Hand of Doom

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 750 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
Hand of Doom Game Cover
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In "Hand of Doom" , play as an apprentice wizard in servitude to a powerful sorcerer, tasked with slaying Doomlords across realities to prevent universal disaster. With the master of death resurrected, choose to honor your contract by slaughtering or befriending shackled entities, shaping your story's outcome. This immersive RPG experience offers depth and flexibility in your choices and consequences.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 750 reviews
gameplay106 positive mentions
stability52 negative mentions
  • Diverse collection of horror games with unique concepts and styles.
  • Standout titles like 'Summer Night' and 'The Pony Factory' offer engaging experiences.
  • Great value for the price, with a portion of proceeds going to charity.
  • Some games feel unfinished or poorly executed, such as 'Rotgut' and 'Carthanc'.
  • A few titles lack clear instructions or direction, leading to confusion.
  • Overall quality varies significantly between games, with some being quite tedious.
  • gameplay374 mentions

    The gameplay across the reviewed titles is notably inconsistent, with many players finding it either confusing, slow, or lacking depth. While some games, like "Hand of Doom" and "Don't Go Out," showcase interesting mechanics and engaging concepts, others suffer from frustrating controls, bugs, and minimal interaction, often resembling walking simulators. Overall, the collection offers a mix of unique ideas and traditional gameplay, but many titles leave players wanting more in terms of polish and depth.

    • “Outsiders had a cool sort of time loop mechanic where you learn each time you fail.”
    • “The gameplay loop doesn't overstay its welcome, the enemies and scenarios are varied enough not to become boring with quite a simplistic premise.”
    • “Hand of Doom has an interesting and fun gameplay mechanic with a nice story.”
    • “The gameplay is mostly sloppy first person platforming that's extremely frustrating.”
    • “Rotgut: has no story, the 'gameplay' was atrocious, and there's missing visuals and holes in the map everywhere.”
    • “Carthanc has an outstanding presentation that it completely squanders with awful gameplay, leaving me weary of trying the team's other projects.”
  • graphics284 mentions

    The graphics in these games are a mixed bag, with many reviewers noting a nostalgic appeal in styles reminiscent of early PC and PS1 aesthetics, often enhanced by unique color palettes and atmospheric designs. However, several titles suffer from performance issues, graphical glitches, and unoptimized settings that can detract from the experience, leading to frustration for players with high-end hardware. Overall, while the art styles are frequently praised, the execution varies significantly, with some games achieving a captivating visual atmosphere and others falling short due to technical shortcomings.

    • “The art style of this game was a joy to behold, and the short soundtrack was ethereal.”
    • “Haunted PSX graphics paired with vibrant pinks and greens makes for one hell of a looker.”
    • “Shatter 4.5/5 - amazing atmosphere, very interesting world, original graphics reminiscent of PS1 games.”
    • “They seem rushed with either purposely bad graphics or okay graphics that make your PC chug.”
    • “This is a really badly made Unity map with some random stuff thrown here and there; the lighting of the map is atrocious, there are graphical glitches everywhere, and it's also really buggy. I didn't even get the actual ending of the game due to a bug.”
    • “The graphics are really rough and it’s in black and white, so even the art style can’t save it.”
  • story260 mentions

    The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its intriguing concepts and world-building, while others find it vague, predictable, or lacking depth. Notable highlights include a charming narrative in "Mr. Bucket Told Me To" and a strong twist in "Outsiders," but many titles suffer from minimal storytelling or gameplay that detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while some stories are engaging and well-developed, others leave players wanting more clarity and substance.

    • “A simple, charming story about a lone shipwrecked man on an island, surviving and holding onto what is left of his sanity.”
    • “The theme and story is spectacular.”
    • “Mr. Bucket Told Me To: this one was a good game, it's a survival tied to story elements, where your sense of guilt comes to haunt you through a bucket.”
    • “The end could be seen from the first 30 seconds, but it’s very little you can do about this straight track of a story.”
    • “All the textures and objects are just slapped together, all the sceneries glitch out, nothing has collision, the sound design is terrible, there's no story, and you literally walk down a train tunnel with nothing in it for like 8 minutes straight, nothing happens aside from some images that fade slowly onto the screen then fade out, then you walk back, and nothing happens.”
    • “Glitches, no sense of direction, no story at all, no interesting gameplay, literally nothing about this is good.”
  • atmosphere174 mentions

    The atmosphere across the reviewed games is consistently praised for its effectiveness in creating tension and immersion, with many titles utilizing unique visual styles, sound design, and lighting to enhance the horror experience. Games like "Pony Factory" and "Outsiders" stand out for their chilling environments and engaging gameplay, while others, such as "Shatter," are noted for their unsettling music and world-building. However, some titles are critiqued for being repetitive or lacking in gameplay depth, despite their atmospheric strengths.

    • “This game had the best atmosphere of the bunch and the audio mixing was phenomenal in making you scared with sound alone.”
    • “The atmosphere is phenomenal and I felt a chill as I explored the game.”
    • “Filled with many great atmospheres, this collection highlights the skills of developers as they capture so much with so little, and in so little time!”
    • “Oh also there's these laser enemies making annoying noises chasing after you and they're just frustrating and ruin the atmosphere immediately.”
    • “In addition, despite the game's effective atmosphere and intrigue, the payoff is absolute garbage, not only making the whole experience unsatisfying but also retrospectively spoiling the entire experience of the game.”
    • “It ruins its own atmosphere almost right away, and holds no emotional investment.”
  • music76 mentions

    The music in the game has received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising its atmospheric and ethereal qualities that enhance the overall experience. Some found the soundtrack to be a standout feature, with memorable tracks that evoke strong emotions, while others criticized the intensity of certain pieces as overwhelming. Overall, the combination of music, visuals, and setting contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a highlight for many players.

