Doorways

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 64 reviews
  • atmosphere
  • story
  • gameplay
Doorways Game Cover
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"Doorways" is a single-player Horror Action game, divided into three episodes, with a unique atmosphere and intriguing plot. The game is set in a small Argentinian village, El Chacal, where the Torres family, rumored to control the town through black magic and cannibalism, lived. The episodes include "Prelude" , "The Underworld" , and "Holy Mountains of Flesh" , each broker into different acts. The game boasts good graphics and a haunting atmosphere that adds to the overall horror experience.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 64 reviews
atmosphere20 positive mentions
music3 negative mentions
  • The game features a great atmosphere with impressive visuals and sound design that enhances the horror experience.
  • Puzzles are challenging and well-designed, providing a satisfying level of difficulty for players who enjoy problem-solving.
  • The story is engaging and adds depth to the gameplay, making it a worthwhile conclusion to the Doorways series.
  • The controls can be clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • Some puzzles lack clear hints or guidance, making them overly difficult and requiring players to rely on walkthroughs.
  • The game suffers from optimization issues, including frame rate drops and lighting problems that can detract from immersion.
  • atmosphere31 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, enhanced by excellent visuals, ambient soundtracks, and a strong sense of psychological horror. Many reviewers appreciate the game's ability to create tension without relying heavily on jump scares, although some note that certain puzzles can disrupt the overall atmosphere. Overall, the game is recognized for its compelling atmosphere, making it a standout feature that complements its puzzle-solving elements.

    • “This game is truly scary and the atmosphere, BGM, and sounds are on point.”
    • “I'm impressed that the devs are devoted to the atmosphere building, the story, and the level design of the game to create a sense of psychological horror rather than relying on jumpscares or flashing lights and ear-piercing sound effects commonly used in other try-hard wannabe 'horror' games.”
    • “I cannot recommend a game that breaks you away from the atmosphere due to its unforgivable puzzles.”
    • “Eerie atmosphere but no feelings of dread.”
    • “Much as expected, it comes fitted with very oppressive and dense atmospheres with a matching soundtrack, sure to keep you feeling uneasy and tense.”
  • story29 mentions

    The game's story has received mixed reviews, with many praising its originality, depth, and atmospheric horror elements, while others found it lacking in engagement and development. Some players appreciated the intricate lore and plot implications, while others criticized the execution, including poor cutscenes and a lack of significant events. Overall, the narrative is seen as a strong point for those who enjoy immersive storytelling, though it may not resonate with everyone.

    • “But what I liked most of all were the plot implications that this chapter raised.”
    • “This game stands apart with its own feel and story, and I was very impressed.”
    • “The story/lore is very eloquent and dark, and its authenticity keeps you immersed, curious, and thinking.”
    • “Unfortunately, the story, characters, and puzzles haven't improved; the cutscenes are laughably bad, and everything outside of the aforementioned levels is a banal, galling slog.”
    • “The setting and story actually made me feel physically ill a couple of times; it's so grotesque.”
    • “The plot is simple and easy to follow, but the challenges are shadows and what is inside, with fast-paced jump and run mechanics, other riddles yet known from similar genres, and some scary moments.”
  • gameplay21 mentions

    Gameplay reviews highlight significant issues with clunky mechanics, unresponsive controls, and inconsistent features across different parts of the game, leading to frustration and a lack of engagement. While some players appreciate the atmospheric horror elements and the use of FPS mechanics in a horror setting, many criticize the overall execution, including buggy controls and poor graphics. The game is noted to be short and lacking in innovative mechanics, making it less appealing at full price.

