Curse

About

Curse is a single player casual shooter game with a horror theme. It was developed by Stormlord Games and was released on September 2, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"CURSE is a single-player Horror Shooter game with an intriguing story and spectacular graphics. Navigate the haunted Atherton Manor in a 3D world, battling hostile ghosts with your flashlight in icon-driven point-and-click gameplay. Uncover the secrets hidden in the manor's shadows through immersive story-driven gameplay with rich characters and unexpected twists."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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65%

Audience ScoreBased on 52 reviews

story15 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game effectively creates a creepy atmosphere with good graphics and sound design, enhancing the horror experience.
The story is engaging and intriguing, with interesting notes and lore that keep players invested in the narrative.
The unique flashlight mechanic adds a layer of tension during ghost encounters, making the gameplay more interactive.

The game suffers from linear movement and limited exploration, often forcing players to follow a predetermined path without the freedom to investigate at their own pace.
Many gameplay mechanics, such as the UV Boost and ghost encounters, can feel frustratingly inconsistent and luck-based, leading to repeated failures.
The pacing is slow, with excessive 'click and wait' sequences that can detract from the overall enjoyment and immersion of the game.

story
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
44%
9%
The game's story is generally well-received, featuring a compelling plot that combines horror elements with intriguing character backstories and investigative gameplay. While some players note its linearity and reliance on horror tropes, many appreciate the depth provided by journals and notes that enhance the narrative experience. Overall, the story captivates players, drawing them into a rich atmosphere filled with suspense and mystery, despite some criticisms regarding clichés and pacing.
- “I really enjoyed the story and appreciated all of the journals, even if they seemed to have been written at the moment of death for some of the people.”
- “The story was actually extremely intriguing, and I played the whole game through just so I could find out what would happen next.”
- “There is a lot of text and story to this game, so if you enjoy reading while residing in a rich horror atmosphere, then you are going to love this game.”
- “It's a horror-themed, very limited walking simulator with some 'chase scenes' here and there; the story is the usual 'haunted house with cellar which is a place of evil things', literally nothing new.”
- “Slow, boring, incredibly stupid plot contrivances, and full of typos.”
- “There are moments where you have a bit of agency as to what order you investigate things in, but beyond that, the tightly-constructed plot pretty much leads you where it wants you to go, and decides in what order you open what door or investigate which piece of furniture.”
graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
16%
16%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning visuals and atmospheric design, particularly for an indie title. While some players find the graphics impressive and well-executed, others note issues such as repetitive animations and a slightly outdated look. Overall, the game is considered graphically pleasing, contributing positively to the eerie atmosphere and gameplay experience.
- “The visuals and the artwork are absolutely stunning.”
- “The graphics are excellently creepy; dark enough to give that scary atmosphere with colors like red and dark umber saturating the scenes, but light enough that you can see what the heck is happening..most of the time ;).”
- “The graphics are amazing, the animation is silky smooth and the audio is chilling to the bone.”
- “Graphics aren't great - the ghost models up close all doing the same silly attack animation breaks the spookiness.”
- “Quite an interesting plot, great sound, and a little outdated graphics.”
- “Game seems to require more graphics card memory than I have in my integrated video card.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The gameplay of "Curse" is primarily a point-and-click adventure that features a unique "running away" mechanic from ghouls, but it often feels overly linear and simplistic, relying on repetitive actions and minimal puzzle-solving. While the flashlight mechanic adds some tension and the game has a well-crafted atmosphere, many players find the gameplay lacking in depth and engagement, leading to frustration with its limited mechanics and frequent cheap deaths. Overall, it offers a straightforward haunted house experience, but may disappoint those seeking more challenging or varied gameplay.
- “Curse is a point-and-click adventure that incorporates a mechanic of 'running away' from a handful of spooky ghouls.”
- “Its creepy at times, has some jump scares, and in my opinion, it's well made in terms of gameplay, story (great ending!), atmosphere, graphics, animations, and sounds.”
- “Sure, they needed to reduce the otherwise 'real-time' move mechanics to pointing-and-clicking, but that kind of thing is just 'resourceful' in my book.”
- “I don't mind streamlined (read: dumbed-down) mechanics of old-school 'adventure' / point-and-click games being presented in a somewhat linear fashion, but can I at least be forced to solve one puzzle outside of 'find the key / read the note in the room'?”
