Fear Equation

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 60 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Fear Equation Game Cover
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In "Fear Equation," you are a train's conductor on a mysterious ghost train, using a "Fear Engine" to enter the dreams of passengers and confront their nightmares. Manipulate fear, anxiety, and horror through puzzle-solving and narrative choices to save trapped souls and uncover the train's haunting secrets. This unique horror adventure challenges you to maintain your own sanity while navigating the dark corners of the human psyche.

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

Reviews

70%
Audience ScoreBased on 60 reviews
atmosphere3 positive mentions
music2 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and intriguing concept, blending resource management with horror elements, creating an immersive atmosphere.
  • Players appreciate the depth of strategy involved in managing passengers and resources, making for a challenging and engaging experience.
  • The customization options for characters and the ability to create unique scenarios add replayability and personal investment in the game.
  • The game suffers from a lack of clear instructions and a confusing tutorial, making it difficult for new players to understand mechanics and gameplay.
  • Many players find the gameplay repetitive, with days feeling similar and lacking meaningful choices or events to keep the experience fresh.
  • Technical issues, such as bugs and poor saving mechanics, detract from the overall enjoyment and can lead to frustrating experiences.
  • gameplay16 mentions

    The gameplay is a mixed bag, with some players praising its strategic depth and immersive experience, particularly for fans of micromanagement and tactical planning. However, criticisms arise regarding outdated saving mechanics, repetitive daily tasks, and a lack of depth in social and faction interactions, which detracts from the overall experience. While the game shows promise and innovation, it suffers from wonky mechanics and insufficient information, leaving some players feeling bored despite its potential.

    • “Considering it's only the publisher's third game, the skill that's been put into the ambience and core gameplay loop is incredible.”
    • “Great gameplay, use of strategy, tactics, and if you roleplay it, it's an awesome experience.”
    • “There are a few issues that I have found, but it hasn't detracted from the overall experience; I would recommend this to those who enjoyed the Myst series, enjoy micromanagement and tactical planning as well as the thrill of horror-themed gameplay.”
    • “Needs better saving mechanics because the RNG in this game is trash and basic saving/loading that anyone would expect from a game made in 1980 isn't there.”
    • “However, the gameplay is the same thing every day with lots of fast forwarding to continue, broken up by the occasional scavenger run.”
    • “But the gameplay is just wonky and strange.”
  • story15 mentions

    The story centers around the player's role as an engineer tasked with guiding survivors to safety from a foggy threat, but it lacks depth and engagement, with minimal consequences for choices made during missions. Players find the main narrative clear yet feel that the gameplay is repetitive and lacks meaningful side quests or events, leading to a dull experience after initial missions. While the missions themselves are enjoyable, the overall storytelling and world-building elements are seen as underdeveloped, leaving players wanting more interaction and variety.

    • “Yes, it has a clear main story: you're the engineer in charge of the train, and your main goal is to get as many survivors as possible to escape from the fog and reach the final destination.”
    • “If you're a fan of strategy board games, you might enjoy reading intriguing narratives on your quest cards.”
    • “It blends the people management from Zafehouse: Diaries and the mission system from Deadnaut, without being super sophisticated.”
    • “Basically, there are no story-based events like side quests, hazards, or accidents when going through all of the game phases.”
    • “But as implemented, it's a pretty dull experience after your first couple of missions.”
    • “That said, what I don’t understand is the mission team not bringing everyone you meet onboard the train, or as the 'driver', my having the option to revisit a location to grab supplies they skipped out on the first trip.”
  • graphics6 mentions

    The graphics are generally well-received, providing a good level of immersion and enhancing the gameplay experience, though they may not be top-tier. Players appreciate the aesthetic and atmosphere, noting the transition to 3D graphics as a significant improvement over previous titles. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the game's management simulation concept.

    • “For players familiar with Zafehouse Diaries, this embeds similar mechanics but is a step up that incorporates 3D graphics and much more in-depth gameplay.”
    • “So I am digging it so far; the aesthetic and the general atmosphere are good.”
    • “I normally play more graphic-intensive games, but I really love the effort that has been made here.”
    • “The graphics are okay; they aren't 10/10, but they do immerse you into the game.”
    • “For players familiar with Zafehouse Diaries, this game incorporates similar mechanics but takes a step up with 3D graphics and much more in-depth gameplay.”
    • “I normally play more graphically intensive games, but I really appreciate the effort that has been made here.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive qualities and aesthetic appeal, effectively creating a spooky and tension-filled environment. However, some players note that while the atmosphere is strong, the overall experience can feel somewhat dry and lacking in variety, making it a challenging recommendation at its price point.

    • “It does have a spooky atmosphere though, and I do like that.”
    • “I would say the game is not super scary, but is great at building tension and atmosphere.”
    • “The game has taken me with its atmosphere and concepts; while making the game simpler in implementation, they really fit in one picture and make you feel deeply immersed.”
    • “It does have a spooky atmosphere, though, and I do like that.”
  • music2 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players criticizing the win music for its poor sound quality and repetitive nature, while others noted a lack of background music during gameplay, leading to a potentially monotonous experience.

    • “I hated the win music at the end of the game; what terrible sound quality on a terrible short loop.”
    • “There is no music except for some of the 'attacks', so it can get a little boring.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviewers suggest that the game's monetization strategy could be more effective if it relied on advertisements through an online game portal, rather than its current model.

    • “This is the kind of game that would make more money from advertisements on some kind of game portal on the internet.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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