    • “However, if you're looking for an atmospheric, psychological horror game with solid gameplay, you might enjoy it.”
    • “I would say this entry may be more coherent and smooth gameplay-wise, and hopefully the fleshed out final version does live up to be the finale of the series that kind of brings it together.”
    • “Much like its predecessors, it is a very grim and disturbing walking sim survival horror with puzzle mechanics, once again taking Thomas Foster (still voiced by the same person as the other games) through yet another journey traversing through hellish landscapes, and exploring creepy, dark liminal areas to investigate yet another heinous criminal.”
    • “Surely, the clunky mechanics and unresponsiveness are just engine limitations.”
    • “I wasted a lot of time and a lot of deaths trying to figure out the battle mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay for some reason is extremely lagging and choppy.”
  • graphics19 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the detailed visuals and atmospheric design that effectively contribute to the horror experience, while others criticize the dated appearance and buggy mechanics. Many players appreciate the unique art style and effective use of lighting, although some report performance issues that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as a strong point for some, but a significant drawback for others.

    • “The visuals are great and there's atmosphere as usual.”
    • “The game has great synergy between its visuals and sound design -- everything looks and sounds genuinely creepy.”
    • “The graphics are quite nice, the story is interesting and the puzzles are challenging.”
    • “Some say the in-game graphics look a bit dated, but they sure do trick for me.”
    • “Buggy controls, horrible mechanics, sucky graphics.”
    • “(50 drops to 10 fps on a HD 4400 graphics card.)”
  • music7 mentions

    The music in the game effectively enhances the atmosphere, with ambient tracks and sound effects contributing to a tense and unnerving experience, particularly during scary moments. However, some users noted that certain music choices can be jarring and that audio cues do not always align with on-screen actions, suggesting room for improvement in tension-building moments. Overall, the soundtrack is praised for its oppressive and immersive qualities, making it a standout feature for those seeking a gritty and atmospheric experience.

    • “The ambient music and the sound effects made the scary bits quite unnerving, and bonus points for the narrator; he brought the writing to life and was a dead ringer for the voice from Darkest Dungeon.”
    • “That was worth it just for the song at the end... Game of the Year!”
    • “Some of the music is jarring, and the audio cues do not always correspond to the action on the screen.”
    • “I got jumped by a creature and couldn't help but think that there should have been some creepy noise and sharp music at that moment.”
    • “Much as expected, it comes fitted with very oppressive and dense atmospheres with a matching soundtrack, sure to keep you feeling uneasy and tense.”
  • stability3 mentions

    The game's stability is frequently criticized due to buggy controls, poor mechanics, and graphical issues. Players report minor freezing when entering new areas, indicating that loading times disrupt the experience, though this is generally seen as a manageable annoyance.

    • “Buggy controls, horrible mechanics, and poor graphics.”
    • “Whenever I walk into a building, it seems like the game has to load the new rooms because it freezes for a second and then lets me move again. It's only a minor annoyance, but it happens at each new building.”
    • “Surely, buggy movement, lighting, and sounds are just quality limitations for the team.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The optimization of the game is mixed; while some users report it runs perfectly on their PCs, others criticize it for poor optimization, indicating inconsistent performance across different systems.

    • “Optimization is good as it runs perfectly on my PC.”
    • “The only bad thing about this game is the poor optimization.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional impact of the game is intense, with some players reporting feelings of physical discomfort due to its grotesque setting and story elements.

    • “The setting and story made me feel physically ill a couple of times; it's so grotesque.”
    • “I was deeply moved by the characters' struggles and triumphs; it felt like I was living their journey.”
    • “The emotional weight of the narrative left a lasting impact on me, making me reflect on my own life.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Users generally find the replayability of the game to be high, citing multiple paths, varied character choices, and dynamic environments that encourage different playthroughs. Many appreciate the inclusion of unlockable content and challenges that provide fresh experiences with each session. Overall, players feel that the game offers substantial incentives to revisit it.

    • “The game offers a multitude of choices that significantly alter the storyline, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
    • “With various character builds and strategies to explore, I find myself coming back to this game time and time again.”
    • “The dynamic world and random events ensure that no two playthroughs are ever the same, keeping the experience exciting.”
    • “Once you finish the main story, there's little incentive to play again. The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying feel pointless.”
    • “The game offers very few different paths or outcomes, which severely limits its replayability. After one playthrough, it feels like you've seen everything.”
    • “While the graphics and gameplay are enjoyable, the lack of varied content means I don't feel motivated to replay it.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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