Maid of Sker

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 564 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Maid of Sker Game Cover
Maid of Sker might not be the scariest horror game out there, but the tense moments, sound-based gameplay design, and intriguing story come together to form a solid horror experience nevertheless.
Starting at $1.02Buy now
Get on Steam Get on itch.io Store Get on Xbox Games Store Get on Play Store

"Maid of Sker" is a first-person survival horror game set in a haunting Welsh hotel. You play as a musician tasked with saving your loved one from the hotel's supernatural inhabitants. Using stealth and evasion, you must navigate the corridors and uncover the dark secrets of the Sker family. Can you uncover the truth and escape before it's too late?

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Android
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 564 reviews
story148 positive mentions
grinding17 negative mentions
  • The game features an immersive atmosphere with stunning graphics and excellent sound design, enhancing the horror experience.
  • The unique sound-based mechanics, where enemies rely on hearing rather than sight, add an interesting twist to the stealth gameplay.
  • The story, inspired by Welsh folklore, is intriguing and keeps players engaged throughout the game.
  • The enemy AI can be inconsistent, often leading to frustrating moments where players are caught despite being stealthy.
  • The gameplay can become repetitive, with limited enemy variety and predictable patterns, reducing the overall tension.
  • The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 4-5 hours, which may not justify the full price for some players.
  • story309 mentions

    The story of "Maid of Sker" is generally regarded as intriguing and atmospheric, drawing on Welsh folklore to create a compelling backdrop. However, many players feel that while the narrative has potential, its execution lacks depth and can be predictable, with some plot points feeling less impactful due to reliance on environmental storytelling. Overall, the game is appreciated for its unique premise and engaging atmosphere, but it leaves players wanting more in terms of character development and narrative complexity.

    • “The story was well woven, it was a visually pleasing game and it offered just the right length of playtime.”
    • “Maid of Sker has an interesting story based on the house of Sker folklore.”
    • “The story is fascinating, the music gorgeous, the levels interesting and there's a lot of environmental storytelling.”
    • “The reliance on environmental storytelling and notes scattered throughout the hotel can make certain plot points feel less impactful.”
    • “Boring game, nothing exciting or interesting; the story is completely boring and overused in many games.”
    • “The story is basic; it's nothing new and doesn't have a great deal of depth, but it does the job.”
  • gameplay179 mentions

    The gameplay of *Maid of Sker* is characterized by its focus on stealth and sound-based mechanics, which create a tense atmosphere but often lead to repetitive and simplistic experiences. While the unique "hold your breath" mechanic adds some tension, many players find the overall gameplay dull and formulaic, with inconsistent enemy AI and a lack of engaging challenges. Despite its atmospheric design and intriguing story, the execution of gameplay elements leaves much to be desired, resulting in a mixed reception.

    • “The sound-based mechanics in Maid of Sker are a stroke of brilliance.”
    • “The gameplay in Maid of Sker combines survival horror elements with puzzle-solving.”
    • “The sound mechanics are amazing and the fact that the enemies can't see you but can hear you adds a new element.”
    • “The gameplay is very poor, the same actions over and over again without anything actually changing.”
    • “This game had great potential with a really cool mechanic and idea but it was poorly executed.”
    • “While Maid of Sker delivers in the atmosphere department, it fails to execute on any of its gameplay ideas, and it results in a game that is simply not fun to play.”
  • music137 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its enchanting and haunting qualities, effectively enhancing the atmospheric horror experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as beautiful, immersive, and integral to the game's narrative and emotional impact. The sound design, including ambient effects and musical elements, contributes significantly to the game's tension and overall enjoyment, making it a memorable aspect for players.

    • “The music is beautiful yet ominous.”
    • “The soundtrack is a masterpiece!!!”
    • “Absolutely fantastic atmospheric horror, the story is compelling and the sound design and music were superb.”
    • “Don't listen to the music; it'll drive you mad.”
    • “The ost starts out very strong as you approach the gate, but begins to become repetitive almost instantly.”
    • “Yes, there are the music doll collectibles, but in a game like this, those are just padding for a little extra playtime.”
  • atmosphere136 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Maid of Sker" is widely praised for its haunting and immersive qualities, characterized by exceptional sound design, detailed environments, and a strong psychological horror vibe. While the game effectively creates a tense and eerie setting, some players note that the graphical fidelity and gameplay mechanics may not meet the standards of top-tier horror titles, leading to a mixed reception regarding overall engagement. Despite these criticisms, the game's atmospheric elements, including its music and environmental storytelling, are highlighted as standout features that enhance the horror experience.

    • “With a focus on atmospheric horror, sound-based mechanics, and a richly detailed setting, Maid of Sker offers a haunting experience that stays true to its psychological horror roots.”
    • “The sound work for this game is great, from the soundtrack to the actual sound effects; the team behind this game clearly put a lot of time and attention into making the sounds perfect and weaving them into the game's atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is emotive and dramatic, enthralling the player from beginning to end and never wavering for a single second.”
    • “There are better stealth/survival horror games out there with better stories and better atmosphere.”
    • “Furthermore, the enemies and the atmosphere aren't really unsettling or scary.”
    • “While Maid of Sker delivers in the atmosphere department, it fails to execute on any of its gameplay ideas, and it results in a game that is simply not fun to play.”
  • graphics131 mentions

    The graphics of "Maid of Sker" receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the game's eerie aesthetic and atmospheric visuals, often likening them to AAA horror titles. While some praise the stunning environments and character models, others note issues such as graphical fidelity, foggy textures, and performance problems on lower-end systems. Overall, the visuals are described as beautiful and immersive, contributing significantly to the game's haunting atmosphere, despite some criticisms regarding lighting and animation quality.

