Goosebumps: The Game

Goosebumps: The Game can go eat worms as far as we're concerned. This dreary visual novel is packed with poor puzzles and even poorer prose, and it deserves feeding to the beast from the east as a consequence. The copious Goosebumps references will provide fleeting entertainment for fans – but we'd rather live the rest of our lives at ghost camp than even consider touching this sorry tie-in again.

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In "Goosebumps: The Game" , your sleepy neighborhood is overrun by R.L. Stine's famous Goosebumps monsters. You'll need to use your wits to investigate, puzzle out clues, and outsmart the monsters to survive and confront Slappy, preventing his plans for revenge. This immersive adventure serves as a prequel to the Goosebumps movie.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 249 reviews

story13 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

The game is a nostalgic trip for fans of the Goosebumps series, filled with references to the books and characters.
The art style is visually appealing and reminiscent of the original book covers, enhancing the overall atmosphere.
The gameplay is engaging with a mix of puzzles and exploration, making it enjoyable for both younger audiences and adults who grew up with the franchise.

Some puzzles can be overly cryptic or tedious, leading to frustration and requiring the use of guides.
The dialogue can become repetitive, especially when re-entering rooms, which can detract from the experience.
The game is relatively short, and some players feel it doesn't justify the full price tag, suggesting it is better suited for a sale.

