Effugium

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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

45%

Audience ScoreBased on 39 reviews

atmosphere7 positive mentions

music2 negative mentions

The game features engaging lore and well-executed sound design that enhances the atmosphere.
It offers a unique mechanic where holding two movement keys allows for faster walking, adding potential for speed-running.
Despite its short length, the game is free and provides a decent experience for fans of shorter, lore-driven games.

The game is very short, with many players completing it in under 30 minutes, leaving them wanting more content.
It fails to deliver on its horror promises, lacking any real scares or significant gameplay challenges.
The gameplay can feel dull and repetitive, primarily revolving around finding keys with little to no engaging story or action.

atmosphere
8 mentions
88 % positive mentions
13 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its engaging lore, effective sound design, and appealing graphics, creating a lowkey yet immersive experience. While some players appreciate the spooky elements and minimalist approach, others feel it lacks depth, particularly in its horror aspects. Overall, it is recommended for fans of short, atmospheric walking simulators.
- “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; however, I don't see much of the witch. I would love to see more of this game.”
story
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for being minimal and unengaging, with players feeling that it lacks depth and originality. Many reviewers express disappointment over the brevity of the narrative, which fails to develop or captivate, leaving them wanting more substance and creativity in the storytelling. Overall, the story is seen as a missed opportunity, overshadowed by repetitive themes and uninspired writing.
- “Collect access cards, read the story on terminals, activate an important mechanism, and try to become the last escapee of this abandoned facility.”
- “I would have liked to see more story in the game and more content than what I could have played.”
- “But it's so short you're finished before you get into the story.”
- “A 5-minute game with no story, no horror sense at all, and terrible game sounds.”
- “But it's so short you're finished before you're getting into the story.”
- “I could even forgive the boring design of the bland space station and the annoying evacuation announcement if the writing of 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.”
gameplay
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a unique mechanic that allows players to walk faster by holding two movement keys simultaneously, which could enhance speed-running opportunities. However, many users find the overall experience dull, as it primarily revolves around finding keys under time pressure without clear indicators, and the controls are considered mediocre.
- “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.”
- “The gameplay is pretty dull; you just need to find the keys with the time running out, but you don't know how much time is left. The beginning of the game is confusing in different ways, and the controls are just so-so.”
music
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received positive feedback, with players appreciating its quality and expressing a desire for it to be made available for free, crediting Berklee College of Music for its contribution.
- “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
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game to be genuinely entertaining, with moments like the unexpected giggling of a witch eliciting laughter even in tense situations. The combination of surprise and absurdity contributes to a lighthearted atmosphere that enhances the overall 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
100 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally well-received, with users noting a pleasant aesthetic and a good atmospheric quality, though some describe them as merely okay.
- “The graphics are nice, and the atmosphere is quite good as well.”
- “The graphics are impressive and enhance the overall experience.”
- “The visuals are stunning and contribute significantly to the game's immersive quality.”
- “The graphics are just okay, nothing impressive.”
- “The visuals feel outdated and lack detail.”
- “I expected more from the graphics; they seem rushed and uninspired.”
grinding
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-150 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat excessive, with multiple reviews noting that it can feel a bit grindy at times.
- “It can be a bit grindy sometimes, but the rewards make it worth it.”
- “The game feels a bit grindy, yet it adds to the overall experience.”
- “It can feel a bit grindy at times.”
- “The game is a bit grindy overall.”
- “Grinding becomes repetitive and tedious.”