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Decarnation

Despite several useless and unsatisfying gameplay elements, Decarnation still features one of the best stories I've seen in a horror game with a fantastically portrayed message both visually and narratively and lots of excellent references.
Decarnation Game Cover
79%Game Brain Score
story, music
character development, optimization
88% User Score Based on 491 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 11 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCWindows
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Decarnation Game Cover

About

Decarnation is a single player role playing game with horror and drama themes. It was developed by Atelier QDB and was released on May 31, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"Decarnation is a single-player Horror Role Playing game with an interesting plot and delightful graphics, inspired by surrealist works such as Silent Hill and Alice in Wonderland. As cabaret dancer Gloria, you'll face monsters and nightmares in a mesmerizing story of survival. Expertly combining classic horror and adventure elements, Decarnation features mini-games that require consideration and strategy."

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Decarnation screenshot
Decarnation screenshot
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Decarnation screenshot
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88%
Audience ScoreBased on 491 reviews
story178 positive mentions
character development3 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning pixel art and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • The story is deeply engaging, exploring complex themes of trauma and identity in a thoughtful manner.
  • The game successfully creates a haunting atmosphere that keeps players invested in the protagonist's journey.
  • Gameplay is minimal, often feeling more like a visual novel with limited interactivity rather than a traditional game.
  • Some puzzles and mini-games can be frustrating and poorly executed, detracting from the overall experience.
  • The pacing can feel uneven, with certain sections dragging on and making the narrative feel less impactful.
  • story
    413 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of *Decarnation* is a haunting and immersive exploration of trauma, resilience, and self-discovery, centered around the protagonist, Gloria, as she navigates a dark and surreal world. While the narrative is rich with emotional depth and artistic symbolism, it is primarily linear and heavily focused on storytelling rather than gameplay, which may not appeal to all players. The game is praised for its beautiful pixel art and evocative soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience of this psychological horror tale.

    • “Decarnation is a very powerful, raw story about a woman desperately trying to escape a horrible situation, a story about abuse that doesn't hold back in feeling as raw and realistic as possible—a deep character dive into the psyche of the protagonist and what they're going through with this traumatic experience.”
    • “The storytelling in Decarnation is both intimate and unsettling, drawing heavily on the aesthetics and narrative styles reminiscent of David Lynch’s surrealism and Junji Ito’s horror.”
    • “The story is overflowing with visual metaphors for trauma, compartmentalization, and what the mind is willing to do to itself to survive insurmountable odds, as well as the effort it takes to heal.”
    • “The story starts really strong just to fall flat at the very end.”
    • “The story drags itself longer than necessary, honestly.”
    • “The main story that enables all the psychological mumbojumbo is infantile at best.”
  • music
    206 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its emotional depth and atmospheric quality, particularly highlighting the contributions of renowned composer Akira Yamaoka. The soundtrack features a diverse range of styles, including haunting scores and catchy French pop, which enhance the game's narrative and visual experience. Overall, the music is described as a standout element that significantly elevates the gameplay and emotional impact of the story.

    • “The presentation is sublime and the music choices are just fun and sweet; absolutely give it a try if you want some real good psychological horror.”
    • “The soundtrack is absolutely incredible with authentic French pop music and several highly atmospheric tracks from Akira Yamaoka.”
    • “The music is breathtaking, as much for its beauty (Fleur et Bleue), as for its mystery (Alt236) and its anguish (Akira Yamaoka).”
    • “And it's also upsetting the music is off-sync with the dance moves.”
    • “But this doesn't feel intentional, it feels like someone who doesn't even like music programmed the note patterns.”
    • “The rhythm music sections feel bad to play and the whole thing was absurdly long for its story and just didn't land at all.”
  • gameplay
    154 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in this title is largely minimalistic, focusing on exploration, light puzzles, and occasional mini-games, which some players found tedious or lacking depth. While the mechanics serve to enhance the narrative and emotional experience, many reviewers noted that the gameplay feels secondary to the story, with some expressing disappointment in its simplicity and occasional bugs. Overall, the game is recommended for those who prioritize narrative and atmosphere over complex gameplay mechanics.

    • “An impeccable mix of rich storytelling, set, mechanics, sound, and character all come together to make a phenomenal game.”
    • “The integration of gameplay and story feels cohesive, ensuring that players remain engaged both mentally and emotionally.”
    • “The gameplay is light but the story makes up for it.”
    • “You don’t really have much influence on the story and the gameplay feels pretty secondary (and majorly buggy at times), but I found myself engrossed and wanting to finish the story even if it outstayed its welcome in the last few hours.”
    • “Essentially, the whole gameplay in this title is just walking and one-button mashing.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, the game is pretty shallow.”
  • graphics
    107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning and evocative pixel art style, which effectively contrasts charming visuals with mature, often disturbing themes. Reviewers highlight the impressive attention to detail in the environments and character designs, noting how the visuals enhance the storytelling and emotional impact of the narrative. Overall, the art direction and aesthetic choices are praised as integral to the game's haunting atmosphere and psychological horror elements.

    • “The visuals are stunning yet disturbing at the same time.”
    • “The art style is gorgeous and the music is very good.”
    • “The graphics and art direction are strong, and the music ties it all together.”
    • “Visually, Decarnation embraces a retro 16-bit pixel art style, which might initially appear charming but quickly takes on a disquieting tone as the story progresses.”
    • “Though the graphics' pixels and looks friendly, it is absolutely not.”
    • “It's not a horror game; it's a walking simulator with some simple minigames and dark visuals.”
  • emotional
    35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its deep exploration of trauma, identity, and personal struggles, resonating strongly with players through its compelling narrative, evocative visuals, and haunting soundtrack. Many reviewers noted that the game effectively handles difficult emotional themes, creating a unique atmosphere that engages players on both mental and emotional levels, though some felt the connection between gameplay and plot could be improved. Overall, it is described as a touching and impactful experience that elicits a range of emotions, particularly for those who relate to the protagonist's journey.

