Irony Of Nightmare

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 171 reviews
  • story
  • atmosphere
  • graphics
Irony Of Nightmare Game Cover
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In the Irony of Nightmare things aren't always as they seem. Those who decide to solve all puzzles of the game, not only will unravel true secret of house, but also will open completely different ending of the story.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 171 reviews
story11 positive mentions
monetization2 negative mentions
  • Irony Of Nightmare offers a surprisingly atmospheric experience with decent graphics and effective jump scares, making it enjoyable for a short horror game.
  • The game is very affordable, providing a quick and fun horror experience that can be completed in about 30 minutes, making it a good value for players looking for bite-sized content.
  • Despite its simplicity, the game features some clever puzzles and a unique Christmas theme that adds to the overall charm and enjoyment.
  • The game suffers from a lack of depth, with minimal story and repetitive gameplay that can feel tedious, especially for players seeking a more immersive experience.
  • Many players reported technical issues, such as clunky controls and bugs, which detracted from the overall enjoyment and flow of the game.
  • The developer's failure to update the game or provide a complete experience has led to concerns about its quality and longevity, with some labeling it as an asset flip or cash grab.
  • story26 mentions

    The reviews present a mixed perspective on the game's story, with many players noting its minimal presence or incoherence, often describing it as "non-existent" or "shoddy." Some appreciate the intriguing elements and twists within the brief narrative, while others criticize the lack of depth and immersion, suggesting that the story fails to elevate the overall experience. Overall, the consensus indicates that while there are glimpses of potential, the storytelling is generally underdeveloped and not a strong point of the game.

    • “Eventually, your brain power silences the scares, making the story so intriguing!”
    • “This game is short but has a great story; I loved playing the game.”
    • “I definitely recommend getting this title if you're into indie games that have pretty good gameplay and story.”
    • “The story is basically nonexistent.”
    • “You play as a vampire snail equipped with a terrible flashlight trying to escape a sh*tty asset flip game with no coherent story.”
    • “Destiny references aside, this game has no story, no immersion, no actual scares, and more spelling mistakes than a preschooler.”
  • atmosphere22 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its effectiveness in creating a dark, spooky environment filled with solid jump scares. Reviewers note that while the game is short, it successfully builds tension and a sense of unease, although some feel that the frequent scares can diminish the overall sense of danger. Overall, the combination of sound design and environmental interaction contributes to a compelling and immersive horror experience.

    • “It's humble, but it uses what it has very effectively by creating a dark atmosphere with nice jumpscares.”
    • “Both endings are very good, and this game, while short, is very very good at both jump scares and an amazing spooky atmosphere.”
    • “Even though it is super short and only delivers roughly 30 minutes worth of gameplay, the atmosphere is fantastic and something horror fans would love to check out.”
    • “It kinda ruins the atmosphere when something happens in every room!”
    • “The initially positive (call it festive) atmosphere quickly turns to nightmare.”
    • “The graphics are decent, the story is okay, and the atmosphere is claustrophobic.”
  • graphics17 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise, with many reviewers highlighting their immersive quality and impressive design, particularly due to the use of Unreal Engine 4. While some noted minor graphical glitches, the overall consensus is that the visuals significantly enhance the horror experience, making it both spooky and visually appealing.

    • “Great visuals, very cool monster design, great soundtrack (peep that Mr. Ballen theme) and a great time!”
    • “Immersive, great graphics.”
    • “10/10 for graphics, realistic and the game has some good scares. Highly recommend and hope the creators of the game release more games!”
    • “Has its graphical glitches.”
    • “In terms of graphics, Irony of Nightmare is as basic as most of these indie horror games get.”
    • “To simply summarize the graphics, it is very similar to 'Emily Wants to Play' and 'Boogeyman', which both use Unreal Engine 4.”
  • gameplay15 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the puzzle-solving elements and atmosphere, while others criticize it for being glitchy and lacking depth. Many noted the short playtime, with some feeling it was not worth the investment, despite a few unique mechanics. Overall, it seems to appeal primarily to those who enjoy horror themes, but it may not satisfy players looking for a more substantial experience.

