Gylt

About

Gylt is a single player role playing game with a horror theme. It was developed by Tequila Works and was released on July 6, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Gylt is a single-player Horror Role Playing game with an intriguing story and great mechanics. As Sally, a little girl searching for her missing cousin in a creepy, surreal world, players can choose to confront or avoid twisted creatures based on Sally's fears. With wonderful graphics, good music, and a perfect atmosphere, Gylt is a highly emotional, narrative-driven adventure game with puzzles, stealth, and action."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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96%

Audience ScoreBased on 512 reviews

story125 positive mentions

stability9 negative mentions

The game features a captivating story that explores themes of bullying and emotional struggles, resonating with players on a personal level.
The visuals and art style are beautifully crafted, reminiscent of a Tim Burton film, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience.
The gameplay mechanics, including stealth and puzzle-solving, are engaging and accessible, making it suitable for both younger audiences and those new to horror games.

The game can feel overly simplistic and easy, lacking challenge for experienced players, which may lead to a less engaging experience.
The requirement to collect all items for the best ending can be frustrating, as it may lead to backtracking and a sense of obligation rather than exploration.
Some players may find the story predictable and the character development lacking, with certain plot points feeling rushed or underexplored.

story
260 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
50%
2%
The story of *Gylt* revolves around a young girl named Sally on a quest to find her missing cousin, Emily, exploring themes of bullying, guilt, and emotional turmoil. While the narrative is engaging and atmospheric, many reviewers noted that it lacks depth and complexity, often relying on predictable plot points and short notes for storytelling. Overall, the game is praised for its artistic direction and emotional impact, though some players wished for a more detailed conclusion and a less linear approach to the plot.
- “The story follows a young girl named Sally looking for her cousin, exploring themes of guilt, fear, and friendship.”
- “I loved the story; it beautifully delves into themes of bullying, depression, isolation, and peer pressure, making it heartfelt and impactful.”
- “The search for Sally's missing cousin, Emily, drives the story forward, and the game successfully explores themes of guilt, fear, and friendship.”
- “The plot is not treading new ground, and frankly, it doesn't want to.”
- “The story is bland and the characters, of which there are only three, are boring and uninteresting.”
- “This game is what happens when you take an interesting topic of bullying, streamline the story to be as simple and safe as possible, and put it on gameplay rails that are both easy and flawed.”
gameplay
165 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
57%
7%
The gameplay of "Gylt" is characterized by a blend of stealth, puzzle-solving, and combat mechanics, often drawing comparisons to titles like "Alan Wake" and "Little Nightmares." While many players appreciate its engaging atmosphere, polished visuals, and narrative depth, some criticize the simplicity and repetitiveness of the mechanics, noting that the game is relatively easy and tailored for a younger audience. Overall, it offers a solid experience, though it may not satisfy those seeking more challenging gameplay.
- “The gameplay is engaging, the visuals are beautiful, and the story is deep and well told.”
- “The gameplay seamlessly blends puzzle-solving with stealth mechanics, keeping you engaged at every turn.”
- “Great stealth mechanics, movement is fluid, and controls are intuitive, providing a smooth gameplay experience.”
- “The same exact quirk chungus indie game slop with reddit writing that I've seen a million times already, there's no point to engage with the environment and explore, the gameplay loop is worthless, the setting is all in your head as usual and you have to actively role-play that the basic and boring enemy NPCs are scary in order to maybe have some amount of fun.”
- “Sneaking is ruined by rudimentary gameplay, mundane locations, and aggressive UI that constantly shows AI awareness, rendering any sense of suspense obsolete.”
- “This game is what happens when you take an interesting topic of bullying, streamline the story to be as simple and safe as possible, and put it on gameplay rails that are both easy and flawed.”
graphics
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
28%
3%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their beautiful art style, which is often compared to works like "Little Nightmares" and "Coraline." While some reviewers noted that the graphics are not groundbreaking, they appreciated the atmospheric visuals and attention to detail that enhance the overall experience. The combination of engaging animations, color palettes, and a unique aesthetic contributes to a captivating and immersive environment, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “Gylt showcases beautiful graphics with meticulous attention to detail in the art style that enhances the game's immersive nature and captivates players from start to finish.”
- “The graphics and art style are nice, but the animations at times can be rather janky.”
- “The atmosphere, music, art style, and voice acting are pretty solid.”
- “The graphics themselves aren't out of this world, but the art style is awesome and fits the game like a glove.”
- “Gylt is a nice little game that tries very hard to be like Little Nightmares, but falls flat due to the very childish and Disney-like art style, as well as a lack of any real feeling of danger when dealing with the monsters.”
- “This game is what happens when you take an interesting topic of bullying, streamline the story to be as simple and safe as possible, and put it on gameplay rails that are both easy and flawed. While the graphics and high detail may attract a few players to try it, I cannot see this game being a topic of discussion, fading away into obscurity not as some hidden gem, but as a very mediocre product.”
atmosphere
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
76%
18%
6%
The atmosphere in "Gylt" is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively blending horror elements with a deep emotional narrative. Reviewers highlight the game's masterful sound design, haunting music, and well-crafted environments that evoke a sense of dread without relying on cheap jump scares. The unique art style and strong voice acting further enhance the overall experience, making it a standout in atmospheric storytelling within the horror genre.
- “Gylt delivers horror via atmosphere, no unnecessary jumpscares out of nowhere (almost) and masterfully crafted environments.”
- “If you love narrative-driven games with breathtaking visuals and a haunting atmosphere, Gylt is a hidden gem worth experiencing!”
- “Takes a masterful use of atmosphere, audio, and level design to scare people without any cheap tricks like jumpscares or gore.”
- “You can clearly sense the inspiration from Silent Hill – the same atmosphere of distorted reality where inner demons materialize into terrifying creatures.”
