Haunted Laia
- February 18, 2022
- Dark Dome
- 2h median play time
"Haunted Laia" is the fifth episode in the Hidden Town escape game series, now a horror-themed point-and-click adventure. Players navigate through their character's memories to uncover the truth and escape, rescuing family and returning home. With an ingenious story, exceptional gameplay, phenomenal visuals, and an excellent soundtrack, it offers a wholesome experience, despite some advertisement distractions.
Reviews
- The game features an engaging storyline that connects well with previous games in the series.
- The puzzles are challenging yet solvable, providing a satisfying gameplay experience.
- The art style and graphics are visually appealing, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
- The ending is disappointing and leaves players wanting a more satisfying conclusion.
- Some puzzles can be confusing or illogical, leading to frustration.
- There are occasional bugs that can disrupt gameplay, such as freezing or unresponsive elements.
- story855 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its engaging and interconnected narrative, with many players appreciating the plot twists and emotional depth. While some found the ending lacking or sad, the overall storytelling, art style, and music were highlighted as strong points that enhance the gaming experience. Players expressed excitement for future installments, eager to see how the story continues to unfold across the series.
βThe story is really engaging and really brings me to the edge.β
βI love the story, it's amazing!β
βThe story was really good and had an awesome twist at the end.β
βThe plot was awful and poor and the cut scenes made the game feel less climactic somehow.β
βI feel like the game just randomly ends without finishing the story - very abrupt and awkward.β
βThe storyline is not interesting.β
- graphics133 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their clean, attractive art style and seamless integration with the storytelling and gameplay. Many users highlighted the visuals as a standout feature, describing them as beautiful, engaging, and well-suited to the game's atmosphere. While some noted that the animations could use a bit more polish, the overall consensus is that the graphics significantly enhance the gaming experience.
βI was happy for game saving, cartoonish graphics, the relaxing music, and the storylines.β
βThe graphics, animations/cutscenes are perfect!β
βThe artwork is wonderful, the puzzles were just the right amount of challenging, and the story was great.β
βThe graphics are naff but it's all about the puzzles for me, just enough difficulty to make you think... well worth a go.β
βSimple graphics, but efficient.β
βCute artwork but extremely short and it's kind of confusing jumping into a scene within a scene, memory in a memory.β
- monetization87 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 87 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating that ads are optional and primarily used for hints rather than interrupting gameplay. Most users find the frequency and length of ads acceptable, often noting that they enhance rather than detract from the experience. While some players express frustration with the need to watch ads for hints, many agree that the overall implementation is fair and non-intrusive, making it a positive aspect of the game.
βNo ads unless you need clues, which helps with immersion.β
βGood graphics, and almost no ads - only in exchange for hints when needed (or very short ads in between).β
βAmazing π it's one of the best mystery solving gamesππ» no ads, challenging and completely free ππ»β
βIt's in my impression that some clues were made to be difficult to understand so that we'd watch the ads.β
βI really loved this game, but I mostly had to watch ads for me to get hints.β
βYou'll find yourself watching ads for clues almost every time.β
- gameplay45 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Overall, the gameplay is praised for its intuitive mechanics, engaging puzzles, and seamless integration with the story, making it enjoyable and accessible for players. While some users noted minor disruptions, such as autosave pauses and cutscenes, the majority found the gameplay to be smooth and well-balanced, with a good mix of challenge and fun. The beautiful art and graphics further enhance the overall experience, contributing to a highly positive reception.
βImpressive gameplay, entertaining story, well-balanced puzzles, nice animation!β
βSeamless gameplay, exceptional graphics, puzzles are not too hard but challenging enough to keep you hooked.β
βThe art is beautiful, the gameplay is wonderfully intuitive, the attention to detail and the storytelling are all at the highest level.β
βToo many cut scenes disrupted gameplay.β
βThere is an annoying little 'pause' whenever it autosaves that is a bit disruptive to gameplay, especially in the middle of a cutscene.β
βGame mechanics aren't as intuitive as the other games.β
- music30 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been widely praised for its ability to enhance the storytelling and create a captivating atmosphere, with many users noting its mysterious and emotional qualities. Reviewers appreciate how the soundtrack complements the puzzles and overall gameplay, contributing to a cohesive experience that ties together the art style and narrative. While some technical issues were mentioned, the overall consensus is that the music significantly elevates the game's enjoyment.
βThe storytelling, the art style, and the background music all fit together to make this enjoyable game!β
βThe ambience is set by the background music, art style, and semi-narrations or cutscenes.β
βNice story, good puzzles, and the soundtrack goes perfectly with the story and mood.β
βMore story, better use of music, less convoluted and the series revolutionizing independent chapters instead of the giant interconnected structure of the previous games.β
βUnfortunately the game twice got into a state where I couldn't get into settings or help and I had to force stop the game to get the music to stop even when the game didn't have focus.β
βThe first background music was a foreshadowing of a sad ending.β
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players consistently highlight the emotional depth of the game, with many expressing that the storyline is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, often leading to tears. The intricate connections between the plot and gameplay evoke strong feelings, making the experience memorable and impactful. Overall, the emotional resonance of the narrative is a standout feature that deeply engages players.
βIt's pretty heartbreaking when you figure out the well scene and realize it tied in with the haunted house.β
βThe most beautiful, amazing, and heartwarming game I have ever seen on the Play Store. It gives you emotions all the time; I just love the person who thought about this great story and game.β
βAs always, the story and puzzle are great, especially how they connect with the other game, but this storyline is so heartbreaking.β
- stability9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -22 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
Overall, players appreciate the game's stability, noting that it rarely experiences glitches or interruptions during gameplay. However, many report significant issues with freezing during auto-saves, which can last up to 30 seconds, and some users have encountered problems that prevent the game from starting altogether. While the game offers an engaging experience, these stability concerns detract from the overall enjoyment.
βThere were no glitches and no unusual or long pauses between scenes.β
βThe game runs smoothly without any crashes or interruptions.β
βI experienced consistent performance throughout my playthrough.β
βI love how the ads don't interrupt you in the middle of the game; however, there's a bug in the game where, when it auto-saves, the whole menu appears and the game freezes for a while until the saving is over.β
βThe game freezes whenever I'm on the sailboat (the one where you remove the rock that blocks the water).β
βWhenever it saves, the game freezes for 30 seconds, which happens every few minutes.β
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is well-received, with players noting moments of laughter that balance tension and challenge, particularly during puzzle-solving. The storyline is described as engaging and amusing, with specific humorous instances, such as a bird flying away from a scarecrow, adding to the overall enjoyment. Players appreciate the blend of humor and brain-teasing gameplay, making it a memorable experience.
βCongrats to the developers, really funny and brain-compelling game.β
βThe funny part is when the bird flies away from the scarecrow photo, lol.β
βIt is a great game and it is so funny and scary; I enjoyed playing this game! πβ
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is highly praised for its strong artistic direction, immersive music, and effective storytelling, creating a creepy and mystical experience. Reviewers appreciate the interconnected narratives and the overall spooky ambiance, which enhances the thrill and engagement of the gameplay.
βI love how the stories from the different dark dome apps are connected; the atmosphere is great too.β
βFantastic atmosphere and music, getting better and better; thank you!β
βGood artistic direction, decent puzzles, creepy and spooky atmosphere.β
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users praise the game's performance and storyline, highlighting that it meets their expectations for optimization. They express a desire for more games of this quality in the future.
βThe performance and storyline of the game are awesome! Please make more games like this.β
βThe optimization in this game is top-notch, allowing for a smooth and immersive experience.β
βI appreciate how well the game runs on various systems, making it accessible to a wider audience.β