JoY

About

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…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

69%

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 some replayability, especially with multiple endings.

Gameplay suffers from a lack of clear instructions and mechanics, leaving players confused about objectives and how to progress.
The mini-games are often described as excessively difficult and unforgiving, leading to frustration rather than enjoyment.
There are significant issues with game mechanics, including unreliable controls and a lack of mid-game checkpoints, which detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
43%
43%
Gameplay has received mixed to negative feedback, with players noting that while the visuals are excellent, the mechanics are poorly explained and lack depth. The gameplay is described as simplistic and frustrating, featuring maze-like navigation with one-hit kill mechanics and disruptive jumpscares that hinder flow. Additionally, the reliance on mouse movements to manage enemies and traps adds a layer of complexity that some players found unengaging.
- “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.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
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.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews indicate a lack of clarity and engagement in the game's storyline, with players expressing confusion about the narrative and objectives, suggesting that the story is poorly communicated or absent.
- “Nothing about any of the mechanics is even shown to the player regarding the storyline and what we're supposed to do.”
- “Story?”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
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.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 experience is described as not entirely unfair, but the excessive grinding can detract from overall enjoyment.
- “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.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its absurdity, often eliciting uncontrollable laughter even in frustrating moments, transforming potential rage into amusement. Players appreciate the unexpected comedic elements that enhance the overall experience.
- “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 development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game features a distinct identity, particularly highlighted by its unique character design, which enhances 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.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
200%
300%
The game offers moderate replayability, primarily for players interested in achieving both endings and completing all mini-games, despite its overall short duration.
- “The game offers multiple paths and choices, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
- “With various character builds and strategies to explore, you'll find yourself coming back for more.”
- “It's a short experience that has some replayability value if you're looking to get both endings and complete all mini-games.”
- “Once you've seen the story, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying the game feel redundant.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is largely negative, with players feeling frustrated by the combination of restrictive gameplay mechanics, disruptive jumpscares, and a sense of being manipulated into a quick exit rather than enjoying a cohesive experience.