Knock-Knock
- August 23, 2017
- Ice-Pick Lodge
- 1h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Knock-Knock" is a single-player horror platformer game with a spectacular story and phenomenal visuals. As the latest Lodger, you must stay awake and sane until dawn, avoiding the unknown creatures that have taken over your cabin. The game features hide-and-seek gameplay, with the goal of reaching morning while still sane, while uncovering the truth behind the strange occurrences in the cabin. The game has a stellar atmosphere, filled with suspense and mystery.
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Reviews
- The game has a unique and captivating atmosphere that effectively creates a sense of dread and paranoia.
- The art style is beautifully crafted, reminiscent of Tim Burton's work, which adds to the game's eerie charm.
- The gameplay encourages exploration and experimentation, allowing players to piece together the story and mechanics on their own.
- The gameplay can become repetitive and tedious, with a lack of clear objectives and mechanics that can frustrate players.
- Many players find the game confusing due to its vague storytelling and the absence of guidance on how to progress.
- The game features a punishing mechanic where failing to meet certain criteria can lead to a game over, forcing players to restart from the beginning.
- gameplay216 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "knock-knock" is characterized by its simplicity and repetitiveness, primarily involving mechanics of hiding from monsters and managing light sources in a surreal, atmospheric setting. While some players appreciate the unique art style and the challenge of discovering mechanics through trial and error, many find the lack of clear instructions and the reliance on RNG frustrating, leading to a tedious experience that can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game appeals to those who value atmosphere and exploration over traditional gameplay depth, but it may not satisfy players seeking engaging mechanics or a clear narrative.
“The visuals, the gameplay, and overall design are all very unique.”
“Despite its occasional discomfort, the gameplay itself is solid.”
“A unique art style, simple but solid gameplay, and surreal atmosphere make 'knock-knock' quite enjoyable.”
“Good atmosphere, but tedious gameplay.”
“I will warn, the gameplay is incredibly repetitive and can be very frustrating if you don't understand what to do.”
“Unfortunately, after 6+ hours of gameplay, I am unable to get any ending to the game.”
- atmosphere160 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Knock-Knock" is widely praised for its eerie, unsettling quality that effectively creates tension and a sense of paranoia, often overshadowing the gameplay itself. Many reviewers highlight the game's unique art style and sound design, which contribute to a haunting experience that feels both cryptic and immersive. However, some players note that while the atmosphere is compelling, it can become repetitive and may detract from overall enjoyment.
“In the end, Knock Knock excels at its eerie atmosphere, and its art style and tension will keep you on edge.”
“I love the atmosphere of this game that makes you question what is reality and what isn't, blurring the lines, and the tension at some parts of the game is really fun.”
“The atmosphere and artwork make it eerie, but add the sounds, story, and dialogue in, and it can really make your hair stand on end!”
“The atmosphere was kind of creepy at first, until after the beginning hour and everything starts getting repetitive, with the monster, or 'guest,' designs being kind of a joke.”
“Atmosphere is okay, but other than that it feels mediocre and too repetitive to enjoy.”
“Main character's idiotic 'sims' voice and language destroys all atmosphere.”
- story158 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized as vague and open to interpretation, often leaving players to piece together the narrative through diary pages and environmental clues. While some find the atmospheric horror experience engaging, others criticize the lack of clarity and depth in the plot, describing it as more of a collection of intriguing ideas rather than a cohesive storyline. Overall, the narrative is seen as a backdrop to the game's eerie atmosphere, appealing to those who enjoy unraveling mysteries at their own pace.
“One of the best horror story games I ever played.”
“Outstanding detail, breathtaking artwork; it follows a very intricate story, which I'm still trying to riddle out to this day.”
“The allure and mystery of the story was enough to see me through to the end.”
“The story is unclear, vague, and leaves you to fill in a lot of it with your own imagination, but I was invested and wanted to play to the end.”
“You can't tell what's story related or what's 'hint' related (if there even is a story) because the two seem to blend together.”
“If you're looking for a story with a beginning, a middle, and an end, it isn't here.”
- graphics126 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Knock-Knock" are widely praised for their unique and captivating art style, reminiscent of Tim Burton and Laika films, which effectively contributes to the game's eerie atmosphere. Players appreciate the detailed 2D animations and the ability of the visuals to evoke tension and unease, despite the simplicity of the graphics. Overall, the artwork is considered the standout feature, enhancing the game's surreal narrative and immersive experience.
