Homicipher
- November 1, 2024
- Gamera Games
- 6h 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 new language adds depth and engagement.
- Charming and diverse cast of characters, each with distinct personalities.
- The blend of horror and humor creates a captivating atmosphere.
- Some endings feel abrupt and lack closure, leaving players wanting more.
- Limited romance elements may disappoint those expecting a traditional otome experience.
- The language deciphering can be confusing at first, potentially frustrating some players.
- story294 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its engaging and intricate narrative, featuring a unique language-deciphering mechanic that enhances player immersion and replayability through multiple endings. While many players appreciate the depth and character development, some express a desire for more backstory and lore, feeling that certain elements could be better fleshed out. Overall, the combination of horror, mystery, and quirky characters creates a captivating experience that keeps players invested in uncovering the plot's twists and turns.
“The story draws you in, and I love the mystery behind it all. I enjoy all the different characters with their unique styles and moods.”
“The story is really engaging and has you wondering a lot about it. The characters are interesting, and the story is amazing, with many good moments that evoke a range of emotions.”
“This game holds a great storytelling experience with many endings to accomplish that keeps you hooked from start to finish.”
“Kinda sad that it doesn't have any explanation of the place that we are stuck in or any backstory for the characters.”
“Some story segments are repeatedly shown, which becomes monotonous after playing for a long time.”
“The story was incredibly convoluted in my opinion.”
- gameplay207 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this visual novel is highly praised for its unique language deciphering mechanic, which immerses players in a challenging yet rewarding experience as they piece together dialogues through context clues. The game features a smooth user interface, chapter select options, and multiple endings, enhancing replayability and engagement. Overall, players find the combination of puzzle-solving and character interactions to be innovative and enjoyable, making it stand out in the genre.
“The unique language mechanic gives the game an insane amount of replayability, and it's interesting to think that two people can play the same game but interpret two entirely different stories based on what they conclude certain words to mean.”
“The deciphering mechanic is very unique, and I love all the art in this game. Definitely check it out if you love creepy romance visual novels.”
“The gameplay consists primarily of trying to parse out what the other characters are saying, and the language-learning mechanic was actually pretty interesting and had some funny results while figuring things out.”
“The gameplay consists primarily of trying to parse out what the other characters are saying.”
“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.”
- graphics95 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their unique and charming art style, which effectively enhances the overall atmosphere and storytelling. Many players appreciate the nostalgic feel reminiscent of late 2000s point-and-click games, while others highlight the beautiful character designs and textures that contribute to an immersive experience. Despite some critiques regarding consistency and occasional cheesiness, the visuals are generally regarded as stunning and integral to the game's appeal.
“The art style is great; it adds to the already distinct atmosphere that this game has.”
“The graphics are quite simple and yet appealing to the eye while maintaining lively and entertaining interactions between the NPCs and MC.”
“The game's art style really lends to its overall atmosphere, and the payoff for filling out your in-game dictionary is so satisfying.”
“Graphics aren't the greatest and use a lot of real-life images with textures overlaid, and aren't very consistent.”
“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.”
“Graphics can be a little cheesy sometimes (i.e., clearly had a detail changed with the paintbrush tool and moved on; some photo elements).”
- humor69 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending morbid and darkly comedic elements with cute and wholesome moments. Players appreciate the unique character interactions and the ability to customize dialogue, leading to hilariously awkward situations and unexpected funny outcomes. Overall, the game successfully balances horror with humor, creating a refreshing and entertaining experience that keeps players laughing throughout.
“This game can be so funny and wholesome, it's making my brain rot.”
“The fact you can literally write whatever you want and you can change the characters' names had me absolutely cry laughing.”
“The characters are amazing, there are funny and cute moments sprinkled in and the horror is never forgotten in the plot.”
- atmosphere62 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a captivating blend of eerie and whimsical elements, creating a unique experience that balances horror with charm. Players appreciate the hauntingly beautiful art style and sound design, which enhance the unsettling yet engaging vibe, making the characters feel endearing despite the spooky context. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both mesmerizing and comforting, drawing players into its intriguing world while maintaining a sense of tension.
