Escape the Ayuwoki

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 697 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • humor
Escape the Ayuwoki Game Cover
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In "Escape the Ayuwoki," players must navigate a mansion, complete tasks and puzzles to find a red key and open the main gate, all while avoiding the Ayuwoki, a supernatural creature that can hear and hunt the player. The game features a hide-and-seek mechanics, with designated hiding spots and a visibility indicator. A remake of the game, including a multiplayer expansion and DLC, is available on Steam.

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

Reviews

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 697 reviews
gameplay10 positive mentions
stability18 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique and creepy atmosphere, enhanced by the use of sound mechanics where the Ayuwoki reacts to players' microphone input.
  • Players have reported that the game is both scary and fun, with plenty of jump scares and a humorous twist on the horror genre.
  • The graphics and overall design of the game have been praised, with many players enjoying the detailed environments and character models.
  • The AI behavior can be frustrating, often leading to players being caught without clear reasons, and the lack of a tutorial leaves many feeling lost.
  • Technical issues such as lag, crashes, and bugs have been reported, making the game unplayable for some users.
  • The gameplay can become repetitive, with players often having to restart entire chapters after dying, which can diminish the overall experience.
  • gameplay41 mentions

    The gameplay of "Escape the Ayuwoki" has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying its unique mechanics, such as the monster's reaction to real-life sounds, while others criticize it for being clunky, repetitive, and reliant on fetch quests. Although the game offers varied environments and multiple endings, many find the AI behavior frustrating and the overall experience lacking in depth and innovation. While some players appreciate the challenge and immersive atmosphere, others feel that the gameplay becomes tedious and predictable over time.

    • “Escape the Ayuwoki is a horror game that initially gained attention for its unique concept and gameplay mechanics.”
    • “If you like challenging first-person stealth survival horror games, you'll really enjoy this. Although I struggled during my first playthrough (this game is hard), once I got the hang of the mechanics, I had a blast.”
    • “It has different endings based on various gameplay conditions, a choice of multiple routes in the final chapter, in-game collectibles, and unlockable gameplay modes if you complete the game on the hardest difficulty.”
    • “Next, the gameplay is clunky and uninspired.”
    • “It's the same old fetch quest-style gameplay we've seen countless times in other horror games.”
    • “With its abysmal graphics, uninspired gameplay, ineffective scares, broken AI, and lack of any meaningful story, it's a prime example of what a horror game should not be.”
  • story38 mentions

    The game's story receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it intriguing and enjoyable, while others criticize it for being thin, rushed, or lacking depth. Many noted that the narrative could have benefited from better structure, such as chapter saves, and that the overall execution fell short of its potential. Despite some positive elements, like unique concepts and interesting puzzles, the story often left players feeling aimless or confused.

    • “The plot is quite cryptic, but is revealed incrementally by finding cassette recorders around the mansion, or by accessing the video files and photos from the TV monitoring room.”
    • “This game started as a meme project, but developed into a very enjoyable escape horror game with a full storyline and original mechanics, where horrors react to your noise, even using your microphone.”
    • “I would recommend this game because of its graphics, its juicy storyline, and its overall experience.”
    • “The game's story is practically nonexistent, leaving players wandering aimlessly without any real purpose or motivation.”
    • “The story didn't make much sense.”
    • “The 'story' felt rushed as they didn't have much of a story.”
  • humor23 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a blend of intense hilarity and scares, with players enjoying the comedic elements tied to iconic characters like Michael Jackson. Many find the microphone interaction amusing, although some feel it can become annoying over time. Overall, the game successfully combines funny moments with a spooky atmosphere, making it a recommended experience for those seeking both thrills and laughs.

    • “It was super intense and hilarious, but the constant deaths from my own voice were a bit too much!”
    • “This game is funny and scary at the same time; this is a 5-star for me.”
    • “The meme-play is hilarious to boot.”
  • graphics21 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the visuals as "great" and "incredible," highlighting the effective use of lighting and textures, while others criticize them as "atrocious" and "low-quality." Despite the varied opinions, many agree that the graphics contribute positively to the horror atmosphere, although some feel that technical issues detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's visual presentation is seen as a strong point, but it is marred by inconsistencies and execution flaws.

    • “The game offers quite diversified and well-polished graphics with different atmospheres for an independent game, and the textures, lighting, and particle effects are pretty good.”
    • “The graphics are incredible and the gameplay feels smooth, especially now as a few years ago it was really jank and glitchy.”
    • “I would recommend this game because of its graphics, its juicy storyline, and its overall experience.”
    • “First and foremost, the graphics are atrocious.”
    • “I understand that not every horror game needs to be a visual masterpiece, but 'Escape the Ayuwoki' takes low-quality graphics to a whole new level.”
    • “It's a shame because the graphics and setting are there, but everything else is lacking, especially quality control (in chapter ?, you can look out of the windows and see the nearby rooms floating into the void).”
  • stability18 mentions

    The game "Escape the Ayuwoki" has been reported to have significant stability issues, including frequent crashes, performance problems, and various glitches that hinder gameplay. Players have experienced bugs such as unresponsive controls, disappearing saves, and pathing errors, making the game at times unplayable. While some users find the game enjoyable despite these issues, the overall consensus highlights a need for improvements in stability.

