Joyville
- August 23, 2023
- Sahsa84YT
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Joyville is a single-player Horror-Puzzle Adventure game set in a creepy, abandoned children's camp with stunning visuals. As the player, you'll uncover Joyville's dark past and confront your fears over 5 hours while solving puzzles with the help of a trusty teddy bear. Prepare for a gripping journey filled with suspense and haunting secrets."
PC
Phone
Windows
Android
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- The game features good graphics and animations, creating an aesthetically pleasing experience.
- The puzzles are engaging and provide a fun challenge, contributing to an overall enjoyable gameplay experience.
- The game has potential for future chapters, with many players expressing excitement for the continuation of the story.
- The game is criticized for being too short, with many players feeling that the $10 price tag is not justified for the limited content.
- Gameplay mechanics, particularly during chase scenes, are described as confusing and frustrating, leading to a negative experience for some players.
- There are concerns about the game's originality, with many reviewers noting similarities to other mascot horror games like Poppy Playtime.
- gameplay28 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing it for being short (around 30-60 minutes) and reminiscent of other mascot horror games, particularly "Poppy Playtime." While some appreciate the aesthetic and puzzle mechanics, others find the gameplay clunky and exploitative, suggesting it feels like a cash grab. Overall, the game offers decent mechanics and atmosphere, but many feel it lacks originality and polish.
“It's truly got its own thing going and the story plus gameplay is good.”
“The main mechanic of the game is shown and explained pretty well.”
“The puzzles were great, the visuals were surprisingly good for an indie game, and the gameplay flowed nicely.”
“10 dollars for 30 minutes of clunky, boring gameplay; it's a cash grab that feels like a copy and paste of other mascot horror games.”
“There's really only around 30 minutes or less of gameplay in this game currently, and it feels like a cash grab for the price.”
“Its exploitative mechanics and lackluster gameplay make it a prime example of a game that fails to care about its own quality.”
- story21 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The story has potential with unique characters and an interesting premise, but many reviewers feel it lacks depth and is too reminiscent of "Poppy Playtime," leading to a perception of minimal storytelling and gameplay. While some express hope for future developments, others criticize the short length and insufficient narrative content, suggesting that the current installment does not justify its price. Overall, the story is seen as a work in progress that needs more substance to fully engage players.
“It's truly got its own thing going and the story plus gameplay is good.”
“The story is to be continued with Joyville, but so far the characters are unique in their own way and even quite cute/creepy.”
“I am looking forward to see what more is in store and I like the story so far.”
“For less than 2 hours of gameplay and not much of a storyline, 10 bucks isn't really worth it.”
“Game is very short, few puzzles, and minimum storytelling.”
“Story-wise, there's barely anything in this first installment.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their aesthetic appeal, with many reviewers noting a colorful, childlike vibe reminiscent of other mascot horror games like Poppy Playtime. While the visuals are considered stunning and well-executed for an indie title, some players feel that the limited variety can lead to a repetitive experience. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's atmosphere and gameplay flow.
“The puzzles were great, the visuals were surprisingly good for an indie game and the gameplay flowed nicely.”
“The visuals are stunning.”
“Graphics-wise, the game looks great.”
“While this is an aesthetically pleasing game, it is too close to other mascot horror games and the mechanics are not refined.”
“It does feel like the dev took a bit of inspiration from Poppy Playtime, as the graphics have that same colorful, childlike vibe to them (they look like they could have come straight out of a Poppy Playtime game).”
“Very reminiscent of Poppy Playtime in terms of graphics and story, but with maybe a little Portal feel to the story.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its blend of child-like charm and dark, creepy elements, creating a refreshing take on the mascot horror genre. Reviewers highlight the effective sound design, engaging visuals, and unique puzzles that enhance the overall experience, making it both fun and thrilling. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“The horrifying chase scenes, the puzzles, the dark atmosphere is absolutely amazing, and was such a breath of fresh air after seeing some horrible mascot horror games.”
“This game was amazingly executed, it has elements of old mascot horror games but also has new elements, it still has a great atmosphere and look to its map and surroundings that is better than other mascot horror games and for a first in a series and a first by this creator it was amazingly executed.”
“Fantastic atmosphere, sound, and scares.”
“Overall, I'd give it a recommendation as it's decent enough: the visuals are fine, sound design's good enough, the gameplay itself works and there's definitely a bit of creepy atmosphere in places.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mix of trial and error, which can feel adventurous rather than tedious for some, though others suggest it requires excessive effort, likening it to needing a "second life" to manage the grind effectively.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been widely criticized, with users labeling it a "cheap cash grab" that detracts from the genre's reputation. Many express disappointment over its aggressive advertising tactics, suggesting it fails to offer value to players.
“It's a real disappointment because this genre is already getting so much flak from creators about being a cash grab genre, and this game isn't doing the genre any favors.”
“The game has an immediate advertising issue.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game effectively enhances the tension, particularly during chase scenes, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience. Reviewers praise the quality of the soundtrack, noting its ability to keep players on edge.
“The soundtrack carries the tension just as it should!”
“The chase scenes and music kept me on edge.”
“Oh, and the music is good too.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for being poor, leading to an unintuitive experience that fails to deliver the intended scare factor.
“Poorly optimized, very unintuitive, and lacks any real sense of fear.”
“The optimization is a mess, making the gameplay frustrating and unenjoyable.”
“Optimization issues lead to frequent crashes and long loading times, ruining the experience.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
While the game's environments receive praise for their visual appeal, the character designs are criticized, suggesting a lack of depth or quality in character development.
“The character designs are honestly just bad.”
“There is a lack of depth in character development, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“The characters feel one-dimensional and fail to evolve throughout the game.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players feel that the game's focus on profit undermines any chance for genuine emotional engagement or connection, leaving them feeling disconnected from the experience.
