Look Outside

Look Outside is a wonderfully eerie adventure with some of the most unique scenarios and sights I’ve seen in a horror game in years. While it makes a strong first impression, though, as time went on, I sometimes wondered if I’d be better off just looking outside. However, there are still enough strong moments to make it worth checking out for those who love horror games and RPGs.

94%Game Brain Score

story, music

grinding, stability

98% User Score Based on 4,075 reviews

Critic Score 80%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

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About

Look Outside is a survival horror RPG set in a single apartment building. A mysterious event turns anyone who looks out the window into grotesque monsters, leaving the world in absolute chaos. Scavenge the building to seek food, supplies, and weapons while encountering strange characters.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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98%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,075 reviews

story381 positive mentions

grinding29 negative mentions

Incredible art style and character design that effectively conveys both horror and charm.
Engaging story with meaningful choices that impact gameplay and multiple endings.
Unique blend of cosmic horror and humor, creating a memorable and immersive experience.

The save system can be frustrating, as players can only save in their apartment, leading to potential loss of progress.
Combat can become repetitive and less challenging once players have a full party, diminishing the tension.
Some quests and character interactions can be confusing or require specific actions that may not be clear to players.

story
731 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
46%
2%
The story of the game is widely praised for its depth, creativity, and emotional resonance, blending elements of cosmic horror with humor and heart. Players appreciate the intricate narrative structure, which offers multiple pathways and endings, encouraging replayability and meaningful choices. The writing, character development, and atmospheric art further enhance the storytelling experience, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The story is so delightful, there are so many pathways and secrets and chance encounters that the replayability is a given.”
- “Compelling writing and story with meaningful decisions to make.”
- “The story is both dark and twisted, the characters and enemies you meet are interesting, you will find yourself having to make somewhat not ethical choices all for the sake of surviving.”
- “The story is both dark and twisted; the characters and enemies you meet are interesting, and you will find yourself having to make somewhat unethical choices all for the sake of surviving.”
- “Its characters are generic, surface-level deep caricatures such as a paranoid bum who believes anyone is a fed, and a giant-sized man who's kind and empathetic despite his intimidating figure, with a story that doesn't go further than 'omg weird space things are turning us into monsters!!1' wow, haven't seen that one before!”
- “The quests and 'dungeons' constantly catch you off guard, but the story and overall lore of the game more than make up for it.”
music
603 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
39%
1%
The music in this game has received widespread acclaim for its exceptional quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's variety, with tracks that effectively evoke tension, nostalgia, and emotional depth, often comparing it to iconic 80s horror themes. Many players express a desire to purchase the soundtrack separately, indicating its memorable and engaging nature, which significantly contributes to the game's immersive experience.
- “The soundtrack is also fantastic, and lends greatly to the variety of moods this game has to offer.”
- “The music is a wonderful touch, very well composed and really helps create a moody atmosphere.”
- “The music enhances this a lot, and its atmosphere is something I find myself really enjoying.”
- “There's barely any notable music, and it also appears to be bugged, as many times the boss theme wouldn't play during the fights.”
- “The sound design is great in most cases, but the in-game music often feels out of place and ruins the atmosphere; there are too many upbeat themes for an eldritch horror.”
- “Another issue is the whole landlord sequence; it goes on for so long with the music that is constantly repeating in this really janky and unfun loop, I spent like 2 hours there and I think it was quite mind-numbing.”
gameplay
559 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
The gameplay of "Look Outside" is a blend of engaging RPG mechanics and survival horror elements, offering a variety of choices and strategies that enhance player agency. While the combat can be simplistic and at times repetitive, the game compensates with a rich narrative, unique character interactions, and a compelling resource management system that keeps players invested. However, some players have noted issues with difficulty spikes, a frustrating save mechanic, and a lack of clarity regarding certain gameplay elements, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “The gameplay is fun and challenging, but not too hard, and it feels like there are a ton of different ways to play and different choices to make.”
- “It has an addicting gameplay loop that will keep you thinking about playing more, and the opportunity to discover a number of endings means even more bang for your buck.”
- “The gameplay is engaging, and it's just a good time.”
- “It's too bad then that the moment-to-moment combat is where the game is at its weakest mechanically, and that's because it's limited by its base, RPG Maker.”
- “The gameplay itself isn't anything revolutionary at all, but the story, art, and music - while not being anything groundbreaking on their own - becomes a much greater whole that elevates the whole experience.”
