HorrorVale

About

HorrorVale is a single player role playing game with horror and comedy themes. It was developed by BatWorks and was released on October 1, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"HorrorVale" is a single-player Horror Role Playing game with an ingenious story and good gameplay, offering a massive world to explore, filled with mysterious lore, wacky characters, and unique monsters. Join Alice on her quest to save her dog, battling hundreds of enemies in this spooktacular, highly emotional adventure, with a demo containing the entire first act available now.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

99%

Audience ScoreBased on 426 reviews

story46 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

HorrorVale is a charming and fun RPG filled with humor, engaging characters, and a captivating story that keeps players hooked.
The game features a diverse cast of over 30 unique characters, each with their own abilities and side quests, providing a rich gameplay experience.
The soundtrack is phenomenal, enhancing the overall atmosphere and enjoyment of the game, making it a standout title for fans of the genre.

Some puzzles can be unintuitive and vague, leading to confusion and frustration for players trying to progress.
The game can feel easy at times, with some battles lacking challenge, which may not satisfy players looking for a more difficult experience.
There are occasional bugs and issues with menu navigation that can detract from the overall experience, though the developers are actively working on fixes.

story
172 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
71%
2%
The story of the game is praised for its charm, humor, and engaging twists, revolving around a skeleton girl named Alice on a quest to find her missing dog. Players appreciate the depth of character development through companion quests, which enhance the overall narrative experience, while the well-crafted lore and emotional moments keep them invested. Despite some critiques regarding pacing and certain story beats, the overall consensus is that the narrative is both fun and compelling, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The story, characters, and world are all very charming and the game is packed with content.”
- “The story is intriguing with many twists and turns, some strong character moments, and just lots and lots of fun.”
- “The main story itself is intriguing, a developing mystery upon an enigmatic enigma resting within a perplexing puzzle, using all of the strengths of the established underworld, all those you have come to fight with or alongside (sometimes both) and the hidden secrets which make playing the game such a thriller.”
- “Gameplay mechanics would be underbaked in favor of a large empty world, a long plot that drags out in an attempt to feel grandiose.”
- “As it stands, we have this very diverse cast of good characters, and alas, many of them often have nothing to add or say during quests or even the main story, unless the quests directly involve them.”
- “In a vacuum, the story is rather simple and generic.”
music
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
34%
3%
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many reviewers praising its catchy and diverse soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players have highlighted the quality of the battle themes, atmospheric tracks, and memorable melodies, often describing the soundtrack as "legendary" and "eargasmic." While some noted a lack of music in certain segments, the general consensus is that the music is one of the standout features, contributing significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “The soundtrack is phenomenal, the art style is adorable, the writing is hilarious; this may genuinely be one of my favorite RPGs on the market now.”
- “The music is fantastic from beginning to end; no, not just fantastic, but eargasmic.”
- “I couldn't help but hum along to the songs as I played; they stick in your head and dig into your brain; there is no escape.”
- “While I didn't hate the Act 3 final dungeon, it features far too many fights to just have 0 music for.”
- “I like the creepy ambiance, but man, I missed the battle music for that segment so much... please keep in mind, this one is entirely a personal opinion, and definitely isn't a negative for everyone.”
- “My only issue was with the music; I really wish there were in-game options to either change the background music volume or to turn it off completely.”
humor
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Horrorvale is praised for its sharp and witty humor, featuring charming characters and a plethora of pop culture references that keep players engaged and entertained. The game balances lightheartedness with dark themes, employing gallows humor and clever writing that resonates well with players, often leading to memorable and laugh-out-loud moments. Overall, the humor is a standout aspect, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and enjoyment.
- “The comedy is absolutely on point, and made me laugh out loud more times than I could count.”
- “It's a lighthearted take on grim themes, full of snark and gallows humor but not in an overly cynical way, but an earnest and positive way.”
- “The humor is delightful, from puns to pop culture references (which are everywhere). I got very strong Earthbound/Mother 3 vibes.”
gameplay
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
68%
5%
The gameplay is a blend of enjoyable RPG mechanics and a diverse cast of characters, which enhances replayability and offers various playstyles. While some players found the initial hours slow and the world somewhat empty, the introduction of new dynamics and characters later in the game significantly improved their experience. Overall, the game balances combat and exploration well, though some mechanics, like potion crafting, could use refinement.
- “The gameplay is really fun—challenging but not unfair—and the variety in party members was extremely charming!”
- “Gameplay-wise, it's on the easier side of an RPG, but it's made up for by the big cast giving you plenty of playstyles to mix and match with.”
- “The gameplay is also fun because grinding is fully obsolete thanks to the gift that is party level instead of individual ones; I want this everywhere.”
- “Gameplay mechanics would be underbaked in favor of a large empty world, a long plot that drags out in an attempt to feel grandiose.”
- “Making a single potion in the quick brew menu before getting ejected back to the main potion menu can get obnoxious, and led to me not fiddling with their crafting mechanics all too much.”
