The story of 'Cry of Fear' is deeply immersive, exploring themes of depression and anxiety, and is praised for its emotional weight and multiple endings based on player choices.
The atmosphere is masterfully crafted, evoking feelings of dread and isolation, reminiscent of classic horror titles, and is considered one of the game's standout features.
The game is free to play with no microtransactions, allowing players to enjoy the experience without financial barriers, while also offering high replayability through multiple endings and unlockable content.

The game suffers from significant optimization issues, with many players reporting low frame rates, crashes, and bugs that disrupt gameplay.
Gameplay mechanics are often criticized for being clunky and frustrating, with some players finding the resource management and combat system to be tedious.
Character development is mixed, with some characters lacking depth and emotional resonance, which detracts from the overall narrative experience.

story
3,568 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
46%
3%
The story of "Cry of Fear" is widely praised for its deep exploration of themes such as depression, anxiety, and the protagonist Simon's descent into madness. Players appreciate the emotional weight of the narrative, which unfolds through environmental storytelling, cutscenes, and character interactions, leading to multiple endings based on player choices. Despite some criticism regarding gameplay mechanics and bugs, the compelling storyline and atmospheric design make it a standout experience in the horror genre.
- “Did not expect it to be a sad, deep story with a deep narrative.”
- “The story captivates that feeling of loneliness and solitude; everywhere you go, there's no one truly there for Simon.”
- “The story is immaculate and really immerses you in Simon's world.”
- “So the story is utter nonsense, and incredibly pretentious on top of that, with Tommy Wiseau level dialogues (oddly enough, there's even a 'Oh hi' reference in the game).”
- “I really can't care about a story with such a nonsensical inciting incident.”
- “The story is very well written and is easily the quality of a new release today.”
gameplay
1,649 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
54%
10%
The gameplay of "Cry of Fear" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its intense atmosphere and engaging story, while others criticize its clunky mechanics and dated graphics. Some find the resource management and puzzle-solving elements enjoyable, but many express frustration with the combat system, dodging mechanics, and occasional bugs that disrupt the experience. Overall, while the game offers a unique blend of psychological horror and survival gameplay, it may not appeal to everyone due to its challenging mechanics and technical limitations.
- “The gameplay mechanics are simple but effective: manage your limited resources, solve cryptic puzzles, and push forward even when every instinct tells you to run.”
- “Cry of fear is an amazing game with great atmosphere, music, simple but fun gameplay, challenging puzzles and at times, a relatable story dealing with depression, imposter syndrome and a feeling of emptiness and sorrow.”
- “The gameplay intertwines traditional survival horror mechanics with psychological elements, challenging players to navigate through haunting environments while solving puzzles and managing resources.”
- “Gameplay feels like a chore or a torture, maybe both?”
- “Although the atmosphere and enemy design was spot on, I still can't recommend it as the atmosphere is quickly eroded by frustrating game mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is total junk.”
atmosphere
1,496 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
44%
3%
The atmosphere in "Cry of Fear" is widely praised for its deeply unsettling and immersive qualities, drawing strong comparisons to classic horror titles like "Silent Hill." Players highlight the game's ability to evoke feelings of dread and isolation through its haunting sound design, dark environments, and psychological themes, creating a tense experience that keeps them on edge. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics and occasional bugs, the overall atmosphere is considered one of the game's standout features, making it a must-play for horror enthusiasts.
- “The atmosphere is a masterpiece – claustrophobic streets, abandoned buildings, the psychological weight of the story, and the constant uncertainty suck you in like a black hole.”
- “The atmosphere is thick with dread, every flickering streetlamp, distant whisper, and distorted creature encounter is meticulously crafted to keep your heart racing.”
- “From the moment you step into the nightmarish world of Cry of Fear, you're enveloped in a chilling atmosphere that expertly balances tension and fear.”
- “The atmosphere is thick with dread; every flickering streetlamp, distant whisper, and distorted creature encounter is meticulously crafted to keep your heart racing.”
- “The atmosphere is dark, gritty, and surreal.”
- “The atmosphere is so creepy and intense.”
graphics
1,470 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
54%
18%
The graphics of "Cry of Fear," developed on the aging Goldsource engine, have received mixed reviews from players. While many acknowledge the dated visuals, often likening them to early 2000s games, others appreciate how these graphics contribute to the game's eerie atmosphere and horror elements. Overall, the consensus is that despite their limitations, the graphics effectively enhance the game's unsettling vibe, making it a memorable experience for horror enthusiasts.
- “This game's graphics are something I've never experienced before, and the entire vibe it gives off is incredible.”