    • “The art style of this game was a joy to behold, and the short soundtrack was ethereal.”
    • “The song at the end was beautifully written; I teared up.”
    • “A visually pleasing PS1 era art style that, when paired with the soundtrack, makes for a great atmosphere.”
    • “I found the intense music to be annoying, and the game rushes you with oxygen-warning voice lines at scripted locations to give you an artificial sense of urgency.”
    • “The audio and music is okay...when I can hear it.”
    • “You walk slow-as-dirt down a straight, glitchy, flickery tunnel with MS Paint graffiti and no music or ambience while an occasional unedited stock photo of a person fades onto the screen.”
  • humor68 mentions

    The humor in these games is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, often blending absurdity with unexpected twists that subvert traditional horror tropes. Players appreciate the quirky dialogue, hilarious scenarios, and memorable endings that leave them laughing, even amidst moments of tension or creepiness. While some titles may lean more heavily on humor than horror, the overall consensus is that the comedic elements enhance the gaming experience, making it both entertaining and unique.

    • “I spent the most time with this game out of any other on this list, and while the puzzle can be a bit unintuitive and frustrating at first, the hilarious ending made it all worth it.”
    • “It's very funny and a little bit tense, not quite scary, but all of that is relieved at the end when it's actually twisted into just being sad and consistently funny.”
    • “Mr. Bucket Told Me To is a cute, funny story about a man stranded on an island.”
  • stability52 mentions

    The stability of the games in this anthology is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, graphical glitches, and overall poor performance. Many games feel unfinished and lack coherent gameplay, leading to frustrating experiences where players encounter issues like incomplete endings and erratic mechanics. While some titles show potential, the overwhelming consensus is that the games are plagued by instability, making them difficult to enjoy.

    • “This is a really badly made Unity map with some random stuff thrown here and there; the lighting of the map is atrocious, there are graphical glitches everywhere, and it's also really buggy. I didn't even get the actual ending of the game due to a bug.”
    • “Rotgut: I'm actually surprised this thing is in here; it's an incredibly buggy mess with awfully textured everything, where you just walk forward for about 10 minutes and then back. While doing so, you might notice blinking textures, the road disappearing under you, getting stuck on the environment, and the 'amazing' ending I won't spoil just not working altogether. Maybe, if you're unlucky, the game won't even get counted as completed.”
    • “It's a buggy mess; I couldn't tell whether certain things were glitches or 'scares,' and I could not get the game to end properly.”
  • grinding42 mentions

    The reviews overwhelmingly describe the grinding aspect of these games as tedious and frustrating, often leading to a monotonous experience that detracts from enjoyment. Many players found the gameplay slow and repetitive, with some elements requiring excessive backtracking or pixel hunting, which made progression feel unfulfilling. While a few games had interesting concepts, the overall sentiment is that the grinding mechanics significantly hindered the overall experience.

    • “It was just really hard but also tedious, so it didn't feel rewarding enough to justify the difficulty.”
    • “Sadly, it is required to have you go through it in order to finish the collection, per tradition of doing a 100% completion, so be prepared for a tedious, boring journey.”
    • “I found it tedious, boring, and the fact that you can’t progress much without pixel hunting is beyond boring.”
  • optimization30 mentions

    The optimization of the game has been widely criticized, with many users reporting severe performance issues that hinder gameplay, particularly during platforming sections. While some players noted that turning off shadows could improve performance, the overall consensus is that the game suffers from poor coding and lacks quality control, making it frustratingly unplayable for many. Despite its intriguing premise, the optimization problems overshadow the experience, leading to a significant number of players opting to watch rather than play.

    • “I understand it's the nature of these sorts of video game anthologies, but there really needs to be some sort of quality control to weed out some of the horrifically unoptimized, unfun, or downright unplayable games.”
    • “It runs a bit poorly performance-wise, but it has nice lighting effects either way.”
    • “Needs some optimization though.”
    • “Outsiders is not optimized well at all, but if you turn shadows completely off it runs fine.”
    • “You play as someone who just woke up with amnesia and is trying to escape from a house (with game assets that all looked like they were bought from a store)... before I continue, I just want to say that this game deserves a very special award: the worst optimized game I have ever played in my life award.”
    • “It is poorly optimized with no elements of any kind, horror or otherwise.”
  • emotional18 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is notably impactful, with several players praising its ability to evoke strong feelings, from wholesome moments to intense horror. While some reviews highlight a lack of emotional investment due to gameplay mechanics, others commend the game's narrative depth and its capacity to elicit genuine responses, suggesting that it stands out even against larger titles. Overall, the emotional drive is a significant strength, though experiences may vary widely among players.

    • “The emotional drive in this game is well directed, and I think this is one of the best games I've ever played in this collection.”
    • “The narrative and horror of this game is an emotional one, without spoiling.”
    • “Outsiders, a simple yet very effective game that actually gave me goosebumps and made me feel a sense of panic.”
  • replayability10 mentions

    The game offers solid replayability due to its multiple game modes and the ability to continue playing after completion. Players find it easy to learn, and its fast-paced nature contributes to its replay value, encouraging exploration and experimentation even after mastering the initial challenges.

    • “There are multiple game modes, lending to replayability.”
    • “The game actually continues on if you finish it, giving it replay value.”
    • “Pretty good replay value just because of how snappy it is.”
    • “The game actually continues on if you finish it, providing some replay value.”
    • “There are multiple game modes, contributing to its replayability.”
    • “Certainly has some replay value and is pretty simple to learn.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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