Evil Tonight

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 188 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Evil Tonight Game Cover
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"Evil Tonight" is a survival horror game where players must navigate a haunted house and survive the night. Using stealth and puzzle-solving, players try to avoid being caught by the vengeful spirits that inhabit the house. With permadeath and limited resources, each playthrough presents a new challenge as you uncover the dark secrets of the house.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 188 reviews
story22 positive mentions
grinding7 negative mentions
  • Gorgeous pixel art and animations that create a captivating atmosphere.
  • Engaging gameplay that combines resource management with fun combat mechanics.
  • Interesting story with a charismatic protagonist and humorous dialogue.
  • Lack of an in-game map makes navigation frustrating and can lead to excessive backtracking.
  • Combat can feel tedious due to enemies being damage sponges and the stamina system for melee attacks.
  • Unskippable cutscenes and dialogue can be annoying, especially after dying during boss fights.
  • story89 mentions

    The story of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it engaging and well-integrated into the gameplay, while others criticize it as clichéd or lacking depth. Many appreciate the atmospheric setting and character interactions, though the writing and dialogue can be hit or miss, often clashing with the game's darker themes. Overall, while the narrative may not be groundbreaking, it is generally considered serviceable and complements the gameplay experience.

    • “Evil Tonight is a masterful survival horror with phenomenal background music, astonishingly pretty environments, gripping boss fights, and a wonderfully interesting little story to boot.”
    • “The story is simple and still easy to emotionally involve yourself in without being too overt, and there's a lot of context given in diary entries and such.”
    • “Gorgeous pixel art and audio, interesting story, good variety of enemies and boss fights, and because of these aspects, the game has a really good atmosphere.”
    • “The story and the setting failed to capture my interest.”
    • “All the game gives you in the way of an introduction is to suggest a cliched haunted manor horror story setup, and before you are presented with any actual novel mystery that might draw you in, you are quickly thrown into the action.”
    • “The story is very simple and leaves a bit to be desired.”
  • gameplay67 mentions

    The gameplay of "Evil Tonight" is a unique blend of survival horror and action RPG elements, featuring a charming top-down pixel art style reminiscent of SNES games. Players engage in challenging combat, resource management, and puzzle-solving, often requiring backtracking due to the absence of a map. While the gameplay is generally praised for its fun mechanics and engaging boss fights, some players find it difficult due to its reliance on trial-and-error and limited health resources.

    • “Evil Tonight embraces its action RPG look with survival horror gameplay and adds interesting and fun bosses with unique mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay is simple, challenging, and rewarding, providing a great balance of exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving.”
    • “Evil Tonight is a fantastic top-down 2D survival horror adventure with gorgeous pixel art and satisfying resource-management gameplay.”
    • “The game starts off a bit too lively, with the main character's jokes that contrast with the game's name, and soon the player is thrown into the gameplay without much explanation as to why.”
    • “There is no map in the game, and most of the gameplay will be you trying to find the right room where there was an item.”
    • “But something I just can't get over is the conflicting gameplay.”
  • graphics54 mentions

    The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their stunning 16-bit pixel art style, reminiscent of classic titles from the SNES era, with detailed animations that enhance character and monster personalities. Many reviewers noted the charming aesthetic and atmospheric visuals, which effectively contribute to the game's immersive experience, although some suggested adjusting the default graphics settings for optimal enjoyment. Overall, the artwork and sound design complement the gameplay, making it a visually appealing title that resonates with fans of retro gaming.

    • “The game entices you with its charming 16-bit artwork and novel concept.”
    • “The artwork really manages to nail down the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “Gorgeous art style and visuals, surprisingly atmospheric, serviceable gameplay elevated by tight game balancing, combat feels meaty and it has good story and characters to top it all off.”
    • “Make sure to turn off the graphics softening that's on by default for some reason.”
    • “Firstly, I love the look of the game (if the softening option is turned off in the graphical settings) and the sound design is nice enough, but the auto lock on is just totally pointless and combat is tedious with spongy enemies even down to the lowliest of mobs to the point of just being a patience test and my not wanting to play anymore.”
    • “The pixel graphics are very reminiscent of late 16-bit/early 32-bit, and they even managed to capture the feel of that 90's-era localization nostalgia with the dialogue.”
  • music43 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beautiful, haunting melodies and immersive soundscapes, enhancing the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Many players highlighted specific tracks, such as those in the title screen and save rooms, as standout moments, while the sound effects were noted for their clarity and effectiveness in creating tension. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant strength of the game, with some reviewers even purchasing it separately due to its quality.

    • “The music is beautiful and haunting and spooky; when there is no music, every single piece of the atmospheric sounds and sound effects are incredible and really sell the mood.”
    • “I found myself listening to the soundtrack on YouTube, a soundscape of haunted and chilling but extremely immersive and in many cases, even relaxing melodies (title screen and save room are my highlights - simply phenomenal).”
    • “The music and sound effects are done very well, presenting some very memorable tunes (especially the boss battle ones), an effective use of sound effects to scare the player, and setting the atmosphere through most of the game.”
    • “Shame the story is pretty bland, and the music is almost non-existent.”
    • “I'm not a musician, so I'm saying this with just blind intuition, the music is there, it's well made, but it isn't quite memorable.”
    • “The music is suspenseful and knows when to cut out to deliver good jump scares.”
  • atmosphere42 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Evil Tonight" is widely praised for its immersive and haunting qualities, enhanced by stunning pixel art and a captivating soundtrack. Reviewers note the game's ability to evoke tension and nostalgia, drawing comparisons to classic survival horror titles while maintaining a unique identity. Overall, the combination of detailed visuals, effective sound design, and a well-crafted ambiance contributes to a memorable gaming experience.

