Hide and Shriek

About

In "Hide and Shriek" , you and another player become invisible mischief-makers, scaring each other in a ten-minute match within a school setting. Use cunning traps and spells to reveal your opponent and give them a good fright, while avoiding being scared yourself. The goal is to earn points through scaring, trapping, or performing rituals, with the winner being the one with the most points or clear scares when the timer stops. Play with friends or strangers, aiming for mayhem and fun.

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81%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,996 reviews

gameplay25 positive mentions

stability9 negative mentions

The game is fun and provides a good laugh when played with friends, especially during jump scares.
The customization options for jump scares and spells add a unique twist to the gameplay.
The graphics and atmosphere are well-designed, creating an engaging experience.

The game suffers from a lack of players, making it difficult to find matches, especially in public lobbies.
There is only one map, which can lead to repetitive gameplay over time.
The game has bugs and connection issues, often resulting in disconnections or crashes.

gameplay
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
62%
4%
The gameplay is characterized by a simple yet strategic concept that allows for engaging competitive play, particularly with friends. While the mechanics, including unique rune combinations, are praised for their originality and fun, many players express frustration over the lack of content, repetitive gameplay, and technical issues such as crashes and matchmaking problems. Overall, the game shows potential but requires updates and improvements to maintain player interest.
- “The gameplay is truly original, enjoyable, and well balanced.”
- “The gameplay is super simple but the different runes and merging those together are really complex and fun!”
- “I like pretty much everything about this game, the concept, the gameplay, the graphics, the mechanics, and the overall fun I've had playing it.”
- “The game itself is good but there isn't much content, and with some updates, it could be much better... like adding new maps, skins, mechanics, etc.”
- “I was very interested in the game, but after many attempts, I couldn't even find a match to play. My gameplay experience with this is still non-existent, and quite frankly, I no longer plan on even trying.”
- “There's only 1 map, the gameplay is boring, and most of all, for a horror game, this isn't scary at all.”
humor
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
5%
The humor in this game is widely praised, particularly for its ability to create hilarious moments through jump scares and playful interactions among friends. Players find it especially entertaining when playing with inexperienced friends, leading to laughter and memorable experiences. Overall, the game's combination of spooky elements and comedic gameplay makes it a fun choice for social gaming sessions.
- “Hide and shriek is a fun game, where you go head-to-head in a spooky showdown, with traps, scares, and strategy, guaranteed to keep you on your toes and laughing till you scream.”
- “I cannot recommend it enough, and it's hilarious to play with friends while chatting in Discord or another VoIP.”
- “The aesthetic and music is great, the idea is fun and unique, and it's just funny to hear your friend scream when you trap them!”
- “The humor falls flat and feels forced, making it more cringeworthy than funny.”
- “I expected a clever twist on the genre, but the jokes are stale and predictable.”
- “The attempts at humor often miss the mark, leaving me more confused than amused.”
graphics
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
37%
6%
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their quality, with many users noting the beautiful design, vibrant aesthetics, and effective use of 3D and 4K support. While some minor glitches and performance issues were mentioned, the overall visual experience is considered impressive, especially for an indie title. Players appreciate the game's unique art style and atmosphere, which enhance the fun gameplay.
- “The game offers some nice graphics and environments, although some ugly glitches here and there, it is pleasant all the same and has a really great aesthetic.”
- “When I first opened the game, I was met with beautiful graphics and subtle magical-like music, which definitely set the atmosphere for the paranormal.”
- “This game is beautifully designed in its spliced magical high school aesthetic, everything drawn and textured in detail.”
- “Love it, but I have to have graphics low sadly because my laptop is not that good.”
- “So laggy it felt like a slideshow, even on the lowest graphics.”
- “I hope the developers can make more graphical options for bad/medium machines, like DirectX and stuff like that.”
story
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
76%
12%
The game's story is largely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with many players noting that it feels minimal or non-existent, often overshadowed by gameplay. While some references to a broader universe exist, such as ties to Funcom's "The Secret World," the narrative is considered weak and fails to provide a compelling backstory or atmosphere, leaving players feeling unfulfilled. Overall, the focus remains heavily on gameplay rather than storytelling, leading to a perception that the game is more about mechanics than narrative.
- “Story/character development: like with any Funcom game, the narrative background of this particular game is set in the same universe as Funcom's MMO The Secret World, with several allusions to TSW around the map and in the lore.”
- “I love the premise of the story and how it sets the frame of mind for the game.”
- “There are plenty of runes to find and fuse, pages of story to unlock, and different masks to customize your jumpscare.”
- “There is no story.”
- “It's only gameplay; it doesn't include a story.”
- “Honestly, its development feels like a kind of con job to milk out money then fold up without extending the story.”
stability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a significant issue, with users reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and freezing, particularly during matchmaking. While the graphics and aesthetics are praised, the overall experience is marred by connectivity problems and server issues, leading many to recommend against playing it.
- “Fun game but dead public servers and tons of glitches.”
- “To be honest, the game looks really good but I just can't recommend it because every time I join a game, it freezes when it finds a match and then I get disconnected.”
- “When I originally bought it, I thought my laptop could handle it, but I went a long time without playing it to refund it. I can't play it because my NVIDIA was out of date. Well, I updated it, and when I click to start it, I get the hide and shriek thing in my taskbar, but then nothing; my computer freezes.”
