LOCKED

About

LOCKED is a single player survival action adventure game with a horror theme. It was developed by Grumpy Pony and was released on December 14, 2023. It received positive reviews from players.

"Locked" is a horror-themed 2D side-scrolling game, where you play as Debbie, trying to escape a serial killer's basement by solving intricate puzzles. This intense, gripping experience is inspired by classic horror movies and games of the PS1/PS2 era, featuring high-resolution 2D graphics and a chilling atmosphere. The goal is to unravel the lair's mysteries and unlock the path to freedom.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 28 reviews

story4 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of old flash games, with well-crafted cartoony graphics that complement its dark themes.
Despite its short runtime of 1-2 hours, the game provides a satisfying puzzle experience and is considered worth the low price.
The gameplay mechanics, such as item interaction and hiding from the killer, create a tense atmosphere that enhances the horror experience.

The controls are often unresponsive and can lead to frustrating gameplay moments, including issues with item throwing and character movement.
The AI of the killer can be overly intrusive, making it difficult to progress and sometimes resulting in cheap deaths.
The game suffers from bugs and optimization issues, including crashes and soft locks, which detract from the overall experience.

story
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
61%
17%
The game's story revolves around an unnamed woman who must escape from a serial killer named Frantz, but it lacks depth and originality, often feeling simplistic and underdeveloped. While the cartoony graphics complement the dark themes, the narrative primarily serves as a backdrop for gameplay mechanics, with minimal exploration of the characters or plot. Players noted that the achievements are mostly tied to basic progression rather than meaningful storytelling, leaving a desire for a richer narrative experience.
- “The well-crafted cartoony graphics do not clash with the dark subject matter of the game and underline the few surreal aspects of the story.”
- “The backgrounds are nice as well and filled with a little story of what has happened before you became trapped.”
- “Good storytelling with puzzles.”
- “The story itself is nothing to write home about; you are an unnamed woman who was captured, undressed (but not naked, this is not that kind of game), and locked up by a serial killer named Frantz, from whose house you now have to escape.”
- “While this is a bit weird story-wise (how did Frantz put you in this room when he can’t enter it?), there is a bigger problem going on with your one and only opponent.”
- “The usual stuff: find an item, open a door, hide, figure out how to escape, etc. There are some hints of a creepy mystery, but nothing more in terms of story.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
40%
20%
The game's graphics feature a well-crafted cartoony style that effectively complements its dark themes, enhancing the surreal elements of the story. Many reviewers noted a nostalgic resemblance to early 2000s flash games, particularly in its 2D gameplay, while also appreciating the simplicity and quality of the art. Overall, the graphics strike a balance between being visually appealing and thematically appropriate, with a touch of gore that adds to the atmosphere.
- “I thought the art style of the game was simple and good, and it reminded me of some 2000s flash games with a mix of good 3D.”
- “Simple and interesting graphics style, a little bit of gore.”
- “This in combination with the cartoony graphics and the 2D gameplay actually reminds me of old flash games, specifically the point-and-click game 'Free Ice Cream', in which a child has to escape the house of a serial killer.”
- “The well-crafted cartoony graphics do not clash with the dark subject matter of the game and underline the few surreal aspects of the story.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
49%
38%
The gameplay of [i]locked[/i] is primarily puzzle-based and features a simplistic, 2D design reminiscent of old flash games, which some players find nostalgic. However, the experience is marred by frustrating mechanics and abrupt gameplay changes that can lead to unfair deaths, leaving some users feeling that the overall execution does not justify its low price.
- “This in combination with the cartoony graphics and the 2D gameplay actually reminds me of old flash games, specifically the point-and-click game 'Free Ice Cream', in which a child has to escape the house of a serial killer.”
- “At its core, [i]locked[/i] is a puzzle game, but the gameplay, much like our player character, is very stripped down.”
- “I hate to thumbs down an obvious solo project, but the frustrating gameplay really isn't worth the cheap price of admission.”
- “There are also two situations near the end, where I was killed by Frantz because of temporary changes in the gameplay, but to be honest, I could have seen them coming, so this is partly on me.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game is reported to have poor optimization for keyboard controls, with users specifically noting issues such as the inability to use the action key effectively.
- “Not really optimized for keyboard; can't use action key.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is enjoyable and creepy, but players consistently report significant bugs that affect stability.
- “Fun creepy game, but very buggy.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's dark atmosphere is generally well-received, creating an engaging and immersive experience; however, some players feel that certain shock elements, particularly nudity, detract from the overall ambiance.
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, as the tasks required to progress are repetitive and unenjoyable, despite the simplicity of the objectives.
- “Technically, you just do a few things and that's the end of the game, but actually doing those things is tedious and annoying.”