    • “The music is beautiful and haunting; when there is no music, every single piece of the atmospheric sounds and sound effects are incredible and really sell the mood.”
    • “Evil Tonight caught my attention... the game oozes atmosphere like you wouldn't believe, had me pretty tense at a lot of times and even scared me a few times too.”
    • “The pixel art is incredibly well done and the neat lighting effects really add to the mood and atmosphere of the game.”
    • “The story, on the other hand, is very bizarre – it’s seemingly written as a comedy, but this is in complete contrast to the atmosphere, sound design, and all the notes that piece together the plot, which are clearly going for a straight horror experience.”
    • “The creaks and ambient noises also add to the heavy atmosphere of the game.”
    • “The music and sound effects are done very well, presenting some very memorable tunes (especially the boss battle ones), an effective use of sound effects to scare the player, and setting the atmosphere throughout most of the game.”
  • humor13 mentions

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, adding a light-hearted touch that contrasts with darker themes, though it may not resonate with everyone. Characters, particularly the protagonist, are often described as charismatic and mischievous, contributing to a blend of funny and sometimes forced moments. Overall, the humor enhances the experience, making it enjoyable for fans of whimsical and over-the-top storytelling.

    • “The humor in the game is welcome, since the game doesn't take itself completely seriously, but it may displease some people.”
    • “Ps1-style games are an absolute joy to me, and this one stands a cut above the field for its excellent blend of humor and over-the-top villain.”
    • “Tight controls, fun, really charismatic protagonist, funny dialogues and character, atmospheric.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with combat described as unengaging due to spongy enemies and repetitive melee mechanics. Many reviewers express a desire for more varied combat options and improved navigation tools to alleviate the monotony of backtracking and resource management. Overall, the grinding experience detracts from the enjoyment of the game, making it feel more like a test of patience than a challenging survival horror.

    • “The combat in the game does not feel enjoyable at all and most of the boss battles are tedious and unfun.”
    • “Puzzles are tedious (one of them requiring brute force), combat is tedious, and the bosses are ponderous.”
    • “Where other survival horrors promote skillful evasion and tactical dispatches, Evil Tonight seems to promote repetitive melee combat and tediously tiptoeing through areas as its consistent method of resource management.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find significant value in replaying for achievements and challenges, others feel that once completed, the game offers limited incentive to return. The experience is generally enjoyable, but the short playtime may restrict long-term engagement for some players.

    • “Especially, the main character, Silvia, has everything and just very few things to complain about that aren't worth mentioning since the things I enjoyed about the game outweigh the things that I didn't. It was a fantastic game from start to finish! It has a lot of replay value, too.”
    • “There is some replayability due to achievements and challenges, some of which are hard to get.”
    • “The whole thing shouldn’t take you more than four hours, and judging by the achievements, it seems like no-save or no-healing challenge runs are the intended replay value.”
    • “Replayability for me is low.”
    • “I don't know if there's a lot of replay value after you beat the game, but I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who's a fan of the old Resident Evil style.”
    • “The whole thing shouldn’t take you more than four hours, and judging by the achievements, it seems like no-save or no-healing challenge runs are the intended replay value.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The game effectively balances spooky elements with epic moments and emotional depth, engaging players through a simple yet relatable story enhanced by diary entries. However, some gameplay mechanics, like math puzzles, can detract from the emotional immersion, making players feel like they're back in a classroom.

    • “Spooky enough to turn the academy into a place you don't want to be in, but it also knows how to be both epic (there are really cool boss fights in here) and emotional at the right times!”
    • “The story is simple yet easy to emotionally engage with without being too overt, and there's a lot of context provided in diary entries and such.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Users feel that the monetization strategy, primarily through ads, detracts from the gaming experience by padding game time rather than enhancing it.

    • “All these ads are just padding game time, not enhancing the experience in my opinion.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, prioritizing profit over player enjoyment.”
    • “It's frustrating to see essential features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The game offers excellent stability, with full gamepad support and smooth performance, making it highly recommended for players.

    • “Metal Slug meets Resident Evil with full gamepad support, and it runs great. Highly recommended.”
    • “The game is incredibly stable, providing a smooth experience without any crashes or glitches.”
    • “I appreciate how well-optimized the game is; it runs seamlessly on my system without any performance issues.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Reviewers praise the character development for its impressive spritework, solid animations, and appealing character designs, highlighting the visual quality that enhances the overall experience.

    • “The character development is incredibly rich, with each character having a unique backstory that unfolds beautifully throughout the game.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve not just in abilities but also in personality, making every interaction feel meaningful.”
    • “The depth of character arcs is impressive, allowing players to form genuine connections with the cast.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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