Helltown

67%
Game Brain Score Based on 40 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Helltown Game Cover
Starting at $7.99Buy now
Get on Steam Get on itch.io Store

"Helltown is a horror adventure game where you play as a postman delivering packages in a new residential development, but when monsters appear, you must escape and uncover the truth. Explore spooky locations, interact with townspeople, and choose from four endings. Helltown offers a mysterious story, scary monsters, and no cheap jumpscares or laughable grammar."

  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

67%
Audience ScoreBased on 40 reviews
story10 positive mentions
music3 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique PS1-style aesthetic that effectively creates an unsettling atmosphere, reminiscent of classic horror games.
  • Improvements in the revival version include better visuals, a more engaging dialogue system, and enhanced gameplay mechanics, making it enjoyable for players.
  • The story is intriguing with multiple endings, encouraging exploration and replayability, which adds depth to the overall experience.
  • The enemy AI can be frustratingly aggressive and poorly balanced, leading to repetitive and annoying gameplay experiences.
  • The pacing of the game suffers, particularly in the second half, where it shifts abruptly from exploration to maze-like chases that can feel tedious.
  • The soundtrack and audio design are lacking, with minimal music and sound effects that fail to enhance the horror experience.
  • story27 mentions

    The story of Helltown is described as interesting and engaging, with multiple endings and hidden secrets that enhance the experience, though some players feel it lacks depth and resolution. While the original version's ambiguity contributed to its charm, the updated version is seen as more direct but less impactful. Overall, the narrative is gripping and atmospheric, but players seeking a neatly tied-up plot may be left wanting more.

    • “The story of Helltown is pretty interesting and is definitely gripping enough for you to keep playing, and its bite-sized nature, where one run is less than an hour, definitely helps you find every bit of story you can uncover.”
    • “There's also multiple endings to see, and with how interesting the story is, it's definitely worth trying to see them all.”
    • “This game has a very interesting story and mood going for it.”
    • “The story is not subtle; it literally ruins the plot in like 5 seconds of the game if you talk to every NPC. If you have watched a lot of horror, it's not hard to surmise who/what Lilith is.”
    • “The new version may have been more consistent and direct in its storytelling, but it was the vagueness that actually made this game so good back then.”
    • “Story-wise, there's a lot going on that doesn't get resolved in-game. Though I think having some mysteries left unsolved makes the plot more intriguing, players that prefer a full-fledged story that neatly ties itself up may find themselves disappointed after acquiring all of the endings.”
  • gameplay23 mentions

    The gameplay of Helltown is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of walking simulator elements, stealth mechanics, and some unique quirks that enhance the experience. While it offers good replayability with multiple endings and a few enjoyable mechanics, many players criticize the enemy AI and the lack of clear instructions for certain gameplay features, such as hiding from monsters. Overall, the gameplay is seen as simplistic and occasionally frustrating, but it can still provide an engaging experience for those who appreciate its horror elements.

    • “Great replayability with multiple endings and has new mechanics and interesting gameplay.”
    • “The game has a lot of quirkiness to it in how it's designed which threw me off my game on several occasions. It's got some weird edge going on and does several interesting and varied mechanical things you really might not see coming.”
    • “The game also has a few enjoyable game mechanics that allow for strategy when facing the terrors of Helltown that set it above many walking-sim style horror games.”
    • “I'm not usually some bone-idle audiobook gamer who needs the developer to push my wheelchair when the gameplay comes up; those first enemies just seemed lazy and turned me off from continuing, for whatever subjective reason.”
    • “Helltown is basically a walking simulator where each so-called 'day' of the game you do a few errands and explore your environments, but there's also some stealth mechanics, so basically it's like a typical horror game.”
    • “There's a gameplay mechanic in which you can hide behind certain objects to lose the monsters chasing you, but it's not pointed out in-game and many players will most likely never know such a mechanic exists, and if they do, they may find themselves still succumbing to the monster as hiding doesn't work well most of the time.”
  • graphics23 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received praise for their retro PS1 aesthetic, which effectively creates a unique and eerie atmosphere reminiscent of classic horror titles like Silent Hill. Many players appreciate the visual updates and art style, noting that the polygonal design enhances the overall experience, despite some criticisms regarding the game's length and enemy AI detracting from the enjoyment. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and ambiance.