“The art style is especially fun to look at, with 2D animated graphics that look as if they could be at home in a Laika or Tim Burton film.”
“The art style shines, each entity drawn with unsettling perfection.”
“The art style is gorgeous.”
“The graphical style actually kept me from buying the game for a while - not because it was bad, but because I expected something in the vein of 'Don't Starve', another stylized game with a much lighter atmosphere.”
“F'ing terrible experience... which is unfortunate because the art style actually drew me in.”
“I initially bought the game based on the premise and artwork, but I've never felt so unfulfilled after completing a game.”
- grinding20 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often leading to long moments of boredom and frustration. While some appreciate the unique atmosphere and occasional thrills, many feel that the lack of direction and engaging gameplay ultimately detracts from the experience, making it feel more like a chore than an enjoyable adventure.
“Is there an award for the most tedious game on Steam?”
“Once you learn what you need to do in the game, it just becomes very tedious.”
“Eventually the gameplay does get tedious with nothing new to add or offer after a while.”
- music16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is minimal yet effective, primarily consisting of haunting audio cues rather than a traditional soundtrack, which enhances the overall atmosphere of tension and unease. Players appreciate the unique audio design, noting that the sporadic musical elements, such as those from the radio and gramophone, contribute significantly to the game's eerie ambiance. Overall, the sound effects and limited music work harmoniously with the game's stylized graphics to create a compelling indie horror experience.
“A giant 'eye' randomly appears during some levels; early on I discovered that going through the eye will take you to a dark(er) hallway, and from the hallway, you can go through doors that will show you bright, pretty artwork while chiming music plays.”
“This game is simply amazing; the setting is good and the music, ahh the music, makes it one of the best indie horror games.”
“The soundtrack is almost non-existent to give a climate of terror to the game.”
“This is such a strange title; it's not really a scary game, but the few bits of music and the setting make for a fairly tense evening every time I decide to play it.”
“The sound effects and music (what little there is) fit well, and you can see great examples of the graphics on the store page - they're stylized and kinda cartoony, but they work surprisingly well for such a tense game.”
- replayability14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game has mixed reviews regarding replayability; while some players note that it offers multiple endings and various playstyles, others feel it has little to no replay value due to unfair gameplay and limited incentives to replay. Collectibles provide some motivation for revisiting the game, but overall, the consensus leans towards a lack of significant replayability.
“It is also replayable since there exist multiple endings, and the game even has good endings as well.”
“You can use different playstyles to complete the game, and there are plenty of collectibles to keep replayability an option.”
“Knock-knock offers a bit of replayability with a few different endings, and the good ending made me feel warm inside, and not many games can do that.”
“Little to no replay value.”
“Knock-knock contains not much replay value and sometimes the gameplay can be unfair.”
“Barely any replay value.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to immerse players in the protagonist's psychological struggle, evoking feelings of confusion and empathy as they navigate a dark, unsettling environment. Players appreciate the unique narrative that explores themes of sanity and attachment, with multiple endings that can elicit a sense of warmth and satisfaction, making it a standout experience in the gaming landscape.
“It's like you're walking through an unfamiliar house in pitch darkness, trying to feel your way through with just your hands, uncertain of what you're really touching, but trying to get a sense of it.”
“But back to the main point, I can relate to the lodger's insanity, yet sanity all in all. His struggle to find his diary and his emotional attachment to his work and his house all make for an interesting subject matter that isn't seen in full release games on the market.”
“Knock-Knock offers a bit of replayability with a few different endings, and the good ending made me feel warm inside, and not many games can do that.”
“Some may see only a boring story about turning lights on and off here.”
- stability8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates solid stability with smooth performance and no significant graphical issues, even on lower-end systems. However, players have reported occasional bugs, such as audio glitches and freezing when alt-tabbing, as well as movement issues after certain interactions. While these bugs are present, they do not detract significantly from the overall experience.
“The game flows smoothly overall; there should be no graphical difficulties for anyone who wishes to purchase and play it for themselves. My low-end computer runs it great!”
“Other than that, there are a few bugs here and there, like footstep audio playing multiple times, and if you alt-tab too much, the game freezes and you have to close and restart.”
“After hiding behind something, the game glitches out and no longer allows you to move left or right, even though every other button continues to work just fine.”
“With ingenious intended glitches, the game suffers from stability issues that detract from the overall experience.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game to be comforting and enjoyable, transforming the experience into something light-hearted rather than frightening. This shift in perception highlights the game's ability to evoke laughter and a sense of ease over time.
