DON'T SCREAM

67%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,156 reviews
  • graphics
  • atmosphere
  • gameplay
DON'T SCREAM Game Cover
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"DON'T SCREAM" is a short horror experience built in Unreal Engine 5, inspired by '90s camcorder found footage. The objective is to explore Pineview Forest for 18 minutes without screaming, as your microphone is calibrated to detect even slight sounds. With dynamic scares, each playthrough promises a unique fright.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

67%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,156 reviews
graphics174 positive mentions
story36 negative mentions
  • graphics354 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many players praising the stunning visuals and realistic environments made possible by Unreal Engine 5. The aesthetic, particularly the found footage style, enhances the atmosphere and immersion, although some users noted performance issues and a lack of customization options. Overall, while the graphics are a highlight, they are often contrasted with criticisms of the gameplay and scare mechanics.

    • “The graphics can and will take you away from reality.”
    • “I really do love how this game used UE5 and made the gameplay and graphics almost photorealistic.”
    • “The graphics are incredible and the VHS found footage style just adds to the atmosphere.”
    • “Sucks, only graphics and that's me being generous; the horrible jump scares aren't even jumpy.”
    • “And the graphics are complete garbage on high settings.”
    • “Upon loading into this pixelated nightmare, I was greeted with graphics so outdated that even my toaster looked at the screen in pity.”
  • atmosphere299 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its creepiness and immersive qualities, effectively creating tension through sound design and visuals. However, many reviewers feel that the reliance on cheap jump scares undermines the overall experience, detracting from the potential for a more psychologically driven horror atmosphere. While the graphics and setting are noted as strong points, there is a consensus that the game would benefit from a greater focus on building suspense rather than relying heavily on sudden scares.

    • “In combination with the music, atmosphere, and jump scares, it winds up keeping you on the edge of your seat and fearing your surroundings effectively.”
    • “The atmosphere, especially in the first 2-3 times you play the game, is absolutely phenomenal.”
    • “There's constant tension, the ambient noises and the graphics are almost real; the camcorder filter helps a lot, creating the perfect atmosphere for the game.”
    • “The scares felt forced, and the game failed to establish a sustained atmosphere of fear and tension that is essential for a memorable horror experience.”
    • “Litterally nothing but jumpscares; the atmosphere is weak and the only reason to feel uneasy is because you're waiting for the next jumpscare.”
    • “Despite it being in the woods, I never actually felt scared; the atmosphere is a bit dull.”
  • gameplay264 mentions

    The gameplay of this early access title has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its unique microphone mechanic that adds a layer of challenge but also leads to frustration due to audio detection issues. While the atmosphere and graphics are praised for their quality, the gameplay itself is often described as repetitive and lacking depth, with limited objectives and a short playtime that some feel does not justify the price. Overall, while there is potential for improvement, many players feel the current state of gameplay is underwhelming and in need of more content and variety.

    • “I really do love how this game used UE5 and made the gameplay and graphics almost photorealistic.”
    • “While I didn't experience the expected scares, the game more than made up for it with its engaging gameplay, clever mechanics, and atmospheric setting.”
    • “The cleverly crafted gameplay mechanics kept me on my toes, constantly testing my reflexes and problem-solving skills as I navigated through the various levels.”
    • “Gameplay is really where there's a lack right now, and I say that only because I passed not screaming my very first time playing and 'surviving' 63 attempts in the allotted 18 minutes.”
    • “$10 for 20-30 minutes of gameplay isn't worth it.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive, and the jump scares are few and far between, making the experience painfully dull.”
  • story233 mentions

    The game's story is largely absent, with many players noting it feels more like a walking simulator than a narrative-driven experience. While there are some environmental storytelling elements, they lack depth and coherence, leaving players wanting a more substantial plot or objectives to enhance engagement. Overall, the consensus is that the game would greatly benefit from a well-developed storyline to complement its visual appeal and jump scares.

    • “The concept is good, but the game itself did not deliver; it feels more like a technical demo than an actual game. The whole composition of the scenario is pretty to look at, and the filter used for the old camera effect goes really well with the camera movement, in combination with the well-crafted scene of the forest with all these small pieces of story scattered throughout.”
    • “From plane crashes to graveyards and entire slaughters of people and animals, I found myself wanting a story to find out what exactly is going on in these woods.”
    • “I think this game really shines in the interactive environments like the mini-mart or the homestead, where you need to open doors or play recordings to discover the story behind the setting.”
    • “The map is open world and there isn't a storyline yet, so the depth of the game is shallow.”
    • “Game was not even scary; repeated the same jump scares 80% of the time, was predictable, and there was no story in the game at all, nor objective, and not even a sense of danger in my opinion.”
    • “Unfortunately, the graphics are the only thing you may get immersed in because 'Don't Scream' lacks a plot, story, or lore.”
  • optimization86 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting poor performance, frequent stuttering, and low frame rates even on mid to high-end systems. While some users managed to achieve stable performance, the general consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization improvements, particularly for those using lower-end hardware. The reliance on Unreal Engine 5 has been noted as a potential factor contributing to these performance issues.