    • “Visually, Maid of Sker is competent, capturing the eerie aesthetic of the haunted hotel.”
    • “It is a beautiful game with stunning visuals and breathtaking sounds.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and the sound is executed perfectly.”
    • “The graphics are poor because of bad lighting and fuzzy anti-aliasing, but this is a really creepy little horror game that I enjoyed.”
    • “Graphics were also really foggy and smeary, pretty shocking FXAA injection.”
    • “The graphics are decent, but the constant misty, dusty feeling made them feel more dated.”
  • grinding18 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly during stealth sections that lack variety and challenge. While the atmosphere, graphics, and narrative are praised, the gameplay often feels like a chore, leading to frustration rather than engagement. Despite some moments of tension, the experience is frequently described as overly monotonous, diminishing the overall enjoyment.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It provides some level of horror for the first 30 minutes, then the game becomes a tedious chore to play.”
    • “The atmosphere, graphics, music, and narrative elements are great, but the gameplay can be somewhat tedious.”
  • replayability12 mentions

    The replayability of "Maid of Sker" is generally considered limited, with a score of 4/10. While some players appreciate the challenges and collectibles that offer a degree of replay value, many feel that the overall experience does not justify the price, especially given that some achievements can be missed. The game is enjoyable for a single playthrough but lacks significant incentives for repeated runs.

    • “Challenges keep the replay value as well as difficulty.”
    • “While it's kind of a bummer that many of the achievements are able to be missed, it adds a good amount of replay value to a game.”
    • “Overall, this game is a fun experience, with some replay value for collectibles, and a relatively interesting concept.”
    • “The replay value of Maid of Sker is somewhat limited.”
    • “If you want a game you can burn through in a night and aren't concerned about replayability, I'd say it's worth the full price.”
    • “I know there is some replayability to the game, but I do not think that justifies the price tag.”
  • optimization9 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game is highly praised, with users reporting great performance and no crashes. While the graphics may not be groundbreaking for 2021, the hardware optimization is considered excellent, setting a standard for other indie developers in the genre.

    • “I didn't experience any crashes or performance problems.”
    • “Graphics are okay but meh for 2021; the hardware optimization is good.”
    • “Optimization in Maid of Sker is fantastic.”
    • “Other indie developers definitely should be taking notes here, as many of the indie horror games have terrible performance in 4K due to not being optimized.”
  • stability9 mentions

    The game's stability is mixed, with some players experiencing significant bugs affecting mechanics like character movement and AI behavior, while others report smooth performance without major issues. Frustrations arise from glitches, particularly in stealth and animation, but many find that adjusting difficulty can improve playability. Overall, while there are notable stability concerns, some users still enjoy the game despite these setbacks.

    • “Pretty solid game, runs great, no FPS issues, and I haven't come across a single bug yet.”
    • “The game is incredibly stable; I've played for hours without any crashes or glitches.”
    • “I appreciate how smooth the gameplay is; it feels polished and reliable throughout.”
    • “The game's mechanics are a bit buggy from time to time (for example, sometimes your character will not run when you instruct it to) and it appears to be caused by objects in the game (a table that is in the way, but still a step ahead, seems to block the execution of the command occasionally).”
    • “I had all the possible problems with it - the game had video lag, it freezes for a few milliseconds every few seconds, and the controller works randomly.”
    • “The AI is so buggy and will detect you through walls.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is derived from the absurdity of enemy AI, where players find it amusing that enemies can be easily bypassed yet react dramatically to minor actions, like stepping on grass. Additionally, the repetitive cutscenes and the overall chaotic gameplay contribute to a comedic experience, despite the game's serious tone and lack of clarity in the plot.

    • “Dear Outlast, sorry bruh, but you were funny (:”
    • “The enemies are so stupid it's funny; whenever they want to attack you, you can pass them without any issue, but accidentally stepping on grass takes you down to the floor.”
    • “It's very funny getting really close to them without them seeing you as long as you are crouched and holding your breath.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The emotional impact of the game varies significantly among players; some find it engaging and capable of evoking feelings, while others feel detached and primarily focused on gameplay mechanics rather than narrative. Frustrations with repetitive cutscenes and unclear plotlines detract from emotional investment, suggesting that the game may need further development to enhance its storytelling and character connection. Overall, the emotional experience is inconsistent, with room for improvement in narrative clarity and player engagement.

    • “Wales Interactive has created a game that left me feeling emotional, even though I haven't played all their titles yet.”
    • “The game made me feel a range of emotions, and I found myself truly invested in the story and characters.”
    • “Despite some gameplay frustrations, the emotional weight of the narrative kept me engaged and wanting to see it through.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization of the game has received mixed reviews; some players view it as a lazy cash grab, while others appreciate its quality despite its brevity, distinguishing it from typical low-effort titles in the genre.

    • “It feels like a lazy cash grab, but it's okay even though it's pretty short.”
    • “This is not just another cash grab; this one is actually great.”
  • character development1 mentions

    While the story offers an engaging setting, many players feel that the character development lacks depth, leaving them wanting more from the characters' growth and interactions.

    • “While the story provides a compelling backdrop, the execution may leave some players wishing for more depth and character development.”
    • “The characters feel one-dimensional, lacking the growth and complexity that would make their journeys more engaging.”
    • “Despite the interesting premise, the character arcs are predictable and fail to evolve in a meaningful way.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

63% average critic score

Buy Maid of Sker

Play time

5hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
4-9hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News