Homicipher
- November 1, 2024
- Gamera Games
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Homicipher is a narrative-driven game where players decipher an unusual language to progress. As they help the protagonist escape an otherworldly setting, players must be cautious not to fall in love with the strange men they encounter. Each decision made can have life or death consequences, and understanding the men's language is crucial to making the right choices."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Unique gameplay that combines horror, romance, and language deciphering, providing a fresh experience.
- Charming characters with distinct personalities, particularly Mr. Crawling, who has won the hearts of many players.
- Engaging story with multiple endings and a satisfying sense of accomplishment when deciphering the language.
- The romance aspect is minimal, leaving some players wanting more depth in character relationships.
- Some players found the English translation to be unpolished, with occasional grammar issues that could be distracting.
- Lack of an ending tracker or gallery, making it difficult for players to keep track of which endings they have achieved.
- story100 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story is generally regarded as interesting and engaging, with a unique language-deciphering mechanic that enhances the gameplay experience. While many characters are charming and the plot features intriguing twists, some players feel that certain characters lack depth and the narrative can be confusing or fragmented at times. Overall, the combination of horror elements, dark humor, and a branching storyline keeps players invested and eager to explore different paths and endings.
“The story and setting are very interesting: while the game doesn't give you a straightforward answer to everything, you can guess most of the things from context and what you saw and learned from different routes.”
“The characters are so cute and charming despite being horrifying, the story is incredibly interesting and set up in a way to keep you interested in uncovering more information, and the concept is so unique and well thought out.”
“The thrill of decoding mysteries and piecing together the story is beyond satisfying.”
“We get enough to piece the story together, but not the satisfactory level of fully fleshed out characters, so some characters can feel a little flat.”
“I found the story a little hard to piece together.”
“My main complaint is really just that I wish the story wasn't so broken up and was made a little clearer.”
- gameplay52 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its unique language-deciphering mechanics, which provide an engaging and rewarding experience that stands out in the visual novel genre. Players appreciate the addictive nature of the gameplay, the intriguing story, and the distinct character designs, despite some minor unpolished elements. Overall, the game offers a fun and immersive experience, encouraging replayability through its clever mechanics and narrative depth.
“All in all, Homicipher is a very rewarding game with great art, interesting gameplay, and a wonderful cast of characters.”
“The gameplay is unique and it's rewarding deciphering the words and piecing it together for yourself!”
“Extremely fun concept and addictive gameplay!”
“It's got some unpolished spots, but the core gameplay scratches that same itch that 'Chants of Sennaar' does--with zero frustrating progression locks.”
“The mechanics of the game are really unique, but simplistic.”
“It's fun trying to decipher the ghost language; it's such a different gameplay. Normally, a visual novel game is very text-heavy, but this one is light on the dialogues, which has contributed to the short length of the game too.”
- atmosphere28 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its haunting beauty and engaging qualities, effectively immersing players in its eerie world. While some elements rely on jump scares and loud sounds, the art style, music, and unique environments contribute to a captivating experience that balances horror with endearing character interactions. Overall, the atmosphere is considered the game's strongest aspect, making it a worthwhile play for fans of horror and visual novels.
“This game wasn't necessarily scary, but the art style and atmosphere provided by it is so hauntingly beautiful in a way that really gets you to like the characters and go through the story without having to look away as you anticipate a jump scare.”
“The art is gorgeous, the music is atmospheric, and the storyline is interesting and keeps you coming back to try to figure out more.”
“While it might lessen the tension/horror element a bit, the environments and interactions are strange enough that you don't really lose that dissonance and unease the atmosphere creates.”
“On that note, I'd say that the atmosphere of the game is its strongest point.”
“Once you get past the weird/spooky atmosphere and mostly complete the dictionary, each character becomes quite endearing on their own.”
- humor26 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Homicipher" is a blend of dark comedy and lighthearted moments, with players finding amusement in unexpected scenarios and character interactions. The game's unique premise allows for hilarious interpretations, especially when players engage with the story through language learning, leading to both funny and relatable experiences. Overall, the delightful characters and their quirky antics provide a refreshing contrast to the horror elements, making for a surprisingly wholesome and entertaining experience.
