Fears to Fathom: Carson House
- January 9, 2023
- Rayll
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Fears to Fathom: Carson House" is a narrative-driven horror adventure game. Players uncover the dark secrets of the Carson family as they explore the eerie mansion and interact with various objects and characters. The game features a unique fear management system, where players' decisions and level of fear affect the story's outcome.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The atmosphere and sound design are excellent, creating a genuinely creepy experience.
- The story is engaging and builds tension effectively, with a nice twist at the end.
- The addition of new gameplay mechanics, such as using security cameras, enhances the overall experience.
- The game suffers from bugs that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with checkpoints and interactions.
- Some players found the objectives unclear, leading to confusion and frustration during gameplay.
- The pacing can feel slow at times, particularly during the grocery shopping segment, which some found tedious.
- story296 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in "Fears to Fathom: Carson House" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting it as an improvement over previous episodes due to its engaging and immersive narrative, which is grounded in realism and features a complex plot with effective pacing. However, some players found the story tedious and linear, with moments of confusion regarding progression, while others criticized the dialogue and certain plot elements as underwhelming. Overall, the game is praised for its atmosphere and tension-building, making it a compelling experience for fans of psychological horror.
“Fears to Fathom - Carson House continues the episodic horror series with a gripping, atmospheric experience that once again excels in building tension through its unsettling storytelling of real events and immersive gameplay.”
“The story takes a slow-burn approach, much like the previous entries, but Carson House stands out for its more complex plot with hints of what's going on in the background and better pacing.”
“It's incredibly immersive with great use of atmosphere, the world design itself, all the tiny easter-egg-esque details (flyers in the grocery store windows) that string together the concepts, and the many twists and turns the story takes as you go along.”
“There were multiple instances where I was unsure of what to do next in order to progress the plot, and trying to figure that out was quite tedious.”
“The story is what really makes Fears to Fathom Episode 3 stand out.”
“I had been waiting for Episode 3 for a long time, but the story was underwhelming at the end.”
- atmosphere152 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively building tension and creating a sense of dread throughout the experience. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke genuine fear through its sound design, world-building, and attention to detail, although some note that pacing issues and technical glitches can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, making it a compelling choice for fans of horror games.
“Fears to Fathom - Carson House continues the episodic horror series with a gripping, atmospheric experience that once again excels in building tension through its unsettling storytelling of real events and immersive gameplay.”
“This game builds a great atmosphere with heart-racing intensity that lasts from start to finish.”
“The developer really knows how to set the right atmosphere and ambiance for a horror game.”
“I spent like an hour just restarting the final checkpoint to die and die and die and die... I'm just not a huge fan of the game; the atmosphere is fine, but it takes far too long for the scares to start, and even when they do, it's immediately overshadowed by confusion and annoyance. If you like these kinds of games, then feel free to try it out, but I personally would not recommend it.”
“I play these games for the atmosphere and to understand the kind of stories the developers want to tell, but once again, the story is boring.”
“It's okay as I said, not really interesting character and the worst atmosphere.”
- gameplay134 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Fears to Fathom - Carson House" is characterized by simple mechanics that effectively build tension and atmosphere, making for an immersive horror experience. While some players appreciate the introduction of new gameplay elements like security cameras, others feel the game suffers from linearity and a lack of depth in its mechanics, leading to a sense of repetitiveness across episodes. Overall, the game offers a gripping experience, though some users suggest waiting for a sale due to its relatively short playtime and simplistic design.
“Fears to Fathom - Carson House continues the episodic horror series with a gripping, atmospheric experience that once again excels in building tension through its unsettling storytelling of real events and immersive gameplay.”
“The gameplay mechanics are relatively simple, but the game’s strength lies in its ability to keep players on edge through effective pacing and suspenseful build-up.”
“10/10, great buildup, great immersion, surprising gameplay mechanics that caught me off guard.”
“I usually love games that don't overtly state the objectives, but here you can't follow your own path to the end goal due to the strictly linear gameplay design.”
“Unfortunately, despite the anthology format seeking to adapt 'true' stories, these games are all getting to be mirror images of each other where the story and gameplay boil down to 'explore your sleep quarters for the night, something kinda spooky happens, hide.'”
“Where episode 2 felt extremely fresh and new while still having the same gameplay mechanics, this feels like a bad rehash of episode 1 even down to sitting at the TV while eating food and creepy stuff going on around you, and it's a lot less clear in what it wants you to do.”
- graphics86 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are often described as a nostalgic blend of late '80s and early '90s aesthetics, effectively contributing to its eerie atmosphere. While some players appreciate the unique VHS-style visuals and improvements over previous installments, others note that the graphics could be better, with opinions varying on their overall quality. Despite mixed reviews, many agree that the art style enhances the game's storytelling and horror elements.