optimization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The optimization of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many users reporting significant performance issues, including fluctuating frame rates and frequent crashes. While some players have experienced decent performance on specific hardware, the overall consensus is that the game requires extensive patches and improvements to become playable and enjoyable.
- “This point is of course a given; better optimization.”
- “Performance is really good, tested on a GTX 760 (min 40 fps @ high settings).”
- “Overall the idea is interesting but has performance troubles.”
- “Overall the idea is interesting, but it has performance troubles.”
- “The gameplay is fun and engaging, but I wouldn't know as the game is so poorly optimized for a game that doesn't even look that good, and has so many game-breaking bugs that constantly crash my PC and render the game nearly unplayable.”
- “Terribly optimized and needs a mess of patches to make it playable on even the most efficient of laptops.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it enjoyable with friends and appreciate the potential for multiple strategies and randomness, others feel it lacks depth for repeated play. Suggestions for improvement include adding more content to enhance replay value. However, the social aspect of playing against different opponents adds a layer of enjoyment that can keep players engaged.
- “Multiple strategies seem to be possible, and just enough randomness makes for good replayability.”
- “Replay value: moving on from my reminiscence and into the actual quality of the game, the replay value is somewhat abundant.”
- “There's a lot of replay value in finding other people to play against, seeing their reactions, and hopefully we get some updates tossed in from time to time.”
- “Can be fun with friends but not much replayability.”
- “I think even just adding a couple more could go a long way to making the game more replayable.”
- “There's a lot of replay value in finding other people to play against, and seeing their reactions, and hopefully we get some updates tossed in from time to time.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with a blend of beautiful, magical sounds that set a creepy yet amusing tone. Players appreciate how the soundtrack complements the game's aesthetic and contributes to the overall experience, making it a key element in creating an engaging and immersive environment.
- “The aesthetic and music are great; the idea is fun and unique, and it's just great to hear your friend scream when you trap them!”
- “The sound is very important in the game, since you can hear the sound of doors opening and closing, and the soundtrack is pretty good at setting the creepy but amusing tone that the developers achieved.”
- “Ohhh the screams, music to my ears.”
- “When I first opened the game, I was met with beautiful graphics and subtle, magical-like music, which definitely set the atmosphere for the paranormal.”
- “The graphics are well done and the music is very fitting.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant investment of time, likening it to needing a "second life" to manage the grind. While some acknowledge it as a minor issue, many express frustration over the lack of substantial new content, which has resulted in repetitive grinding activities.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy... sometimes.”
- “One long, tedious grind.”
- “one long, tedious grind”
- “you'll need a second life for grinding”
- “On the secret world, they promised new content for almost a year, and in the end, only delivering a few changes to annual events and minor changes to add more grinding to the game.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The game's atmosphere is highlighted as a strong point, featuring beautiful graphics and enchanting music that enhance the paranormal experience. However, while the tense atmosphere and jump scares contribute to the horror elements, some players feel that a deeper, more immersive atmosphere with a chilling backstory is lacking, limiting the overall suspense.
- “One of the game's strengths lies in its tense atmosphere and jump scares.”
- “When I first opened the game, I was met with beautiful graphics and subtle magical music, which definitely set the atmosphere for the paranormal.”
- “The best competitive horror game with lots of spells and atmosphere.”
- “The jumpscares aren’t enough to justify a horror; a true horror needs a spooky atmosphere and a chilling backstory with lots of suspense – the only suspense here is the jumpscares.”
- “The best competitive horror game with lots of spells and atmosphere, but the only negative is the little variety, with just one single location and a lack of new content.”
- “When I first opened the game, I was met with beautiful graphics and subtle, magical music, which definitely set the atmosphere for the paranormal.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy for the game relies heavily on YouTube advertisements featuring popular Let's Plays, which has garnered some attention but is seen as insufficient for building a larger player base. Reviewers suggest that increased advertising efforts and additional content, such as new maps and game modes, are necessary to sustain interest and attract more players. Overall, while the game has potential, its current marketing approach is viewed as limited.
- “All the game's ads are YouTube Let's Plays.”
- “Obviously, they have got some popular YouTubers to advertise it, and Steam advertisement is also good, but please, for the love of God, it needs a bigger player base if it’s going to continue.”
- “My only recommendations for this game are its expansion on maps and possibly runes and spells to keep people interested; maybe a few game modes to spice up the basics would also attract a lot of players back for more, and for Christ's sake, more advertising not just for the developers but for the players as well.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, with some expressing that it moved them to tears, indicating a deep connection to the narrative or characters.
- “I cried while playing this game; it really touched my heart.”
- “The emotional depth of the story left me in tears.”
- “I felt a strong connection to the characters, and their struggles moved me deeply.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development in this game is intricately tied to its narrative, drawing from the established universe of Funcom's MMO, The Secret World. Players appreciate the rich lore and references that enhance the storytelling experience, providing depth to the characters and their backgrounds.
- “The character development is deeply intertwined with the narrative, creating a rich background that enhances the overall experience.”
- “The game offers a compelling character arc, allowing players to witness significant growth and transformation throughout the story.”
- “The lore is intricately woven into the character development, providing players with a sense of connection to the universe and its history.”

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3h Median play time

3h Average play time

3-3h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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