Dead Secret Circle

About

"Dead Secret Circle" is a first-person psychological horror game where players uncover the dark secrets of a small town in the 1970s. As reporter Beth Hammond, investigate a series of grisly murders and expose the supernatural forces at work. With a focus on exploration, puzzle-solving, and a chilling atmosphere, unravel the mystery before becoming the next victim.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

69%

Audience ScoreBased on 61 reviews

story19 positive mentions

stability15 negative mentions

The game features an engaging story with a nostalgic feel, reminiscent of classic indie games, and has improved voice acting and character interactions.
The atmosphere is haunting and immersive, with a strong sense of suspense and well-crafted environments that enhance the mystery.
The addition of WASD movement allows for a more dynamic exploration experience compared to the original game's point-and-click mechanics.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs and technical issues, particularly in the VR version, which can lead to game-breaking glitches and frustrating experiences.
The pacing is slow, and the movement speed can feel cumbersome, detracting from the urgency of certain gameplay moments.
The ending is abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving many players feeling disappointed after investing time in the story.

story
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
61%
5%
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its engaging narrative, character development, and atmospheric elements, while others criticize its pacing, coherence, and reliance on diary entries for exposition. Many players found the sequel to build on the original's charm, offering a more refined mystery and psychological depth, though some experienced frustrating bugs that hindered their ability to fully enjoy the plot. Overall, while the story has its flaws, it remains a captivating aspect for many players, particularly those who appreciated the first installment.
- “The story held my interest and I would love to see Patricia back solving another mystery in a third game now that she is able to begin writing again.”
- “With improved graphics and voice acting, wonderfully creepy NPCs, and a solid story to tie it all together, Dead Secret Circle is a great choice for a thriller with plenty of lore and scares to bounce between.”
- “Absolutely, this is an excellent detective story with paranormal elements.”
- “And then there are issues with story and pacing.”
- “That's where the cracks in the story start to show, too; and it stops making sense.”
- “95% of all story is delivered via random diary pages you find everywhere.”
stability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is severely compromised by numerous bugs, visual glitches, and technical issues, leading to frequent crashes and game-breaking errors. Players report a clunky inventory and interaction system, alongside persistent problems such as black screens and unresponsive controls, which detract significantly from the overall experience. Despite its engaging story and setting, the overwhelming presence of glitches hampers gameplay and can even prevent players from completing the game.
- “Vr adaptation rears its ugly head yet again, with an inventory and interaction system that is somehow even more clunky and buggy than in the first game.”
- “There are loads and loads of visual glitches, especially with textures and shading; many assets look charred with baking errors, and the shadows of the characters seem to have a life of their own.”
- “Good story and setting plagued by visual, control, and quest glitches, culminating in a game-breaking quest bug leaving me unable to finish the game right before the end with no option other than to erase the playthrough (and probably get the same bug again in case I retry).”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews; while some players praise the crisp visuals, clean geometry, and effective lighting, others highlight significant graphical bugs and issues, particularly with shadows. The lack of customizable graphical settings is noted as a drawback, and while some players are willing to overlook the graphical shortcomings for the engaging story and gameplay, others find them detracting from the overall experience.
- “The graphics were crisp, the scale and look of the environments was perfect, and I felt a significant presence.”
- “VR developers take note of how well the game looks and runs; with its simple, clean geometry, it never drops a frame, and you can supersample the visuals, which are crisp with good lighting.”
- “With improved graphics and voice acting, wonderfully creepy NPCs, and a solid story to tie it all together, Dead Secret Circle is a great choice for a thriller with plenty of lore and scares to bounce between.”
- “There are no graphical settings, and you can't force the settings dialog window to appear anymore.”
- “It’s not a perfect facade though, mainly because of some major graphical issues that pop up from time to time.”
- “One real downside, which doesn't truly affect your enjoyment, is the absolutely horrible graphics.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
44%
33%
Gameplay is primarily a point-and-click adventure with simple puzzles, but it suffers from mechanical issues, including awkward controls and visual glitches. While the death mechanic is praised, the overall execution is marred by VR-specific challenges and inconsistent interactions, making for a frustrating experience despite some thematic depth.
- “I also really think highly of the death mechanic in this game.”
- “The first [i]Dead Secret[/i] revolved around the heroine's subconscious, partly for thematic reasons and partly as a way to allow the developers to insert gameplay hints without breaking the setting; Gable has bizarre dreams and sees waking visions which help her navigate the mystery.”
- “Gameplay is mostly the same, point-and-click adventure-esque mystery with simple puzzles.”
- “Just be prepared for ropey mechanics.”
- “Mechanically, though, it's a mess.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
25%
13%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its spooky and tense qualities, enhanced by strong storytelling, music, and voice acting. Players appreciate the memorable characters and the game's ability to create a stylish and thought-provoking ambiance, making it a standout feature that contributes significantly to the overall experience.
- “Thumbs up for spooky atmosphere, memorable characters, and a lot of wonderfully creepy moments.”
- “The atmosphere is incredible.”
- “It builds a really tense atmosphere and is seldom cheap with it.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The music in the game is highly praised for its nostalgic quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, evoking memories of classic titles. Reviewers appreciate its prevalence and the way it complements the story and ambience, contributing to a beautifully sinister experience. Many express a desire for the soundtrack to be made available, highlighting its significant impact on their enjoyment of the game.
- “It makes me nostalgic for a type of game in the past that just isn't really made anymore... I honestly really hope the devs make another game in this universe; I'll definitely purchase for sure and hopefully maybe they'll upload the soundtrack to the Steam page as well.”
- “[b][u]Pros: story, music and ambience, voice acting, atmosphere[/u][/b]”
- “Music was more prevalent and I enjoyed the callbacks to the first title.”
- “Only the blue haze and spooky music results.”
- “The music, Jesus, is the worst.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its hilariously uncanny facial animations and strong voice acting, which significantly enhance the comedic experience. Players find themselves laughing at the eccentric characters and their absurd situations, particularly the protagonist's interactions with the bizarre cast involved in the mystery of the "laughing man" serial killer. Overall, the blend of humor and mystery creates an engaging and entertaining atmosphere.
- “Their facial animation is hilariously uncanny, and their (and the protagonist's) voice acting is really good, a vast improvement from the original.”
- “She made me laugh (audibly) on a number of occasions.”
- “Though both games involve solving a mystery, Dead Secret Circle is more of a whodunnit and has an oddball cast of characters that you will meet and investigate in order to solve the case of the laughing man serial murders.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of heartbreak and intrigue, engaging players on a deep, reflective level.
- “It's simultaneously heartbreaking and intriguing.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers high replayability, particularly for VR headset users, as it is designed to enhance the immersive experience and encourage repeated playthroughs through its tailored features.