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KOBOLD: Chapter I

82%Game Brain Score
story, atmosphere
optimization, stability
82% User Score Based on 416 reviews

Platforms

PCPCVirtual RealityVirtual RealityWindowsWindowsOculus VROculus VR
Buy Nowfrom €4.99
Buy NowGet on Steam€4.99

About

"KOBOLD: Chapter I" is a first-person puzzle-adventure game set in a mystical world. Players take on the role of a kobold tasked with restoring balance to their dying realm. The game features intricate puzzles, unique abilities, and a captivating story that will keep players engaged throughout their journey.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
KOBOLD: Chapter I screenshot
KOBOLD: Chapter I screenshot
KOBOLD: Chapter I screenshot

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 416 reviews
story50 positive mentions
stability12 negative mentions
  • The game features impressive graphics and a highly immersive atmosphere that enhances the horror experience.
  • It offers a unique narrative driven by German folklore, providing depth and intrigue to the gameplay.
  • Despite its short length, the game effectively builds tension and delivers genuine scares, making it a memorable experience.
  • The game is very short, with playtime averaging around 30 to 60 minutes, leaving players wanting more content.
  • There are significant performance issues and bugs, including frame rate drops and crashes, which detract from the overall experience.
  • The lack of a save feature and the abrupt ending can leave players feeling unsatisfied and frustrated.
  • story
    122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is described as a dark and immersive experience that unfolds through exploration, utilizing letters, audio tapes, and visuals to convey its narrative. While many players appreciate the atmosphere and suspense, they note that the story feels incomplete, as it serves primarily as the first chapter of a larger tale, leaving some aspects underdeveloped. Overall, the storytelling is engaging, but the short length and reliance on environmental storytelling may leave some players wanting more depth and resolution.

    • “I enjoyed this more than PT (in Alyx); good atmosphere and a deep story that gives great suspense!”
    • “Kobold: Chapter I is the start of a fantastic interactive VR horror story; for once I had the feeling that I was inside a good horror movie.”
    • “The storytelling is interesting and left up to the player to discover as they rummage through the house.”
    • “Since it's only 'chapter one', it should be noted that the game feels like the first act of a larger story, and that might make it feel a little anti-climactic.”
    • “Being the experience quite short, the story doesn't build up properly. The events are mainly narrated through letters that you find in the house, but I found the progression of the story too fast, leaving me at the end quite careless about the characters and the plot.”
    • “Overall, if you can get it on sale and are looking for a decent, short horror experience, I would recommend it, but I most definitely would not purchase it at full price knowing there is most likely never going to be any further story development.”
  • atmosphere
    108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and creepy qualities, enhanced by impressive graphics, sound design, and attention to detail. Many players appreciate the balance between suspenseful storytelling and subtle horror elements, creating a tense environment that keeps them on edge. While some noted the game's short length and occasional graphical issues, the overall consensus is that the atmospheric experience is a standout feature, making it a memorable entry in the VR horror genre.

    • “The house feels very lived-in, which adds to the scary atmosphere and makes the environment perfect for exploration.”
    • “It completely captured me in its suspenseful atmosphere, and I loved the attention to detail!”
    • “It's more of an experience than a game and definitely keeps you on edge the entire time with a dark and creepy atmosphere.”
    • “The horror is elegant and understated which makes it more effective as it creeps up on you, relying on visual atmosphere and sounds, which are very well done.”
    • “The photogrammetry scanning, lighting, voice acting, and sound design combine to create a convincingly realistic and very specific, brooding atmosphere that you won't find again so soon in VR.”
  • graphics
    98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the photorealistic visuals and atmospheric lighting that enhance immersion, particularly in VR. However, some players have reported performance issues and inconsistencies in graphic quality, with certain textures appearing flat or low-quality. Overall, while the visuals are often described as stunning and immersive, technical performance and graphical fidelity remain points of contention among users.

