GAME.exe

About

GAME.exe is a single player survival simulation game with a horror theme. It was developed by Punx Studios and was released on July 2, 2021. It received positive reviews from players.

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82%

Audience ScoreBased on 239 reviews

story12 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

Clever and well-made homage to Windows 98 with a nostalgic and immersive OS simulation experience.
Atmospheric and creepy horror elements with a simple but engaging mini-game inside the simulated OS.
Affordable price point and enjoyable for players interested in short indie horror or nostalgic PC-themed games.

Extremely short gameplay length, often completed within 10-30 minutes, limiting replay value.
Sparse story and limited interaction; lacks depth, meaningful puzzles, and a buildup of horror or narrative.
Mini-game component resembles a basic Slender clone with few mechanics and little innovation, diminishing overall impact.

story
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
66%
7%
The story in this game is generally considered very short, simplistic, and underdeveloped, with minimal plot details and limited narrative depth. While the psychological horror vibe and retro aesthetic are appreciated, many feel the story lacks buildup, complexity, and replay value, making the experience feel abrupt or incomplete. Some players enjoyed piecing together clues, but overall it is seen as a quick, disposable tale rather than a fully fleshed-out narrative.
- “The game is a well-made psychological horror game with a nice short story, although too short.”
- “If you enjoy just exploring every little detail, reading all the little things to find, while trying to put the story pieces together, then definitely give this game a try!”
- “The story is pretty simple yet not very fleshed out as much as I'd like in games like this one.”
- “There's no buildup in the game; the entire story is less than three paragraphs (although it seems the author noted in the checklist section that the story wasn't finished).”
- “Nice seedling idea for a game, but this is way too short, simple, and lacking in critical plot details.”
- “It doesn't present enough story to make you care about what's happening.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
39%
17%
The game's graphics are characterized by a nostalgic, old Windows 98 and PlayStation 1 aesthetic with detailed pixel art that appeals to fans of retro visuals. While many appreciate the unique and atmospheric style, some find the graphics simplistic or lacking, especially given the game's short length and price. Overall, the graphics are seen as fitting and unique, enhancing the horror experience despite being modest.
- “For the <$5 tag, this title is a fun little throwback to using Win98 and haunting PlayStation 1 quality graphics.”
- “Beautiful art style and overall a really fun game. I hope this company puts out more content. This is a perfect analog horror game.”
- “Overall a great game, attention to detail was great, and so was the pixel artwork done for it.”
- “For the <$5 tag, this title is a fun little throwback to using Win98 with daunting PlayStation 1 quality graphics.”
- “The developer needed quick money and used a scrapped two-minute-long Slenderman clone disguised under a nonexistent story with Windows 98 aesthetics and gimmicks that aren't actually there, turning it into a game you can 100% complete in 10 minutes while charging $3.”
- “I don't think such a short game with barely anything in it, no good sound or graphics, deserves more than 1 dollar.”
gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The gameplay is simple and minimalistic, primarily involving clicking, dragging, and writing, but is notably short and lacks depth or scare factor. While the game's style and concept are appreciated, many find the experience too brief and repetitive, with some frustrating glitches impacting playability. Overall, the gameplay is considered decent but leaves room for more content and refinement.
- “The gameplay is very simple and minimalistic; you can left click, drag, and write. In other words, it’s like using your computer but reimagined in a game.”
- “Game mechanics are simple and you can pretty much get through the whole game just by clicking everything and looking around.”
- “The bulk of the gameplay will be located in the game that you can find in one of the folders.”
- “The game itself is extremely overpriced, as you're essentially paying $3 for just 7 minutes of gameplay, only to receive a low-resolution spinning SCP PNG as the end result.”
- “Really disappointing, the gameplay is short and not scary at all.”
- “Very short and doesn't provide much in terms of gameplay and story.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
11%
33%
The game's music is well-received for its nostalgic and immersive qualities, featuring standout tracks that enhance the atmosphere and moments like phone call interference sounds. While some find the soundtrack engaging and fitting the late 90s setting, others note that the music mainly serves to characterize a specific character and is not deeply integrated into gameplay or story. Overall, the music is praised for its quality and contribution to the experience.
- “The soundtrack was a surprise, I liked it a lot. It kept me tuned to the game and put me in a moment in the past that doesn't come back anymore. Especially liked the interference noise on the speaker when someone called on the cell phone, that was really cool!”
- “Some neat little puzzles and good music along the way, as well.”
- “The music box in-game has some bangers that are definitely worth checking out.”
- “It isn't helped by the game forcing itself to be set in 1999 - and using late 2010s to early 2020s lingo, or a meta shoutout to the music in the game, featuring an artist from the late 2010s.”
- “Spoilers: The music is never used beyond characterizing Oliver, and the same goes for the message history.”
- “The PC does have some decent enough music in the playlist but not really much else to read or interact with; there are a couple of files to read, but it only barely creates a story.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
Users praise the atmosphere as highly effective, describing it as atmospheric, creepy, and psychologically unsettling despite the games' short length. They appreciate the immersive horror elements and express a desire for longer games maintaining the same eerie and captivating ambiance.
- “Exe, Wisperwind, Katydids, and Office Elevator, while not long, are very atmospheric and somewhat scary games!”
- “Quick atmospheric psychological horror game with a short story that immediately gives you the creeps.”
- “Amaro Studios is able to make much larger games with a similar atmosphere and concept like this one, as it was fully enjoyable.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The game's stability is generally good, with only minor glitches such as a monster glitch triggered by climbing on cars. These occasional issues do not significantly affect gameplay and can sometimes be used strategically.
- “No glitches.”
- “Pretty good and scared me at first xd. One of the glitches I experienced is that if you climb on top of a car, the monster glitches. I used it to finish the game.”
- “-glitches-”
- “☐ many glitches”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is criticized for having little to no replay value, making it difficult to justify purchasing at full price given its short length. A lower price or sale is recommended to better match the limited replayability.
- “It's just hard to justify buying such a short game for this price, especially considering there's basically no replay value.”
- “I'd be more comfortable saying that full price is okay for this game as it is now ($2.99 USD), but for most, a sale might still be better for the length of game, especially as I don't really see any replay value.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, allowing players to relive cherished memories and experience heartfelt emotions.
- “It made me feel nostalgic and I could relive good times.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is lighthearted and playful, blending spooky elements with comedic moments that make it ideal for creating funny short videos.