- “It is simplistic to the point where it gets the atmosphere and tension where it needs to but no further.”
- “The spooky atmosphere is passable and the environments are varied.”
music
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
29%
7%
The music in the game has received high praise for its atmospheric and haunting qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience and complementing the game's themes. Many reviewers noted the soundtrack's ability to evoke emotions and create tension, with comparisons to popular films like Harry Potter and Coraline. While some felt the music could have been utilized more frequently, the consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's immersive and eerie ambiance.
- “The soundtrack enhances the tension, making every moment feel suspenseful yet rewarding.”
- “The striking visual design coupled with a haunting soundtrack creates an ambiance that lingers, immersing you deeper into the narrative.”
- “Great atmosphere, music, and graphics.”
- “Music ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ - 6/10”
- “4/10 music”
- “Music is decent, could be better”
emotional
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of *Gylt* is widely praised for its heartfelt exploration of childhood fears, bullying, and the impact of isolation, resonating deeply with players. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke strong feelings through its atmospheric storytelling and character relationships, despite some criticism regarding the execution of emotional scenes. Overall, *Gylt* is recognized as a unique blend of horror and emotional depth, making it a compelling experience for players, particularly younger audiences.
- “As a dad with kids in school, this subject always worries me, and the game portrays it in a way that feels very real and heartbreaking.”
- “It's an emotional journey that scares you not with gore effects, but with how accurately it conveys childhood fears.”
- “Gylt offers an emotional insight into the impact bullying can have on a child using thought-provoking art to convey concepts of loneliness, anger, and paranoia.”
stability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
8%
69%
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many players reporting smooth performance on various platforms, including the Steam Deck and older PCs. However, some users on Linux have encountered glitches, particularly in specific sections of the game, though these do not significantly detract from the overall experience. Most reviews highlight a polished gameplay experience with minimal bugs and solid controls.
- “It runs great on the Steam Deck if you have one, perfect for a 40-minute train ride.”
- “Runs great on my PC, which is about 4 years old now.”
- “From a technical point of view, I have zero complaints; the game is virtually bug-free, graphics are nice, and optimization is good.”
- “If you are on Linux, be prepared for some glitches (but the game is playable).”
- “That section felt really buggy; I wasn't even in the spotlight and it would just snap to me.”
- “That was fortunately the only spot that felt rather buggy for me.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
55%
27%
The game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting high replay value due to multiple endings and collectible achievements, while others feel it is limited beyond these elements. Overall, it offers opportunities for varied playthroughs, but many agree that the core experience does not significantly change with repeated play.
- “Gives great replayability :)”
- “There are also apparently different achievements for beating bosses with no hits (I managed to get one on my first blind playthrough) and beating the game without killing any enemies, so the replayability is there for anyone who feels like doing that.”
- “There is no replay value apart from collectibles and endings.”
- “Replayability is low; however, apart from a few collectibles and different endings, there's not much to the game.”
- “I believe there are multiple endings depending on certain triggers in the game, so there's a bit of replay value.”
optimization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
18%
27%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players reporting excellent performance on high settings and minimal to no bugs or crashes. However, some users noted occasional performance issues, suggesting that while the game is mostly stable, there may be areas for improvement.
- “Perfect performance on ultra, zero crashes.”
- “Thirdly, the game is quite optimized and I didn't experience a single bug, glitch, or frame drop during my entire playthrough.”
- “From a technical point of view, I have zero complaints; the game is virtually bug-free, graphics are nice, and optimization is good.”
- “Optimization seems to be a bit bad.”
- “Some performance issues.”
- “Overall impressions & performance.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The character development in the game is visually striking, featuring designs inspired by Pixar animations and a stop-motion aesthetic reminiscent of films like Coraline and ParaNorman. Players appreciate the vibrant use of color and the overall artistic quality, which enhances the game's unique identity and sets it apart from similar titles.
- “The game looks gorgeous, with the character design being heavily inspired by Pixar animations.”
- “The graphics art style is really good and beautiful; it has this stop motion feel to it like Coraline and ParaNorman, especially when it comes to its character designs.”
- “I was drawn to the game by the character design and Little Nightmares vibes, but this was no copy knockoff; this was a game true to itself.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I expected more growth and complexity in the characters, but they remain one-dimensional throughout the game.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices in character development left me feeling disconnected from the story.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while collectible farming can be enjoyable, it sometimes leads to repetitive and tedious stealth scenarios. Despite this, many appreciate the balance of puzzles that keep the gameplay engaging, though some feel that achieving 100% completion can be unnecessarily tedious.
- “That means if you really want the 'true experience,' you'll have to go collectible farming.”
- “While I had a lot of fun with it, at some points I felt the game was relying too much on stealth situations, making it slightly boring in some areas where you find yourself 30 minutes of continuous and tedious hide and seek stealth situations with enemies.”
- “(I 100%ed the game in my playtime. Not achievements though. Screw that tedious nonsense.)”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its amusing approach to healing, with an abundance of items scattered throughout the map that often feels excessive yet entertaining. Players appreciate the generous item distribution, which adds a lighthearted touch to the gameplay, even as it underscores the potential challenges of running out of resources.
- “The funny way of handling healing adds a unique twist to the gameplay.”
- “They were very generous with items (healing and battery); it got outright humorous just how many extra things were laying around on the map that I didn't need. It was a good call, because on the off chance that you managed to run out of items, you might be screwed depending on where you were, lmao.”