- “Encounters get very repetitive and most enemies are just DPS checks for your team that only drain your resources by dealing damage with no mechanics you have to play around, which makes most fights feel the same despite every enemy having a unique sprite in this game.”
graphics
431 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
46%
1%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their unique and captivating art style, which blends grotesque and charming elements, effectively enhancing the horror atmosphere. Players appreciate the detailed pixel art, character designs, and the way visuals complement the storytelling, creating an immersive experience that balances humor and horror. Despite some minor graphical bugs, the overall aesthetic is considered a standout feature, making it a memorable title in the survival horror RPG genre.
- “The graphics in this game are beautiful, some of the most eyegasm-inducing pixel art I've ever seen.”
- “The art style is grotesquely beautiful and the characters are full of personality and charm, each in their own twisted way.”
- “The visuals are amazing, the writing is top notch, and gameplay is deep and solid.”
- “The graphics are uncanny, creepy, and gruesome.”
- “This game's graphics make me want to chew my skin off like a snake.”
- “The pixel art style prevents anything from being too graphic, but adds a vagueness that makes all the sprites five times more disturbing and fun to look at.”
humor
249 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in this game is a standout feature, blending dark and absurd elements that create a unique tonal balance between horror and comedy. Players appreciate the witty dialogue, quirky character interactions, and moments of levity that punctuate the otherwise unsettling atmosphere, making for an engaging experience that elicits both laughter and dread. Overall, the game successfully combines grotesque body horror with genuinely funny moments, resulting in a captivating and memorable narrative.
- “The combination of being scared, unsettled, and simultaneously laughing at some of the moments in this game are making it a favorite of mine!”
- “The writing is charming and funny, the graphics are beautiful, and it's so good my chair is now stained brown from fear.”
- “It's an upsetting, disturbing, unsettling, gruesome, and often hilarious experience.”
- “Don't look outside is not funny.”
- “But then don't look outside in the game is not funny.”
atmosphere
234 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
34%
1%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its ability to evoke a sense of dread and tension, enhanced by a haunting soundtrack and striking art style. Reviewers highlight the effective blend of horror elements, including body horror and cosmic themes, which create an immersive experience that captivates players. The game's unique character designs and engaging environments further contribute to its memorable and unsettling atmosphere, making it a standout in the horror RPG genre.
- “The atmosphere is fantastic, the creatures are creative and interesting, and the soundtrack is absolutely amazing.”
- “It's incredibly atmospheric with a sense of dread that is almost hard to describe.”
- “The atmosphere, the music, the dialogues and the art are perfect.”
- “An indie RPG whose intriguing premise, unique and entertaining encounters, and delightfully grotesque and detailed pixel art fail to overcome the tedium of its completely bog-standard JRPG combat and mechanical attempts to reinforce an atmosphere of horror that evaporated early into the game, leaving only frustration and wasted time.”
- “The sound design is great in most cases, but the in-game music often feels out of place and ruins the atmosphere; there are too many upbeat themes for an eldritch horror.”
- “Some bosses can go down in literally one turn, which dampens the tense atmosphere the game is trying to create.”
emotional
130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a unique blend of horror and heartwarming moments, often leaving players feeling a mix of fear, joy, and sadness. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke strong emotions through its storytelling, character interactions, and impactful choices, resulting in experiences that range from gut-wrenching to surprisingly wholesome. Players frequently express deep emotional connections to the characters and narrative, making it a standout title in the horror genre.
- “Lord knows how many times I cried for my disgusting little rat child, and I wouldn't want it any other way.”
- “Genuinely one of the best games I've ever played, the writing, ambiance, characters, heartbreak, touching moments, everything was perfect.”
- “This game made me feel things that I don't typically feel.”
replayability
113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
49%
3%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with numerous pathways, secrets, and choices that lead to different endings and experiences. Players appreciate the variety of party members, random events, and optional content that encourage multiple playthroughs, making each run feel fresh and engaging. However, some players noted that certain design choices could detract from the overall replay experience, but the abundance of content and the potential for discovery keep players coming back for more.
- “The story is so delightful, there are so many pathways and secrets and chance encounters that the replayability is a given.”
- “Your decisions actually matter, leading to different endings as well as party members, adding a ton of replay value to the game.”
- “The game seems highly replayable, with lots of different choices to make, endings to witness, and achievements to obtain.”
- “It literally killed all its own replayability by forcing the end.”
- “The idea that the most efficient way to start your game is to either rush the ground floor or to stay at home until you get 2-3 party members really takes away from the replayability of the game.”
- “The game's time limit and this apparent luck factor means that you will miss out on some story beats no matter what you do, but I guess that lends to the game's replayability factor.”
