Homicipher
- November 1, 2024
- Gamera Games
- 8h 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."
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Unique gameplay mechanic of deciphering a ghost language adds depth and engagement.
- Charming and diverse cast of characters, with Mr. Crawling being a standout favorite.
- Interesting story with multiple endings that encourages replayability.
- Some players may find the game a bit short and wish for more content or deeper character development.
- The romance aspect is minimal, which may disappoint those expecting a traditional otome experience.
- Occasional issues with the translation and grammar can lead to confusion during gameplay.
- story221 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The story of the game is widely praised for its engaging and innovative narrative, which combines a unique language-deciphering mechanic with rich character development and multiple endings. Players appreciate the emotional depth and creativity of the plot, often finding themselves deeply invested in the characters and their backstories. While some reviewers note that the story can be convoluted or lacking in romance, the overall consensus is that it offers a captivating experience that encourages exploration and replayability.
“The story made me feel things for a visual novel type of game that I haven't in a while.”
“The story is super interesting and it's definitely challenging trying to figure out what each word means based on context.”
“The story is really engaging and has you wondering a lot about it.”
“The plot is incomplete.”
“The story was incredibly convoluted in my opinion.”
“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.”
- gameplay155 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this game is highly praised for its unique language deciphering mechanic, which immerses players in a creative and engaging experience. Many reviewers appreciate the blend of puzzle-solving and character interaction, noting that the mechanics encourage replayability and exploration of different endings. While some players find the initial learning curve challenging, the overall consensus is that the gameplay is innovative, fun, and adds depth to the storytelling.
“Really fun, unique gameplay, great spooky vibes, and of course a super charming cast of characters.”
“The unique gameplay mechanic of deciphering a mysterious language felt incredibly immersive, like I was truly unearthing secrets buried in this strange world.”
“The gameplay is very creative; it's a sort of 'learn as you play' game where you have to get by with context clues and nothing else.”
“Este juego es asqueroso y tiene un gameplay horrible, las primeras dos horas son de lo peor.”
“I would've liked a little more guidance at the beginning—I remember going through the first 10-20 minutes and being confused about if I was doing things right, etc. I later found some advice for gameplay, but it's hidden away in the game's menu and kind of hard to find.”
“Also, the language deciphering/learning mechanics are cryptic and very confusing.”
- graphics74 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and captivating art style, which effectively enhances the overall atmosphere and storytelling. Many players find the visuals to be stunning, with a blend of creepy and charming elements that contribute to the game's horror aesthetic. However, some critiques mention inconsistencies in texture quality and certain character designs, though these do not significantly detract from the overall positive reception of the game's artistic presentation.
“The art style of the game is also a big part of the atmosphere, next to the sound effects.”
“The graphics are quite simple and yet appealing to the eye while maintaining lively and entertaining interactions between the NPCs and MC.”
“The artwork is amazing, the storyline is amazing, and the characters are just so beautiful too.”
“Certain textures in the graphics are blurry as hell and the drawn-on faces could be reworked to look like they were done with precision instead of scribbled on for some of the characters' facial expressions.”
“The graphics aren't the greatest and use a lot of real-life images with textures overlaid, and they aren't very consistent.”
“Graphics can be a little cheesy sometimes (i.e., clearly had a detail changed with the paintbrush tool and moved on; some photo elements).”
- atmosphere54 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its captivating blend of eerie, dreamlike elements and subtle romance, creating a uniquely engaging experience that balances horror with comfort. Players appreciate the hauntingly beautiful art style and sound design, which enhance the unsettling yet charming ambiance, making the characters feel endearing despite the creepy setting. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both mesmerizing and immersive, effectively drawing players into its world while maintaining a lighthearted tone amidst the tension.
“The blend of subtle romance and horror was executed so well, with an eerie atmosphere that kept me on edge throughout.”
“Its eerie, dreamlike atmosphere kept me both on edge and completely captivated.”
“The dark atmosphere, gorgeous art, and sound design makes this game the perfect level of spooky.”
“The characters in this world feel so superficial and empty, and the game isn't even scary; the developers didn't even select music and sounds that would match the atmosphere.”
“It was nerve-wracking at first, but apart from the spooky atmosphere, nothing scary actually happens.”
“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.”
- humor50 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending dark and macabre elements with cute and endearing moments that keep players engaged and entertained. Characters are well-developed and distinct, often leading to hilarious interactions and unexpected comedic scenarios, especially when players experiment with the game's unique language mechanics. Overall, the humor adds a refreshing layer to the horror experience, making it both fun and memorable.
