lure

About

lure is a single player survival simulation game with horror and mystery themes. It was developed by Blue Moon Games and was released on April 8, 2022. It received very positive reviews from players.

To make some money from an old man, you are asked to fish at the forbidden Shinto shrine.

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 292 reviews

graphics16 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Great atmospheric and spooky vibe with effective sound design that immerses players.
Appealing retro PS1-style graphics that capture a nostalgic and eerie aesthetic.
Short, free, and simple gameplay that delivers a memorable and surprising jump scare.

Extremely short length, with a playtime of about 3 to 5 minutes and very limited content.
Gameplay is mostly walking simulator with minimal interaction and only one linear mission.
Lack of replay value due to one ending and no additional achievements or alternate routes.

graphics
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
48%
8%
The graphics of the game are praised for their retro PS1-style, effectively creating a nostalgic and atmospheric experience that complements the horror and fishing themes. While the pixelated, low-resolution visuals appeal to fans of old-school aesthetics and enhance the eerie ambiance, some users find the style less visually appealing or occasionally straining. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point for those who appreciate retro horror art styles.
- “The graphical design is great, and the retro PS1-style aesthetic is one that I will always simp for. Personally, I feel like this is one of the better examples of this style that I've ever seen.”
- “Great atmosphere, graphics really play into this and make you feel uneasy.”
- “Such creative use of simple graphics to create such an intense experience.”
- “Graphics were terrible, died in 5 minutes.”
- “The art style is unassuming and feels like a weird old PC game my dad would bring home from thrift stores and garage sales.”
- “The atmosphere is great but the PSX-like, very heavily pixelated graphics hurt my eyes a little.”
atmosphere
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
18%
9%
The game excels in creating a tense, creepy, and immersive atmosphere through excellent sound design, visuals, and careful pacing, despite its very short playtime. While some note a cheap jump scare or anticlimactic ending, the overall eerie and unsettling vibe effectively hooks players and leaves a strong impression. The sparse music and detailed environment further enhance its haunting, atmospheric horror experience.
- “The atmosphere is thick and heavy, and with the immaculate 3D rendering, you may forget you are even playing a game.”
- “A delightful but short game with a creepy atmosphere and very easy-to-use controls. I really enjoyed the setting and the fact that music was used sparingly was a nice touch! Loved the strange-looking sky and the run-down feel of the shrine. Played through it twice to drink in more of the details—a tale that will make the faint of heart think twice before going fishing at an abandoned location.”
- “A slight bit of atmosphere built up to nothing but a cheap jump scare and then the end.”
- “Admittedly has a slightly silly ending, but it does do well with building atmosphere.”
- “Short game with an incredibly tense atmosphere.”
story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
70%
18%
The story is simple and brief, centered on a homeless man hired to fish near a Shinto shrine, providing a short but atmospheric narrative with an element of mystery. Though not rich or complex due to the game's very short length, it is well-written and complements the horror experience effectively.
- “Well written story.”
- “While there is hardly a story to discover, the little that is available to the player involves something that is marginally interesting while still maintaining a semblance of unsolved mystery that extends beyond the end.”
- “The story is vague, simple and to the point (you go fishing by an abandoned shrine to earn some money).”
- “2 minute horror "story" rather than a game.”
- “The plot is simple: you're a homeless person who is hired by an old man to fish in the ponds surrounding a Shinto shrine in exchange for free cash.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated for its surprising and clever blend of scares and laughs, with many noting the unexpected, funny twist and jumpscare at the end. Despite its short length, the game delivers a lighthearted, amusing horror experience that often elicits laughter alongside moments of fright.
- “The scare at the end was sort of unexpected and hilarious.”
- “It's a short game with a rather surprising (and equally funny) twist at the end.”
- “For such a short game, Lure does so much right it's almost hilarious.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The gameplay is simple and straightforward, primarily involving walking, interacting with NPCs, and basic fishing tasks. While not complex, it is complemented by an atmospheric setting and appealing visual style that some players find enjoyable.
- “The visual style and gameplay fascinate me and I enjoyed every brief minute.”
- “Now that’s done lure is a pretty okay atmospheric horror game, it has a pretty good atmosphere, okay gameplay and good graphics.”
- “The gameplay literally consists of walking, being given a fishing rod and going back and forth a bit to this old man and talking to him; so basically it's just walking and pressing the interact button.”
- “The gameplay is okay, it’s very simple just go from point A to point B nothing too complicated.”
- “Gameplay is pretty simple - approach the NPC giving you the task of fishing (and a fishing rod) then go to the lake and begin your hunt for some fish.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music effectively enhances the game's eerie atmosphere with atmospheric and minimalist tones, used sparingly to great effect. The soundtrack, combined with subtle audio effects, complements the setting and adds a memorable twist, contributing significantly to the overall mood.
- “Great atmospheric music and vibes with a great twist at the end.”
- “A delightful, but short, game with a creepy atmosphere and very easy to use controls. I really enjoyed the setting, and the fact that music was used sparingly was a nice touch! Loved the strange looking sky and the run down feel of the shrine. Played through it twice to drink in more of the details. A tale that will make the faint of heart think twice before going fishing at an abandoned location.”
- “Audio effects are present but sparse, and there are only some minimally ambient musical tones toward the end.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game delivers a powerful emotional experience, taking players on a rollercoaster of feelings that includes moments of both laughter and tears.
- “I laughed, I cried”
- “Emotional rollercoaster”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers minimal to no replay value, though its free availability somewhat offsets this drawback.
- “There isn't really any replay value, but it is free.”