story
59 mentions
22 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The game's story is a nostalgic homage to the Goosebumps series, featuring well-designed characters and satisfying callbacks to the original books, though it often feels predictable and simplistic. While some players appreciate the engaging atmosphere and puzzle integration, many criticize the dialogue for being repetitive and the overall narrative for lacking depth, resulting in a short and somewhat sluggish experience. Ultimately, the story serves more as a vehicle for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative, appealing primarily to fans of the franchise.
- “I really enjoyed it because I really enjoyed Goosebumps, and it manages to give a nod to each story without completely milking them in a 'hey, remember Goosebumps?'”
- “A love letter to the Goosebumps series and its fans, that feels like the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure story.”
- “The story takes interesting side turns depending on some of your choices - including countless demises at the hands of different monsters due to not-so-wise action choices - so it is possible to finish the game with alternative paths.”
- “The story barely exists.”
- “The biggest issue with this game is the dialogue; every time you reenter a room, it's the same line. There will be times when the room changes to advance the plot, but it's really not enough to fix the lack of variety.”
- “Unfortunately, the story kind of wanders off in a couple of different directions, until finally coming to a half-making-sense ending.”
gameplay
25 mentions
36 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a straightforward point-and-click adventure with puzzle-solving elements, offering a simple yet enjoyable experience that doesn't overstay its welcome. While some players appreciate the nostalgic references and well-executed mechanics, others find it uninspired and basic, with a lack of complexity and engaging features. Overall, the game provides a decent amount of content for its price, though some may feel it lacks depth and replayability.
- “The gameplay is pretty straightforward; it’s a point-and-click adventure game with some puzzle-solving.”
- “The gameplay feels short because it's *so* good and you just wanna play even more.”
- “There is a nice amount of room to explore, and you can pack your inventory with numerous items, many of which you don’t even need to progress (which isn’t a common mechanic in this genre).”
- “In terms of gameplay, it's an uninspired point-and-click adventure game.”
- “> Gameplay slower than a snail in a race, dull as a lecture on paint drying.”
- “The gameplay is quite basic.”
graphics
22 mentions
55 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their stunning art style and vibrant, cartoony visuals that effectively capture the eerie essence of the Goosebumps series. While some reviews note a small budget reflected in the graphics, many players appreciate the distinctive aesthetic and atmospheric design that enhances the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, contributing positively to the game's appeal despite some gameplay criticisms.
- “In addition to this, the art style is stunning to look at.”
- “The entire game's art style is in the same style as the cover art for the Goosebumps books, which is a huge attention grabber in my opinion.”
- “The art style is wonderful, the music is very atmospheric and engrossing - and very enjoyable.”
- “The visuals are fine, but clearly show a small budget.”
- “While the graphics and sound are nice, I didn't like the gameplay.”
- “The graphics are cartoony, but can still be a bit eerie in line with the book series.”
music
18 mentions
50 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the phenomenal original soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere and nostalgia, particularly for fans of the 90s show. However, some players find certain tracks repetitive and unremarkable, noting that while the music contributes to the ambiance, it could benefit from more variety and depth. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a strong point, though it has its flaws, such as occasional technical issues during gameplay.
- “The OST of the game is phenomenal and one of the best parts of the game.”
- “The atmosphere is amazing and the music suits the setting very well.”
- “The music and art style are pleasant and are well aligned with the soul of the game.”
- “Negative: music, it was pretty unremarkable as I already forgot every track except for Chad's theme (because it was funny).”
- “The music can be a little bit more melancholy than spooky.”
- “The coupling soundtrack is also decent, though the tunes do get repetitive and boring by the end of the time that you will be spending with the game.”
atmosphere
17 mentions
53 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating and spooky qualities, enhanced by well-suited music and effective pacing that evoke genuine tension and nostalgia. Reviewers highlight the successful creation of a teen horror ambiance, with notable death scenes and clever easter eggs contributing to an immersive experience. Overall, the combination of art style, sound design, and thematic elements creates a memorable and engaging atmosphere that resonates with players.
- “The atmosphere is amazing and the music suits the setting very well.”
- “The game manages to create a great teen horror atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere in this game is captivating, and the story is intriguing.”
- “Nailed the atmosphere, but substance and quality game design?”
- “At least the atmosphere and essence of a horror game is here.”
- “The atmosphere is spooky and tense.”
grinding
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is marked by tedious puzzles, repetitive dialogue, and cumbersome inventory management, leading to a frustrating experience for players. Many find the need to repeatedly engage with certain mechanics and achievements to be overly time-consuming, suggesting that the game could benefit from more streamlined design and clearer solutions. Overall, those not deeply invested in the theme may find the grinding elements a significant drawback.
- “Dialogue always repeats every time you move rooms regardless if you've been there before, which becomes really tedious.”
- “Basically, the puzzle has you develop a photograph, which is long and tedious, and has you wait 3 real-life minutes.”
- “Most of the achievements are tedious and require playing again and again.”
humor
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as silly and entertaining, with standout moments including funny segments and clever references to classic horror elements. Players appreciate the balance between eerie and humorous anecdotes, as well as the comedic interactions with items in the game. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the fun and engaging experience, making it a highlight for many players.
- “Overall, Goosebumps is a good game; it does well on landing some funny jokes and has really created some standout death scenes like in King's Quest.”
- “Very funny!”
- “Here you can pick up many items and simply put them into your bag, and the game will humorously point it out, especially when they are physically large items.”
replayability
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the multiple solutions to puzzles and references that encourage replay, others feel that the limited content and lack of substantial incentives, such as achievements, do not justify the price.
- “This does, however, make it highly replayable.”
- “A fun point and click with multiple references to the books and a few puzzles that have multiple solutions gives it a small replay value.”
- “5: a lot of replay value.”
- “Besides achievements, there's just not enough replay value to justify the full price.”
- “A fun point and click with multiple references to the books and a few puzzles that have multiple solutions give it a small replay value.”
- “Really not enough content/replayability to justify spending 10 dollars on this.”
stability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is mixed, with some users reporting frustrating glitches, while others experience a smooth gameplay without any bugs.
- “These glitches add frustration to injury.”
character development
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game falls short in delivering suspense and meaningful character development, leaving players feeling disappointed by the lack of depth in character arcs.
- “This missed opportunity for suspense and character development is disappointing.”
- “The characters feel one-dimensional and lack any real growth throughout the game.”
- “I expected more depth in the character arcs, but they all seem to follow predictable paths.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy is perceived as a polished attempt to capitalize on nostalgia, leading some users to label it a cash grab.
- “This game feels like a well-polished nostalgia cash grab.”
- “The monetization strategy is overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “I can't enjoy the game when it constantly pushes me to spend more money.”
optimization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for causing significant performance issues, including stuttering music and frozen screens at critical moments, which can last for around 30 seconds before normal control is restored.
- “At certain key points, upon finishing a puzzle, I was greeted by a stuttering music track and a frozen screen, which, thankfully, I regained control of after about 30 seconds or so.”
- “The game frequently lags during crucial moments, making it frustrating to progress.”
- “I encountered multiple instances where the frame rate dropped significantly, ruining the overall experience.”