    • “The town itself is beautiful and the retro graphics give the game a really unique look.”
    • “Great atmosphere and even greater art style.”
    • “Helltown certainly gets the aesthetic across, I just love how this game looks!”
    • “It's so sad, this game could be a 9/10, a masterpiece, but it destroys itself with so many things. The graphics and art style are what I love about the game, a true 9/10, and it started quite nice, but this game destroys itself with the enemy's AI. The first terrible encounter is where you get captured by around 10 skinwalkers in a small area, and you need to find 3 keys. They are always running at you, and you don't have 2 seconds to wait before you can run again. After that, when this ghost girl runs at you, you can't do anything; she just chases you until she gets you. It sucks because I loved the art style, and the game started so well. If it had maybe more scares instead of enemies that are too overpowered, this game would be a complete 9/10, but this completely destroyed the whole game and the whole experience. It wasn't even scary anymore; after the first encounter, it was just a big stress and very, very annoying.”
    • “It has the theme of a Silent Hill game and graphics kind of like Minecraft (stylistically).”
    • “The aesthetics are pleasingly polygonal and low-quality enough to make you not always certain what you're looking at, but had some nice art direction.”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie and unsettling qualities, enhanced by effective sound design and a unique art style that evokes a sense of horror. While some users feel that the new version lacks the original's charm, many appreciate the ambient details and the gradual shift from normalcy to a more sinister tone, creating a compelling and immersive experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a strong point, contributing significantly to its storytelling and emotional impact.

    • “I really love the setting, atmosphere, and story of Helltown.”
    • “It's a nice little horror experience that has an eerie atmosphere, some cool visuals, and an interesting story.”
    • “The atmosphere is really good, the sound design is good, the build-up from normal to abnormal is pretty cool and not too slow.”
    • “The new version lacks a lot of the original's charm and its eerie atmosphere.”
    • “There's some cool ambience like crickets chirping, birds singing while you're walking during the daytime, and at night it turns sinister to match the really creepy atmosphere; it's not amazing, but it does help unsettle you just a tiny bit more.”
    • “It has a weird but unsettling atmosphere.”
  • music7 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack for effectively setting the tone, while others find it lacking and forgettable, describing it as minimal and dominated by droning noises rather than memorable compositions. Overall, many players feel that the soundtrack is one of the weakest aspects of the game, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “The soundtrack is incredible in setting the tone.”
    • “Would have been great to see some improvements in the soundtrack and sound effects, along with better animations, lighting, and textures.”
    • “The music is probably the weakest part of the whole ordeal.”
    • “I don't recall much music throughout the entire game; what's here is basically creepy droning noises and a few jingles here and there, but not much.”
    • “The soundtrack is forgettable.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game offers excellent replayability due to its multiple endings, new mechanics, and engaging gameplay, encouraging players to explore different outcomes and experiences.

    • “Great replayability with multiple endings, featuring new mechanics and interesting gameplay.”
    • “The game offers a variety of choices that lead to different outcomes, making each playthrough feel unique.”
    • “With its dynamic world and evolving storylines, I find myself coming back for more every time.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users report significant stability issues, particularly with enemy pathing in tight corridors, which can lead to unpredictable behavior and frustrating gameplay experiences. This inconsistency often results in players being caught off guard, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “It's incredibly annoying to deal with, and it's not even because they're smart. They're sort of designed to just rush straight at you once they see you, but sometimes their pathing glitches out in tight corridors, making it difficult to predict their movements, which can often get you killed.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it impossible to enjoy the experience. I lost progress multiple times due to these stability issues.”
    • “I encountered numerous bugs that caused the game to freeze or crash, which severely impacted my gameplay experience.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a gripping opening nightmare that sets a tense tone, followed by a contrasting sense of warmth and anticipation as players begin their journey in the seemingly idyllic town of Little Vale. This juxtaposition effectively engages players' feelings, creating a compelling narrative experience.

    • “It starts with a nightmare that gave me goosebumps, and then swiftly establishes the setup - you wake up early, ahead of your first day as a postman, assigned to the wholesome-on-the-surface tiny rural town of Little Vale.”
    • “The emotional depth of the characters is truly remarkable, making you feel their struggles and triumphs as if they were your own.”
    • “Every choice you make resonates with the story, creating a profound connection that lingers long after the game is over.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find that the chase sequences, while initially thrilling, can become tedious with repeated encounters, leading to a sense of grinding in the gameplay experience.

    • “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “I found the grinding mechanics to be a major chore, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
    • “After a few hours, the grinding becomes so monotonous that it feels more like a job than a game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Helltown

Videos

Similar Games

Game News