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Detention

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.
Detention Game Cover
94%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:story, atmosphere
Most mentioned negative aspects:replayability, grinding
96% User Score Based on 3,318 reviews
Critic Score 85%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

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Detention Game Cover

About Detention

Detention is a single player survival role playing game with horror, thriller and violence themes. It was developed by RedCandleGames and was released on January 12, 2017. It received positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Detention is a atmospheric horror game set in 1960s Taiwan under martial law. Incorporated religious elements based in Taiwanese/Chinese culture and mythology, the game provided players with unique graphics and gaming experience.

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Detention screenshot
Detention screenshot
Detention screenshot
Detention screenshot
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Detention screenshot
Detention screenshot
Detention screenshot
Detention screenshot
Detention screenshot
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Reviews

96%Audience ScoreBased on 3,318 reviews
story1k positive mentions
replayability8 negative mentions
  • Strong and heartbreaking story inspired by Taiwan's White Terror era, offering deep psychological and political themes.
  • Atmospheric 2D art style combined with immersive sound design that effectively enhances the eerie and unsettling mood.
  • Engaging and logical puzzles integrated well with the narrative, providing a satisfying gameplay experience without frustration.
  • Relatively short gameplay length with limited replayability; some players find certain puzzles or sections tedious.
  • The pacing slows down in the latter half with reduced horror elements and fewer monsters, shifting to a narrative walking sim style which some find less engaging.
  • Movement can feel slow and clunky at times, and the storytelling is somewhat cryptic and non-linear, requiring players to piece together the story themselves, which may confuse some.

  • story

    2,401 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    42% positive mentions, 56% neutral mentions, 2% negative mentions

    Detention delivers a deeply emotional and thought-provoking story set in 1960s Taiwan during martial law, blending supernatural horror with a poignant exploration of oppression, guilt, and personal tragedy. The narrative unfolds gradually through atmospheric environments, puzzles, and subtle clues, offering a rich, multilayered experience that resonates long after completion. While the gameplay is simple and sometimes slow, the story's powerful themes and unique cultural context make it a standout in story-driven horror games.

    • “Detention tells a compelling story, with themes of family, love, rebellion, freedom (or the lack of it).”
    • “The strength of detention’s horror lies in the foundations of excellent storytelling; its cast and setting are so well realized that the game becomes something bigger than just another horror title.”
    • “The story achieves such a clear message and detailed character writing in such a concise way, with the game approximately taking only 3 to 4 hours to finish.”
    • “Detention's story does the same and it just doesn't finish up strong.”
    • “Very early in came you actually get 90% idea of what exactly happened because of hints that the game gives you, while the game tries to convey the story so its unfolding, and it just fails at it, and it does it slowly.”
    • “The story tries to be all clever but absolutely fails at it, it drops way too obvious and way too many things repeatedly, which removes all the tension and intrigue; you already know what is going to happen for the next hour of the game, and you have to bear the game being all excited about itself: 'I bet you didn’t see that twist coming hahahahaha.'”

  • atmosphere

    854 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    64% positive mentions, 36% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    Detention is widely praised for its deeply immersive and unsettling atmosphere, combining eerie visuals, haunting sound design, and a unique art style that effectively conveys a tense, oppressive mood rooted in 1960s Taiwan under martial law. The game's horror relies more on psychological dread and cultural symbolism than jump scares, creating a slow-building, poignant, and thought-provoking experience that resonates emotionally and enhances its storytelling. Overall, the atmosphere is consistently regarded as the game's strongest element, skillfully blending historical, supernatural, and psychological themes into a memorable and haunting experience.

    • “Detention is a haunting masterpiece that transcends the horror genre, delivering not only spine-chilling atmosphere but also a profound emotional impact.”
    • “The atmosphere, artstyle, and music make this an enjoyable 3-hour ride.”
    • “The game has a genuinely dark, tense atmosphere with a unique artistic design that reflects its subject matter.”
    • “However, the "horror" atmosphere, and the mechanic where you have to avoid the spirits you see, is largely abandoned by the end of the game.”
    • “Spooks and atmosphere also got weak (with some notable scenes as exceptions) and the way the multiple endings were handled was slightly questionable.”
    • “The atmosphere isn't top-notch but is definitely above average, as you're going to feel constantly threatened throughout the game (except near the ending).”

  • graphics

    556 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    51% positive mentions, 48% neutral mentions, 1% negative mentions

    The game's graphics are widely praised for their unique, hand-drawn 2D art style that effectively establishes a haunting, unsettling atmosphere reminiscent of classic horror like Silent Hill. Reviewers highlight the beautiful, grainy, monochromatic visuals combined with clever use of color and texture to deepen the narrative and psychological horror experience. While some note the simplicity and less polished animation, the art style consistently receives accolades for its originality, emotional impact, and strong cultural influence, making it a standout feature that elevates the game's overall mood and storytelling.