- “Well, gameplay-wise it's rubbish.”
- “However, the 'return to the start of the room' mechanic every time you begin to investigate a room gets very old, very quick, and really pads the play time out with just scene after scene of your character walking to a shelf, then back to the entrance, walk to a bookcase, then back to the entrance, etc.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
28%
27%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its effective horror elements, combining creepy graphics, well-executed jump scares, and a rich narrative that enhances the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight its suitability for Halloween, noting the balance of tension and humor that makes it memorable. Overall, the game successfully creates a haunting ambiance that captivates players and elevates its horror theme.
- “Oodles of atmosphere, and some perfectly effective jump-scares.”
- “The graphics are excellently creepy; dark enough to give that scary atmosphere with colors like red and dark umber saturating the scenes, but light enough that you can see what the heck is happening..most of the time ;).”
- “Overall, this game was impressive and unlike many horror indie games, nailed the horror atmosphere.”
- “The graphics are excellently creepy; dark enough to give that scary atmosphere with colors like red and dark umber saturating the scenes, but light enough that you can see what the heck is happening most of the time.”
- “Atmosphere is pretty alright.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game's music effectively enhances the horror experience, featuring a mix of tense violins and melancholic melodies that resonate well with the game's atmosphere. However, some players have noted issues with audio levels, suggesting that certain sounds are difficult to hear even at maximum volume, indicating a need for potential updates from the developers. Overall, the soundtrack is praised for its contribution to the game's eerie ambiance.
- “The soundtrack to the game was great, but the audio in the game was off and should be updated because even with my volume all the way up, I couldn't hear some of the noises or sounds as much, which I think has to do with the game... not so much your sound system.”
- “Remember to turn up your volume, guys... pending the developer issues a patch. Other than that, the sounds and music really helped drive this game throughout.”
- “From tense violins to sad music while investigating a child's toybox, you'll notice the music is really nice.”
- “The music is creepy.”
- “(Remember to turn up your volume, guys... pending the developer issues a patch) other than that, the sounds and music really helped drive this game throughout.”
- “From tense violins to sad music while investigating a child's toybox, you'll notice the music is really nice...”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly noting the repetitive nature of certain puzzles and ghost chases. Additionally, the movement mechanics and combat can vary significantly in difficulty, contributing to an overall sense of frustration.
- “The game had one puzzle I found especially tedious.”
- “The ghost chases were kind of tedious, and I still had a third of my flashlight left by the end of the game on hard mode.”
- “The movement is a bit tedious, and the combat can be super easy or frustrating.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game is praised for its strong replayability, making it an enjoyable experience worth revisiting.
- “All in all, a good game with great replay value.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes makes me want to play again and again.”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh due to the different paths and strategies available.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the darkly comedic portrayal of characters writing notes in their final moments, often with a tone that suggests they are casually asking their impending doom to hold on while they finish. This blend of absurdity and morbid timing adds a unique and entertaining layer to the experience.
- “I found it hilarious how many people had written notes so close to death that it was like they'd asked the killer to just wait a sec while they finished up.”
- “The game's humor is spot on, with witty dialogue and absurd situations that had me laughing out loud.”
- “I love how the characters have such quirky personalities, making even the most serious moments feel lighthearted and funny.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers appreciate the character design of Mary and Eve, noting it as a strong point in the game's character development.
- “The character design is quite impressive, especially for Mary and Eve.”
- “The depth of character development really allows players to connect with the story.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mix of feelings, ranging from frustration at perceived condescension to deep attachment to its haunting narrative. While the first half effectively creates a sense of dread and emotional investment, the latter half introduces humor that contrasts sharply with the initial tone, leading to a varied emotional experience.
- “The second half has some silly skeletons under a sheet that made me giggle and yell 'spoopy,' while the first half of the game made me feel very upset and emotionally attached to a ghost trying to rip my face off.”