DOM RUSALOK

About

DOM RUSALOK is a single player simulation game with horror and fantasy themes. It was developed by Butuzoff and was released on January 6, 2021. It received positive reviews from players.

Russia in the ‘90s. A provincial town at the edge of the crumbling Soviet Empire. A group of kids faces the disturbing horror they are unable to comprehend – the Døm Rusalok. This is a place where the worst nightmares come true.

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 40 reviews

story8 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features a captivating storyline and a unique atmosphere that immerses players in a mysterious and nostalgic setting reminiscent of 1990s Russia.
The graphics and background art are praised for their quality, contributing significantly to the game's ambiance and overall experience.
Players appreciate the engaging characters and the blend of horror elements with cultural references, making it a memorable journey into the unknown.

The game's ending is often described as confusing and unsatisfying, leaving many players feeling that the story does not resolve adequately.
Controls are criticized for being clunky and unintuitive, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience.
Some players noted that the gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks challenging puzzles, leading to a disengaging experience at times.

story
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
67%
9%
The game's story is described as captivating and engrossing, with a rich atmosphere that draws players in, reminiscent of works by Harlan Ellison and Stephen King. However, many players found the ending disappointing and confusing, with a lack of resolution and insufficient character development. Additionally, language barriers and unclear interactions detracted from the overall understanding of the narrative, leaving some players feeling lost in the story's intricacies.
- “A captivating storyline creates an enchanting experience.”
- “The storyline is engrossing and keeps you both guessing and wanting more.”
- “Thankfully for the game's (intentional) drab presentation, the story is compelling and the atmosphere is tense, especially after you start crawling the game's many abandoned buildings, decrepit corridors, and subterranean facilities.”
- “The game's ending is a bit confusing, and the fact that most of the signs and texts you encounter aren't translated into English made me feel like I was missing out on some clues to fully understand the story.”
- “On the other hand, the story was impenetrable to me.”
- “The ending is disappointing and does not resolve the story.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its rich, tense, and immersive qualities, enhanced by its drab visuals and compelling storytelling. Players appreciate the horror-like ambiance and cultural references, particularly those rooted in Russian internet lore, which contribute to a unique experience. However, some critiques mention that while the atmosphere is engaging, the narrative ultimately feels lacking or unresolved.
- “Thankfully for the game's (intentional) drab presentation, the story is compelling and the atmosphere is tense, especially after you start crawling the game's many abandoned buildings, decrepit corridors, and subterranean facilities.”
- “It catches the atmosphere perfectly; it makes the player think by not giving direct answers, with lots of easter eggs. I enjoyed the reference to the famous old 'cursed video' 'бе3н0гnм', mostly unknown outside the Russian internet.”
- “I enjoyed the horror-like atmosphere; well done.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The gameplay is characterized by minimal interaction and unpolished mechanics, particularly in the point-and-click genre, leading to a repetitive experience as players navigate through similar environments. While the controls detract from the overall experience and character development is lacking, the intriguing story is well-integrated into the gameplay, providing some engagement despite its shortcomings. Players may find the need to replay sections frustrating, but the game's length mitigates this issue somewhat.
- “You won’t get very many details about each character you play as, so you don’t really form that deep of a connection to them, but the overall story is interesting and I loved how it was pieced together along the gameplay.”
- “Due to the nature of gameplay and overall length of this game, this is not a huge issue.”
- “The actual gameplay is minimal.”
- “Either way, I don’t really care for the controls in this game and felt it detracted from the gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is also a bit unpolished, even for simple point-and-click standards, and entering dingy corridors after a while starts feeling repetitive and unrealistic.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's graphics and overall atmosphere are widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting the strong graphic design as its standout feature. The visuals effectively complement the storytelling, evoking a sense of familiarity reminiscent of works by Harlan Ellison and Stephen King.
- “I enjoyed this game; it has nice graphics and atmosphere.”
- “I think everyone will agree that this game's strongest aspect is its graphic design.”
- “The story and aesthetic were very reminiscent of Harlan Ellison or Stephen King.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional impact of the game hindered by a confusing ending and a lack of English translations for key texts, which leaves them feeling disconnected from the story. The art style contributes to a sense of tension, creating an atmosphere where players feel as though they are anticipating a jumpscare rather than fully engaging with the narrative.
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The music and background noise in the game are praised for enhancing the overall ambiance, complementing the quality of the background art effectively. Reviewers express a positive sentiment towards the music, contributing to a reluctant endorsement of the game.
- “The music and background noise add to the ambiance excellently.”
- “Combined with the quality of the background art and the use of music, I give this a reluctant endorsement.”
- “Combined with the quality of the background art and use of music, I give this a reluctant endorsement.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, noting that the time spent walking around feels excessive and detracts from the overall experience.
- “Walking around is tedious and takes too long.”
- “Walking around is tedious and takes too long.”