    • “Gameplay is great.”
    • “Gameplay consists of puzzle solving and along the way you are presented with jumpscares and you also get the opportunity to see some gory stuff.”
    • “Gameplay: awesome (very interesting and you need to see all to find the good ending)”
    • “Gameplay is glitchy; there is a backstory but it's not depicted or explored in depth at all. It feels like 'random nonsense go!'.”
    • “Overall, 'Irony of Nightmare' felt like a student project. Considering its price and gameplay time (the speedrun would be like 5 minutes), you can still give it a try, but I didn't enjoy it at all.”
    • “Much like how I don't want to spend $10+ on a game I can beat in 20 minutes, I also don't want to spend $1 and have a game be unnecessarily long, usually just for the sake of giving you, the player, 'hours of gameplay'.”
  • music7 mentions

    The game's music has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the atmospheric and tension-building soundtracks, including a notable "Stranger Things" theme, others criticize the lack of audio controls, making it difficult to manage the background music. The soundtrack effectively enhances the game's eerie ambiance, contributing to jump scares and overall tension, but some find it annoying or overwhelming. Overall, the music is seen as a strong point, despite some usability issues.

    • “Great visuals, very cool monster design, great soundtrack (peep that Mr. Ballen theme) and a great time!”
    • “It has jump scares throughout the game and conveys the feeling of tension when moving throughout the house with music cues to bolster the feeling of tension while playing.”
    • “Bewilderingly, the game doesn't include proper audio controls, so you can't turn off the annoying background music; you'll need to alt+tab out and stop the music using the Windows sound mixer.”
    • “The sound of the Christmas music in the background added to the uneasy feeling.”
    • “It has jump scares throughout the game and conveys a feeling of tension when moving through the house, with music cues that bolster the sense of unease while playing.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for being exploitative, with accusations of plagiarism and a lack of credit to original creators, leading to perceptions of it as a soulless cash grab. Despite positive reviews, players feel misled by the game's early access status, which they believe is misused to generate revenue without delivering quality content.

    • “The developers here didn't credit any of the artists and real, actual game developers who created the assets, so this is plagiarism as well as a cash grab.”
    • “I got this game because of the high percentage of positive reviews, but I should have known better; it's just another soulless, cheap cash grab that misuses the early access flag.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game is noted for its good performance and overall polish, contributing to an uneasy atmosphere and effective jumpscares.

    • “The performance is good.”
    • “Outside of that, as I said, it was pretty well polished, with good performance, an uneasy atmosphere, and solid jumpscares.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Users report experiencing various stability issues, including glitches where characters become stuck or appear unexpectedly, leading to frustrating gameplay moments. Additionally, graphical glitches have been noted, impacting the overall visual experience.

    • “I encountered some weird glitches, namely with the uninvited guest being stuck inside a door, then he appears right in front of you and you die.”
    • “It has graphical glitches.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The game features self-deprecating humor that effectively breaks the fourth wall, providing players with amusing easter eggs that enhance the overall experience. Many users find the humor engaging and enjoyable, adding a lighthearted touch to the gameplay.

    • “If you're good with the puzzles (I'm an idiot and I figured it out, so you should too), you'll uncover an easter egg where they smash the 4th wall down with self-deprecating humor.”
    • “It's funny :)”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players note that poor game design can lead to grinding becoming tedious and boring, ultimately draining the game's momentum and energy.

    • “However, really bad games can't find their stride and wind up becoming tedious and boring, sapping whatever momentum and energy they had just built up to that point.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is praised for its fantastic design, though some users note it may feel somewhat disjointed or fragmented, akin to a jigsaw puzzle.

    • “The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form a genuine connection with each character.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
    • “The backstories and personal growth of the characters are well-crafted, adding layers to the overall narrative.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Many users feel that the game lacks significant replayability, indicating that once completed, there is little incentive to play through it again.

    • “The replay value didn't really feel like it was there.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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