JoY

45%
Game Brain Score Based on 16 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
JoY Game Cover
Starting at $2.99Buy now
Get on Steam

Joy is a unique 2D horror game that blends unsettling mini-games with chilling cutscenes. What begins as an innocent experience quickly turns sinister, drawing you into a dark, unpredictable journey filled with unexpected scares. Immerse yourself in an atmosphere of tension and suspense that keeps you on edge from start to finish. Are you ready to face the fear and discover the hidden terrors with…

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

45%
Audience ScoreBased on 16 reviews
graphics3 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • The game features excellent visuals with a distinct color scheme and character design that creates a unique identity.
  • The sound and music contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.
  • The concept of mini-games with a horror element is intriguing and offers a variety of challenges, providing some replayability.
  • The gameplay is often frustratingly difficult, with mini-games that lack leniency and can lead to repeated deaths.
  • There is a significant lack of guidance or explanation for players, making it hard to understand the mechanics and objectives.
  • The game suffers from poor execution in its mechanics, leading to tedious gameplay and a lack of mid-game checkpoints.
  • gameplay7 mentions

    Gameplay has received mixed to negative feedback, with many users criticizing its lack of clarity and engaging mechanics. While the visuals are praised, the gameplay is described as repetitive and frustrating, featuring simplistic maze navigation, one-hit kill mechanics, and disruptive jumpscares that hinder flow. Additionally, the mechanics involving mouse control for managing enemies and traps are seen as cumbersome and poorly executed.

    • “Nothing about any of the mechanics are even shown to the player on what exactly the storyline is and what we're even supposed to do.”
    • “Imagine one of those mazes in which you have to follow the path without touching the borders, now add what I guess is a time limit which you can refill by grabbing balls Pac-Man style, now add 'everything is 1 hit KO' mechanics, now add low-effort jumpscares in the mix and you've got it. (By the way, these jumpscares stop the gameplay to break whatever flow you may have achieved, but really stalling for you to get out of the refund window is what that is.)”
    • “There is another mechanic by which you use the mouse to keep enemies at bay or stop some traps by hovering your mouse over them. Your sprite moves, the screen moves, so you need to move the mouse to keep it on that which you want to stop or keep at bay.”
  • graphics5 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the excellent visuals and charming art style, while others note that the simplistic graphics do not compensate for the shortcomings in gameplay. Overall, the aesthetics are highlighted as a strong point, but the execution in gameplay detracts from the overall experience.

    • “This game, as a positive, nails every single thing right with its aesthetics!”
    • “Really loved the simplistic graphics; they are super cute.”
    • “Also, lovely art style.”
    • “5/10 - Mid; excellent visuals but actual gameplay suffers greatly.”
    • “There's two solid points to the game in my opinion: the artwork is quite neat and is what got me to try the game in the first place, but I think the idea is fine, just terrible execution on the mini games.”
  • story2 mentions

    The story aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of clarity and guidance, leaving players confused about the narrative and their objectives. Many feel that the mechanics do not effectively convey the storyline, resulting in a disjointed experience.

    • “Nothing about any of the mechanics is even shown to the player regarding the storyline and what we're supposed to do.”
    • “Story?”
  • music2 mentions

    The music in the game enhances the overall atmosphere, contributing positively to the visual experience. However, players note a lack of comprehensive settings to customize the audio beyond basic volume control, which detracts from the overall user experience.

    • “Visually, this game looks great, and the sound/music really adds to the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “There are also no thorough settings within the game to actually change anything other than the music volume, fullscreen, and v-sync... it's kind of a mess.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly due to repetitive mini-games and an overwhelming number of challenges, despite enjoying the final moments of the game.

    • “The ending itself was fun (Russian roulette), but it did start to get tedious as the gun seemed to have a magical barrel with a seemingly endless supply of bullets.”
    • “Largely, I wouldn't call it unfair, although there are some seriously tedious mini-games.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its absurdity, often eliciting genuine laughter even in frustrating moments, as players find themselves amused by the chaotic situations they encounter. This blend of comedy and challenge creates a unique experience that lightens the mood despite repeated failures.

    • “At one point, I was laughing so hard that tears were streaming down my face, and it wasn’t for good reasons.”
    • “(Hehe, see what I did there?) Instead of getting enraged as I would normally feel from dying again and again, I found myself laughing at the absolute insanity that it throws you into.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The game features a distinct identity through its unique character design, contributing positively to the overall character development experience.

    • “The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character.”
    • “Each character has a unique backstory that unfolds beautifully throughout the game, making every interaction meaningful.”
    • “The growth and evolution of the characters are portrayed in a way that feels authentic and engaging.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its impressive visuals and a compelling soundscape, including music that effectively complements the overall experience.

    • “Visually, this game looks great, and the sound and music really enhance the atmosphere.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game offers moderate replayability, primarily for players interested in achieving both endings and completing all mini-games, despite its overall short duration.

    • “It's a short experience that has some replayability value if you're looking to get both endings and complete all mini-games.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is largely negative, as players feel frustrated by the combination of restrictive gameplay mechanics, disruptive jumpscares, and a sense of urgency that detracts from the overall experience. This leads to a feeling of being overwhelmed and a lack of immersion, ultimately diminishing emotional engagement.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy JoY

Videos

Similar Games

Game News