Homicipher

About

Homicipher is a single player action game. It was developed by 八名木Games and was released on November 1, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"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."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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99%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,713 reviews

story192 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

The game features a unique language deciphering mechanic that adds depth and engagement to the gameplay.
Characters are well-designed and endearing, making players feel attached to them despite their horror-themed appearances.
The game offers a variety of endings and routes, providing high replayability and a captivating story.

Some players found the language deciphering mechanic confusing and frustrating at times, especially in the beginning.
The romance aspect is minimal and may not meet the expectations of those looking for a traditional otome experience.
The game lacks a cohesive backstory for some characters, leaving players wanting more depth and closure.

story
405 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
52%
1%
The story of "Homicipher" is a captivating blend of humor, horror, and mystery, engaging players through its unique language-deciphering mechanics and multiple branching paths. While some find the narrative convoluted and lacking in backstory, many appreciate the depth and replayability offered by its intricate plot and well-developed characters. Overall, the game successfully immerses players in a rich, atmospheric world that encourages exploration and interpretation, making it a standout experience for fans of story-driven games.
- “The story and characters are a fun mystery to unwrap as you learn the language and progress through different routes.”
- “The story is captivating and mysterious, and as you uncover the family secrets of the protagonist, you find yourself in truly eerie environments.”
- “The story unfolds gradually between intense action sequences, adding depth to the protagonist’s mission and motivations.”
- “The story is fairly confusing and piecey.”
- “My main complaint is really just that I wish the story wasn't so broken up and was made a little clearer.”
- “I found the story a little hard to piece together.”
gameplay
267 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
59%
1%
The gameplay of "Homicipher" is highly praised for its innovative language deciphering mechanic, which adds a unique and engaging layer to the experience, encouraging players to think critically and interactively as they piece together dialogue. Players appreciate the blend of visual novel elements with puzzle-solving, noting the replayability offered by multiple endings and the ability to revisit scenes with newfound knowledge. While some users mention minor issues with the UI and difficulty, the overall consensus is that the gameplay is fun, rewarding, and refreshingly different from typical otome games.
- “The gameplay is straightforward but brutally effective.”
- “What sets Homicipher apart from similar shooters is its intricate blend of movement and shooting mechanics that encourage aggressive, skillful play.”
- “Each level introduces new enemy types, attack patterns, and environmental hazards, ensuring that the gameplay remains dynamic and challenging.”
- “The gameplay isn't difficult - the most difficult aspect is the language barrier you have to decipher (mostly due to English not being the native localization).”
- “Awkward translation from Japanese to English in places, which gets rough in a game where language is a core gameplay component.”
- “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.”
graphics
132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
47%
2%
The graphics of "Homicipher" are widely praised for their unique and captivating pixel-art aesthetic, which effectively balances horror elements with moments of charm and humor. The minimalist style enhances action clarity and complements the game's high-speed gameplay, while the character designs and atmospheric visuals contribute to an immersive experience. Overall, the art direction is considered a standout feature, elevating the storytelling and emotional engagement throughout the game.
- “Aesthetically and atmospherically, this game is top-notch; I felt very immersed playing.”
- “Visually, Homicipher embraces a minimalist pixel art style that works surprisingly well in communicating action clarity.”
- “The art style perfectly captures the unsettling, gory horror atmosphere, and the game manages to be genuinely creepy and grotesque at times, yet seamlessly shifts into surprisingly wholesome moments.”
- “Certain textures in the graphics are blurry as hell and the drawn-on faces could be reworked to look like it was 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 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).”
humor
101 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending dark and quirky elements that keep players entertained amidst its horror themes. Many reviewers highlight the comedic interactions with characters, the amusing language-learning mechanics, and the unexpected funny moments that arise from miscommunication. Overall, the game successfully balances its macabre atmosphere with lighthearted humor, making for a unique and enjoyable experience.
- “The translation part is such a funny and creative part of the game.”
- “It has a very dark humor type of jokes which made me laugh quite a few times.”
- “The characters are amazing, there are funny and cute moments sprinkled in and the horror is never forgotten in the plot.”
atmosphere
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
47%
4%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and haunting qualities, effectively blending elements of horror with moments of warmth and humor. Players appreciate the unique art style and sound design, which contribute to a spooky yet captivating environment that keeps them engaged with the characters and story. While some find the horror aspects less intense than expected, the overall ambiance creates a sense of unease that enhances the gameplay experience.
