Fhtagn! - Tales of the Creeping Madness
- May 22, 2018
- Design Imps
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Get on itch.io Store"Fhtagn! - Tales of the Creeping Madness" is a Lovecraftian-themed narrative game where players uncover stories of insanity and terror. Through investigating strange occurrences and solving puzzles, players delve deeper into a world of eldritch horrors and cosmic madness. With multiple branching narratives, players must navigate their own path to survival or face the consequences of their curiosity.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Tablet
Reviews
- The game offers a humorous and satirical take on Lovecraftian themes, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- It features a high replayability factor with numerous randomized events and endings, ensuring that each playthrough feels unique.
- The art style and writing are praised for their charm and wit, contributing to a fun atmosphere, especially when played with friends.
- The gameplay can feel shallow and lacks depth, with some players finding it repetitive and simplistic over time.
- The tutorial and initial explanations can be confusing, making it difficult for new players to grasp the mechanics quickly.
- There are complaints about the music being repetitive and the text being too small to read comfortably, detracting from the overall experience.
- humor24 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a mix of dark and quirky humor, particularly appealing to fans of Lovecraftian lore, with many players finding it genuinely funny during co-op play. While some humor may come off as groan-worthy or reliant on running gags, the writing is praised for its cleverness and self-awareness, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate a humorous take on horror. Overall, it balances light-heartedness with eerie themes, making it a recommended choice for fans of dark humor.
“The game pokes fun at everything Lovecraft, and if you know your lore a little bit, the events may be even more hilarious.”
“Amazing art style/aesthetic, and even better writing; my friends and I were dying laughing at some moments here.”
“If you like Lovecraft's (and other writers') mythos tales, and if you like your dark ones with a pinch of dark humor, by any means pick up this game.”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a simple and accessible loop, making it easy for players to engage in quick, fun sessions, particularly suited for parties. While it offers a blend of fast-paced rounds and straightforward mechanics, some elements, like the ceremony placement, can be overly complicated. Overall, it draws comparisons to similar games, providing enjoyable, albeit shallow, gameplay with good replayability and a charming aesthetic.
“The essential gameplay loop is simple enough.”
“The gameplay is pretty easy to pick up; you just visit a location and make some choices.”
“It's got the perfect blend of fast-paced rounds that are ideal for party play sessions, and easy to remember pick-up-and-play rules and mechanics.”
“The final mechanic, taking places for the ceremony, is needlessly complicated and hard to understand.”
“It's mildly chuckle-worthy sometimes, when it's not resorting to fart jokes, but it wears thin quickly; much like the gameplay itself.”
“Really nice Lovecraftian 'boardesque' game, even with a relatively shallow gameplay.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a vibrant, cartoony art style that complements its comedic and satirical take on Lovecraftian themes. While the artwork is generally praised for its quality and aesthetic appeal, some players noted a lack of event illustrations, which can make certain aspects feel bland. Overall, the visuals are well-received, enhancing the game's dark humor and engaging writing.
“Amazing art style/aesthetic, and even better writing, my friends and I were dying laughing at some moments here.”
“A great game with dark humor and eerie art style.”
“The artwork is great, and the dialogues are not only flawless in terms of having no typos or bad grammar, but are also very witty and fun.”
“There's no artwork for events, so it's a bland read sometimes.”
“For a game about the mythos, they missed a trick not being able to gather artifacts that had artwork.”
“You might be able to tell from the cartoony art style that this is a comedic, satirical take on Lovecraft.”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is characterized by a repetitive upbeat jazz track that some players find enjoyable for a party atmosphere, while others feel it becomes tedious and would prefer to replace it with their own playlists. Although the light-hearted tone of the music contrasts with the game's subject matter, it is generally considered not overly annoying, but improvements could enhance the overall experience.
“Good music, fun party game.”
“Perhaps with some tweaking, the game would become much better to play, mainly by stopping the background song loop.”
“The incessant music is just begging to be muted and replaced with your own cult-inspired playlist.”
“The music is a horribly short loop of one repetitive upbeat jazz track, with one other song that plays only during the weirder, more obscure events.”
“Slightly repetitive music, a bit too 'light-hearted' for the subject matter, but not too annoying.”
- story6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's story is engaging for those who enjoy narrative-driven experiences, particularly in co-op settings, allowing players to create their own narratives through mods. However, some reviewers find the story shallow and lacking depth, suggesting it is best enjoyed with friends rather than solo. Comparisons to similar games highlight its storytelling mechanics, though opinions vary on its overall quality.
“10/10 co-op/competitive storyline fun.”
“But if you're someone who's into narrative games where you build up your character, this is indeed for you and your friends. Although it's better playing with friends, it's also enjoyable to play alone to gain tokens throughout the game to unlock hints of the story and how to win.”
“But if you're someone who's into narrative games where you build up your character, this is indeed for you and your friends. Although it's better playing with friends, you can also play alone to gain tokens throughout the game to unlock hints of the story and how to win.”
“It's difficult to describe this game without talking about The Yawhg (the two games are nearly identical mechanically, though this is definitely not a bad thing), as the talking points are mostly a comparison of how the two games approach quality of life issues of play and, more minorly, how they approach storytelling.”
“Once you're confident in the story structure of the game, writing your own for the benefit and enjoyment of (or, perchance, doomed detriment of?) your friends is a no-brainer!”
- replayability5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers significant replayability through a variety of player choices, randomized events, and a robust modding community, enhancing the experience further. While some users note that replayability largely depends on available mods, many appreciate the game's engaging gameplay and value for money.
“A wide variety of player choices and randomized events ensures replayability, which has been increased still further by the addition of both official and community mods.”
“Great artwork, fun gameplay (almost board game-esque), replayability, good modding documentation, and devs who care - I have no complaints at all and highly recommend this.”
“No replayability outside of whatever mods are available for the game.”
“If you like short games with replay value, buy this game.”
“There is a lot of replayability and the price is right for what it is.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is significantly enhanced by its incorporation of Lovecraftian mythos, allowing players to engage in chaotic and morally ambiguous actions that contribute to a sense of dark, unsettling excitement. This blend of chaos and evil creates a compelling and immersive environment.
“The game excels in utilizing the Lovecraft mythos, allowing players to unleash chaos, which significantly enhances the overall atmosphere.”
“The eerie sound design and haunting visuals create an immersive experience that pulls you into the game's dark world.”
“The combination of unsettling environments and a chilling soundtrack perfectly captures the essence of dread, making every moment feel tense and engaging.”
“The game relies heavily on the Lovecraft mythos, which allows players to engage in chaotic and malevolent actions, enhancing the overall atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion that I expected from a game set in such a rich universe.”
“Despite the potential for a dark and eerie setting, the atmosphere often falls short, leaving players feeling disconnected from the game's world.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report that the game's stability is generally good, with the lead developer actively addressing and resolving bugs, such as freezing issues, in a prompt and personal manner.
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experienced multiple instances of the game freezing, which ruined my overall experience.”
“Despite the promising gameplay, the constant stability issues really detracted from my enjoyment.”