    • “The game features some great artistic direction, with very unsettling but beautiful visuals, and masterful use of color and visual textures as a storytelling device.”
    • “The game’s grainy, monochromatic visuals and deliberate color choices create an unsettling, canvas-like experience that masterfully immerses players in its world.”
    • “A masterpiece of storytelling, with amazing visuals and unique artstyle, that will slowly, and unassumingly, draw you in a dark, deep, soulcrushing trip of despair and self-reflection, in a world of political oppression and countless struggles.”
    • “It's unclear if this is due to lack of budget to arrange someone who can create graphical assets properly, or lack of talent. Regardless, the overall visual quality of the game is very low, beneath what PC gamers have come to expect in this era of cutting edge photorealistic 3D graphics.”
    • “While there are options to change the resolution for the mobile app, all this does is scale up the simplistic 2D art assets used to make the mobile app, which makes little or no difference to the graphics quality. Without any other substantial graphics tweaks, it's not possible for gamers to improve the lacklustre 2D visuals.”
    • “I don't like the art style very much, the environments are nice but the characters look more like puppets than people due to their lack of facial expressions and the way they move.”

  • gameplay

    487 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    23% positive mentions, 72% neutral mentions, 5% negative mentions

    The gameplay in "Detention" is primarily a simple point-and-click adventure with light puzzle-solving and occasional stealth elements involving evading spirits. While some found the mechanics minimalistic and occasionally repetitive, the gameplay effectively supports the atmospheric storytelling without overshadowing it. However, it becomes more narrative-focused in later chapters as enemy encounters and gameplay variety diminish, leading to a shorter, less mechanically challenging experience that emphasizes story and mood over complex interaction.

    • “Detention mostly follows the typical structure of a point-and-click adventure puzzle game, but features some unique survival horror-esque gameplay mechanics.”
    • “The point-and-click gameplay is some of the best I've seen; in a genre so famous for frustrating, illogical puzzles, Detention manages to make everything satisfying and logical, while moving in perfect step with the game's story.”
    • “The gameplay itself is relatively straightforward and you just have to enjoy the ride, with exploration and puzzles serving as vehicles for immersion rather than distractions.”
    • “But after a certain point all semblance of gameplay or choice is removed and the game just ends up mashing the left mouse button as quickly as you can to progress the story, which is annoying since sometimes you are forced to walk very slowly.”
    • “Gameplay is inconsistent, each type of enemy is only around for a very short amount of time and by halfway through the game they don't show up anymore at all and the mechanics for avoiding them are completely disabled.”
    • “Please don't buy this game, the only good thing it has is the atmosphere and the art style. The biggest flaw is the death mechanic which is exploitable; many times I killed the character just to get to a place faster because progress is saved all the time, so there's no incentive to be careful or scared of the monsters.”

  • music

    404 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    53% positive mentions, 46% neutral mentions, 1% negative mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its haunting, eerie, and atmospheric qualities that perfectly complement the dark story and unique art style, often drawing comparisons to Akira Yamaoka's work on Silent Hill. The soundtrack skillfully enhances immersion and tension with subtle, emotionally charged compositions and sound design, creating a chilling yet beautiful auditory experience. Overall, the music is considered a standout element that significantly contributes to the game's oppressive, melancholic, and deeply atmospheric mood.

    • “The music and sound design further intensify the immersion: the subtle hiss of static, the rustle of paper, and the echo of distant footsteps all contribute to an ever-present unease that never relies on loud or sudden shocks.”
    • “The soundtrack alone is a masterpiece, but accompanied by the storyline, message and graphics-- it speaks volumes.”
    • “The music composition is great with huge Akira Yamaoka influences, and the real horror and fear come from the very deep political implications of the game—from the colonialism of Japan to the political power handed over to China... it's a mess.”
    • “The music is too flat and normal, like a low-cost production. Although it's decently composed, it is not at a professional level compared to the excellent music made for games like Layers of Fear.”
    • “I didn't feel the need to purchase the OST on my own because I don't find it that memorable or worth the extra price.”
    • “Sometimes random scratches play when you walk into a dark room, the music picks up into a haunting screeching sound when you encounter enemies, and a soft lullaby plays when the story starts to unfold, but the inclusion of a necessary "play the song on the piano based on what you hear" puzzle was personally irritating.”

  • emotional

    178 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    Detention delivers a profoundly emotional and heartbreaking narrative deeply rooted in Taiwanese history, blending psychological horror with cultural and political themes. Players consistently praise its haunting atmosphere, well-crafted story, and subtle, impactful storytelling that evokes sadness, reflection, and emotional resonance beyond typical horror scares. The game’s emotional weight and unique artistic presentation leave a lasting, moving impression that many find unforgettable.

    • “Detention's narrative is a heartbreaking mystery that unravels in a hauntingly beautiful way.”
    • “What begins as a simple effort to escape the confines of an abandoned school becomes an emotional journey through the trauma of a generation, where political oppression and personal regret intertwine.”
    • “Detention is a haunting masterpiece that transcends the horror genre, delivering not only spine-chilling atmosphere but also a profound emotional impact.”