- “Thus, actual gameplay reasons to explore are very limited and I was left disappointed that doing a thorough combing yielded no tangible rewards (barring the secret boss).”
graphics
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
36%
8%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and endearing art style, which effectively complements the quirky characters and humorous writing. Many reviewers appreciate the vibrant color palette and the rawness of the visuals, although some note minor issues with hitboxes typical of RPG Maker games. Overall, the combination of adorable graphics and a fantastic soundtrack contributes to a memorable and enjoyable gaming experience.
- “The artwork is fantastic; I love the heavy use of oranges and violets, but if there's one thing that will make you play this game, it's the music.”
- “It's such a cute, funny, and memorable story with adorable graphics and wonderful characters.”
- “Charming art style, from the quirky main characters to fun and occasionally freaky enemies; you're guaranteed to have a favorite.”
- “The only real problems I had with the game were more so with graphics having weird hitboxes, a problem native to almost any RPG Maker VX Ace game, especially one on this caliber.”
- “What originally caught my eye about this game were the art style and the spookiness of the game.”
- “The artwork is also incredibly endearing.”
atmosphere
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
15%
15%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its captivating blend of charm, whimsy, and spookiness, enhanced by a standout soundtrack and engaging worldbuilding. Reviewers highlight the effective use of ambiance to create an unnerving yet enchanting experience, reminiscent of beloved indie titles like "Ib" and "Undertale." Overall, the atmosphere significantly contributes to the game's appeal, making it a strong recommendation for fans of horror and Halloween themes.
- “The game's writing and atmosphere make up for most of its shortcomings, and anyone who's a fan of Halloween or horror in general, this one's an easy recommendation.”
- “The dialogue and characters are charming, and the atmosphere in some areas is straight up mesmerizing.”
- “Really nails the atmosphere and worldbuilding I look for in an indie RPG, and brought me the same feeling that I felt when I played games like Ib and Undertale for the first time.”
- “The game's writing and atmosphere make up for most of its shortcomings, in my opinion, and anyone who's a fan of Halloween or horror in general, this one's an easy recommendation.”
emotional
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its emotionally resonant storytelling, featuring a heartfelt narrative that culminates in a touching ending about moving on. Players appreciate the blend of humor and emotional depth, with sidequests that range from silly to poignant, creating a cozy and heartwarming experience. Despite some technical issues, the overall emotional impact and well-crafted story make it a highly recommended title for those seeking an engaging RPG.
- “The story is incredibly well crafted, and very heartfelt when it needs to be.”
- “Highly recommend this title if you are looking for a cozy and heartwarming experience of being a skeleton girl looking for her lost doggo.”
- “The story, without spoiling much, escalates in a natural way with a deeply emotionally resonant ending about moving on.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Players appreciate the absence of grinding in the game, highlighting a flat party level system that allows for a more enjoyable and flexible gameplay experience. The combat is engaging, and the game features a wealth of collectibles and beautiful environments, making the overall experience fun and rewarding without the tedium of traditional grinding mechanics.
- “The gameplay is also fun because grinding is fully obsolete thanks to the gift that is party level instead of individual ones; I want this everywhere.”
- “With a ton of potential party members, you can really make the game play the way you want it to, and it uses a flat party level system so you don't need to worry about grinding to catch one character up.”
- “-features a (very basic admittedly) farming mechanic that is also optional.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development is a significant focus in the game, with well-written narratives that enhance the experience and provide meaningful rewards. The character design and style are praised for their strong horror themes, contributing to the overall immersive atmosphere.
- “It takes up quite a huge chunk of the game, but it is not a bad thing at all as the character development is very well written and often leads to worthwhile rewards.”
- “I love the character design and style!”
- “This game screams Halloween and a love of horror from the art and character design to the music you'll be bopping your head to.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users praising its performance while others report issues that hinder smooth gameplay. Overall, the game's optimization appears to be a work in progress, with room for improvement to enhance user experience.
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The game offers high replayability thanks to its extensive cast of characters and customization options, allowing players to explore different playstyles. However, some users note that the overwhelming number of characters can limit the ability to fully utilize them in every possible way.
- “The game features a completely loaded cast of characters, allowing you to customize the way you play. While it can be challenging to utilize them all in every possible way due to their sheer number, this diversity definitely adds to the game's replayability.”
- “With a vast array of characters to choose from, the game offers endless customization options that enhance replayability. Each playthrough can feel unique as you explore different combinations and strategies.”
- “The sheer variety of characters and customization options ensures that no two playthroughs are the same, significantly boosting the game's replayability.”
- “The game features a completely loaded cast of characters that allows for customization in gameplay. However, the sheer number of characters limits how effectively you can utilize them, which detracts from the overall replayability.”
- “While the game offers a diverse range of characters for customization, the inability to fully explore all their potential combinations leads to a lack of meaningful replayability.”
- “The extensive character roster is impressive, but the limitations in how they can be used together hinder the replayability factor, making it feel less engaging over time.”