FLATHEAD

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 194 reviews
  • gameplay
  • atmosphere
  • graphics
FLATHEAD Game Cover
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"FLATHEAD" is a game where players pull levers to see numbers and guess if the next one is higher or lower, aiming to gain points before a timer runs out and the Sunken approach. With potential rewards of extra time or points, the game aims to distract players from the grim reality of their existence in this strange, oppressive world. The game's atmosphere is grim, but its mechanics focus on simple, engaging gameplay as players hope for a chance at escape.

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Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 194 reviews
gameplay7 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique and creepy atmosphere, combining horror elements with a gambling mechanic that keeps players on edge.
  • For its low price, the game provides a surprising amount of replayability and unlockable lore, making it a worthwhile experience.
  • The sound design and visuals are highly praised, contributing to the overall tension and immersive experience of the game.
  • Some players find the gameplay repetitive and overly reliant on luck, which can lead to frustration, especially in higher difficulty modes.
  • The game is relatively short, with some reviewers feeling it lacks depth and variety in gameplay mechanics after a few runs.
  • There are reports of bugs and issues with game mechanics that can hinder the experience, leading to a sense of unfairness in gameplay.
  • gameplay30 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the tension and unique mechanics that create an unsettling atmosphere, while others find it tedious and overly reliant on luck. Many appreciate the challenging puzzles and the addictive nature of the gameplay loop, though some criticize the difficulty and fairness of certain mechanics. Overall, the game offers a blend of horror and strategy, with replayability enhanced by unlockable lore and secrets.

    • “Gameplay is always high with tension, but it also feels well-balanced in terms of difficulty and available strategy.”
    • “The gameplay is simple yet nerve-wracking: guess right to earn points and potentially escape, but guess wrong and face the terrifying consequences.”
    • “The challenging puzzles were thoughtfully crafted, adding depth and engagement to the gameplay.”
    • “Game is not fun; the gameplay is tedious and boring. It is not scary, and you have to get lucky; otherwise, it makes you start over. The story might be cool, but I don't know because RNG keeps messing me up.”
    • “I've seen gameplay of it and decided to pick it up, yet for some reason, when I try to play it, the basic functions seem to be completely unfair.”
    • “The main gameplay loop is just gambling on numbers that don't mean much with a time limit (while a monster is walking towards you) and extra gameplay elements like making the monster walk faster for removing numbers on the screen that could be your guess.”
  • atmosphere22 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its eerie and anxiety-inducing qualities, enhanced by exceptional sound design and visuals that create a sense of dread and tension. Reviewers highlight the immersive storytelling and the ability to evoke strong emotions, making the experience feel much more profound than its simple gameplay mechanics suggest. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and effectiveness as a horror experience.

    • “The game's style, atmosphere, and graphical fidelity are superb, and the sound design is extremely good.”
    • “For starters, I love the eerie and anxiety-inducing atmosphere from both the sound design and visuals, which fits into the main gameplay loop really well as it helps to build the tension you feel whilst playing it.”
    • “I loved Flathead for its masterful use of atmospheric tension and immersive storytelling.”
    • “The premise is simple, but the atmosphere makes for some really tense moments.”
    • “Obviously running on influences from the likes of Inscryption and Buckshot Roulette, while it misses the mark on what makes those titles quite so compelling to play, there's just no one hitting the same atmosphere of dread in games like Tim Oxton right now.”
    • “The scariness is in the atmosphere, the feeling that sticks with you after you've walked away from the game.”
  • graphics18 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their superb style, unique art direction, and high graphical fidelity, which effectively contribute to an eerie and immersive atmosphere. The sound design complements the visuals, enhancing the overall tension and horror experience. Players appreciate the game's aesthetic, likening it to other notable titles while highlighting its ability to evoke strong emotional responses.

