Labyrinthine
- August 18, 2023
- Valko Game Studios
- 6h median play time
Labyrinthine is a horror action game that offers both single-player and multiplayer co-op modes, with a good plot, great gameplay, and unique atmosphere. The game features fabulous visuals and soundtrack, but also has plenty of bugs and grinding. In story mode, players follow the trail of a mysterious fairground worker, while procedurally generated case files provide a challenging experience. With high emotional stakes and fantastic replayability, Labyrinthine will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Reviews
- story803 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story in this game is a mixed bag, with players noting that while it starts off engaging and atmospheric, it often devolves into repetitive fetch quests and lacks depth in later chapters. Many reviewers enjoyed the cooperative experience and the initial chapters, but expressed disappointment with the story's conclusion and overall coherence, feeling that it could benefit from more development and clearer narrative connections. Despite its flaws, the game offers a decent amount of lore through notes and audio logs, and players are hopeful for future updates to expand the storyline.
“The spooky storyline pulls you in right away, creating a tense atmosphere that's both engaging and eerie.”
“The story mode is surprisingly fleshed out, and I have found each level to be really fun, engaging, and terrifying.”
“The story is amazing, but I am really looking forward to another chapter.”
“I played through the story with some friends and I kinda hated it.”
“The lore is poorly explained and it was a huge letdown to follow the story just for an ending that has no explanation.”
“The story feels half-baked; once you reach the end, it doesn't make any sense, and honestly, it's a forgettable aspect when playing the game.”
- gameplay427 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Labyrinthine" is a mixed bag, with many players enjoying the cooperative experience and unique monster mechanics, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth. The game features a variety of puzzles and monsters, but some find the core mechanics tedious and the maze navigation frustrating. Overall, it offers a solid multiplayer horror experience, but improvements in gameplay variety and mechanics are needed to enhance engagement.
“The immersive environment and cooperative gameplay make it an unforgettable, adrenaline-pumping experience.”
“The gameplay mechanics in 'labyrinthine' are incredibly well-crafted, providing a perfect balance between heart-pounding suspense and strategic gameplay.”
“With all the different map types and interesting monsters, all with their own mechanics, it is infinitely replayable.”
“The maze mechanics quickly become repetitive, and instead of building suspense, it just ends up feeling tedious and boring.”
“Most of the puzzles just equate to finding the pieces/solution in the maze and putting them in; no real thinking involved, and with no way to fight back against the monsters, the gameplay mostly just equates to walking around, occasionally running, hiding, or crouching away from a thing, then walking around some more.”
“The gameplay loop is pretty similar in every level, but it's a must horror game with a group of friends.”
- atmosphere292 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Labyrinthine" is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively combining chilling sound design, haunting visuals, and a sense of claustrophobia that keeps players on edge. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to create tension through its environments and clever use of jump scares, although some players feel that the atmosphere can diminish in later chapters due to repetitive gameplay. Overall, the game excels in crafting a memorable and spooky atmosphere that enhances the cooperative horror experience.
“The spooky storyline pulls you in right away, creating a tense atmosphere that's both engaging and eerie.”
“Set in a haunting atmosphere, the game cleverly combines exploration with teamwork, requiring players to communicate effectively to unravel the mysteries hidden within its labyrinthine corridors.”
“Labyrinthine is a thrilling co-op horror game that keeps you on edge with its eerie atmosphere, clever puzzles, and chilling jump scares.”
“The atmosphere is generally done really well, though most of the scares absolutely come from jump scares when the monster sees you and roars or screeches.”
“After the first puzzle and enemy, however, that atmosphere becomes very thin and the gameplay becomes tedious.”
“Honestly, I do not understand how people find this game fun. My buddy and I got the game due to good reviews, but man... we were in for a shock when we found out just how bad this game is. We liked the graphics, but the atmosphere and monsters were just kind of bland; nothing exciting within the game mechanics.”
- humor187 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, particularly when played with friends, where moments of fear often lead to laughter. Players enjoy the combination of jump scares and funny animations, creating a unique experience that balances horror and comedy. Overall, the game is described as both terrifying and hilarious, making it a great choice for cooperative play.
“Labyrinthine has a surprising knack for injecting humor into the darkest of moments.”
“From cheeky one-liners written on cryptic notes to hilarious encounters with bizarre creatures, the game keeps you laughing even in the face of fear.”
“It's a testament to the developers' creativity and their understanding that humor can be the perfect antidote to intensify the overall experience.”
“Seeing your mate die over and over never stops being funny.”
“That doesn't mean that it's not funny anymore, though!”
- graphics187 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players praising the impressive visuals and atmospheric design that effectively create a sense of dread. While some users noted that the graphics can be demanding on hardware and may require optimization, others highlighted the game's unique aesthetic and detailed environments as standout features. Overall, the graphics are generally considered good to very good, contributing positively to the horror experience, though some players feel they could use further refinement.
“The graphics are impressive, creating an eerie sense of dread, while the sound design heightens tension with unsettling audio cues.”
“The graphics and concept are amazing; honestly, they surpass Phasmophobia in many ways.”
“The graphics in Labyrinthine are also quite impressive, with detailed textures and lighting effects that really help to bring the game world to life.”
“Ps1 level graphics.”
“Shitty graphics.”
“The game is also buggy and glitchy, and the graphics are dated and ugly.”
- replayability152 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag. Many players praise the procedurally generated case files and co-op gameplay, which offer significant replay value and variety, while others criticize the main story mode for its lack of depth and repetitive elements. Future updates are anticipated to enhance replayability further, but currently, opinions vary widely, with some players finding it nearly infinite and others deeming it lacking.
“Super fun co-op game with friends, good scares, funny moments, decent length for story, and also replayability with the case files missions.”
