Kizuyami | 刻闇 | Game Brain — video game discovery

About

Kizuyami | 刻闇 is a single player simulation game with a horror theme. It was developed by nolifedev and was released on November 1, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Kizuyami | 刻闇 is a first-person psychological horror set in 1990s Japan, where you are trapped in an endless street and drawn to a mysterious house. Explore three eerie homes, uncover dark stories, and interact with objects to survive and escape the haunting unknown. Will you unravel the chilling mysteries and find your way out?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 26 reviews

graphics5 positive mentions

optimization1 negative mentions

The game features a great retro-style, pixellated aesthetic that enhances the creepy atmosphere.
It delivers effective jumpscares and maintains a heavy, oppressive atmosphere throughout the experience.
The puzzles are not overly complicated, allowing players to stay immersed in the horror without frustration.

The game is very short, typically taking around 20-40 minutes to complete, which may leave some players wanting more.
There are issues with visibility, as some items are difficult to see due to the dark environments and retro art style.
The lack of a cohesive narrative and fail states can diminish the overall tension and engagement for some players.

graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
28%
27%
The game features a striking retro-style, pixelated aesthetic that enhances its creepy atmosphere and immersion, drawing comparisons to classic titles like Silent Hill. However, some players noted that this art style can make it challenging to locate small objects, such as keys and tapes, which detracts slightly from the overall experience. Despite this minor issue, the visuals are generally praised for their quality and contribution to the game's vibe.
- “A short indie horror game with a great retro-style, pixellated aesthetic and a creepy story for you to unravel.”
- “This game has awesome visuals and vibes that are incredibly reminiscent of the original Silent Hill games.”
- “The art style adds a lot to the immersion, and the jump scares are well-timed (one even caught me off guard the second time I played!).”
- “The only minor complaint I had was that some items were somewhat hard to see as a result of the very retro art style.”
- “Liked the art style but made it a bit hard to find one of the tapes.”
- “I'd give it a thumbs up because of the atmosphere, price, and graphics, but I don't know if I'd actually say it's good.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its heavy, oppressive quality and effective use of jumpscares, creating a genuinely creepy experience. Reviewers appreciate the combination of impressive graphics and immersive sound design, which enhances the horror elements without detracting from gameplay. While some noted a slow start, the atmosphere improves significantly as players progress, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “I have no idea what the story actually was, but holy god did they ever nail the heavy, oppressive atmosphere perfectly.”
- “The atmosphere is amazing and the puzzles are not overtly complicated, thus not taking you out of the horror experience.”
- “Some really great jumpscares that got me bad, but also a creepy atmosphere.”
- “I'd give it a thumbs up because of the atmosphere, price, and graphics, but I don't know if I'd actually say it's good.”
- “Although it starts off a bit slow and feels similar to other horror games at first, it gets better with every house you explore, building up to a pretty creepy atmosphere.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game features a compelling yet brief horror narrative set against a retro, pixelated aesthetic that effectively creates a heavy, oppressive atmosphere. While some players found the story intriguing, others felt it was somewhat unclear, though the unexpected jump scares added to the overall experience. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its ability to evoke strong emotions and tension.
- “A short indie horror game with a great retro-style, pixelated aesthetic and a creepy story for you to unravel.”
- “Interesting, short story, but a couple of jumpscares got me personally when I was not expecting.”
- “Amazing story!”
- “I have no idea what the story actually was, but holy god did they ever nail the heavy, oppressive atmosphere perfectly.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Reviewers appreciate the music in the game, particularly noting that the thematic elements, such as the music-themed area, enhance the overall experience. However, there is a desire for better environmental visibility and lighting to complement the music, suggesting that a more balanced approach to darkness and detail could improve exploration.
- “The music theme in the last area was really engaging and added a lot to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- “I appreciate how the music enhances the experience, making exploration feel more immersive and enjoyable.”
- “The soundtrack perfectly complements the game's mood, creating a captivating environment that draws you in.”
- “The music theme in the last area was better, but overall, the game focuses too much on darkness, making it hard to explore the environment.”
- “I prefer when the game has more detail in the environment, rather than poorly visible areas. The music aspect could be improved by incorporating more interesting themes.”
- “The lighting needs more contrast; the shading effect at the fire looked good, but the overall ambiance lacks engaging music and visual elements.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The gameplay is presented through no commentary walkthroughs, allowing players to experience the game without distractions. Viewers can access full gameplay videos for an in-depth look at mechanics and strategies.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has some performance issues, including occasional stuttering, but overall, it runs adequately.
- “I did encounter some performance issues, as the game stuttered a few times, but apart from that, it was fine.”