Heliophobia

About

Heliophobia is a first-person horror/mystery adventure presented through a surreal, non-linear narrative. You awake on a vacant plane, given only a singular task: kill the one with the initials "J.R.".

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

100%

Audience ScoreBased on 22 reviews

gameplay8 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique blend of horror, puzzle-solving, and platforming, providing a varied gameplay experience.
It features impressive artwork and sound design, contributing to an immersive atmosphere.
Players appreciate the non-linear storytelling and the sense of genuine dread created by the game's mechanics.

The story can be confusing and fragmented, making it difficult for some players to follow.
Certain levels feel stretched out, leading to pacing issues and moments where the game seems longer than necessary.
Some enemies are considered poorly designed, detracting from the overall experience.

gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
45%
15%
The gameplay is praised for its unique story and mechanics, providing a fun experience with solid peeking mechanics and a fair challenge when encountering monsters. Players appreciate the game's decent length and quality, favoring a shorter, enjoyable experience over longer, less engaging gameplay. Overall, it is likened to typical outlast-like horror games, receiving positive feedback for its engaging and entertaining gameplay.
- “For me it was perfect; it has the weird factor, the gameplay, and the fun I wanted.”
- “And I prefer having 5-6 hours of great gameplay than 15 hours of bugged gameplay and often 'no fun' like in many other games here.”
- “Now on to the gameplay, the game plays like a typical Outlast-like horror game.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it never felt unfair if we were caught by the monster, and the peeking mechanics when sneaking around felt solid.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it never felt unfair if we were caught by the monster, and the peeking mechanics when sneaking around felt solid.”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
64%
21%
The story is described as fragmented and non-linear, requiring players to piece together its elements gradually, reminiscent of Dark Souls' storytelling style. While some find the unique mechanics and intriguing environments engaging, many reviewers express confusion and a lack of clarity regarding the overall narrative. Despite the disjointedness, there is a sense of enjoyment in uncovering the story's pieces.
- “There's no real jump scares, just interesting environments to find your way around while a fragmented story is slowly pieced together before your eyes.”
- “We're not quite there yet, but so far we are enjoying gathering the pieces of each part of the story and trying to make sense of it.”
- “Then the story: I basically have no clue what it was about, way too confusing and fragmented.”
- “I want to start this review off by saying, I have literally no idea what is going on in this story.”
- “The story shapes up in a very non-linear way with the promise that it comes together in the end.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The graphics are characterized by a unique and engaging art style, complemented by interesting visuals and symbolic imagery, particularly effective in enhancing the horror elements of the game. While the overall graphics are deemed "okay," the framerate is praised for its stability, contributing to an enjoyable gameplay experience.
- “Great horror game with interesting visuals and a nice dose of symbolism in its imagery.”
- “And all this transported in by a great art style.”
- “Crazy artwork and sound.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report that the game effectively evokes genuine feelings of dread, particularly during sections involving monsters, enhancing the overall emotional experience.
- “One of a handful of games that made me feel genuine dread in the levels with monsters to avoid.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its comprehensive settings and configuration options, demonstrating strong optimization that allows it to run smoothly at 120-160fps on an Nvidia 980 graphics card.
- “It has all the settings and configuration options a game needs; it's well optimized and runs smoothly at 120-160 fps (Nvidia 980).”