  • replayability

    40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    10% positive mentions, 70% neutral mentions, 20% negative mentions

    The game offers limited replayability primarily through its multiple endings and collectible achievements, but its short, linear story and minimal gameplay reduce the incentive for repeated playthroughs. While some players appreciate revisiting the game to explore alternate endings or story details, overall replay value is low and mostly appeals to those interested in experiencing the narrative again.

    • “Multiple endings and replayability are factors woven into the story, with choices that affect your outcome.”
    • “The ending was amazing, and the replayability of the game is factored into the story itself, which I love.”
    • “Getting to the true ending might not be easy on a first playthrough, but replayability is facilitated by a convenient access to all chapters of the story once one playthrough has been completed.”
    • “Just don't expect much gameplay or replayability.”
    • “Falls short towards the end and feels somewhat rushed compared to the earlier chapters, and there is no significant replay value but worth picking up for a unique horror experience.”
    • “The game is about 4 hours in length, and while I feel I got my money's worth in a game bundle, I can't say $12 is fair at nearly $3 an hour with no replayability.”

  • grinding

    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 4% neutral mentions, 96% negative mentions

    Grinding in the game is often described as tedious and slow, especially towards the latter half where backtracking and repetitive ghost avoidance become tiresome. While some puzzles are challenging, others feel obtuse or overly drawn out, causing moments of frustration. Overall, the gameplay can feel like a drag at times, but many players find the story compelling enough to persevere.

    • “Detention is a very morbid story told through excruciatingly tedious gameplay.”
    • “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.”
    • “Lots of backtracking is required as well that can get tedious since you do not want to run into any of the monsters again.”

  • character development

    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    38% positive mentions, 39% neutral mentions, 23% negative mentions

    Reviews of the game's character development are mixed, with many praising its depth, cultural references, and integration into a rich, well-paced narrative, while others feel it is lacking or simplistic. The character design and art are widely acclaimed as evocative and immersive, enhancing the storytelling experience for many players. Overall, when present, character development is considered a strong and compelling aspect of the game.

    • “Like the one other game I played from this company, the story is rich in history, character development, and unique visual artistry.”
    • “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.”
    • “Extremely well done, beautiful plot, and brilliant character development with Fang.”
    • “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!).”

  • humor

    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The humor in the game often arises from its unintentionally comedic elements, such as quirky mechanics and ghost animations that players find amusing rather than scary. Many users laugh at moments of tension or jump scares, sometimes sharing these experiences in social settings, which lightens the overall atmosphere. Additionally, external references and player reactions add layers of humor that contrast with the game’s intended horror tone.

    • “Holding breath mechanic absolutely made me laugh while playing this game. Also, those black ghost things chasing me with their movements were too comedic. Play this game with the "Hong Kong 97 theme song" — yes, Google it, play on YouTube and play this game — no more horror game.”
    • “After I finished the game, I watched a friend play, and I kept laughing at how scared he was.”
    • “I almost jumped a few times, which was funny because I was surrounded by other patrons at a coffee shop.”

  • optimization

    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    60% positive mentions, -20% neutral mentions, 60% negative mentions

    The game delivers generally excellent optimization, running smoothly at a constant 144 FPS on high-end PCs and supporting high refresh rate monitors. However, some users experienced occasional stuttering in later scenes. Overall, performance is praised as flawless with low system requirements and no major bugs or crashes reported.

    • “The game supports high refresh rate monitors and the performance was great, running at a constant 144 fps.”
    • “Flawless performance with low system requirements and no bugs or crashes experienced.”
    • “Performance rated 10/10: flawless, low system requirements, no bugs or crashes.”
    • “Where's your optimization?”
    • “Some late instances of stuttering scenes on my high-end PC.”
    • “Early frustration with save points and trial-and-error forced death caused some performance and user experience issues.”

  • stability

    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    33% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 67% negative mentions

    The game is generally stable with a smooth interface and no significant bugs or glitches, though a few minor spelling errors were noted. Some users found it slightly confusing at times but overall worth playing.

    • “There aren't any bugs, no things that are out of place, no glitches, nothing like that - a few spelling errors is all I saw.”
    • “A little buggy and confusing at times, but definitely worth a play through!”

  • monetization

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    The monetization of Detention is criticized for feeling like a cash grab, as it is essentially a mobile app repackaged for PC without significant enhancements. Players perceive it as a low-effort release by mobile developers aiming to profit rather than deliver a quality PC gaming experience.

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Critic Reviews

85%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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Play Times

4h Median play time
4h Average play time
3h Main story
4h Completionist
4-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 17 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Detention is a survival role playing game with horror, thriller and violence themes. Common tags for Detention include politics, indie, trading, surreal, psychological and others.

Detention is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, iPhone, Windows and others.

The main story can be completed in around 3 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 4 hours to finish. On average players spend around 4 hours playing Detention.

Detention was released on January 12, 2017.

Detention was developed by RedCandleGames.

Detention has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked Detention for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

Detention is a single player game.

Similar games include The Cat Lady, DISTRAINT, The Medium, SOMA, Layers of Fear and others.