Curse

About

"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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 50 reviews

story15 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game effectively creates a spooky atmosphere with good audio design and graphics, enhancing the horror experience.
The story is engaging and intriguing, keeping players interested in uncovering the mysteries of the haunted mansion.
The flashlight mechanic adds a unique twist to the gameplay, providing moments of tension during ghost encounters.

The gameplay is overly linear, with limited exploration and repetitive 'click and wait' sequences that can feel tedious.
Many encounters rely on luck rather than skill, leading to frustrating moments where players must repeat sections after dying.
The game lacks meaningful puzzles and player agency, often guiding players through scripted events without real choices.

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.”
- “However, the story was actually extremely intriguing, and I played the whole game through just so I could find out what would happen next.”
- “The story is also fascinating in that you uncover in the beginning that a paranormal investigation team had been dispatched to the same estate in the recent past, but their disappearance became an unsolved mystery.”
- “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 that enhance the horror experience. While some players note that certain animations can detract from the overall immersion, the general consensus is that the graphics are impressive for an indie title, contributing positively to the game's eerie ambiance. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, despite some minor criticisms regarding execution and performance on lower-end systems.
- “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, but the graphics are a little outdated.”
- “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 many players find it overly simplistic and linear, relying heavily on trial and error rather than engaging puzzles. While the flashlight mechanic adds some tension and the game has a creepy atmosphere, the repetitive nature of navigating rooms and the lack of meaningful challenges detract from the overall experience, leading to a sense of frustration rather than excitement.
- “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 jumpscares, 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 playtime 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%
27%
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 as a Halloween game, noting the balance of tension and humor that makes it memorable. Overall, the game successfully creates a haunting ambiance that captivates players and immerses them in its chilling world.
- “I love the atmosphere and the story.”
- “Overall, this game was impressive and unlike many horror indie games, it nailed the horror atmosphere.”
- “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 quality and 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.”
- “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 in relation to certain puzzles and ghost chases. The combat experience varies significantly, with some encounters feeling overly simplistic while others can be frustratingly difficult. Overall, the movement mechanics contribute to a sense of monotony throughout the gameplay.
- “The game had one puzzle I found especially tedious.”
- “The ghost chases were kind of tedious, though 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.”
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 genuine attachment and distress during intense moments, particularly in the first half. While the latter part introduces humor with lighthearted elements, it contrasts sharply with the earlier emotional depth, creating a varied emotional experience for players.
- “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.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is generally regarded as having strong replayability, with players finding it enjoyable enough to return to multiple times.
- “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
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its dark and ironic moments, particularly in how characters comically prioritize mundane tasks even in life-threatening situations, creating a blend of absurdity and tension that resonates with players.
- “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 second while they finished up.”
- “The game's humor is spot on, with clever puns and witty dialogue that kept me laughing throughout.”
- “I love how the characters have such quirky personalities; their interactions are filled with hilarious one-liners that make every encounter enjoyable.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The character development of Mary and Eve is praised for its appealing design, suggesting that their visual representation contributes positively to the overall character experience.
- “The character design for Mary and Eve is quite impressive.”
- “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.”