“Homicipher is a very different type of point and click visual novel, a horror story with occasional dark humor, speckled with softer moments in between.”
“The characters are all delightful in their own way; Mr. Crawling is my favorite just for how sweet he is, Mr. Chopped is funny and spunky, and Mr. Silver is mysterious and charming.”
“[spoiler] The heroine's delight at putting cat ears on Mr. Chopped made me laugh, as did Mr. Machete nonchalantly blowing past the hooded child's attempt at forcing you to play with them.”
- graphics21 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their hauntingly beautiful art style and atmospheric design, which enhance the storytelling and character engagement. Players appreciate the unique aesthetic, character designs, and the overall visual appeal, although some note that the game is relatively short. The combination of gorgeous artwork and a compelling horror setting contributes to a captivating experience that motivates players to explore all content.
“This game wasn't necessarily scary, but the art style and atmosphere provided by it is so hauntingly beautiful in a way that really gets you to like the characters and go through the story without having to look away as you anticipate a jumpscare.”
“The artwork is amazing, the storyline is amazing, and the characters are just so beautiful too.”
“Gameplay is super fun, and the art style is gorgeous!”
- music15 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise, particularly for its stunning opening title song, which captivates players and enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the atmospheric soundtrack and sound effects that complement the beautiful art and contribute to the game's immersive and spooky ambiance. Overall, the combination of music and art creates a compelling environment that encourages exploration and engagement with the storyline.
“Beautiful game, with amazing art and a gorgeous soundtrack!”
“The art is gorgeous, the music is atmospheric, and the storyline is interesting and keeps you coming back to try to figure out more.”
“The music and sound effects help deliver the spookiness of the world.”
“I love the opening song when I first open the game; humongous kudos!”
“The music, the art - everything just makes you want to explore more.”
- character development14 mentions
- 79 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised, particularly for its unique and engaging character designs that enhance player interaction and immersion. Reviewers appreciate the distinct personalities of the characters, noting that they are fun to engage with and contribute to the overall experience. The main character is described as refreshingly competent, adding depth to the narrative, while the art style complements the character development effectively.
“The character designs are amazing and each of them is fun to interact and learn their shtick.”
“Outstanding character design and personality: I adored all of them and identified their traits immediately.”
“I adore the character designs too, and the fact that the place you ended up is like a super creepy alternate dimension of sorts and that it actually affects your character.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with them.”
“I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful growth for the characters throughout the game.”
“The characters seem one-dimensional, and their arcs don't evolve in a satisfying way.”
- emotional13 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game delivers a unique blend of horror and heartwarming moments, creating an emotional experience that resonates deeply with players. Character interactions, despite their minimal dialogue, are meaningful and touching, evoking laughter and shock throughout the story. Players express strong emotional connections, particularly highlighting moments of loss and attachment, making it both a spooky and unexpectedly wholesome journey.
“It was such an incredibly fun and emotional experience!”
“Characters have some of the most meaningful and touching interactions with the player despite using minimal language.”
“Mr. Crawling is the best, and I cried when I accidentally killed him and when I lost him.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, allowing players to revisit it with newfound vocabulary to better understand conversations and explore different routes and endings. Players can enhance their experience by cross-referencing words and meanings, making each playthrough increasingly rewarding. Despite a short storyline, the ability to collect endings and improve communication with characters adds to its charm, particularly for fans of point-and-click horror romance games.
“There's a lot of replayability between finding new routes and endings and seeing how much you can understand after discovering new words.”
“It was short, fun, and has nice replayability from gaining new understanding from newly deciphered words.”
“By playing through different routes and learning more and more about the world and the language, it gets easier and easier to communicate correctly with the characters. Going back to the beginning multiple times to cross-reference words and their meanings adds a lot of replay value!”
“There's a lot of replayability in finding new routes and endings, and seeing how much you can understand after discovering new words.”
“It does have replay value in that you can go back after knowing more words to fix or understand the conversations between the ghosts that you didn't grasp the first time.”