- “The atmosphere and setting are immaculate; everything really works toward immersing you in the 'lost in a haunted building' feeling. The ominous familiarity of the surroundings and the way some characters behave makes you understand and get rolling with things real quick.”
- “The art style perfectly captures the unsettling, gory horror atmosphere, and the game manages to be genuinely creepy and grotesque at times, yet seamlessly shifts into surprisingly wholesome moments.”
- “Its eerie, dreamlike atmosphere kept me both on edge and completely captivated.”
- “The atmosphere is creepy yet comedic on some occasions, which I adore!”
- “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).”
- “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.”
emotional
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by players' deep connections with its characters, blending horror with unexpectedly wholesome moments that evoke a range of feelings, from laughter to tears. Many reviewers express surprise at how emotionally invested they became, often crying during poignant scenes and appreciating the game's heartwarming interactions despite its spooky themes. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to create a unique emotional experience that combines charm, humor, and genuine sentimentality.
- “Beautiful game, made me cry.”
- “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 emotional rollercoaster throughout the gameplay was so intense.”
character development
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
32%
6%
Overall, the character development in the game is highlighted by its stunning and unique character designs, which many players find captivating and visually appealing. While the minimalistic storytelling and language barrier may leave some players wanting deeper connections and more context, the diverse personalities and engaging interactions with characters contribute to an enjoyable experience. The game's multiple endings and varied character arcs enhance replayability, making it a compelling choice for fans of the genre.
- “The character designs are all so good and it genuinely makes you want to know more about the characters.”
- “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.”
- “Outstanding character design/personality: I adored all of them and identified their traits immediately.”
- “The minimalistic storytelling, while atmospheric, may also leave players craving more context or character development.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
replayability
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
42%
7%
The game boasts high replayability, driven by its unique language mechanics and multiple endings, encouraging players to revisit chapters to uncover new dialogue and story elements. Many reviewers highlight the satisfaction of deciphering words and the ability to explore different routes, making each playthrough feel fresh and rewarding. While some note minimal replay value after achieving all endings, the overall consensus is that the game offers a rich experience that invites repeated play.
- “Replayability is huge—not just something extra, but actually necessary for getting the chapters, endings, and extra scenes.”
- “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.”
- “This eerie journey is designed in such a way that rewards and tempts you with its replayability, due to each path giving you more and more information as pieces of a puzzle, granting you a peek into the bigger picture of the main character’s story and the new dangerous world surrounding her.”
- “Minimal replayability after reaching all endings; if anything, it could be worth re-viewing all of the scenes with accurate translation from a video or Steam guide.”
- “I don't usually leave reviews, but I absolutely adored this game, and the characters are amazing. The game is fun and 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.”
- “By playing through different routes and learning more about the world and the language, it gets 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!”
music
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
45%
8%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric quality, with many players praising the soundtrack for enhancing the overall experience, reminiscent of classic horror titles like Silent Hill. The sound effects are noted for their impactful feedback, contributing to the game's immersive environment, while the menu music and title song are particularly highlighted as standout features. However, some players found the music limited and felt it could become dull over time, indicating a mixed reception in terms of variety and engagement.
- “The soundtrack features driving electronic beats that push the adrenaline forward without becoming overwhelming, while sound effects provide sharp, impactful feedback for shooting, enemy hits, and player damage.”
- “The atmosphere, art, and music are beautiful and horrific.”
- “Beautiful game, with amazing art and a gorgeous soundtrack!”
- “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).”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some enjoy the challenge of learning the language and replaying sections for different endings, others feel that the repetitiveness can become tedious, especially without a text skip function. The inclusion of a chapter log helps alleviate some frustration, but the overall sentiment suggests that while the grind can be rewarding, it may require significant time investment.
- “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.”
- “Absolutely recommend, though getting all the endings can feel tedious without any text skip function to speed through scenes.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that the game runs smoothly on the Steam Deck, indicating strong stability across platforms.
- “Also runs great on Steam Deck!”
- “The game maintains a steady frame rate, even during intense action sequences.”
- “I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which makes for a smooth gaming experience.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is highlighted by its design, allowing players to replay levels to enhance their completion times and scores, which promotes mastery of enemy patterns and the refinement of movement and shooting strategies.
- “Levels can be tackled multiple times to improve completion times and scores, encouraging mastery of enemy patterns and optimization of movement and shooting routes.”