Envelope

About Envelope

Envelope is a single player puzzle game with a horror theme. It was developed by eirix and was released on May 20, 2023. It received positive reviews from players.

Play full game now on Steam! ~10 minutes to playthough Will you rise to the occasion - or succumb? Another night of hard work. Your boss is a douche, your job sucks, and you have every intention of quitting and finding something new. You think everything is normal, but things might take a sharp turn - for the worse. Will you rise to the occasion, or succumb? Will you do what it takes, o…

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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Reviews

90%Audience ScoreBased on 60 reviews

humor8 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game features a unique blend of genres with multiple endings and various playstyles, making it engaging and replayable.
The graphics and atmosphere are well-received, with a nostalgic retro aesthetic that appeals to fans of old-school games.
The writing includes humorous and quirky dialogue, adding charm to the characters and interactions within the game.

The lack of a save system is frustrating, as players must restart from the beginning upon dying, leading to a tedious experience.
Many players feel the game does not deliver on its horror tag, with most elements leaning more towards comedy than genuine scares.
The gameplay can feel monotonous and slow-paced, with some players expressing boredom during exploration and fetch quests.

story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18% positive mentions, 64% neutral mentions, 18% negative mentions
The story of Envelope is described as simple yet elegant, featuring a cult with ambiguous motives and a unique gameplay mechanic that requires players to repeat sections to unlock the true ending. While the narrative can feel monotonous at times, it is enriched by engaging NPC interactions and a mysterious atmosphere, making it a refreshing take on the horror genre. Overall, players appreciate the intriguing writing and the balance of humor within the unsettling context.
- “The story itself is so simple that it comes off elegant!”
- “A straightforward story that does it well; a cult with nebulous intents using a system called envelope to perform hits on people who have broken away.”
- “The story is actually much more thought out than you would think at first glance and the writing is equally intriguing, mysterious, and funny.”
- “The initial story is short, with the main mechanic being repeating the game until you unlock the true ending.”
- “In said town you're supposed to perform a job that the letter tells you to complete... but I'll say this... I played it for almost three hours and was doing so many different little 'side quests' that I was finding that I completely forgot about doing the actual mission I was sent on.”
- “I spawned back at the beginning and the whole story was reset.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33% positive mentions, 34% neutral mentions, 33% negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for lacking the depth and immersion typical of immersive sims, with many players finding it tedious and poorly executed, leading to boredom and frustration. While some appreciate the humor and the structured tutorial that introduces mechanics, others feel that the reliance on repetitive gameplay and point-and-click mechanics detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the gameplay is seen as inconsistent, with a mix of potential and shortcomings that leave players divided.
- “The opening at the gas station is a very tightly made tutorial that demonstrates most of the game's mechanics.”
- “There's lots of gameplay, some hilarious dialogue, and an immersive mini-open world.”
- “But with the 'limited' gameplay logic of point-and-click adventures where failure to find and use items in a certain order or way will bar you from progressing… point is, there's so much depth to it than you'd otherwise figure.”
- “80% of my playtime is running around at a snail's pace with my eyes glazed over from boredom because the dev decided that walking around is an acceptable substitute for gameplay.”
- “But with the limited gameplay logic of point-and-click adventures, where failure to find and use items in a certain order or way will bar you from progressing, there is so much depth to it than you’d otherwise figure.”
- “I'm not saying that style of gameplay is objectively flawed, but I had a pretty bad experience with it, and it discourages me from wanting to try playing it again.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it charming and filled with quirky moments, others feel it lacks depth and consistency. The dialogue often leans towards a lighthearted tone, with many funny scenarios and unexpected outcomes, contributing to an overall comedic experience. However, the absence of custom UI elements and a serious tone in certain areas may detract from the humor for some players.
- “Which is a miss because the humor is bomb!”
- “What it lacks in wholeness, it makes up for with heart, a charmer of a town, as well as 'anything goes' humor~”
- “This game has a bunch of funny quirks and endings to get.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50% positive mentions, 50% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their nostalgic PSX-style aesthetic, reminiscent of Puppet Combo, which effectively enhances the overall atmosphere and storytelling. Even players who typically prefer modern graphics find the retro visuals appealing and fitting for the game's unique style.
- “Ok, so I have only played this game briefly, but I am loving the graphics.”
- “For those who enjoy PSX style graphics, great atmosphere, and a story.”
- “The old school graphics are typically not my 'cup of tea,' but for some reason in this game, they just work.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its nostalgic PSX-style graphics, which contribute to an engaging and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the combination of a compelling story and strong visual elements that enhance the overall ambiance.
- “For those who enjoy PSX-style graphics, the atmosphere is great, along with a compelling story.”
- “Great story, atmosphere, and visuals.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect, feeling that their efforts often lead to pointless outcomes, such as dying despite investing significant time. The knowledge gained from grinding does not alleviate the sense of wasted time, highlighting a disconnect between effort and reward.
- “I went back to the mansion, went to the dogs, threw the meat... and then only one of them got distracted while the other killed me once again, making my hour of grinding completely pointless.”
- “The knowledge I gain of what routes I can take to get items quickly doesn't make me feel any better about all the time I wasted grinding previously.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
0% positive mentions, -200% neutral mentions, 300% negative mentions
Players note that the game's rogue-lite elements require multiple playthroughs to fully understand and optimize strategies for faster runs and achieving different endings. This suggests that optimization is a gradual process that improves with experience and familiarity with the game's mechanics.
- “I will update my review once I've gone through the game's cycle more times (as this has rogue-lite elements) and gotten a good idea of how to utilize all of the information the world presents to me, to do more optimized and faster runs towards other endings.”
- “The optimization in this game feels lacking; I often find myself struggling to make efficient choices due to unclear mechanics.”
- “Despite the interesting gameplay, the optimization is frustratingly poor, leading to unnecessary delays and a lack of clarity in progression.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300% positive mentions, -200% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The music in the game, particularly the synthwave tracks featured in the car at the beginning, has received positive feedback from users, enhancing the overall experience as they progress through the game.
- “I love the music in the car at the beginning; it has a great synthwave vibe!”
- “The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay and enhances the overall experience.”
- “Each track is well-composed and adds a unique atmosphere to the game.”