Is this Game Trying to Kill Me?
- November 12, 2024
- Stately Snail
Get on Steam"Is this Game Trying to Kill Me?" is a horror first-person puzzle game where you're trapped in a cabin and must play a computer game to gain freedom. The game's events and traps materialize in reality, and your actions in the cabin affect the computer game, with multiple endings and many ways to die. The game's unique feature is playing the game while you're playing the game.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The game features creative and engaging puzzles that provide a satisfying challenge without being overly difficult.
- The unique mechanic of interacting between the computer game and the real world adds depth and innovation to the gameplay.
- The art style and atmosphere are charming, enhancing the overall experience and making it enjoyable to play.
- The game is relatively short, typically taking around 2 to 4 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- Some puzzles can feel repetitive or overly simplistic, leading to a lack of challenge for experienced players.
- The final boss encounters can be frustrating due to their design, requiring multiple attempts that may disrupt the flow of the game.
- graphics20 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are widely praised for their charming, retro-inspired 3D aesthetic and stylized visuals, which enhance the immersive atmosphere and complement the engaging puzzles. Reviewers appreciate the creative art style, describing it as beautiful and fun, while noting that it contributes positively to the overall experience. However, some players mentioned minor issues, such as color-dependent puzzles that posed challenges for colorblind individuals.
“To add to your brain stimulation is a gorgeous retro-like 3D aesthetic.”
“The puzzles are actually witty and engaging, the atmosphere is quite great and immersive, and I simply adore the pixelated old-school 3D graphics look of the game.”
“The theme is amazing, the aesthetic is crazy good.”
“Realistic graphics tend to make these types of games draining with the dark atmosphere.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its innovative mechanics, particularly the interaction between the in-game and overworld elements, creating a unique experience reminiscent of games like Inscryption. While some boss battles may be frustrating due to unclear mechanics, the overall puzzle design is well-balanced, providing satisfying challenges without becoming tedious. Players appreciate the clever integration of gameplay elements, making it an engaging and enjoyable experience.
“Great game mechanics, the whole back and forth thing between what happens in game and what happens in the main world is great.”
“I love the entire gimmick of playing a game within a game, with both levels of gameplay interacting with each other.”
“A great spooky escape the room game that's got a clever mechanic where your environment changes depending on actions you take in the computer and vice versa.”
“The boss battles were a little annoying due to a certain mechanic that never really gets demonstrated or explained properly, but it's a minor hangup in an otherwise awesome game.”
“This amount of gameplay should be at least 1/3 of the game.”
“It's just gameplay.”
- story11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's story is often described as unclear or lacking depth, with some players expressing a desire for more lore and a satisfying conclusion. However, many reviewers appreciate the intriguing elements and hidden secrets within the narrative, which complement the puzzle-solving experience. Overall, while the story may not be the main focus, it adds an enjoyable layer to the gameplay.
“Super fun puzzle horror game with a cool story and some hidden lore if you're into secrets or multiple endings.”
“Awesome art, quite intriguing story, nice music, multiple endings.... almost too much fun for such a small product to be real but hey!”
“I felt there was enough story tidbits to keep me interested, but not too much that it took away from the main point of the game (solving puzzles).”
“I just wish I could understand the lore or the full story—if there’s one intended.”
“Fun puzzles, innovative design, very cool visuals, but the endings are... well they don't really make me feel like the story has ended!”
“The 'story' wasn't very clear, even with finding all the collectibles, but in all honesty, I didn't really care - I was there for the puzzles and for the most part they delivered.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized as a charming and immersive blend of silly horror elements, enhanced by engaging puzzles and a nostalgic pixelated 3D graphic style. Reviewers appreciate the unique ambiance, noting that it avoids the heaviness of realistic graphics while still providing an enjoyable experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both captivating and fitting for the game's tone.
“The puzzles are actually witty and engaging, the atmosphere is quite great and immersive, and I simply adore the pixelated old-school 3D graphics look of the game.”
“Great game loaded with interesting riddles to solve, nice atmosphere too.”
“Wonderful style and atmosphere.”
“If anyone is worried about the 'horror' elements, I'd say it's purely a silly horror atmosphere; don't worry about any scares!”
“Realistic graphics tend to make these types of games draining with the dark atmosphere.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the grinding in the game feels purposeful, as each death offers a learning opportunity rather than a frustrating experience. However, some users note that the grinding can be extensive, suggesting that it may require significant time investment to progress.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It's the kind of game where you can learn something with every death, so it never feels like you're being cheated or that they are padding game time by making things tedious on purpose.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has limited replayability due to non-randomized puzzles and similar endings, making subsequent playthroughs less engaging. However, it offers potential for speedrunning, which could foster a dedicated community and enhance replay value for those interested in mastering the game.
“The game offers a variety of choices that can lead to different outcomes, encouraging players to experience it multiple times.”
“With its diverse character builds and multiple paths, each playthrough feels fresh and engaging.”
“The game does not have much replayability, as the puzzles are not randomized and the endings are pretty close to each other, although getting to them is not hard once the puzzles are figured out in the first place. However, it makes for good speedrunning content.”
“I could see a massive amount of replay value, and once you've played through, you could very easily establish a speedrun community.”
- music1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for enhancing the overall experience, complementing the intriguing story and vibrant art. Players find it enjoyable and fitting, contributing to the game's fun atmosphere.
“Awesome art, quite an intriguing story, nice music, multiple endings... almost too much fun for such a small product to be real!”
