Exiled
- January 18, 2024
- Ducky
Get on Steam"Exiled" is a single-player Horror Point and Click game with a tense and foreboding atmosphere. As the player, you must solve ancient puzzles, decode an eldritch language, and avoid lurking horrors to find the missing Charlotte. With a high level of interactivity and a voiceover by Tom Schalk, you can complete this compact, detailed puzzle thriller in approximately 45 minutes.
Reviews
- Engaging and fun puzzle mechanics that involve deciphering an eldritch language, providing a unique gameplay experience.
- Atmospheric graphics and sound design that effectively create a tense and spooky environment, enhancing the horror elements.
- Great voice acting and a humorous Easter egg that adds charm to the overall experience, making it memorable.
- The game is very short, typically taking around 30-60 minutes to complete, which may leave players wanting more content.
- Some players found the mechanics too simplistic and the puzzles not challenging enough, leading to a feeling of underwhelming gameplay.
- Lack of a save feature and unclear instructions on certain mechanics can lead to frustration during gameplay.
- atmosphere27 mentions
- 81 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its tension and spookiness, effectively creating an eerie and immersive experience that enhances the puzzle mechanics. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to maintain a tight, engaging atmosphere throughout its short duration, though some note that the limited content may feel overpriced. Overall, the combination of ambient sound design, effective jump scares, and a Lovecraftian vibe contributes to a memorable and atmospheric gameplay experience.
“What a great, short and atmospheric Lovecraftian puzzle game.”
“The atmosphere is top notch with just the ambient sound of swinging lanterns and a ticking clock to emphasize both the fading light of your missing wife, and that time is not on your side here.”
“The atmosphere was fantastic, and the puzzles were really good!”
“This was a nice little funny easter egg, but honestly it killed the atmosphere and turned it a bit silly.”
“I regret clicking on the Waluigi cube. As funny as it probably is for a second playthrough, finding it on a first playthrough really soured the carefully crafted atmosphere for the remainder of the experience.”
“It really nails the atmosphere and got me with a well-earned jumpscare once or twice.”
- gameplay21 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is centered around deciphering the alphabet of the old ones through simple logic puzzles, creating a spooky atmosphere that enhances the experience. While the mechanics are engaging, many players feel the game is too short and lacks complexity, making it feel more like a demo than a fully realized title. Despite its brevity, the game offers a fun and intriguing experience for fans of language decoding and puzzle-solving.
“Tl;dr: a very short indie game with fun mechanics and decent usage of Lovecraft lore.”
“Wonderfully spooky atmosphere and interesting puzzle mechanics!”
“While short, it's a pretty fun and shocking experience; the gameplay being simple is complemented with the complex puzzles of figuring out the language and other little things that I won't mention because spoilers.”
“I just wish the mechanics for fending off the monster were a bit more complex than what they are.”
“It's not a bad game, but the FNAF-esque mechanic to avoid jumpscares feels completely unnecessary.”
“It is up to you to decide if you think $5 is an acceptable price for under 20 minutes of gameplay, no matter how polished.”
- story11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as short and straightforward, featuring a unique twist that may catch players off guard. While it effectively supports the gameplay with some spooky elements, it lacks depth and complexity, making it suitable for those seeking a quick, self-contained experience rather than a rich narrative. Overall, it is appreciated for its concise delivery and engaging voice acting, though some players desire more development in the storyline.
“Short but great story, fun puzzle game with some good spooky moments and tension while you go, no bugs really, very unique graphics, and great voice acting.”
“A neat little short story for the price of a small drink.”
“The story is concise and effective.”
“The story isn't much, but that's not why you're here.”
“Recommendation to those who seek a simple puzzle game with some dark eldritch themes, but those looking for scares or a deeper story might want to look somewhere else.”
“The narrative being 're-written' is very exaggerated; it's a minor rewording of the original but it's the exact same story.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their unique and atmospheric design, particularly the "damp library aesthetic," which contributes to a creepy and immersive experience. Reviewers appreciate the visuals alongside the engaging puzzles and voice acting, although some feel the content does not justify the price. Overall, the graphics enhance the game's spooky and intense atmosphere, making it a standout feature.
“I love the damp library aesthetic the game is going for.”
“Short but great story, fun puzzle game with some unique graphics and great voice acting.”
“Great, creepy and intense puzzle/mystery game with nice graphics, sounds, and good voice acting.”
“A nice little puzzle game that actually scared the crap out of me the first time, love the aesthetic and creepiness of it all.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is praised for its cleverness and ability to provide levity within a Lovecraftian context, with players enjoying funny easter eggs and unexpected moments that enhance the experience. However, some found that certain humorous elements disrupted the game's atmosphere, particularly during initial playthroughs. Overall, the blend of humor and engaging puzzles contributes to a satisfying and entertaining experience.
“And I won't spoil one part of it, but sir creator, if you ever read this: your sense of humor, my dude, is peak.”
“A delightful bite-sized piece of humorous Lovecraftian lore that did manage to startle me once.”
“The humorous aspects brought a nice levity to the Lovecraft-inspired aesthetic and lore, while the puzzle itself was actively engaging and kept my attention.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, particularly after mastering the mechanics, which can lead to repetitive gameplay. The presence of a stalking monster adds an element of tension, but ultimately becomes predictable and less impactful, contributing to the overall frustration with the grinding experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Once you figure out the mechanic, the Eye of Nyarlathotep gets really tedious.”
“This is all done while there is an eye monster that slowly stalks up on you until it jumpscares you if you don't look at it, which just gets tedious after a few times since it only resets once it's next to you and will play a loud noise and run away. After the second time, you know you just need to tap space to quickly look up, which makes him largely irrelevant.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game lacks significant replayability, with players expressing a desire for additional content or features to enhance the experience and extend playtime. As it currently stands, many feel there is little incentive to revisit the game after completing it.
“And due to the nature of the game, there's not really any replay value.”
“I hope the dev will add another bit to this puzzle to make the game a bit longer or give it some replayability because as it stands, there is none.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game's stability is generally solid, with few bugs reported, which is notable given its short gameplay duration. However, the value for the price point of $5 may be questioned by some players.
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to enjoy the experience.”
“I encountered multiple bugs that disrupted my gameplay, leading to frustration.”
“The stability issues are so severe that I often find myself unable to progress.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's monetization is viewed positively, as it is created by the developer of "My Friendly Neighborhood," known for delivering a unique and engaging experience rather than succumbing to the typical cash grab tactics prevalent in the horror genre.
“The monetization in this game feels excessive and detracts from the overall experience.”
“I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra money.”
“It seems like the developers prioritized profit over player experience, which is frustrating.”
