Krypta FM

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Can you solve the mystery of the Beast of Gozdary?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 471 reviews

atmosphere66 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game features a delightful atmosphere and engaging environmental storytelling, making it a charming experience.
Players appreciated the unique blend of nostalgia and horror, particularly the portrayal of early 2000s Polish village life and internet culture.
The characters and forum interactions were well-received, adding depth to the narrative and enhancing the overall experience.

Many players found the lack of a save function frustrating, as the game must be completed in one sitting.
Some reviews criticized the pacing, particularly the lengthy radio broadcasts that could feel tedious and disrupt gameplay flow.
A number of players expressed disappointment with the lack of traditional horror elements, such as jumpscares, feeling that the game did not deliver on its horror premise.

atmosphere
93 mentions
71 % positive mentions
26 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and evocative qualities, effectively capturing the essence of early 2000s rural Poland with a blend of nostalgia and eerie charm. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create tension and a sense of unease without relying on cheap jumpscares, instead utilizing sound design and art direction to enhance the overall experience. Many describe it as a short yet impactful journey that leaves a lasting impression through its atmospheric storytelling and character interactions.
- “Absolutely phenomenal atmosphere and a surprisingly lovable cast of characters.”
- “The atmosphere this world gives off through look and sound alone just works so well and I'd love to see what this studio can do with a bigger project.”
- “Great short game with an amazing atmosphere that really does match the vibe of Polish villages of the early 2000s.”
- “The game for the most part conveys a creepy atmosphere between the PlayStation 1-styled graphics and being surrounded by darkness and empty fields like there’s a potential that you could find something.”
- “The atmosphere can really get to you if you decide to play alone at night in the dark.”
- “It's one of those games that bank entirely on atmosphere.”
story
50 mentions
38 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by its unique environmental storytelling, engaging side characters, and a satisfying ending, which many players found refreshing for a psychological horror title. While some appreciated the cozy atmosphere and the narrative's focus on paranormal investigation through a forum, others felt the story was too short or lacked depth, leading to mixed feelings about character development and overall engagement. Overall, the game successfully combines nostalgia with intriguing plot elements, though some players wished for more substantial scares and a deeper narrative experience.
- “I particularly enjoyed the environmental storytelling, the side characters, and the surprisingly satisfying ending.”
- “Exceptional little piece of work, great atmosphere, story, vibe and ending.”
- “A great little game that captures the vibe of early 2000's internet forums amazingly well, wrapped up in this cool cryptid hunting story.”
- “Story was almost non-existent; the game is trying to capture that feeling of being a paranormal investigator with a diverse bunch of friends on a forum, but because the game is so short you have no time or interest in the other characters in the story.”
- “This story was boring as hell.”
- “However, I truly feel like this game was let down by its story and lack of scares.”
emotional
23 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a surprising blend of horror and heartwarming moments, with many players noting its wholesome narrative and nostalgic elements. The game effectively combines spooky themes with uplifting endings, often evoking feelings of comfort and warmth, despite its horror premise. Overall, it leaves players with a sense of joy and emotional fulfillment, making it a unique experience in the genre.
- “Such a heartwarming experience, with all the Slavic town aspects and the old internet aesthetic.”
- “That said, the ending was so sweet and touching!”
- “What a touching game about all of the mental illnesses coming together on the internet.”
graphics
23 mentions
52 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a nostalgic retro aesthetic reminiscent of PlayStation 1 visuals, which many players find charming and immersive, particularly in capturing the essence of a rural Polish village. While some appreciate the unique art style and atmospheric sound design, others feel the graphics could benefit from refinement and express a desire for a more expansive game world. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's psychological horror experience, evoking a sense of nostalgia and enhancing the eerie ambiance.
- “Such a heartwarming experience, with all the Slavic town aspects and the old internet aesthetic.”
- “This simple setting is executed flawlessly using retro graphics, immersive sound design, and little touches that will make this experience feel very homely to all Poles who lived through those times.”
