Detention

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,433 reviews
  • story
  • atmosphere
  • graphics
Detention Game Cover
The most telling thing to say about Detention is that it carves its own niche into the videogame horror genre. It shows a maturity and storytelling finesse for much of its brief run that eludes many within its medium. Despite a slump in the final act, and a couple of coldly logical puzzles that feel out of place with the story, Detention is a smart and sophisticated survival horror that draws from reality to fuel fear.
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"Detention" is a story-driven horror game set in 1960s Taiwan under martial law, where players explore a haunted school filled with hostile supernatural events and Taiwanese cultural references. The game features a unique blend of electronic, lo-fi, and rock music with traditional Asian instruments, and offers appealing graphics and sound inspired by Taiwanese literature, film, and music of the 1960s-70s. With a simple point and click mechanism, players can uncover the stories behind the haunted place in this atmospheric and unique gaming experience.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,433 reviews
story729 positive mentions
replayability6 negative mentions
  • The game features a haunting and emotionally impactful story set during Taiwan's White Terror period, effectively blending horror with historical context.
  • The art style and sound design create a deeply immersive atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience and tension throughout the game.
  • Puzzles are engaging and logical, allowing players to progress without excessive frustration, while the gameplay focuses on storytelling rather than combat.
  • The game is relatively short, taking around 3-4 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content.
  • Some puzzles can be overly simplistic, lacking the challenge that some players might expect from a horror game.
  • The pacing slows down significantly in the latter half of the game, shifting focus from horror elements to narrative exposition, which may disappoint some players.
  • story1,704 mentions

    The story of "Detention" is a poignant and immersive narrative set against the backdrop of Taiwan's martial law era, intertwining personal trauma with historical and cultural themes. Players navigate a haunting atmosphere filled with folklore and psychological horror, gradually uncovering a deeply emotional tale that explores guilt, oppression, and the human condition. While the pacing may slow in the latter half, the storytelling remains compelling, leaving a lasting impact on players long after the game concludes.

    • “Detention is a short yet amazing point-and-click psychological horror game with clever storytelling and a plot that carries a nice undertone of interesting historical, cultural, and political aspects of Taiwan.”
    • “This game masterfully tells a traumatic story with meaningful puzzles, excellent prose, and elements of horror that keep the player fearful but engaged.”
    • “The story is confusing early on in the game, due to switching main characters later on, but as the game unfolds and all of the pieces start to come together, it truly is an incredibly ominous ending.”
    • “However, what bothered me personally was the lack of hostile spirits in the last levels that leaned more towards storytelling.”
    • “The story is dark and twisted, even poignant at times; I was immersed the whole time, the narrative is very good.”
  • atmosphere607 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Detention" is widely praised for its haunting and immersive qualities, effectively blending psychological horror with a unique art style and sound design that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a tense, oppressive environment without relying heavily on jump scares, instead fostering a constant sense of dread and unease that complements its poignant narrative rooted in Taiwan's historical context. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its strongest asset, drawing players into a deeply unsettling yet beautifully crafted world.

    • “All of this is explored while effectively delving into the psychological horror aspect through unique and clever artwork, capable of portraying the various dark and heavy emotions of the game's characters while also building a mysterious and suspenseful atmosphere.”
    • “Detention creates a tense atmosphere with its unique visual style, unsettling puzzles, haunting music, and the lingering spirits lurching through the halls.”
    • “The first impression of Detention might fool you with a minimalist art style and simple point-and-click mechanics, yet its terrifying atmosphere, eerie soundscape, and gut-wrenching narrative will make you have second thoughts once you start playing.”
    • “The atmosphere is thick and oppressive, especially as you near the end of the game.”
    • “The atmosphere puts pressure on your emotions, making you queasy to even walk into another room, because of the oppressive sound design and environment.”
  • graphics384 mentions

    The graphics of "Detention" are widely praised for their unique and evocative art style, which effectively enhances the game's psychological horror atmosphere. Players appreciate the combination of 2D hand-drawn visuals and atmospheric sound design, creating a haunting experience that complements the narrative. While some note that the graphics may not be technically advanced, they are considered fitting and impactful, contributing significantly to the overall mood and storytelling.

