Haunted Gas Station

About

After a vehicle accident, a man is forced to check a nearby gas station for help, unaware of its ghastly resident.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 996 reviews

story23 positive mentions

optimization10 negative mentions

The game features impressive voice acting and sound design that enhances the horror experience.
Despite its short length, the game provides a few genuine scares and a fun, quick playthrough.
As a free game, it offers a decent amount of entertainment and is worth trying out.

The game suffers from significant bugs, including a broken retry/quit menu that forces players to restart the entire game upon death.
Invisible walls and poor optimization lead to frustrating gameplay experiences, making navigation difficult.
The overall graphics and design feel low quality, resembling a rushed project rather than a polished game.

story
71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
59%
8%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some praising its depth, atmosphere, and engaging characters, while others criticize it for being poorly executed and lacking coherence. Many players found the horror elements effective, contributing to a captivating experience, though some noted issues with pacing and plot clarity. Overall, the narrative is seen as a strong point for horror enthusiasts, despite its brevity and occasional cheesiness.
- “This is a cinematic masterpiece that will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you nervously sweating all the way through. The story takes place in a remote location with only a lonely gas station around. You play as an average Joe character who, after getting into a car accident with a deer, is forced to seek help. As you enter the gas station, something just doesn't feel right... This game is an absolute must-play, and I'm surprised that the developers chose to release it for free since it's such an in-depth and truly chilling experience.”
- “The voice acting is superb and the story is fascinating. This game is very advanced compared to many others, and I would recommend it as it provides a good scare, especially for the upcoming Halloween.”
- “The characters have a deep backstory and lore, and their interactions with the player will cause you to truly care about them. Overall, this is a gem, a story that can rival Homer's Odyssey.”
- “The plot could've been written and executed better by a 4-year-old with a crayon and paper.”
- “The game is awfully laggy and the jump scares aren't even that good; the plot is all over the place and very boring.”
- “The graphics are terrible and the story makes absolutely no sense.”
graphics
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
44%
17%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising them as stunning and lifelike, while others criticize them for being outdated or poorly optimized. Many players highlight the impressive visual design and ambiance that enhance the gaming experience, but there are also complaints about technical issues like frame rate drops and invisible walls. Overall, the graphics seem to evoke strong reactions, ranging from admiration to disappointment.
- “Goty potential, everything from the graphics that somehow seem to look like real life, to the amazing voice acting in sounds I literally had to take my headphones off to make sure it wasn't real life.”
- “Haunted Gas Station is beautifully powered by the newest version of the Frostbite engine, but, honestly, the Frostbite engine is powered by Haunted Gas Station. The visuals are absolutely stunning, especially the main location of the game - the abandoned nursery, which looks absolutely perfect. It's safe to say that not only did they break the boundaries of the Frostbite engine but technology as a whole.”
- “The graphics in this game are beyond our time; even on low settings, sometimes I question if I am really there.”
- “The graphics and frames run worse than a Roblox game on a HP laptop from 2012 with no FPS unlocker.”
- “Graphics are from the year 1999 and still struggles?”
- “It's not good looking, even by indie Unity game standards, and lowering the graphics barely does anything.”
gameplay
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
63%
9%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the engaging mechanics and horror elements, while others criticized its short duration and occasional bugs. Many found the experience entertaining and immersive, particularly in the context of horror, but noted that the overall quality felt low due to its small development team. Despite these issues, several players highlighted memorable moments and a deep storyline that contributed to a fun experience.
- “I honestly can't remember the last time a game made me smile and laugh this much while also being totally engrossed in the gameplay.”
- “Truly a fantastic experience, it has everything one could want from exhilarating gameplay to enticing lore alongside lovable characters, keeping you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire time you're playing this game.”
- “Outstanding gameplay, scary ghost, and great cast of characters, what else could you want from a horror game.”
- “As for gameplay issues/quirks, there were a few such as: mobility - I felt like my character was on ice skates as he was literally gliding all over the place (was pretty funny, to be honest).”
- “This game has very awkward and streamlined gameplay that has you asking questions the whole way.”
- “Even as a free title, there are only a few minutes of gameplay that is buggy and rough overall.”
humor
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in this game is a standout feature, blending scares with comedic moments that leave players both terrified and laughing. Many reviews highlight the game's cheesy elements, quirky glitches, and amusing character interactions, making it a fun, albeit short, horror experience. Overall, players appreciate the lighthearted take on the horror genre, often recommending it for those who enjoy a mix of humor and fright.
- “This game is not only scary, but funny as hell.”
- “Made me laugh, it's a fun short horror experience.”
- “This game is hilarious and fantastic.”
optimization
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
38%
48%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many users reporting severe performance issues, including low frame rates and poor graphics quality, even on high-end PCs. While some players found enjoyment in the gameplay despite these flaws, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized and could benefit from significant improvements.
