Escape: The Endless Dogwatch
- August 24, 2022
- LVGameDev LLC
Get on Steam"Escape: The Endless Dogwatch" is a narrative-driven survival game where you play as a sailor stranded at sea. Your only companion is a loyal dog, and together you must navigate the harsh ocean, battle the elements, and maintain your sanity. With a focus on resource management, crafting, and exploration, players must make tough decisions that will impact their chances of survival and the story's outcome.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features charming pixel art and a unique visual style that enhances the nautical horror atmosphere.
- Engaging and straightforward puzzles that are easy to solve, making it accessible for fans of point-and-click games.
- Offers multiple endings and replayability, allowing players to explore different outcomes based on their choices.
- The game is very short, typically taking only about an hour to complete, which may not justify the price for some players.
- The story lacks depth and complexity, leaving some players wanting more lore and worldbuilding.
- Some gameplay mechanics, such as the time management system, can feel limiting and may detract from the overall experience.
- story14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The story is generally described as engaging and nautical, though not overly complex, with many players noting its brevity—completing the game in about an hour. While some found it enjoyable and charming, others expressed disappointment in its simplicity and wished for a more substantial narrative. Overall, it offers a fun experience, particularly for its price point, despite varying opinions on its depth.
“The story is nautical and interesting.”
“The story isn’t too complex but is engaging.”
“It’s a very short game, I was able to 100% it in about an hour but the story is engaging enough that the first run-through was enjoyable.”
“The story is your undistinguished ghost ship (2002), one with an unspeakable past, or so it would have you think!”
“Didn't care for the story much and it's also pretty short.”
“Also less story, but there is a story.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's pixel graphics are uniquely styled, resembling hand-drawn art that enhances its charm despite some minor glitches. Players appreciate the retro aesthetic and clarity of visuals, which contribute to an enjoyable experience, although some desire higher fidelity in certain areas. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, complementing the game's adventure and horror elements.
“The pixel graphics are uniquely done; it almost appears drawn in some instances. Despite the seemingly low quality, everything is quite clear and easy to see. The unique visual style is why I was originally drawn to it, and it pays off well.”
“I really enjoyed and recommend this short horror adventure; its stylish retro visuals, neat puzzles, and multiple endings.”
“I would have enjoyed it more if there was slightly higher fidelity artwork in places.”
“Very classy point-and-click graphics.”
“The art style is charming, but the graphics could use improvement.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its effective nautical horror vibe, creating a captivating setting of isolation on a ship with an underlying sense of dread. While the soundtrack adds to the ambiance, the overall experience is described as more pleasant than frightening, with a short but engaging execution that leaves players excited.
“It's short and atmospheric and really hits the nautical horror vibe it's going for really well.”
“And this atmosphere is executed perfectly here; although it is not frightening, as in 'Man of Medan' or 'Return of the Obra Dinn', it feels extremely pleasant and exciting.”
“However, it does lean a little on the easy side, and while it has the right atmosphere, it never is truly scary.”
“First of all, I was captivated by the setting - I really love this atmosphere of people locked on a ship in the middle of the ocean, with some kind of devilry happening on board, and a ruthless natural element lurking behind the windows.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay primarily features standard point-and-click puzzles, which are well-executed in a first-person perspective. While it may lack innovative elements, fans of the genre will find it accessible and enjoyable, with success mechanics evaluated at the game's conclusion.
“The gameplay follows standard point-and-click style puzzles; if you enjoy point-and-click games, you won't have any trouble here.”
“The gameplay follows standard point-and-click style puzzles; there isn’t much else to say here, and there isn’t really anything interesting beyond that. If you like point-and-click games, you won’t have any trouble here.”
“The first-person point-and-click style of gameplay works fantastically well.”
“Success mechanics are calculated at the end of the game.”
- music3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as subtle and not overly noticeable, yet it effectively contributes to the spooky atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is considered adequate but not particularly memorable.
“The soundtrack is fine; I didn’t notice it much, but there is some light music that adds to the spooky atmosphere.”
“The soundtrack is fine, didn’t notice it much but there is some light music that adds to the spooky atmosphere.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
While the game features appealing graphics and aesthetics, players have reported occasional glitches that affect overall stability.
“The game offers some nice graphics and a nice aesthetic, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
“I frequently experience crashes that disrupt my gameplay, making it hard to enjoy the game.”
“The frame rate drops significantly during intense moments, which really affects the overall experience.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -400 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers a good level of replayability, primarily through the pursuit of achievements and exploring alternate endings.
“The game offers multiple paths and choices, making each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
“With various character builds and strategies to explore, I find myself coming back for more.”
“There's a decent amount of replayability in tracking down the achievements and alternate endings.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play through again.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making subsequent playthroughs feel repetitive and dull.”