“The atmosphere is creepy yet comedic on some occasions, which I adore!”
“Its eerie, dreamlike atmosphere kept me both on edge and completely captivated.”
“The dark atmosphere, gorgeous art, and sound design make 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-racking at first, but apart from the spooky atmosphere, nothing scary actually happens.”
“Some things may make you jump (especially at first), but the atmosphere is more unsettling than anything truly bone-chilling, which makes the moments with the characters that much more pleasant.”
- emotional47 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a surprising blend of wholesomeness and spookiness, leading players to form deep attachments to its quirky characters, such as Mr. Crawling. Many reviewers noted moments of genuine emotional investment, ranging from laughter to tears, as they navigated the game's charming yet eerie narrative. While the romance is mild and more focused on wholesome interactions, the overall experience is described as heartwarming and engaging, leaving a lasting emotional impact on players.
“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.”
“The story made me feel things for a visual novel type of game that I haven't in a while.”
- character development37 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised for its stunning and diverse character designs, which enhance the overall storytelling experience. Players appreciate the unique personalities and engaging lore of each character, contributing to a strong emotional connection and replayability through multiple endings. However, some critiques mention a lack of depth in character development, suggesting that certain characters may feel shallow due to language barriers.
“Absolutely love the art and character design as well as the gameplay!”
“Great character development and feelings, makes you get attached to them easily and all the endings are fun and engaging to find and 100% well worth the play and money ^-^”
“The character designs are amazing and each of them is fun to interact with and learn their shtick.”
“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.”
“It's gripping with character designs that are simple but unique and beautiful, and so many endings for each of the major characters that you'll get hours of gameplay out of it.”
- replayability35 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its unique language mechanics, which allow players to unlock new pathways and endings based on their understanding of words. With multiple routes, extensive chapter select options, and a plethora of endings to explore, players can enjoy different interpretations of the story, making each playthrough feel fresh and rewarding. Overall, the combination of engaging gameplay and narrative depth encourages players to revisit the game multiple times.
“The unique language mechanic gives the game an insane amount of replayability, and it's interesting to think that two people can play the same game but interpret two entirely different stories based on what they conclude certain words to mean.”
“A notable feature is the extensive chapter select, which makes this game extremely replayable since it avoids the trap of most visual novels that require you to play the whole game from start to finish to get different endings or extra lore.”
“With nineteen endings and four routes, there is plenty of replay value.”
“I don't usually leave reviews, but I absolutely adored this game, and the characters are amazing. 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.”
“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.”
- music32 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its beauty and atmospheric quality, with standout tracks like the opening theme and menu song receiving particular acclaim. While some players find the soundtrack limited and forgettable over time, others appreciate its ability to enhance the game's ambiance and emotional impact. Overall, the combination of music and sound design contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience, despite some critiques regarding its repetitiveness and lack of variety.
“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 piano soundtrack is so good, and the theme music on the main menu I could easily listen to on loop (and have).”
“But it got dull for me, because the entire game got dull for me at some point - I didn't care about the characters, I wasn't invested in the story, I don't even remember any part of the soundtrack from this game.”
“There’s not much music to be the friendly respite needed, acting as a comforting whisper in your ears while you navigate throughout this journey.”
“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).”
- grinding7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 71 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game enjoyable but acknowledge that it can become tedious, especially when trying to unlock all endings without a text skip function. While the language deciphering adds a fun element, the repetitiveness and the need for extensive playtime can detract from the overall experience. Many recommend using guides to alleviate some of the frustration associated with the grinding process.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Still, I had an extreme amount of fun the first time playing around, but keep in mind the repetitiveness will become tedious after the first couple of plays, which outweighs the satisfaction of receiving special art that I mentioned, lacks.”
“Absolutely recommend, though getting all the endings can feel tedious without any text skip function to speed through scenes.”
“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.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates strong stability, with users reporting smooth performance, including on the Steam Deck.
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
“I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it never lags or stutters.”
“Also runs great on Steam Deck!”
