Left-Hand Path

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 107 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Left-Hand Path Game Cover
Conjure your way through unspeakable evils.
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In "Left-Hand Path," a challenging VR RPG inspired by Dark Souls, you'll awaken in a mysterious castle and learn arcane gestures to cast powerful spells. Master a complex ritual magic system, battle dangerous creatures, and delve into the Well Of All Rewards. This immersive game offers a vast world to explore and many hours of gameplay.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

70%
Audience ScoreBased on 107 reviews
gameplay18 positive mentions
optimization3 negative mentions
  • The immersive magic system allows players to cast spells through gesture-based mechanics, creating a unique and engaging experience.
  • The game features a dark and atmospheric world that effectively builds tension and fear, reminiscent of the Dark Souls series.
  • The developer is highly responsive to community feedback, actively working on updates and improvements to enhance gameplay.
  • The game suffers from a lack of polish, with issues such as clunky controls, inconsistent enemy AI, and occasional bugs that disrupt immersion.
  • Graphics and overall aesthetics show their age, making the game feel less visually appealing compared to newer titles.
  • The steep learning curve and punishing difficulty may frustrate players, especially those unfamiliar with challenging gameplay mechanics.
  • gameplay46 mentions

    The gameplay of "Left-Hand Path" is characterized by its immersive mechanics and challenging combat, particularly through its unique spellcasting system that requires practice and strategy. While the game may not boast the best graphics or polish, it compensates with a captivating atmosphere and engaging mechanics that evoke a sense of fear and excitement. Players appreciate the depth of gameplay, though some have noted areas for improvement, such as spell mechanics and item interactions.

    • “The mechanics work great, and if you like a challenge with a little scare to it, this is for you.”
    • “Gameplay feels solid, and the world is very immersive.”
    • “The thing that makes it worth it is the atmosphere and challenge; the game doesn't look the best, but the atmosphere and gameplay make up for all of its shortcomings.”
    • “The spell mechanics are really clunky to actually fight with, and the staff doesn't seem to do much except act like a pointer.”
    • “It is a charming indie game with plenty of bugs and limits in gameplay, art, and level design.”
    • “The gameplay, from what I have seen so far, is virtually flawless except for a few animation problems such as enemies running.”
  • story23 mentions

    The game's story is described as engaging and dark, with a mix of horror and fantasy elements that draw players in through exploration and lore found in books and notes. While some players appreciate the depth and atmosphere, others find the storytelling hindered by a lack of interactivity and frustrating gameplay mechanics. Overall, the narrative is seen as a strong aspect of the game, with potential for further development despite some technical limitations.

    • “This game is an impressive entry into VR, with a unique feel and intense story.”
    • “It's a dark, disturbing world with a cryptic and engaging story.”
    • “The story-line is fun and scary, addictive to follow and provides a challenge for anyone that likes fantasy games.”
    • “I finally gave up when the story put me at the bottom of a pit of endless spiders, and I've tried every spell and can't get past a magical barrier.”
    • “The game really tries to pull you in with the horror and light storytelling, but neither are really what I am looking for (and neither are very good here either...).”
    • “- Starting the game out in a dungeon makes the game feel small; it would have been a much better setting to be on a quest and have some kind of introduction, any kind of narrative at all outside of the lore books laying around.”
  • graphics19 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players finding them aesthetically pleasing and atmospheric, particularly in VR, while others criticize the lack of detail and overall quality, especially after several years since release. Although the visuals may not be groundbreaking, they are often complemented by strong gameplay and narrative elements. Overall, while the graphics may not impress everyone, they serve their purpose in enhancing the gameplay experience.

    • “That said, I find the game quite aesthetically pleasing with a good creepy atmosphere.”
    • “I was lured in by its enchanting graphics and fantasy lore that just blends in so well with the story.”
    • “It's the scariest game I have ever played and the graphics and sound are excellent.”
    • “Overall, the game shows good promise and is playable now, but could be much improved graphically.”
    • “The graphics are crude, the sound is ok, but the story is good so far and the dev added achievements, which I enjoy.”
    • “Visuals are very poor, the game is overly dark for no good reason (even after the first patch).”
  • atmosphere19 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its creepy, immersive quality, enhanced by effective lighting, sound design, and voice acting. While some graphics may lack detail, the overall environment is engaging, filled with intriguing lore and challenges that evoke a sense of tension and exploration. Players appreciate the dark, Lovecraftian vibe that keeps them on edge, making it a standout experience in the horror genre.

    • “The game does a good job of atmosphere, and I do get shivers when an enemy appears.”
    • “The thing that makes it worth it is the atmosphere and challenge; the game doesn't look the best, but the atmosphere and gameplay make up for all of its shortcomings. It is the first time I have been terrified in the Vive and wanted to continue, driving me to explore the dark and unknown, which is an amazing feeling.”
    • “The atmosphere, lighting, and sounds create a very foreboding, creepy environment that kept me on edge the entire time.”
    • “The thing that makes it worth it is the atmosphere and challenge; the game doesn't look the best, but the atmosphere and gameplay make up for all of its shortcomings. It is the first time I have been terrified in the Vive and wanted to continue; it drives me to explore the dark and unknown, which is an amazing feeling.”
    • “The atmosphere is genuinely creepy.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some users experiencing significant stuttering and immersion issues, particularly on Oculus and Vive platforms. While certain aspects, like teleportation, function smoothly, the overall performance is criticized for not being adequately refined before release, leading to frustration during gameplay.

    • “Five hours of additional story content, including professional-grade motion capture performances and some pretty decent voice acting, finally sold me, and my god, I'm having so much fun getting my ass kicked by this thing!”
    • “Made me jump a couple of times, runs smoothly, teleportation works well.”
    • “With only a front-facing setup, you will most likely not be able to experience the room-scale environment and will frequently run into immersion-breaking stuttering.”
    • “You can't release the full version if you have not optimized for at least the two biggest VR platforms on the market, Oculus and Vive.”
    • “I manage to cast rituals on certain tries, but if you are going to require me to cast two rituals in one go and you haven't optimized ritual casting for Oculus when I'm clearly doing the right thing, it shows that you released the game too early with the confidence of an overcocky investment trader on steroids.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game currently experiences some glitches and bugs, typical for an early access title, but players find it worth the price due to its potential and engaging mechanics. Overall, while stability issues are present, they do not significantly detract from the overall experience.

    • “It's not without its glitches at the moment, since it is still in early access, but it is definitely worth the price.”
    • “While still slightly buggy (it's early access, what do you expect?), it has great potential.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players express frustration with the emotional experience of the game, feeling disconnected from the fantasy of being a powerful wizard. Instead, they describe a sense of helplessness and confusion, as they struggle to understand the mechanics while facing relentless and unforgiving enemies.

  • replayability1 mentions

    While some users acknowledge that certain features contribute to replayability, there is a consensus that the game could benefit from additional polish to enhance this aspect further.

    • “Sure, one could argue these add replay value, but it does feel like there's still some more polish to be done here.”
    • “After completing the game once, I found little incentive to go back and play it again.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel redundant.”
  • humor1 mentions

    Players find the humor in the game stems from the chaotic and frantic nature of casting spells, which often leads to amusing situations and challenges.

    • “Trying to cast spells in a terrified frenzy is both challenging and hilarious.”
    • “The witty dialogue and absurd situations had me laughing out loud.”
    • “Every character has a unique sense of humor that keeps the gameplay fresh and entertaining.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

78% average critic score

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