    • “The game's style, atmosphere, and graphical fidelity are superb, and the sound design is extremely good.”
    • “Powerful visuals, powerful atmosphere, powerful sound design...”
    • “I played on normal and put the game on the lowest possible graphics settings to get rid of any possible lag I could prevent, but issues immediately arose once I started playing.”
    • “Art style is very unique - not fully analog horror and not full body horror.”
    • “The visuals, sound design, and level of detail for a small project deserve to be commended.”
  • story12 mentions

    The game's story has received mixed feedback, with some players finding it intriguing and well-developed, particularly praising its in-depth lore and atmospheric storytelling. Others, however, feel that the gameplay detracts from the narrative experience, citing issues like randomness and tedious mechanics that overshadow the story's potential. Overall, while many appreciate the compelling characters and multiple endings, the execution of the gameplay may hinder the enjoyment of the narrative for some players.

    • “What really surprises me is how in-depth the lore goes for a game with such a low price point, and I found the story offered here to be rather intriguing.”
    • “This game made me fall in love with the story it was trying to convey; the pieces are all there and it allows a normal dude like me to timeline it all and figure out what the hell is even going on.”
    • “The compelling characters and intriguing plot drew me deeper into the game's mysterious world.”
    • “Story is just weird.”
    • “This game made me fall in love with the story it was trying to convey, the pieces are all there and it allows a normal dude like me to timeline it all and figure out what the hell is even going on.”
    • “Quite the gem if you are a fan of something like buckshot roulette; you'll feel right at home with Flathead. Honestly, at times this game was able to make me more tense due to the RNG present with the numbers. Plus, for the price, you definitely can't go wrong; you have a decent amount of lore to dig through and story, plus several endings to get. Playtime can vary, but you'll definitely get at least 2 to 3 hours' worth of content, well worth the asking price.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    The game offers high replayability for its low price, with a fun and devious gameplay loop that encourages multiple playthroughs. However, its short length limits the variety of experiences, primarily offering achievements and bonus lore as incentives for replaying. Overall, while enjoyable, the replayability may feel constrained without additional content or mechanics.

    • “For just $1.99, this bite-sized horror experience offers high replayability and a unique thrill.”
    • “Gameplay loop is devious and fun with a decent amount of replayability.”
    • “Very fun gameplay loop and a good amount of replayability with bonus lore and secrets.”
    • “This experience is so drastically short, and while replayable, there is not much to do in these replays other than hunt for Steam achievements.”
    • “After completing the game once, I found little incentive to go back. The story doesn't change much, and the gameplay feels repetitive.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and unengaging, often feeling that it detracts from the overall experience. The reliance on luck and repetitive tasks leads to frustration, making progress feel shallow and unfulfilling.

    • “The game is not fun; the gameplay is tedious and boring. It's not scary, and you have to get lucky; otherwise, it makes you start over. The story might be cool, but I can't tell because the RNG keeps messing me up.”
    • “Wanting to see what lies behind that objective, I've blasted through a couple of easy trials, but the wins feel shallow and grindy.”
  • music2 mentions

    The music in the game is highly praised for its accuracy and ability to enhance immersion, complementing the overall sound design, creature design, and graphics to create an exceptional experience.

    • “The incredibly accurate soundtrack immerses the player even more in the setting.”
    • “The sound, music, creature design, and graphics are just amazing.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is largely absent, with players noting a lack of comedic elements and instead feeling an overwhelming sense of dread, which detracts from the overall experience.

    • “Buckshot roulette, except there's no shotgun or funny dealer, and there's an overwhelming amount of dread.”
    • “The game is filled with witty dialogue and absurd situations that keep you laughing.”
    • “I love how the humor is both clever and unexpected, making every encounter a delightful surprise.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game is widely regarded as one of the most optimized titles built on the Unreal Engine, showcasing impressive performance and efficiency.

    • “This is the most optimized Unreal Engine game I've ever played.”
    • “The game's optimization is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end hardware.”
    • “I appreciate how well-optimized this game is; it runs flawlessly without any noticeable lag.”
    • “This game is one of the least optimized Unreal Engine titles I've ever played.”
    • “The optimization issues make it nearly unplayable on mid-range hardware.”
    • “I expected better performance; the optimization feels rushed and incomplete.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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