    • “All of this is explored while effectively delving into the psychological horror aspect through unique and clever artwork, capable of portraying the various dark and heavy emotions of the game's characters while also building a mysterious and suspenseful atmosphere.”
    • “From the exquisite graphics to the outstanding soundtrack, every aspect of the game is crafted with great care and attention to detail.”
    • “A truly breathtaking game, from the art style to the atmosphere to the brilliant sound design.”
    • “If I can fault the game in any way, it's that it doesn't support ultrawide resolutions which is a shame given the graphical quality.”
    • “Please don't buy this game, don't, just don't. The only good thing the game has is the atmosphere and the art style, that is it. Allow me to explain why the game doesn't manage to be creepy even; the biggest flaw that the game has by far is that the death mechanic shouldn't be there and it's exploitable.”
    • “The graphics are so creepy and photo realistic, and add to the creepiness of the game.”
  • gameplay335 mentions

    The gameplay of "Detention" is primarily a straightforward point-and-click adventure, featuring simple mechanics and puzzles that often serve as a means to progress the narrative rather than challenge the player. While some players appreciate the atmospheric storytelling and unique horror elements, many find the gameplay lacking in depth and engagement, with frustrations stemming from its linearity and occasional clunky controls. Overall, the game is more focused on delivering a compelling story and immersive atmosphere than on providing complex gameplay experiences.

    • “I loved the simple gameplay, complex and thoughtful puzzles, and the heart-wrenching story.”
    • “The point-and-click gameplay is some of the best I've seen... Detention manages to make everything satisfying and logical, while moving in perfect step with the game's story.”
    • “The gameplay is simple but engaging; I really enjoyed the visual style and the narrative is very compelling.”
    • “Losing 20 minutes of gameplay due to a lack of a basic save feature is frustrating.”
    • “This game doesn't have very much in the way of gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is simplistic and one-handed.”
  • music298 mentions

    The music in the game has been widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth, with many reviewers noting its haunting quality and effective sound design. The soundtrack complements the narrative and visual elements, creating a tense and immersive experience reminiscent of classic horror titles like Silent Hill. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's eerie ambiance and storytelling.

    • “The soundtrack reflects the game so well, and the sound design is impeccable.”
    • “The atmosphere, the music, and the story are amazing.”
    • “The music is chilling and the sound effects are pretty good too.”
    • “The music is too flat and normal, like a low-cost production, although it's somehow decent music, not at a professional level compared to the perfect music made in the game Layers of Fear.”
    • “While the game itself is quite boring (holding left click and sometimes right click when encountering monsters, with a sprinkle of puzzles here and there), the atmosphere, music, sound design, and graphics/art style are all really good.”
    • “The soundtrack is creepy throughout, accompanied by ceremonial sounds and instruments.”
  • emotional112 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its deeply moving and heart-wrenching narrative, which intertwines personal and historical themes, particularly relating to Taiwan's past. Players report experiencing a profound emotional impact, often feeling teary-eyed or emotionally drained by the end, as the story effectively combines horror with poignant storytelling. The game's ability to evoke empathy and reflection through its atmosphere, character relationships, and thoughtful plot is highlighted as a standout feature, making it a memorable and impactful experience.

    • “I genuinely left this game slightly teary-eyed as a direct result of the emotional and poetic journey that was this game's story.”
    • “The game is beautifully designed, and the story is moving and heartbreaking.”
    • “It's a brilliant, terrifying, heartbreaking game that succeeds at everything it sets out to do, and deserves major recognition for it.”
  • replayability30 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits limited replayability, primarily due to its linear narrative structure and short playtime of around 3.5 to 4 hours. While there are two endings and some achievements to pursue, many players feel that once the story is known, there is little incentive to replay it. The experience is described as enjoyable but not designed for extensive replay, making it more of a one-time adventure rather than a game to revisit frequently.

