Deep Under

About

Deep Under is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by WildOmul and was released on April 10, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Alex is persuaded by his childhood friends to reconnect on a fun camping trip together. He feels superfluous in the company of students, and his confusion grows when the buddies venture further into the forest. Alex's fears are well-founded, because in the remote wilderness the carefree travelers await something much more sinister than the usual dangers. Enter a nightmare in the dark caves to sav…

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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100%

Audience ScoreBased on 12 reviews

story4 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game offers a concise and engaging horror experience, with a runtime of 2-4 hours that allows for multiple playthroughs and meaningful choices.
Exceptional audio design and beautifully drawn visuals create a deeply atmospheric and immersive environment that enhances the psychological tension of the story.
The narrative effectively explores themes of trust and interpersonal conflict among friends, making the emotional stakes feel significant and resonant.

Some players may find the character development lacking, as certain characters come and go quickly without much elaboration.
The visual novel format limits interactivity, which may feel slow or overly linear for those expecting more traditional horror gameplay elements.
There are requests for more choices and save slots, as well as a desire for greater audio variation to enhance the overall experience.

story
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
37%
27%
The story is a compelling blend of psychological horror and emotional depth, beginning with a familiar premise of teenagers lost in the woods and evolving into a unique and chilling narrative that explores both the mind and the underground. Presented through a visual novel format, it emphasizes choices and dialogue, creating an immersive experience that resonates with fans of story-driven horror, despite its limited interactivity. Overall, the engaging plot, outstanding visuals, and sound design contribute to its status as a standout horror visual novel.
- “That psychological angle gives the story resonance beyond its horror framework.”
- “The story itself, though starting as your usual teenagers lost in the woods for lack of better judgment, quickly spirals into complete insanity as you have to dig deeper and deeper underground to emerge victorious in the end.”
- “The story unfolds entirely through visual novel presentation, focusing on choices, dialogue, and mood.”
- “It may not appeal to everyone, especially those seeking more interactive horror, but for fans of story-driven tension and character-focused dread, it offers a chilling descent into the shadows of both the mind and the earth.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
40%
20%
The atmosphere of the visual novel is highly praised for its spooky and suspenseful qualities, making it ideal for a themed game night. It effectively builds psychological tension and focuses on the unraveling of relationships, prioritizing atmosphere over action, which may appeal to players seeking a more introspective horror experience.
- “Deep Under is a horror visual novel that thrives on atmosphere, psychological tension, and the slow unraveling of relationships under pressure.”
- “What Deep Under does especially well is atmosphere.”
- “It’s a game that aims for atmosphere over action, internal conflict over external monsters, and emotional fallout over dramatic set pieces.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively captures the emotional turmoil of strained friendships, delivering a moody and atmospheric horror experience. While some emotional moments feel abrupt and could benefit from deeper character development, the narrative's focus on internal conflict and emotional fallout resonates strongly, leaving players feeling emotionally drained yet engaged.
- “The emotional core of the game lies in its depiction of the strained friendships at the center of the journey.”
- “Still, Deep Under succeeds when experienced on its own terms: as a focused, moody, emotionally grounded horror story.”
- “It’s a game that aims for atmosphere over action, internal conflict over external monsters, and emotional fallout over dramatic set pieces.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The graphics in the game are praised for their effective simplicity, enhancing the narrative of characters being isolated from their past. Reviewers highlight the stunning visuals and immersive sound effects, contributing to a compelling horror experience, despite minor complaints about interface features. Overall, the artwork is considered a standout element, elevating the game's impact.
- “This game has truly amazing visuals and sounds.”
- “The plot alone is compelling enough, but the truly outstanding visuals and extraordinarily immersive sound effects make for a true horror visual novel masterpiece.”
- “The visuals, though simple, are used effectively to highlight that the characters are truly cut off from the world they once knew.”
- “The graphics feel outdated and lack the detail expected from modern games.”
- “The art style is inconsistent, making it hard to immerse myself in the game.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The visual novel offers strong replayability due to its bite-sized playtime of 2-4 hours, atmospheric storytelling, and multiple branching routes that lead to different endings. The inclusion of a speed-up function further enhances replay value, making it an ideal choice for players eager to explore various outcomes.
- “This visual novel is perfect for a spooky themed game night: where visual novels sometimes take 40+ hours to complete, this is bite-sized (2-4 hours), greatly atmospheric and suspenseful, with a decent amount of choices to make, and just the right amount of endings and replayability, including a speed-up function for further replays.”
- “The branching routes allow for different endings, which encourages replayability for those interested in seeing how alternatives might shift the group’s fate.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices in subsequent playthroughs makes it feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is noted as lacking depth, with some emotional moments feeling abrupt or insufficiently explored, which diminishes their impact on the overall narrative.
- “There are moments when the narrative could have benefited from more elaboration or stronger character development; certain emotional beats arrive abruptly or end quickly, preventing them from fully sinking in.”
- “The characters feel one-dimensional, lacking the depth and growth that would make their journeys more engaging.”
- “Despite the potential for rich storytelling, the character arcs are often predictable and fail to evolve in meaningful ways.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The gameplay is heavily reliant on writing rather than traditional mechanics, lacking action sequences, exploration, or puzzle-solving elements. Players seeking conventional horror gameplay may be disappointed by the absence of physical danger and real-time tension.
- “The gameplay is heavily reliant on the writing, creating a unique experience that immerses players in the narrative.”
- “Players expecting traditional horror gameplay—such as exploration, physical danger, puzzle-solving, or real-time tension—will find a different kind of experience here.”
- “Because there are no action sequences or direct navigation mechanics, the weight of the experience rests on the writing.”
- “Players expecting more traditional horror gameplay—exploration, physical danger, puzzle-solving, or real-time tension—will find none of that here.”