“The story, the sound design, the visuals, everything is just perfect.”
“In terms of visuals, the game nails that VHS-style aesthetic, one of the best I've seen in an indie horror game.”
“What I loved most (about all of the games actually) are the graphics and how it creates quite a comforting and cozy dynamic yet still makes me terrified that something horrible is about to happen.”
“Graphics are very late 80s, early 90s; however, it does contribute to the game's atmosphere.”
“Also horrible graphics.”
“The graphics are more or less the same, but now the people have more polygons; the OST is brilliantly creepy and plays the tension far higher than it otherwise would be.”
- music44 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players praising its ability to enhance the horror atmosphere and create a sense of dread. The soundtrack is described as creepy and immersive, effectively contributing to the game's tension and overall experience. However, some users noted that the use of scary music could be excessive in certain sections, detracting from the gameplay.
“The music is suitably creepy, and the sound effects will make your skin crawl.”
“Great atmosphere due to graphic style, creepy music, and occurrences in the game that develop an eerie atmosphere.”
“The OST is brilliantly creepy and plays the tension far higher than it otherwise would be.”
“Music sucks though.”
“Two things I think could be improved are the music and the way you progress and cues.”
“The scary music was used a little bit too much in the intro section where nothing was really happening.”
- stability24 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, leading to a frustrating experience for players. Many report issues such as game crashes, confusing triggers, and overall instability, detracting from the enjoyment of the gameplay. Despite its potential, the game's technical problems have left users feeling that it is not ready for release.
“Fix your glitches before charging money for a broken game.”
“It's extremely buggy and some of the triggers are way too specific, leaving you confused about what you are actually supposed to do.”
“I don't know if anyone else had bugs/glitches with the game, but starting this game was so frustrating.”
- humor22 mentions
- 91 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its humor, featuring optional conversations, amusing in-game ads, and quirky characters like the hand merchant. Players find the blend of funny and disturbing elements, such as strange horror shorts and unexpected bugs, to enhance the overall experience. The creator's unique sense of humor shines through, making it a recommended choice for those seeking eerie entertainment with comedic undertones.
“The horror shorts are strange as hell, and the hand merchant is hilarious, along with that strange TV show you watch with your girlfriend.”
“This provided for a lot of hilarious inconvenience on behalf of the players' actions.”
“A few great jump scares and the in-game videos are somehow funny and disturbing all at once.”
“Some funny bugs.”
“Some funny bugs.”
- grinding20 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that grinding in the game can be excessively tedious and time-consuming, often leading to frustration and a lack of engagement with the plot. While some players find enjoyment in farming achievements, the overall sentiment suggests that the grinding mechanics detract from the overall experience, making it feel more like a chore than a rewarding aspect of gameplay.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It's so tediously boring that by the time you get to the 'action', you don't care anymore.”
“The sequence to avoid the killer at the end is very tedious; doing anything slightly out of sequence, even if it's the right play to make later, results in a death.”
- replayability14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it enjoyable and worth revisiting due to its intriguing story and multiple endings, others note that its short playtime (under an hour) limits its longevity and overall replay value.
“Marvelous and replayable!”
“Replay value - longevity and replayability.”
“And the bit of replay value that comes from trying to find possible endings makes this all the more worthwhile!”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional response to the game's atmosphere, describing feelings of vulnerability and genuine panic due to unsettling design choices, such as the placement of furniture that heightens the sense of being watched or followed. This emotional distress is so impactful that it leaves players feeling uncomfortable in their own homes, with some even seeking compensation for their anxiety. Overall, the game effectively evokes a deep sense of unease and fear.
“The sofa placement made me feel incredibly vulnerable, with my back facing an open space - on the left a window suggesting that a total creep could be staring at me at any moment - and on the right, I kept expecting someone to burst through the door.”
“It made me feel genuine panic, especially with the fear of being followed, which is one of my personal nightmares.”
“This game gave me goosebumps and made me feel super uncomfortable.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally considered average, with performance meeting basic standards and running smoothly. Players appreciate the visual aesthetics, particularly the spooky found footage effect, although opinions on performance may vary.
“The game runs smoothly (not sure what others are saying about performance) and looks really nice with a spooky found footage effect.”
“Performance or gameplay meets the passing mark but remains average.”
“Performance or gameplay meets the passing mark but remains average.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game primarily revolves around microtransactions, with players frequently mentioning in-game purchases as a key feature.
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being overshadowed by an abundance of red herrings, particularly leaving the central antagonist underdeveloped and lacking the depth that could have enhanced the narrative.
“This short little narrative is loaded with more red herrings than a season of Scooby-Doo; there are so many red herrings that this game forgets to give the central antagonist any of the major character development they probably deserve.”
