Family curse
- March 31, 2023
- Stork Game
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"Family Curse: Case 32" is a horror adventure game where players explore an ancient mansion to uncover their family's terrible secret. As the player delves deeper, they'll solve puzzles, collect objects, and uncover frightening facts. The mansion may seem safe, but evil lurks close by, creating a tense and atmospheric experience in this single-player game that takes about 2 hours to complete.
Reviews
- The game features a well-crafted atmosphere with engaging environments and effective sound design that enhances the horror experience.
- Puzzles are straightforward and encourage exploration, providing satisfying 'A-ha!' moments that contribute to the overall enjoyment.
- The jump scares are well-timed and integrated into the gameplay, adding a layer of tension without feeling overdone.
- The game is quite short, with a playtime of around 1.5 to 2 hours, which may leave players wanting more content.
- There are noticeable issues with asset reuse, as many environments and items are recognizable from other titles, which can detract from the originality.
- The story, while engaging, suffers from a lack of depth and some poorly written text, which can affect immersion.
- atmosphere16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie and oppressive qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience with well-crafted room design, atmospheric lighting, and sound. While it may not feature the most intense scares, the subtle jumpscares and engaging puzzles contribute to a satisfying tension that keeps players immersed. Overall, the game's atmosphere stands out as a key strength, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a horror experience that balances tension with thoughtful gameplay.
“The atmosphere really is what makes this game good and the puzzles were fun.”
“The game's atmosphere is spooky and oppressive.”
“The atmosphere is unsettling and oppressive.”
“Subtle eerie atmosphere, logical puzzles and a couple jump scares (one legitimately got me to jump, so well played devs...) hold your attention well enough for the hour-and-a-half to two hour experience.”
- story16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The story in "Family Curse" is generally considered unoriginal and somewhat forgettable, yet it manages to engage players with its atmosphere and design. While some reviewers appreciate the effort put into the narrative and find it serviceable, others feel it lacks depth and could benefit from more development. Overall, the game offers a mix of decent storytelling and gameplay elements, making it a passable experience for those seeking horror thrills rather than a compelling plot.
“Not to mention there was some thought put into the story that made it very well done.”
“The story is interesting and engaging.”
“There are fun jump-scares, tense chases, good storytelling, clever puzzles, and pretty much everything you would not expect from an asset flip but you get here in spades.”
“Family Curse is a very short (ca. 2 hours), cheap but decently done first-person indie horror adventure with deliciously grotesque creatures, straightforward puzzles, and a rather forgettable but serviceable story.”
“The story isn't original in any way, but held together well enough to keep me engaged.”
“In my opinion, the story would have worked better without that twist.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a decent level of tension and surprise, though the jumpscares are not particularly frightening. Players appreciate the smooth mechanics and unique atmospheres, with some minor suggestions for improvement, such as more story elements and creatures. Overall, the experience is considered good value for the price, especially for a short playtime of around two hours.
“The gameplay was smooth; I don't really have anything bad to say. A few nitpicks would be more story, more creatures, etc., and maybe tweak the ending a bit, but I'd say the devs can honestly just improve from here on out.”
“They're not exactly terrifying jumpscares, but they add a decent layer of tension and surprise throughout gameplay.”
“Thankfully though, it was always clear what the texts were trying to tell me - so while the language problems weren't great for immersion, they didn't affect the gameplay.”
“Not bad for $7 (I may have got this on sale, I can't remember) and approximately 2 hours of gameplay.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally praised for their quality and appealing art style, contributing to an engaging visual experience. While some assets may feel familiar from other titles, the overall presentation, including effective jump scares, enhances the game's atmosphere.
“The graphics are great too, even if the main house is an asset that has been used in a number of other horror titles as of late.”
“The art style and some of the jump scares are done really well.”
“Jump scare heavy, but it does have plenty of puzzles, good graphics, and simple/fun design.”