- “The visuals are surprisingly impressive, especially considering it's running on the old Goldsrc engine.”
- “The graphics may not be the most cutting-edge, but they get the job done, creating an environment that is dark and dirty; I also quite like the fact that they are not the most up-to-date graphics in the world, as it helps give some of the twitchy monsters a real uncanny valley vibe.”
- “The graphics are terrible, it looks like a flash game.”
- “The graphics suck but I guess that's meant to be part of the vibe.”
- “The graphics are outdated, but you don't play this for the graphics only.”
music
887 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
53%
2%
The music in "Cry of Fear" is widely praised for its haunting and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the game's psychological horror experience. Composed primarily by Andreas Rönnberg, the soundtrack features a mix of eerie ambient tracks and intense compositions that evoke feelings of dread and isolation, making it a standout element of the game. Many players find themselves drawn to the music even outside of gameplay, highlighting its emotional impact and memorable nature.
- “The soundtrack is phenomenal; even after finishing the game ages ago, I still listen to it.”
- “Cry of Fear's music is so good, it perfectly complements the atmosphere and enhances the overall sense of dread.”
- “The haunting soundtrack, combined with ambient noises and spine-chilling sound effects, creates an auditory landscape that heightens the emotional impact of every moment.”
- “The music sets a tone, but it's very repetitive after any initial shock.”
- “In stark contrast, the music feels kind of disappointing.”
- “The music is often sparse, letting silence or ambient noise take over, but when it does kick in, it’s an unsettling mix of industrial sounds and haunting melodies that mirror the protagonist’s descent into madness.”
emotional
582 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Cry of Fear" is overwhelmingly impactful, with players frequently expressing that the game made them cry out of fear, anxiety, and emotional resonance. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke deep feelings through its unsettling atmosphere, complex narrative, and character struggles, making it a memorable experience that resonates long after playing. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, the emotional depth and storytelling are consistently praised, solidifying its status as a powerful horror experience.
- “Cry of Fear is a horror masterpiece with a unique emotional rollercoaster story.”
- “The emotional resonance of Simon's journey, his vulnerable whimpers, and his unwavering determination made me feel like I was not just playing a game, but truly living an emotional odyssey.”
- “This game takes a disturbing, heart-wrenching look into the mind of somebody very mentally unstable.”
stability
525 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
1%
98%
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with numerous players reporting significant bugs, glitches, and crashes that disrupt gameplay. While many appreciate the game's atmosphere and story, the technical issues, particularly in multiplayer mode, often lead to frustration and hinder the overall experience. Despite its charm and engaging content, the game's outdated engine contributes to a consistently buggy experience that may deter some players.
- “Very good game, bug free!!!”
- “Little to no glitches.”
- “Absolutely wonderful game if you are a horror game fan, it runs great and has a lot of scary encounters and cool weapons.”
- “The game also has some glitches, such as getting 'stuck' on (or in!?) objects, requiring a reset, and some audio glitches that really take the punch out of the atmosphere.”
- “This game crashes (one of the errors being that a certain map failed to load because of lack of disk space which I have gigabytes worth of space left), freezes you in mid-air in some areas for zero reason resulting in reloading saves.”
- “Doesn't run properly, freezes all the time and is unplayable, even on a brand new top spec AMD PC.”
humor
406 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in this game is often described as unintentional and chaotic, with players finding themselves laughing at absurd enemy behaviors and glitches rather than being scared. Many reviews highlight the game's comedic value when played with friends, where the combination of horror elements and silly animations leads to memorable and hilarious moments. Overall, while the game aims for a scary atmosphere, it frequently veers into the realm of comedy, making it a fun experience, especially in multiplayer settings.
- “The bad ending is so unintentionally funny; when playing, I would call some of my buddies and they'd laugh at stuff like the enemy who kills himself if you get too close to him. It's just unintentionally funny.”
- “Every corner has a mouth, and it’s laughing, laughing, even when you’re out of bullets and your flashlight flickers like a dying heartbeat.... so play it.”
- “The multiplayer is just hilarious though.”
- “Not funny, cried.”
- “Even in co-op it's not funny; why did I buy this...”
- “It's not funny at all, and is unintentionally hilarious.”
replayability
213 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
62%
1%
The game boasts high replayability, featuring multiple endings, unlockable content, and co-op modes that encourage players to explore different outcomes and challenges. Many reviewers highlight the engaging story and various unlockables as key factors that enhance the replay value, making it a worthwhile experience even after multiple playthroughs. While some players feel the replayability may diminish after the initial experience, the overall consensus is that the game offers substantial content to keep players returning.