    • “My computer freezes and the program has to shut down.”
    • “Technical issues: players reported encountering technical issues and bugs in the final release of Escape the Ayuwoki, such as performance problems and glitches.”
    • “Buggy game, with each reinstall I have on this game it gets more and more bugs; first it started off with the mic not being detected, then it started with crashing, then mouse sensitivity not working and being very slow, and now I'm onto the part where my saves mysteriously disappear into thin air.”
  • music14 mentions

    The music in the game effectively enhances the atmosphere, drawing inspiration from iconic tracks like Michael Jackson's "Beat It" and "Smooth Criminal." Players appreciate the eerie soundscapes and well-timed audio cues that create tension and excitement, contributing to a thrilling experience filled with jump scares and immersive gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is praised for its ability to evoke strong emotions and keep players engaged.

    • “In conclusion, 'Beat It' remains an enduring masterpiece by Michael Jackson that showcases his versatility as an artist and his ability to create music with a lasting impact.”
    • “Its fusion of genres, powerful message, and memorable guitar solo make it a quintessential piece in the history of pop music.”
    • “The eerie music is perfectly placed within the game; the cues are on point, and the sound effects and vibes of the game really get you.”
    • “You will also constantly hear a soundtrack reminiscent of 'Smooth Criminal', and all the audio feedback is terrifying.”
    • “When I load up the game, it goes to a black screen but I can still hear the music.”
    • “This game had me playing Michael Jackson's songs and screaming to the possessed Michael.”
  • atmosphere11 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its diverse and polished graphics, effectively utilizing dim lighting, unsettling sounds, and eerie elements to create a tense and immersive experience. Players appreciate the balance of jump scares with a creepy ambiance, although some feel the reliance on jump scares detracts from the overall atmospheric tension. Overall, the game successfully evokes a sense of dread and intrigue, making it a standout in its genre.

    • “The game offers quite diversified and well-polished graphics with different atmospheres for an independent game, and the textures, lighting, and particle effects are pretty good.”
    • “The game's initial demos showcased an eerie atmosphere and an intriguing premise that captivated players.”
    • “The game effectively utilized atmospheric elements, such as dim lighting, unsettling sounds, and sudden appearances of the ayuwoki, to keep players on edge.”
    • “A horror game should have atmosphere along with the jump scares, but it felt like it was all jump scares.”
    • “It's scary, creates a tense and dreadful atmosphere, and the fact checkpoints are now implemented means it's easier to experiment with how the AI works to avoid it, and makes it easier for the player to better explore the chapters without fear of lost progress.”
    • “The atmosphere is pretty creepy as well!”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The optimization of "Escape the Ayuwoki" has been criticized due to various technical issues, including performance problems and glitches that detract from the overall experience. Players feel that the game requires significant improvements in its optimization settings and instructions to enhance gameplay.

    • “I just think this game needs to be more optimized, if that's the right word to put it.”
    • “Players reported encountering technical issues and bugs in the final release of Escape the Ayuwoki, such as performance problems and glitches.”
    • “I'll hold off on buying the DLC until they fix at least the AI and the performance issues.”
    • “The art and sound design are great, the gameplay is okay, the story is thin, the voice acting is mediocre, and the optimization, settings, and instructions have considerable room for improvement.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is excessively tedious, with players feeling it requires an unrealistic time commitment, leading to a high drop-off rate before completion. While some elements of the game are enjoyable, the repetitive nature of grinding detracts significantly from the overall experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “I find it impossible to explain how there are so many positive reviews when the game is so tedious to play and literally only 6% of the users decided to finish the final chapter.”
    • “Generally though, it is a mix of a game, mainly because the Michael Jackson moments feel limited. I think around halfway through the game I saw it just as another unrelenting demon, while the gameplay is a mix of tedious to simple.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game has been criticized for its lack of depth, with many users feeling that the final release did not live up to the promising storytelling hinted at in the initial demos.

    • “Lack of depth: while the initial demos showcased an intriguing premise, the final release may have fallen short in terms of storytelling and character development.”
    • “The characters feel one-dimensional and fail to evolve throughout the game, making it hard to connect with their journeys.”
    • “Despite the potential for rich backstories, the character arcs are predictable and lack meaningful progression.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

4hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
1-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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