Ergastulum

About

Ergastulum is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by K Monkey and was released on November 5, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Purchase on Steam https://store.steampowered.com/app/598430/Ergastulum/ [Media 4690587] Ergastulum is a first-person fantasy horror that will test a players faith to the extremes. The game...

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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67%

Audience ScoreBased on 45 reviews

humor2 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game delivers a genuinely terrifying experience with meticulously crafted horror elements, including effective sound design and atmosphere.
Players appreciate the unique blend of adventure puzzle and survival horror mechanics, creating a fresh and engaging gameplay experience.
Despite being in early access, the game shows promise and has the potential to become a standout title in the horror genre.

The game has been largely abandoned by developers, with no updates since early 2021, leading to concerns about its future and playability.
Many players find the controls clunky and the gameplay mechanics confusing, making it difficult to progress and enjoy the experience.
The game suffers from bugs and performance issues, including poor sound effects and visual glitches, which detract from the overall immersion.

atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its intense and oppressive qualities, effectively blending psychological horror with a haunting environment. Players appreciate the strong visuals, sound design, and lore that contribute to a uniquely immersive experience, making it both scary and engaging. Overall, the game successfully creates a memorable atmosphere that keeps players on edge.
- “The devs clearly woke up and chose psychological violence — they know exactly how to build a tense, oppressive, 'why-am-I-doing-this-to-myself' kind of atmosphere.”
- “Very atmospheric and the sound design does a good job of keeping you on your toes.”
- “It blends two different atmospheres together incredibly well, creating one of the most unique games I've played in a long while.”
- “The devs clearly woke up and chose psychological violence — they know exactly how to build a tense, oppressive, 'why am I doing this to myself' kind of atmosphere.”
- “I know 'dungeons' is in the title, but then, why start in a haunted house with a very ghost-like atmosphere that promises something else?”
- “It's an intense atmosphere, and the real-world to nightmare transfer is epic; the monsters are amazing and new to the game, as well as our old friend Bloody Mary!”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics are generally considered good, with some users noting improvements and a strong atmosphere that complements the lore. However, there are criticisms regarding repetitiveness and incongruous sound effects. Overall, the visuals are satisfactory, even for those with lower-end hardware.
- “The visuals, atmosphere, and lore are impressive.”
- “It has a deeper story, improved graphics, terrifying scares, and moments that make your hand leave your keyboard entirely.”
- “Overall, the graphics and story are good.”
- “Also, the visuals are repetitive and the sound effects are often incongruous.”
- “You don't need a big graphic card to play it.”
- “Ok visuals.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game's story is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate its deeper narrative and the tension created by limited resources, others criticize the lack of direction and clarity, feeling that it relies too heavily on lore without providing a cohesive plot. Overall, the experience is enhanced by improved graphics and moments of genuine fear, but many agree that a more defined story would significantly improve gameplay.
- “It has a deeper story, improved graphics, terrifying scares, and moments that make your hand leave your keyboard entirely.”
- “No exit and save function, but overall good graphics and story.”
- “There is no story other than some lore, so you have no idea what you're even doing.”
- “It definitely needs some story, direction, and guidance to be worth playing.”
- “The idea of being helpless with only a crucifix and a candle to light your way makes most decisions vastly important in your quest to find souls and advance the story.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
Gameplay is characterized by clunky controls and a lack of clear explanations for many mechanics, which can lead to confusion. However, the unpredictability and frequent scares contribute to a chaotic yet enjoyable experience.
- “You get spooked and then you get spooked again; this, mixed with the new mechanics and unpredictability, makes for a chaotic and fun experience.”
- “The controls are clunky, and many mechanics aren't explained.”
- “You get spooked and then you get spooked again; this mixed with the new mechanics and unpredictability makes for a chaotic and fun experience.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a blend of dark and unsettling, combining elements of terror with comedic undertones, particularly through the portrayal of demonic children who find joy in their sinister actions. This juxtaposition creates a unique and chilling experience that elicits both laughter and discomfort.
- “It was both kind of humorous and terrifying.”
- “Demonic children shall slice and dice in freeze time motion, unnatural while laughing in diabolical glee at your torment.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been reported to have significant stability issues, with users experiencing frequent bugs and poor frame rates.
- “Very buggy and the FPS wasn't good.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized as deeply unsettling, with players feeling that the developers intentionally exploit their emotional distress to enhance the experience.