- “Great graphics and gameplay!”
- “It is rough around the edges, could do with a polish with regard to the graphics and gameplay.”
- “Just wish the walking/running speed was faster and that they would choose anything but that retro/PS1 era graphics style; it's getting increasingly old at this point.”
- “The game for the most part conveys a creepy atmosphere between the PlayStation 1-styled graphics and being surrounded by darkness and empty fields like there’s a potential that you could find something.”
music
16 mentions
44 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, blending ambient, jazzy, and synth elements reminiscent of the late '80s to early 2000s. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's effectiveness in creating a chilling yet cozy experience, with many expressing a desire to access the soundtrack for personal enjoyment. Overall, the music is praised for its immersive quality, contributing significantly to the game's horror and emotional depth.
- “Lovely horror project with some very solid music.”
- “I really dig the soundtrack, it’s got that classic horror vibe that really sets the mood.”
- “The game captivates with its eerie atmosphere, tense soundtrack, and unexpected moments.”
- “As for the soundtrack, they actually released it to the public rather recently and consists of tracks by mir, sauleer, damian.”
- “Whether they’re doing that however is unknown, mainly due to the fact that they released this game in July 2024 and as of this writing in October, I’ve only really seen a release for the soundtrack and promoting relief efforts for flooding victims.”
- “I wish I could download or buy the soundtrack somewhere!”
gameplay
13 mentions
46 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Krypta FM is characterized by a simple exploration loop that involves interacting with a forum while uncovering eerie events in the town of Gozdary. While some players appreciate the immersive atmosphere and character sensations, others criticize the lack of clear controls and direction, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some praising the engaging gameplay and others finding it lacking in substance and clarity.
- “Polish production has one of the best character sensations that make the gameplay exceptional.”
- “Krypta FM is an interesting proof of concept for something to be expanded upon even more as I enjoyed the gameplay loop of exploring the small town of Gozdary and taking pictures of strange landmarks to post up on forum pages.”
- “Fantastic experience, fun gameplay mixed with a very spooky and well-crafted atmosphere.”
- “The gameplay for Krypta FM is a very simple loop: you hop onto your computer and read the forum posts on the Krypta FM website while listening to the host Lukasz Bartyniuk recap recent unnerving events that have happened in the town of Gozdary.”
- “I think the only real downside to the gameplay loop is that they don’t really give you a lot of the controls needed; instead, you kind of have to click random buttons to find out.”
- “People here on Steam reviews are so biased by an edgy and twisting ending that they are able to get through a terrible gameplay: just walking in the dark with no reference point, no suggestions on where to look or where to go, and infinite dialogues in Polish which literally stun you.”
humor
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its ironic wit and charming moments, complemented by a fun soundtrack and a relaxed atmosphere. Players enjoy the quirky elements, such as a playful version of MS Paint for customizing backgrounds, and find the characters and art style amusing. Overall, the game successfully balances humor with a lack of cheap scares, creating an entertaining experience.
- “There are funny moments, a nice soundtrack, and an overall chill atmosphere.”
- “I appreciate the straightforwardness, the humorous bits, and the lack of cheap jumpscares.”
- “Atmosphere was fantastic, forum was hilarious.”
optimization
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is well-optimized, even running smoothly on lower-end hardware like a basic laptop. However, some areas of the map exhibit optimization issues that could affect performance.
- “Really well optimized when I played on my old laptop.”
- “Good Poland simulator, but some areas of the map are unoptimized.”
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often involving running to specific locations to complete tasks that lack excitement or engagement. While some appreciate the creative ideas behind the game, the execution leads to a slow and boring experience.
- “The forum bit was cute and actually felt pretty thought out, but the entire game just results in you running to a corner of the map, snapping a pic, and running back with nothing else. It's legitimately boring, slow, and more tedious than it is scary.”
- “I think it has some nice ideas, but the execution is tedious.”
stability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game has significant stability issues, with players reporting bugs that can lead to softlocks, preventing progress and causing frustration. Many users express dissatisfaction, with some unwilling to replay due to these problems.
- “It's kind of buggy; I couldn't even finish it because I got softlocked an hour into the game, and I won't be replaying it.”