    • “Getting to the true ending might not be easy on a first playthrough, but replayability is facilitated by convenient access to all chapters of the story once one playthrough has been completed.”
    • “Normally I would hesitate to fully recommend a game like this due to how short it is, but the fact that there's multiple endings adds some replayability.”
    • “If you're interested in an alternative ending or want to enjoy the story again, there's also some replayability.”
    • “Just don't expect anything more than that out of it, because it doesn't have much gameplay or replayability.”
    • “The bad: really linear with poor replay value.”
    • “Overall, while I think the game has little replay value, it is heads and tails above the rest of the indie games focused on story.”
  • grinding16 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with slow pacing, excessive backtracking, and frustrating gameplay mechanics that detract from the experience. While some puzzles are engaging, many are seen as either too obvious or overly complicated, leading to a lack of engagement with the narrative and characters. Despite these issues, the game's atmosphere and story are appreciated, though they often feel overshadowed by the repetitive and monotonous gameplay.

    • “It's slightly tedious at times in that regard as your character moves frustratingly slowly.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics got tedious towards the end and should have just been some flashback cutscenes.”
    • “Sadly though the story devolves into a pretentious mess as you get halfway through, and the horror aspect is completely dropped as you move from room to room rubbing objects on other objects hoping to get a reaction and progress the increasingly tedious story.”
  • character development10 mentions

    Character development in the game received mixed reviews, with some players feeling it was minimal or lacking depth, while others praised it as a strong aspect of the narrative. The art style and aesthetic were frequently highlighted, with some reviewers appreciating the cultural references and the emotional impact of character arcs. Overall, while there are notable instances of effective character development, many players found it insufficient or overshadowed by other elements of the game.

    • “Beautiful game, loved the papercraft aesthetic; there was a lot of effort put into the art and character development of this game.”
    • “I especially enjoyed the references and metaphors to Chinese folk religions and Taoism in the first half, and the story and character development in the second half of the game.”
    • “Not only did Detention feel genuinely scary and unnerving as well as offer some interesting enemy types, but it also had one of the strongest narratives I've ever experienced, solid character development, it felt open-ended but still linear while offering closure and educated me on a culture and aspect of history that I'd never really thought of before.”
    • “Although, in my opinion, I felt let down by the lack of a story, character development, and overall how simplistic the feel of the game was.”
    • “But the character development is almost nonexistent.”
    • “Do you like graphic adventures where you die, and need to repeat stuff because there are no checkpoints, and there is no story progression or character development (or even dialogues or combination of items!).”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of unintentional comedy and absurdity, with players finding amusement in the game's jump scares and the reactions of others. Some users noted the irony of a warning for heart conditions, while others found humor in the bizarre scenes, such as ghostly audiences laughing. Overall, the humor seems to stem from the game's unexpected moments rather than intentional comedic elements.

    • “And, the funny thing is, there was a warning before the game even starts that if you have heart disease, do not play!”
    • “After I finished the game, I watched a friend play the game and I kept laughing at how scared he was, heh.”
    • “There is one static scene I found scary that is after I finished my piano riddle, a group of audience ghosts stand up and laugh with green faces.”
    • “Jumpscares are like someone trying to make you laugh by tickling; it's not funny, it's annoying.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game is well-optimized, supporting high refresh rate monitors and consistently running at 144 fps without any bugs or crashes, making it accessible even for low-end systems. Overall, players have rated its performance highly, with some giving it a perfect score.

    • “The game does support high refresh rate monitors and the performance was great as the game ran at a constant 144 fps for me.”
    • “Performance: 10/10 - Flawless; low system requirements; no bugs or crashes experienced.”
    • “Where's your optimization?”
    • “The game runs poorly on even high-end systems, making it frustrating to play.”
    • “I expected better performance, but the optimization is lacking and leads to frequent stuttering.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Overall, users report a stable experience with no glitches, complemented by good music and a smooth interface.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

85% average critic score

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Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
3hMain story
4hCompletionist
4-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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