    • “The photorealistic graphics heighten the immersion; it feels like you stepped right into a horror movie.”
    • “Impressive graphics (I love the photogrammetry approach!) and a tense atmosphere make this one of my favorite VR horror games/experiences.”
    • “It looks fantastic, the graphics are top notch, the story and gameplay are great, it runs well, and it's scary as hell.”
    • “The graphics are really bad and at the same time very demanding in terms of performance.”
    • “The game is pretty short, the atmosphere is nice but the graphics go from decent to awful. Several objects are just flat made with textures; I understand that this is probably done for performance, but flat objects in VR are a big no. Luckily, the lights in the game are quite low, so it's not super visible unless you walk near things.”
    • “Changing the graphics quality helped a little, but the 'lower' graphics settings literally have the exact same terrible quality textures as the 'high' settings.”
  • gameplay
    30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay has received mixed feedback, with some players appreciating the immersive storytelling, visuals, and unique mechanics, while others found it lacking and more focused on the overall experience rather than traditional gameplay elements. Many noted the game feels short, resembling a walking simulator, and some struggled to engage with it due to its spooky nature. Overall, it boasts high production values but may not satisfy those seeking extensive gameplay.

    • “Loved the chalk mechanic :-) A+ nice work.”
    • “Honestly, it's really cheap and you get a quality 1+ hour experience for your money with some of the best storytelling, visuals, VR mechanics, and audio design that you can find in VR.”
    • “It looks fantastic, the graphics are top-notch, the story and gameplay are great, it runs well, and it's scary as hell.”
    • “Can't say anything about the gameplay because I didn't manage to get to that point before I quit trying.”
    • “I've started over from the beginning several times, less than an hour of gameplay because... it's spooky.”
    • “Overall, this game has excellent production values and a good atmosphere, although the gameplay was lacking.”
  • optimization
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues across various hardware setups, including low frame rates even on capable systems. While some users noted improvements following developer updates, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, with demanding graphics that detract from the experience. However, there are instances of better performance on specific platforms, such as the Rift S, indicating that optimization may vary by device.

    • “I was happy to notice that the developers contacted me soon after to let me know about a performance update.”
    • “This game has time and time again performance issues on many graphics cards, also on good ones. This may be caused by Windows updates and/or Steam VR updates, but at least the dev tries to fix it time and time again; I appreciate this!”
    • “A well optimized experience for Rift S, good performance, good movement system, and some really unique moments.”
    • “Very poorly optimized.”
    • “I currently have an Oculus Quest 2. I first tried this game with Airlink and the performance was incredibly bad; the average FPS was 30 even though my headset was set to 120 FPS.”
    • “The graphics are really bad and at the same time very demanding in terms of performance.”
  • stability
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is noted for its creepy atmosphere, but it suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent crashes and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, such as getting stuck on stairs and problematic audio. The lack of a save feature exacerbates these frustrations, forcing players to restart from the beginning after crashes. While some minor glitches are manageable, the overall experience is hindered by these persistent technical problems.

    • “Suitably creepy and atmospheric, but buggy and frustrating, and with no save feature; each time it crashes, you have to start over from the beginning.”
    • “It was buggy on the stairs; I had to restart it multiple times since I got stuck on the staircase edge.”
    • “It's alright, very buggy; I had problems with audio at first and I still don't know how I got it to work.”
  • replayability
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers limited replayability, primarily due to its short length and the nature of its content, which may not appeal to all players. While some may find value in the experience of overcoming fears, others may feel the price does not justify the lack of extended gameplay. Overall, it is considered more of a one-time experience than a game to revisit frequently.

    • “The replay value depends on how you feel about overcoming your fears.”
    • “The game is not only about the story or its length, but the actual transition process from movie to VR game that you may or may not appreciate.”
    • “The price may be difficult to digest for anyone looking for long hours of play with replayability; however, the game is not just about the story or its length, but the actual transition process from movie to VR game that you may or may not appreciate.”
    • “Mind you, it's kind of short and not very replayable, but for the price, it's better than renting a horror movie.”
    • “Replay value depends on how you feel about overcoming your fears.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is noted for its clever integration into the gameplay, providing a lighthearted twist that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the witty dialogue and comedic scenarios that keep the atmosphere engaging and entertaining.

  • character development
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers appreciate the character development for its appealing designs and creative concepts, highlighting the visual and thematic aspects that enhance the overall gaming experience.

    • “The character designs and concepts are truly impressive.”
    • “The character designs and concepts are visually stunning.”
    • “The character designs and concepts are well thought out and engaging.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users consistently highlight the emotional impact of the VR experience, describing it as both visually and emotionally stunning, suggesting a profound connection that enhances the overall immersion.

    • “This is by far the most visually and emotionally stunning VR experience!”

Buy KOBOLD: Chapter I

7h Median play time
7h Average play time
7-7h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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