character development
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
31%
5%
Character development in the game is highly praised for its exceptional character designs and intricate backstories, which effectively convey personality traits and enhance the overall narrative. Reviewers appreciate the blend of horror and creativity in the character aesthetics, noting that each design is unique and contributes to the game's atmosphere. While the character interactions and dialogue are engaging, some players expressed a desire for more dialogue during key moments to deepen character development further.
- “Every character has a beautifully crafted story and character design.”
- “The character writing is lovely and I got really attached to almost all of the recruitable cast, the character designs and sprite work are outstanding, the monster designs are some of the most creative I’ve seen yet.”
- “The character designs and backstories are really interesting; you can really tell that the creators have put a lot of thought into the story and designs.”
- “The only thing is I wish the characters talked after certain boss fights, or during them, giving more character development like they did with Papa.”
- “Every character design here stands out as uniquely horrific, and the creativity this artist has to be able to depict such things is nothing short of inspiring.”
- “A solid horror survival game experience with character designs and references to allow dinosaurs like me to enjoy it even more.”
grinding
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
6%
91%
Overall, reviews indicate that while the game features some grinding elements, it is not overly reliant on them, with many players appreciating the balance between exploration and combat. However, certain areas and mechanics can become tedious, particularly due to backtracking and the need to manage inventory effectively. The game is praised for its engaging combat and exploration, but some players found specific sections repetitive and frustrating.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The lack of an easy save point mixed with all the gruesome ways you could die instantly meant that you'd tediously re-walk the same areas over and over again, wasting 20-30 minutes per death.”
- “One major con: some later areas becoming highly repetitive and tedious.”
stability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
The game is generally stable but has been reported to have numerous bugs and visual glitches, some of which can disrupt gameplay and ruin progress. While many players find the experience enjoyable despite these issues, the unpredictability of the bugs can detract from immersion, particularly in a horror context. Overall, the developers are actively working on patches, and the game remains fun and engaging despite its current technical shortcomings.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck, although I had to manually edit the default controls because they were not set correctly (the same goes for using a controller on PC).”
- “All in all, I had a great time; it runs great on the Deck.”
- “However, it is buggy at times and can ruin around 1 hour of progress (due to not being able to save at will in the normal difficulty) when bugs happen.”
- “My only real complaint I have is the copious amounts of bugs and glitches, both of the minor and game-breaking varieties.”
- “[spoiler] as any other game, this one has visual glitches and game-breaking bugs, but the problem here is that the bugs are unpredictable and numerous enough to leave you guessing whether a particular mechanic is broken every time something behaves not as you would expect, and if you are constantly considering the possibility that the game is broken, it ruins the horror experience quite a lot.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some players noting minor issues and a lack of balance, while others appreciate the simplicity of gameplay that reduces the need for extensive build or path optimization. Manual saving can be unforgiving, but the casual nature of the game allows for less punishing backtracking.
- “Gameplay-wise, the game was rather simple, and from a casual playthrough standpoint, there wasn’t a great need for build optimization.”
- “Meaning that backtracking isn't as punishing, and path optimization isn't necessary to make sure you're not wasting time on mindless wandering.”
- “Warning: this game does use manual saving and at times is extremely unforgiving. There is some optimization I wish was here; small things though, me nitpicking.”
- “[h1] Uninspired, unbalanced, and poorly optimized [/h1]”
- “As there are different melee types, different elements, and many in-game physical and mental effects that affect the performance of either friends or foes.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The monetization of the game is praised for avoiding cash grabs and gimmicks, offering a complete experience without intrusive microtransactions, which contrasts favorably with typical AAA titles. Players appreciate the ongoing updates that enhance the game, although there are criticisms regarding the effectiveness of its advertising.
- “Just play it, guys! I would have paid $100 for a game like this. No cash grabs, no gimmicks—just a straight-up 10/10, 5/5 horror game. It's hard even on easy mode, and do yourself a favor: for your first playthrough, don't look anything up. It makes it 10x better and more insidious.”
- “But unlike a typical AAA release where you'd pay $70 or more to get a possibly incomplete experience that may also shove in other undesirables like microtransactions in your face, Look Outside's later updates are correcting the known oversights, slowly implementing the ideas and content that were missing, and adding to what is already a very strong experience.”
- “Often I'll see advertisements for Look Outside and they say, 'Try to look outside,' but then when you play the game, it seems like the object is to not look outside.”
- “Addendum: Devolver really dropped the ball on advertising this game.”