Effugium

About

Effugium is a single player simulation game with a horror theme. It was developed by Team Glasses and was released on July 3, 2023. It received neutral reviews from players.

Explore a cold, abandoned, and dreary facility to piece together its mysteries and find a means for escape from the horror that lurks within.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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54%

Audience ScoreBased on 46 reviews

atmosphere7 positive mentions

Atmospheric with decent sound design and some engaging lore.
Free and very short, making it a quick experience for casual players.
Interesting concept with some unique mechanics like combined movement keys for faster walking.

Very short gameplay with minimal story and lack of true horror elements.
Gameplay is mostly walking and reading terminals, with little interaction or challenge.
Some technical issues like lag and overly sensitive controls, plus repetitive exit messages.

story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The story is minimal and clichéd, offering little depth or engagement beyond basic sci-fi horror tropes. It's very short, poorly developed, and fails to create a compelling narrative or atmosphere, leaving players wanting more substance.
- “Collect access cards, read the story on terminals, activate an important mechanism and try to become the last escapee of this abandoned facility.”
- “It's short and there are trophies if you're so inclined, but beyond that I didn't find much here to recommend because there's very little in terms of gameplay and story.”
- “I could even forgive the boring design of the bland space station and the annoying evacuation announcements if the writing on the info stations was intriguing or at least entertaining, but no, it's the same old 'project XY failed, the experiment has gone mad, we passed a threshold we never should have' story common in sci-fi horror media.”
- “It's short and there's trophies if you're so inclined but beyond that I didn't find much here to recommend because there's very little in terms of gameplay and story.”
- “But it's so short you're finished before you get into the story.”
- “I could even forgive the boring design of the bland space station and the annoying evacuation announcement if the writing on the info stations was intriguing or at least entertaining, but no, it's the same old 'project xy failed, oh no the experiment has gone mad, we passed a threshold we never should've' stuff, whose variations seem to be the one possible story for sci-fi horror media.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
88%
12%
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its engaging lore, well-executed sound design, and spooky, minimalist vibe, making it a recommended choice for fans of short, atmospheric walking simulators. However, some players felt the atmospheric elements, particularly related to the witch theme, were underdeveloped or less impactful.
- “The lore was engaging, and the sound design was well-executed, adding to the atmosphere.”
- “It's a nice, short and atmospheric walking simulator recommended for people who like walking simulators.”
- “The game has a spooky atmosphere and interesting lore; I would love to see more of this game.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is minimal and quite short, offering limited engagement beyond basic key-finding with a hidden timer. While there is an interesting mechanic allowing faster movement by holding two keys simultaneously, overall the controls feel average and the experience lacks depth or a compelling story.
- “I also noticed an interesting mechanic where holding two movement keys at once allows you to walk faster (except for W and S, naturally), which could make for some fun speed-running potential.”
- “It's short and there are trophies if you're so inclined.”
- “It's okay for a free game and 5-minute gameplay.”
- “It's short and there's trophies if you're so inclined but beyond that I didn't find much here to recommend because there's quite literally very little here in terms of gameplay and story.”
- “But, the gameplay is pretty dull, you just need to find the keys with the time running out (but you don't know how much is left), the beginning of the game is confusing in different ways, the controls are just so-so.”
- “It's ok for a free game and 5 minute gameplay.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The music is highly appreciated, with praise given to Berklee College of Music for its quality. Users express a desire for the soundtrack to be made available for free.
- “I really enjoyed the music.”
- “Credit to Berklee College of Music for that.”
- “I'd love to see the music from this made available for free, of course.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by unexpected and amusing moments, such as the mysterious giggling witch, which caught players off guard and elicited genuine laughter. This playful use of sound and surprise adds a lighthearted and entertaining element to the experience.
- “Truthfully, I died laughing....”
- “When I first heard the laughing I was a little worried because I couldn't see the 'monster' or in this case 'the giggling witch,' but then I searched the room and found nothing.”
- “So I found the laughing laughable.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
The graphics are generally described as nice and satisfactory, contributing to a subtle and pleasant atmosphere. Overall, users find the visual quality acceptable but not outstanding.
- “The graphics are nice, and the atmosphere is subtly good.”
- “☼ graphics ☼”
- “+ ok graphics”
- “Ok graphics”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the game somewhat grindy at times, indicating that certain sections may require repetitive tasks to progress.