    • “With uevr, you're further able to change various settings to get the absolute best performance, such as resolution scale and sharpening.”
    • “The game is highly immersive, although adding in an FOV setting and perhaps a few other settings to improve performance, such as motion blur, would be beneficial.”
    • “My Ryzen 5 5600X, RTX 3060 Ti, and 32 GB of RAM did the trick on high quality while I had OBS running in the background, but I believe that there could be better optimization for lower-end PCs if they decided to add graphics settings that could get rid of possibly unnecessary graphics settings that can help boost performance.”
    • “The big 'made with UE5' seems like a copout for bad asset optimization and level streaming.”
    • “Performance is really bad; playing at 1440p with a 6950 XT and a 5800X3D, I barely get 40 FPS.”
    • “It's crucial for a horror game to maintain a steady and smooth performance to effectively build tension and fear, and 'Don't Scream' sadly misses the mark in this regard.”
  • humor85 mentions

    The humor in the game is a prominent aspect, with many players finding themselves laughing more than being scared, often due to the predictability and cheesiness of the jump scares. While some moments are genuinely funny, the overall execution tends to undermine the horror experience, leading to a mix of amusement and frustration. Players noted that the game can be entertaining, especially in a multiplayer or streaming context, where laughter often takes precedence over fear.

    • “At first it's scary then it's funny.”
    • “So much so that when I hit play to do the whole 18 minutes over again, I forgot to stop laughing and had to restart.”
    • “I lost the game, not because I screamed, but because I said 'how's it hanging guys' when I saw the hanging bodies and couldn't keep myself from laughing at my own terrible joke.”
  • replayability37 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is widely criticized, with many players noting a lack of engaging content that would encourage multiple playthroughs. While some mention the potential for exploration and future updates to enhance replay value, the consensus leans towards it being a one-time experience with minimal incentive to return. A few players express hope that the developers will implement features to improve replayability, but currently, it is seen as lacking.

    • “Furthermore, the game's replay value is through the roof.”
    • “Summing this up, I have had a tremendous amount of fun and even though a playthrough itself is very short, the replay value is already high.”
    • “Keeping it recommended and not refunding as I feel like this concept could form into something more replayable, rather than a 1-2 time 'experience' or 'proof of concept' type thing.”
    • “The replay value is non-existent.”
    • “Currently, the replayability is certainly lacking unless you wish to discover other portions of the map.”
    • “Not that scary, not much replay value.”
  • stability24 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing smooth gameplay free of glitches, while others report significant issues such as frequent bugs, camera glitches, and freezing timers. Many users express hope that the developers will address these problems in future updates to enhance the overall experience. Overall, the game's stability appears to be inconsistent, impacting player enjoyment.

    • “My actual gameplay experience was smooth with no glitches or bugs, which is great.”
    • “I've gone through all troubleshooting on your Discord to end up with no fix.”
    • “Yea, this was way too buggy to even play.”
    • “The game looks very nice and promising, but it's really not what I expected and it's buggy.”
  • music21 mentions

    The music in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate its ability to enhance the atmosphere and create tension, others find it less effective, suggesting it detracts from the overall experience. There are calls for more dynamic audio cues to signal proximity to landmarks and to eliminate certain tracks that disrupt immersion. Overall, while the intense music at key moments is praised, many feel it could be improved to better support the game's horror elements.

    • “In combination with the music, atmosphere, and jump scares, it winds up keeping you on the edge of your seat and fearing your surroundings effectively.”
    • “The atmosphere is even more unsettling and the music is absolutely awesome.”
    • “Rising and falling music would accent the game nicely.”
    • “Granted, I've ghost hunted in real life, so this was kind of the same old song and dance for me.”
    • “I'm more afraid of a Korn song than this game.”
    • “More on that, the music is more of a detriment than it is an advantage to get people to scream.”
  • emotional12 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized for failing to engage players, with many finding it boring and lacking genuine emotional impact. Reviewers suggest that it seems designed primarily for content creators who exaggerate their reactions, rather than providing a meaningful experience for players. Comparisons to other games highlight a lack of effective ambiance and tension, which detracts from the overall emotional engagement.

    • “A great way to learn from this is to take from Demonologist; they did the ambiance beautifully and made me feel that I could have a heart attack at any moment.”
    • “In all honesty, I think this game was made for one target audience and one target audience only: content creators who over-exaggerate their emotional response to whatever happens in a game for entertainment purposes.”
    • “The game can be beaten easily in less than 20 minutes, and most of the time the deaths were caused by malfunctions within the game detecting my keyboard or me touching my desk (yes, I did calibrate).”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Players consistently express that grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming and repetitive, often requiring a significant investment of time to progress. While some find the mechanics enjoyable and initially thrilling, the experience can become tedious after repeated playthroughs.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “I like the mechanics of this game; although it seems a bit tedious and repetitive, it was definitely fun and scary the first few go-arounds, but then you get used to the same jump scares.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game is criticized as a cash grab, with mechanics designed to manipulate players into playing long enough to avoid refunds, highlighting a lack of genuine value or quality in the product.

    • “This is just an asset flip cash grab, and the 'sensitize your mic so that every noise counts as a scream' is just a method to ensure you play for 2 hours to avoid refunding the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

2hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
2-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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