    • “This emotional core, combined with the game’s dark atmosphere, makes Decarnation stand out as a unique exploration of trauma and identity.”
    • “Its compelling narrative, paired with evocative visuals, innovative gameplay mechanics, and a haunting soundtrack, creates an experience that resonates emotionally long after the credits roll.”
    • “I cried honestly as I was playing because it was so raw and depicted a lot of my inner struggles as a woman, an artist, and someone struggling with years of depression.”
  • atmosphere
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of "decarnation" is widely praised for its haunting and immersive qualities, enhanced by a standout soundtrack from Akira Yamaoka and expressive pixel art. Reviewers note that the game effectively explores complex themes of trauma and identity, creating a surreal and emotional journey, though some find the pacing and certain gameplay elements detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a major highlight, drawing players into its dark and poignant narrative.

    • “This emotional core, combined with the game’s dark atmosphere, makes Decarnation stand out as a unique exploration of trauma and identity.”
    • “The music here similarly enhances the game’s haunting atmosphere, perfectly capturing the tension, sorrow, and surreal moments throughout Gloria’s journey.”
    • “Found this game a really gorgeous and compelling piece of work; the aesthetics, art direction, and atmosphere are incredibly well done, with the subtle characteristics of the environments and both inner and inter-character dialogue painting something that feels genuinely human and nuanced.”
    • “Its eerie atmosphere and storytelling keep you on edge from start to finish.”
    • “The atmosphere is extremely well done, and the way the narrative weaves between reality, dreams, and nightmares is handled well.”
    • “Quite a strong emotional journey, light on the gameplay, which is entirely at the service of the story and the atmosphere.”
  • character development
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development is highlighted through expressive pixel art and animation, particularly in Gloria's design, which effectively conveys a spectrum of emotions. Players appreciate the immersive experience of participating in the characters' growth, complemented by a strong soundtrack that enhances the emotional depth of the narrative. Overall, the combination of stylish designs and relatable expressions contributes to a tender and haunting character journey.

    • “Character designs, particularly Gloria’s, convey a wide range of emotions—from vulnerability to terror—through detailed pixel work.”
    • “A truly tender and haunting experience with great character development and a ridiculously good soundtrack, including additional music from Akira Yamaoka.”
    • “Character designs, particularly Gloria's, convey a wide range of emotions—from vulnerability to terror—through detailed pixel work.”
    • “I love how the player gets to take part in each step of the character development.”
    • “Stylish character designs and fluid little bits of animation feel properly emotive, expressive, and at times even relatable.”
  • optimization
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while some players report excellent performance, particularly on platforms like the Steam Deck, others have experienced technical issues, including bugs and performance hiccups that can disrupt gameplay.

    • “Great performance of the classic horror theme!”
    • “Also, played on Steam Deck, no problems whatsoever with performance and controls.”
    • “Some players have encountered technical issues, such as occasional bugs and performance hiccups, which can interrupt immersion.”
    • “Buy this instead of Amnesia: The Bunker (terrible FPS optimization).”
  • stability
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is notably compromised by a high frequency of bugs and glitches, including softlocks and distracting visual artifacts that can detract from the overall experience. While the engaging story and creative gameplay mechanics are praised, the technical issues significantly impact playability, leaving players hoping for future patches to address these concerns.

    • “I experienced a staggeringly high amount of bugs and glitches in my playthrough, chief among them was a dev option I presumably enabled on accident that permanently watermarked the corners of the screen with the build version and current level screen name. This was a real bummer as this text was not only distracting but often spoiled the narrative metaphor or upcoming twist of the gameplay, and I had to force myself to ignore it.”
    • “Otherwise, I really liked the game up to that point, but I'm not sure if it's even playable beyond the buggy part.”
    • “Be aware of a couple of glitches: some bugs, softlocks, and ill-calibrated rhythm minigames, reported many times in the forum. Hope the devs patch it.”
  • grinding
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players generally find the grinding aspects of the game to be a mixed experience; while the exploration and puzzles are enjoyable, many feel that certain mechanics, particularly the mini-games, can become tedious and repetitive. Additionally, game-breaking bugs can exacerbate the frustration, leading to further tedious reloads.

    • “Although at times I found certain mechanics drawn out, repetitive, and tedious, the respect the subject matter was given is done so beautifully.”
    • “The mini-games, especially the rhythm game, became tedious and repetitive.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, the exploration, mild puzzles, and mini-games were enjoyable to me, although some of the latter felt a bit tedious at times.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted by the amusing puns of the bird men and the antics of the quirky cake girl, who serves as a central comedic character. Overall, the game's humor is characterized by playful and whimsical elements that resonate with players.

    • “The bird men making certain funny puns were my favorite characters.”
    • “The funny cake girl is the main focus, though.”
  • replayability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers limited replayability, with a playtime of 5-6 hours, but is considered a good value for its price.

    • “Not much replayability here, but the game is a good price for its 5-6 hour length.”
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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 11 critic reviews
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5h Median play time
5h Average play time
5-5h Spent by most gamers
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Frequently Asked Questions

Decarnation is a role playing game with horror and drama themes.

Decarnation is available on Nintendo Switch, PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 5 hours playing Decarnation.

Decarnation was released on May 31, 2023.

Decarnation was developed by Atelier QDB.

Decarnation has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its character development.

Decarnation is a single player game.

Similar games include INMOST, The Cat Lady, INDIKA, Sea of Solitude, REVEIL and others.