- “The game is greatly optimized for all kinds of computers, making it available to any players.”
- “Since it's so short, to say too much about the game would be to give it all away, but know that underneath some unpolished rough spots and optimization problems lies a game with some wit, charm, gentle scares, and a simplistic retro atmosphere.”
- “Optimization by removing some lights as well can be done, and directional audio improvements would be nice.”
- “No optimization whatsoever - game runs like crap, despite looking rather poorly.”
- “Plain and simple, badly optimized trash.”
- “I know it's a free horror game and all, but this is... extremely poorly optimized, buggy, linear, short, and built almost entirely using free assets.”
music
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
14%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its exceptional quality and emotional depth, with some reviewers comparing it to classical masterpieces. The soundtrack, created by a single individual, effectively enhances the game's atmosphere, contributing to both its unsettling mood and immersive experience. While some players noted areas for improvement, the overall consensus highlights the music as a standout feature that significantly elevates the gameplay.
- “The music, from the orchestral riffs of angels to the melancholic cries of the whales, and the sound design are at the top of the world. The OST will forever be music that rivals classics like Mozart, and it's incredible to think this beautiful masterpiece of a soundtrack was all created from scratch by one individual.”
- “The music was fitting, the tension built up nicely, and one particular scene I felt was perfectly timed.”
- “There is not a single glitch, and the music and voice acting are just phenomenal.”
- “Simple build relying on music and a jump scare or so to carry the game through.”
- “Needs more details and the scary music for when you go to get the key isn't great.”
- “And also update the music and show the main character's face for once in a while.”
atmosphere
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The reviews highlight a mixed reception regarding the atmosphere in the game. While some players appreciate the immersive and chilling atmosphere, along with effective jumpscares and engaging world-building, others criticize the lack of depth and polish, describing it as unscary and visually unappealing. Overall, the atmosphere is noted as a strong point for some titles, while others fall short in delivering a compelling horror experience.
- “From the eerie atmosphere to the bone-chilling textures of the monsters.”
- “The tension and atmosphere is just beautiful.”
- “Haunted gas station is a game that engages you like no other I've ever seen, the game has a talent of gripping you in with its rich atmosphere, beautiful world-building, and dark storytelling not yet seen in modern horror, and honestly, it's a needed breath of fresh air.”
- “Nothing really scary, no atmosphere build-up, just a small and ugly looking map with a single boring monster and a game over screen that doesn't even work properly.”
- “The models and textures are also very poor, but they would be fine if there was any sense of atmosphere to be experienced.”
- “Since it's so short, to say too much about the game would be to give it all away, but know that underneath some unpolished rough spots and optimization problems lies a game with some wit, charm, gentle scares, and a simplistic retro atmosphere.”
stability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
89%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and poor optimization that significantly detract from the experience. Many players note issues such as a non-functional save system, erratic character behavior, and a sensitive camera, leading to a frustrating gameplay experience despite some appreciating its charm. Overall, the consensus is that the game is very unstable and poorly constructed, even for a free title.
- “This game is an easy 10; it's the best game I've ever played. The lore was admirable, and it's outstanding work from Josh Davis—a masterpiece in its time. I will make sure my kids play this game. I also broke a world record time on this game: any% no glitches. If you want to beat my time of 2:45.73, check out my speedruns on YouTube @gn_milo.”
- “Buggy as all get out and doesn't have a working save system that I'm aware of; approach it with the right attitude, though, and it's so bad it's good.”
- “There's a lot of glitches regarding where you can and cannot walk, and I think subtitles should also be an option.”
- “I know it's a free horror game and all, but this is... extremely poorly optimized, buggy, linear, short, and built almost entirely using free assets.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The reviews highlight exceptional character development, particularly praising the main character and the antagonist. Many users express that the depth and growth of the characters significantly enhance the overall experience of the game. However, there are suggestions for improvement in storytelling and character development execution.
- “It has amazing character development and a great antagonist.”
- “Superb character development.”
- “I mean, is life worth it if I don't have as much character development as this man did?”
- “Maybe hire a professional for character development and storytelling, as there are many talented people who can do it affordably.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players consistently express that grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming and tedious, often likening it to needing a "second life" to manage the demands of repetitive tasks.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Confusing and tedious.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the game's strong atmosphere and engaging storyline, which contribute to its high replayability. The graphics and voice acting also enhance the experience, making it enjoyable to revisit.
- “It's far more than a game with a lot of atmosphere, and it's highly replayable.”
- “The graphics, storyline, replayability, and voice acting never get old.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mix of fear and humor, with players finding certain elements, like the ghost model, both terrifying and amusing, leading to moments of laughter even amidst the scares.