lure

About

"Lure" is a short, five-minute indie game where you fish at a forbidden Shinto shrine to earn money. The WASD keys control movement, while the space bar is used to talk and fish. Originally created for the SCREAM JAM 2021 game development competition, it was not submitted in time but was still released.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 259 reviews

graphics9 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game offers a short but intense horror experience that effectively builds atmosphere and delivers a surprising twist ending.
It's free and can be completed in about 5 minutes, making it a quick and enjoyable play for fans of horror games.
The retro PS1-style graphics and sound design contribute to a nostalgic and immersive experience.

The game is extremely short, with some players feeling it lacks depth and replay value.
There is minimal content, featuring only one NPC and a single quest, which may leave players wanting more.
Some players found the jump scare to be predictable and the overall experience to be underwhelming.

graphics
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
56%
11%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their retro PS1-style aesthetic, evoking nostalgia and creating a unique atmosphere that enhances the horror experience. Many players appreciate the creative use of simple, pixelated visuals to build tension, although some find the heavily pixelated graphics challenging to look at. Overall, the game's art style and atmosphere are considered standout features, particularly for fans of retro gaming.
- “The graphical design is great, and the retro PS1-style aesthetic is one that I will always appreciate. Personally, I feel like this is one of the better examples of this 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.”
- “The art style is unassuming and feels like a weird old PC game my dad would bring home from thrift stores and garage sales.”
- “Graphics were terrible, died in 5 minutes.”
- “The atmosphere is great but the PSX-like, very heavily pixelated graphics hurt my eyes a little.”
atmosphere
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
19%
12%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its spine-chilling and immersive qualities, effectively creating a sense of unease and tension through impressive visuals and sound design. Despite its short playtime, many players found the atmosphere captivating, though some noted that it occasionally fell short due to predictable jump scares or anticlimactic endings. Overall, the game's ability to evoke fear and intrigue through its setting and narrative is a standout feature, making it a compelling experience for fans of atmospheric horror.
- “Lure lures you in with its spine-chilling atmosphere, clever puzzles, and haunting narrative.”
- “The atmosphere is thick and heavy, and with the immaculate 3D rendering, you may forget you are even playing a game.”
- “This game is creepy, atmospheric, and really hooks you in.”
- “A slight bit of atmosphere built up to nothing but a cheap jump scare and then the end.”
- “It nails the creepy atmosphere with long silence and sparse sounds.”
- “When playing the game, you notice all the small decisions that went into making a creepy atmosphere that keeps you interested.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The game's story is minimalistic and revolves around a homeless person hired by an old man to fish near a Shinto shrine for money. While the narrative is simple and brief, lasting only a few minutes, it incorporates elements of horror and mystery that some players find intriguing despite its lack of depth. Overall, the story is described as straightforward and best experienced firsthand, with a mix of engaging and vague elements.
- “Well written story.”
- “The game is a bit long for my tastes, but if you can get through the grind, there is an excellent story waiting for you.”
- “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.”
- “The story is vague, simple, and to the point (you go fishing by an abandoned shrine to earn some money).”
- “- 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.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as cute and unexpectedly funny, often blending elements of horror with comedic twists that elicit laughter. Players appreciate the short duration of the game, which allows for a quick, entertaining experience filled with surprising jump scares that are both scary and humorous. Overall, it offers a lighthearted take on horror, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate a mix of screaming and laughter.
- “The scare at the end was sort of unexpected and sort of hilarious.”
- “For such a short game, it does so much right that it's almost hilarious.”
- “It's a short game with a rather surprising (and equally funny) twist at the end.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
50%
33%
The gameplay is primarily focused on simple mechanics, involving walking, interacting with NPCs, and fishing, which some players find engaging due to its visual style. However, others note that it can feel repetitive and lacks depth, as it mainly revolves around basic tasks and interactions.
- “The visual style and gameplay fascinate me, and I enjoyed every brief minute.”
- “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.”
- “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
100%
100%
The music in the game is praised for its atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall vibe, particularly towards the end. While some reviewers noted that the audio effects are sparse and the musical tones minimal, the deliberate use of music contributes positively to the game's creepy atmosphere and immersive setting. Overall, the soundtrack complements the experience without overwhelming it, making it a memorable aspect of the game.
- “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.”
- “The music creates an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
- “The audio effects are present but sparse, and there are only a few minimally ambient musical tones toward the end.”
- “The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it feel monotonous throughout the gameplay.”
- “The soundtrack feels disconnected from the game, failing to enhance the overall experience.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report experiencing a wide range of emotions, describing the game as an "emotional rollercoaster" that evokes both laughter and tears.
- “I laughed, I cried.”
- “An emotional rollercoaster.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game offers minimal replayability, but its free access may encourage players to try it despite the lack of content to revisit.
- “There isn't really any replay value, but it is free.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
- “The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel tedious.”