From The Past

About

From The Past is a single player action game with a horror theme. It was developed by JustTomcuk and was released on January 17, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

From The Past is a horror walking simulator set in a dense forest where your car mysteriously malfunctions despite being filled with gas. The game unfolds its eerie story solely through environmental cues and immersive sound design, with no written notes. Players can switch between retro pixel art and modern graphics for a unique atmospheric experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 34 reviews

atmosphere6 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game has a fantastic atmosphere that builds tension effectively, often without relying on jump scares.
Sound design is praised for creating a constant sense of unease, enhancing the horror experience.
The story is engaging and told through environmental clues, making for an interesting narrative experience.

Many players found the game boring and slow-paced, with some describing it as lacking in genuine scares.
The overuse of sound effects led to desensitization, diminishing the impact of jump scares.
Some criticized the game for reusing assets and feeling like an uninspired 'asset flip' with predictable elements.

atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its ability to create intense tension and anxiety without relying on frequent jump scares, which enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the eerie ambiance, particularly in outdoor settings, and commend the storytelling through environmental design, making it a standout in the horror genre. Overall, the atmosphere is described as unsettling and immersive, effectively keeping players on edge throughout their experience.
- “The atmosphere builds so much tension you can cut it with a chainsaw.”
- “The atmosphere in this game is so good it just proves that you don’t need a game filled with pointless, loud & predictable jump scares to make a game scary.”
- “The developer did an outstanding job in keeping the atmosphere so unsettling my heart was pounding with anxiety.”
- “The sound atmosphere is very anxious and scary, especially in the forest/outside level; I was looking around nervously.”
- “Many times, if there were jump scares very often like many other indie horror games, it mostly ruins the game atmosphere, and the game gets boring and frustrating, not scary at all. But this game is a nice exception.”
- “Scary, with an eerie atmosphere and chilling ambiance.”
story
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
37%
27%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its atmospheric storytelling and environmental clues, while others find it nonsensical and lacking depth. The use of sketches and flashbacks to convey the narrative is praised for its creativity, though some feel it leaves too much open to interpretation. Overall, the story's effectiveness varies widely among players, with some enjoying the unique approach and others feeling disconnected from the plot.
- “Like poetry, the true meaning of the story is left open for your interpretation.”
- “I loved the story being told through the clues that you find around the environment and the use of the past flashbacks to hint towards the loop.”
- “I like the graphics, the sounds, the intro with the drawn art was very neat and different, and the overall story was interesting.”
- “There are too many environmental factors and plot points, via sketches instead of written notes, to decide what is really going on here.”
- “The missing person posters are a nice way to add images of the devs, but they ultimately add absolutely nothing to the game, as they take you out of it because you're thinking of them instead of the 'story.'”
- “As much as it was just a plain old walking simulator that used the same assets as Cursed Tape, it actually told a story and was pretty creepy regarding the atmosphere.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
12%
38%
Overall, the graphics received mixed reviews, with some players praising the stunning visuals and smooth performance, particularly in outdoor environments and level design. However, others criticized the jarring transition to a VHS filter in indoor settings, which detracted from the overall experience. While many appreciated the unique art style and clean UI, there were calls for more graphic options to enhance customization.
- “The graphics and gameplay are very smooth; I love the little doodles in the UI menu and the art in the beginning.”
- “Psychological aspect, sound design, fresh assets, beautiful graphics, not too many jumpscares.”
- “The game runs smoothly, I didn't encounter any bugs, and the graphics are stunning.”
- “The only thing I hated was how happy I was to play a game with clean graphics in the outside part, then being forced back into the annoying VHS filter bodycam style inside the building.”
- “Horrible graphics, horrible clunky play.”
- “I also feel that it could've benefited from some graphic options or something.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The gameplay is characterized by a light and smooth experience, complemented by a heavy atmospheric presence. Players appreciate the charming doodles in the UI menu and the artistic elements at the beginning of the game.
- “The graphics and gameplay are very smooth. I love the little doodles in the UI menu and the art at the beginning.”
- “Light gameplay, heavy atmosphere.”
- “Video playthrough for anyone who is interested in watching gameplay before purchasing.”
- “Here's the full gameplay if you're curious: https://youtu.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
50%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with a notable soundtrack that enhances the emotional depth and creepiness of key moments, particularly during the ending.
- “The ending and explanation were kind of sad, but the soundtrack was pretty good.”
- “The song used in this way lends a certain creepiness.”
- “The song used in this way does lend a certain creepiness.”