“The constant sense of dread, coupled with the procedurally generated levels, ensures a consistently engaging and replayable experience.”
“The case files allow for infinite replayability and the hidden cosmetics give you reason to spend hours in the mazes, especially during the holidays!”
“The problem is that it gets pretty boring pretty quickly with very few replayability options past the story mode, other than collecting maps and unlocking monsters.”
“I could not recommend a game that is this empty and incomplete, no real storyline or replay value.”
“But as much as it is worth, the lack of replayability is really hitting hard, and it's kind of sad...”
- grinding136 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 5 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, particularly in later chapters where players feel overwhelmed by long, labyrinthine levels and monotonous fetch quests. While some players find enjoyment in the cosmetic grinding, many express frustration over the lack of engaging content and the excessive time required to progress, leading to a sense of boredom and dissatisfaction. Overall, the grinding experience detracts from the initial fun and horror elements, making it feel like a slog rather than an enjoyable challenge.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The game gets tedious and repetitive, and there's no real reason to replay.”
“This game is unfortunately incredibly tedious for no reason - the 'challenging' aspects don't actually add anything, and instead just waste your time.”
“The puzzles in this game consist of the ridiculous act of wandering around poorly designed mazes for an excruciating amount of time, trying to find the next tedious puzzle to complete.”
- music87 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the haunting and immersive soundtrack that enhances the eerie atmosphere and adds to the suspense during gameplay. However, some players noted issues with volume levels, repetitive tracks, and a lack of musical cues during critical moments, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the soundtrack is often highlighted as a standout feature, with nostalgic elements and memorable melodies that resonate with players.
“The attention to detail in the environment and the eerie soundtrack contribute significantly to the overall immersion.”
“The eerie soundtrack and subtle sound design work in perfect harmony, whispering secrets and planting seeds of doubt in your mind.”
“Having grown up on co-op horror games with my siblings, this game is like a pure blast of nostalgia; from the atmosphere that keeps just the right amount of tension, to the music that takes me right back to the days of Silent Hill 2, everything is just so on point, and it's impossible not to love what has been released so far.”
“My biggest gripe, which works as a double-edged sword, is that when you are in VR, the musical cues which can add some immersion to the game are practically non-existent.”
“The monotonous soundtrack quickly becomes grating, and the lack of variety in sound effects further diminishes any sense of engagement.”
“The music from the beginning to every radio was very loud compared to the rest of the game sounds, even after turning it down in settings.”
- stability80 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and performance issues, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some users acknowledge the fun and engaging gameplay, they note that the early access state contributes to a feeling of unfinished quality, with AI problems and map design flaws detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable but in need of significant polish to address its numerous technical shortcomings.
“The game runs great, but I think the gameplay needs some tweaks.”
“Even with it being early access, it's not really buggy at all.”
“No glitches.”
“The game feels buggy and still has an early-access feel.”
“Game itself has become extremely laggy and unreliable, been kicked out of matches multiple times, game freezes randomly which is basically a death sentence.”
“While it's a bit of a buggy mess, for the fact it only went live a few weeks ago, it is extremely engaging and fun to play with friends.”
- optimization43 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 26 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, including low frame rates and overheating hardware, while others reported smooth gameplay with minimal bugs. Many noted that the graphics are impressive, but optimization could be improved, particularly in VR and certain game areas. Overall, while some players found the game playable, others highlighted the need for further optimization to enhance the experience.
“I'd say in terms of graphics and optimization, this game seems to do a good job.”
“Game performance is solid; neither I nor my friends faced any performance issues.”
“Overall performance is high tier.”
“The game is optimized so poorly it was absolutely frying my computer despite it looking and feeling like an indie horror game from 2011. The only time it actually invoked a sense of unease was in the tutorial, but after that, it just resorted to downright horrendous jumpscares.”
“Very bad technical performance, low FPS, very monotonous, and definitely not very scary game.”
“I don't think it's been properly optimized since my CPU was sitting around 6-10% utilized and my GPU was at a constant 100% utilization.”
- emotional19 mentions
- 89 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly variable among players; some find it to be a thrilling emotional roller coaster filled with laughter and fear, while others criticize the story as boring and lacking depth. Many players report intense feelings, ranging from fear and frustration to joy and sadness, particularly when playing with friends, though some express disappointment in the latter parts of the game feeling empty. Overall, the game elicits strong emotional responses, whether through its horror elements or the shared experiences with others.
“Currently I've just been playing with my wife; the laughs, the screams, the frustrations—this game is an emotional roller coaster and I love it.”
“This game was absolutely mentally and emotionally draining.”
“Made me cry in fear, 10/10 for an early access game.”
“Boring story; you can barely follow it. The only good mazes are the first two and maybe the fourth one. The rest features stupid creatures with silly abilities and goofy mosquitoes, along with lazy animation.”
“Not scary and a boring story.”
- monetization5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for heavily relying on microtransactions, which many players feel detracts from the overall experience and level design. Users describe it as a cash grab, suggesting that the focus on daily quests and randomizers for monetization undermines the game's quality.
“All without microtransactions.”
“Gotta love microtransactions even in a game like this.”
“More time should have been spent on level design instead of trying to force microtransactions into the game with daily quest randomizer.”
“Cash grab trash.”
- character development3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted by unique and visually appealing designs that enhance gameplay, making it easy to understand each character's abilities. However, some users feel that the character designs could benefit from further refinement. Overall, the game is recommended for multiplayer experiences.
“Character design is visually and gameplay-wise unique, making it easy to understand their gimmicks, except maybe for the dog.”
“Genuinely cool character designs and map designs; I would recommend playing with friends.”
“The character designs could use more work, though.”
“Character design, both visually and in gameplay, was unique, but they were not very challenging to understand, except for maybe the dog.”