- “Multiple endings, secrets, and unlockables add strong replay value.”
- “The fact you have to play through the game and replay it to fully get a grasp of the story and all the details is so awesome to me; replayability is so important in games.”
- “For a free game, Cry of Fear more than delivers to anyone looking for a good horror experience and provides plenty of replayability through multiple endings, difficulties, and unlockables, and even offers an online co-op gamemode for anyone looking for something with a little more action.”
- “Replayability: 2/10”
- “The gameplay isn't perfect, suffering from old engine limitations and some questionable design choices, but it's made up for with the atmosphere and plenty of replay value.”
- “The single player is a thrilling and scary adventure, which doesn't really have a lot of replayability but one playthrough is enough anyway.”
grinding
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
24%
73%
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to invest excessive hours to progress or collect items. Many reviewers noted that the gameplay can feel slow and frustrating, particularly due to poorly designed sections, backtracking, and limited inventory management, which detracts from the overall experience. While some players found enjoyment in the grind for unlockables, the consensus leans towards it being a significant drawback that hampers the game's pacing and enjoyment.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “One long, tedious grind.”
- “A bit grindy... sometimes.”
- “Personally, I did not enjoy it from a gameplay perspective, as it feels very slow and becomes tedious to navigate through the rooms.”
- “As this game is, it's an interesting premise that becomes tedious in the late-mid to late game for no reason other than to extend play time rather than do its thing in a timely fashion.”
- “The gameplay is typically rather tedious, but the atmosphere and story are excellent.”
optimization
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
43%
29%
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including low frame rates, crashes, and bugs that disrupt gameplay. While some users managed to run the game smoothly on low-end devices, the overall consensus is that it suffers from outdated engine limitations and requires substantial improvements to function properly on modern systems. Despite its engaging story and atmosphere, the poor optimization detracts from the overall experience, making it difficult for many players to enjoy.
- “It's well optimized and you can run it smoothly on a low-end device.”
- “The game runs extremely well, fps is not an issue at all (except when holding flares at certain areas, but other than that 100% perfect optimization).”
- “The game itself does not demand high-end computer parts or even an internet connection to run smoothly, it is also free to download and play.”
- “Game very unoptimized.”
- “Most unoptimized game I've played; raindrops drop my FPS to 15 on a 3060.”
- “Has to be one of the most unoptimized and outdated games I've ever played; I literally spent half an hour trying to get the resolution to work right and eventually gave up and was stuck using 1280x720 because it was the only resolution that didn't bug out the game.”
character development
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
38%
14%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews; while some players praise it for its depth and emotional impact, particularly in relation to the atmosphere and storytelling, others criticize it for lacking dialogue and depth in certain characters. The overall consensus highlights strong character design and a compelling narrative, but notes that some characters, like Simon and Sophie, could benefit from further development to enhance their emotional resonance.
- “Cry of Fear is a genre-redefining, trope-subverting, atmospheric, dark and eerie, emotionally draining, gut-wrenching, aesthetically heavy craft by a post-horror auteur with an arthouse edge, featuring strong character development and a gradual feeling of escalation, creating a bone-chilling slow burn with a 'say more with less' approach.”
- “The storytelling, character design, ambiance, characters, and music flow so smoothly together, creating a unique experience that enhances the character development.”
- “Great character development, extremely unnerving and foreboding, making the game a memorable experience.”
- “The plot connection and endings just feel like they're strung together due to the lack of dialogue and character development.”
- “I didn't like the character development for Simon or that one chick (can't remember her name), they felt emotionless and boring.”
- “One thing I would have liked is (spoilers) more character development with Sophie and more acknowledgment of her death (even though it was fake, it felt real to the book Simon).”
monetization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
9%
64%
The monetization aspect of the game is generally well-received, with no microtransactions, paywalls, or in-game purchases, allowing players to enjoy the experience for free. Some users appreciate the option to donate to support the developers, while others express frustration with intrusive ads that disrupt gameplay. Overall, the absence of traditional monetization strategies is seen as a positive feature.
- “To get one thing out of the way: the game does not feature any form of microtransactions or any form of paywall you might hit after a certain amount of time.”
- “There's no in-game purchases, but the option to donate is available, which I would do if you enjoyed this game.”
- “No DLC, microtransactions, or absurd price tag.”
- “Trying to switch the resolution to my monitor's native resolution just spam opens ads.”
- “Melee combat is awkward and counter-intuitive, ads don't work right (the worst I've seen, in fact), enemies don't make sounds when moving (making them more irritating than scary).”
- “It's amazing how this mod became a free game without any in-game purchases or pay-to-win mechanics, although there's an option to donate.”