“The cipher portion is challenging, and being able to edit the words at any time can lead to some funny conversations.”
“I highly recommend playing it, if only to experience the humor that is Crawling and his silliness.”
“I laughed a lot; the humor is macabre and endearing.”
- emotional35 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a surprising blend of horror and wholesome moments, leading to deep attachments with the characters, particularly the spooky ones. Players report experiencing a range of emotions, from laughter to tears, as they navigate the game's unique storytelling and character interactions, though some feel that not all endings provide the emotional depth they hoped for. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to evoke genuine feelings, making it a memorable experience despite its mild romantic elements.
“The emotional rollercoaster throughout the gameplay was so intense.”
“I didn't expect to be so attached to Mr. Crawling, but I would protect him with my entire life. He's the sweetest, and I honestly felt like crying in some of his scenes, especially in his ending, because it was so cute and I ended up having such a huge emotional attachment to him.”
“Characters have some of the most meaningful and touching interactions with the player despite using minimal language.”
- character development30 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is widely praised for its stunning and unique designs, which enhance player engagement and attachment to the characters. Reviewers appreciate the variety of personalities and the depth of lore, although some note a lack of deeper connections due to language barriers. Overall, the character designs and their integration into the gameplay contribute significantly to the game's appeal and replayability.
“Absolutely tweaking over how much I love this game, the endings are so varied and there are just so many. I love every single character design; all the routes and outcomes I've gotten so far have been brilliant.”
“Great character development and feelings; it makes you get attached to them easily, and all the endings are fun and engaging to find. It's 100% well worth the play and money.”
“The character designs are amazing, and each of them is fun to interact with and learn their unique traits.”
“I understand that because of the language barrier, it's difficult to create a deep connection with the 'locals', but I think the root cause is that the characters are just shallow and there's no character development to begin with.”
“I'm used to the whole otome or dating sims field, which has the uniqueness of just characters/character designs.”
“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.”
- music26 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric quality and emotional impact, with many players praising the title song and menu music as particularly beautiful and engaging. The sound design effectively enhances the gameplay experience, punctuating key moments and contributing to the overall ambiance. While some players noted a disconnect between the music and the horror elements, the majority found the soundtrack to be a standout feature that adds depth and enjoyment to the game.
“The sound effects are immaculate and are used to perfectly punctuate scenes with violence or surprising events, and I love the eerie music that plays in the background.”
“The atmosphere, sound effects, and music are wonderfully done and the characters all have distinctive personalities even with limited dialogue.”
“Beautiful game, with amazing art and a gorgeous soundtrack!”
“The characters in this world feel so superficial and empty, and the game isn't even scary; the developers didn't even select music and sounds that would match the atmosphere.”
“Better sound design, soundtrack, and (even though this may be out of budget) voice acting.”
“There were many times when I was trying to decipher what the characters were saying; the background sounds and music ignited some sense of urgency in me.”
- replayability24 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its multitude of endings, unique gameplay mechanics, and the ability to revisit earlier chapters with newfound understanding. Players appreciate the challenge of deciphering language and exploring different routes, which enhances the overall experience. Despite some narrative inconsistencies, the variety of choices and outcomes encourages players to return for multiple playthroughs.
“I love the mechanic of being utterly confused trying to decipher everything while you play; that and all the endings give this game a lot of replayability.”
“With the plethora of possible endings and the replayability value, it’s a genius game.”
“There are so many options and endings to experience, which really added to the replayability.”
“I don't usually leave reviews, but I absolutely adored this game, and the characters are amazing, especially Mr. Crawling, the adorable cinnamon roll that he is. The game is fun, certainly challenging for the average person, and has so many endings that it has a decent amount of replayability. My only issue with it so far is that it seems at least one ending may be bugged; the Scarlet end doesn't show up on your list, even if you play through it multiple times. But it's early days, so I'm hoping that means we'll see a fix for that soon.”
“With nineteen endings and four 'routes,' there is plenty of replay value.”
“There's a lot of replayability between finding new routes/endings and seeing how much you can understand after discovering new words.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly when trying to achieve all endings without a text skip function. While some enjoy the challenge of decoding words, many resort to guides to alleviate the frustration, indicating a mixed experience with the grinding mechanics.
“Getting all the endings can feel tedious without any text skip function to speed through scenes.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Although decoding the words in this game is fun, it can be tedious at times. I had to use a guide most of the time since I was impatient.”
