Marginalia

About

"Marginalia" is a single-player horror simulation game that takes you on a chilling journey to Kestlebrook, a remote valley where history intertwines with the uncanny present. Following a mysterious letter, you venture into the dark forest armed only with a map and a sense of unease. The game is praised for its stark, stylized visuals and dense atmosphere, creating a rich, cinematic experience that pays homage to classic horror films. Immerse yourself in an intriguing story filled with eldritch underpinnings and prepared to be both captivated and terrified.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 39 reviews

story13 positive mentions

The game features a captivating atmosphere with excellent visual and sound design, creating a sense of dread and immersion.
The story is intriguing and unfolds in a unique way, enhancing the overall experience of the walking simulator.
Players appreciate the meditative and introspective nature of the game, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of atmospheric storytelling.

The gameplay is overly simplistic, primarily consisting of walking with little to no interactivity, which may lead to feelings of tedium.
The audio mixing is problematic, making it difficult to hear the narration over the background music, which detracts from the storytelling experience.
The map is too large and can lead to aimless wandering, causing frustration as players search for the next narrative point.

story
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
53%
9%
The story in the game is described as interesting yet somewhat vague and poorly conveyed, often requiring players to walk long distances to uncover narrative elements. While the atmosphere, visuals, and sound design enhance the experience, many reviewers found the plot to be unoriginal and lacking in depth, with some elements feeling unresolved. Overall, the game offers a unique walking simulator experience that may appeal to fans of atmospheric storytelling, despite its narrative shortcomings.
- “The atmosphere is phenomenal, music is great, and the story is interesting.”
- “A walking game that really captures the magic and atmosphere of walking in the woods; and a narrated subtle horror story interestingly written about a missing story writer.”
- “The music reminds me of 'Stranger Things' and it steadily increases the tension slowly throughout the game and ramps up as you near the climax; the story kept me engaged all the way to the end.”
- “I thought the story would be more developed, but it felt kind of unresolved and ambiguous in a slightly unsatisfying way.”
- “The story is poorly told.”
- “The music is eerie but the story itself is rather dull and you don't know where you're going for half of the map.”
atmosphere
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
21%
16%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its ability to evoke a deep sense of dread and tension, particularly through its moody visuals and haunting soundscapes. Reviewers highlight the game's effectiveness in creating an immersive experience that relies on subtle horror rather than traditional jump scares, making it a compelling choice for fans of atmospheric walking simulators. While some note minor rough edges, the overall ambiance and narrative depth, including themes of relationships, contribute to a captivating and replayable experience.
- “So mechanically the game is very simple, but it's very tense and atmospheric; it fills you with a deep sense of dread as you wander through the forest of Kestlebrook.”
- “The atmosphere is phenomenal, the music is great, and the story is interesting.”
- “A walking game that really captures the magic and atmosphere of walking in the woods; and a narrated subtle horror story interestingly written about a missing story writer.”
- “If the game sounds appealing to you and you are a fan of walking sims that are stripped down to their basics and tense horror stories that scare through atmosphere and a sense of dread rather than jumpscares or traditional monsters, then I would recommend Marginalia.”
- “If the atmosphere and the aesthetics of the screenshots appeal to you, it may be for you if you're willing to meet it on its terms.”
- “Be warned that there are some rough edges, but don't let those dissuade you from what is a scary game in the classic sense, without relying on jump scares or chase sequences and instead builds an atmosphere of dread that gains momentum as you wind your way through the narrative.”
music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
40%
20%
The music in the game is generally praised for its ability to create an immersive and eerie atmosphere, effectively enhancing the sense of dread and tension throughout the experience. However, some players noted issues with audio mixing, making it difficult to hear voiceovers over the music, and criticized the repetitive nature of the soundtrack, which only changes significantly towards the end. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, it could benefit from more variety and better integration with other audio elements.
- “Let yourself get lost in the woods, and the beautiful music.”
- “The soundtrack is perfectly engrossing, oppressive, and electrifying.”
- “The atmosphere is phenomenal, music is great, and the story is interesting.”
- “My only criticism is that the audio mixing isn't great, so it is tricky to hear the voice over the music and sounds.”
- “While you walk around, the same droning music plays over and over again in a loop, only changing during the last 5% of the game.”
- “The music is eerie, but the story itself is rather dull, and you don't know where you're going for half of the map.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The graphics are characterized by a low-fidelity aesthetic that effectively enhances the game's eerie atmosphere, complemented by a well-crafted soundscape. The fog effects and lighting create a sense of unease reminiscent of classic horror films, making the visuals integral to the overall narrative experience.
- “The visuals and soundscape complement that atmosphere and narrative perfectly.”
- “The visuals, music, sound effects, and story combine to produce a sense of eeriness and unease.”
- “The visuals really do a lot; despite their relatively low fidelity, the fog effect that masks everything and diffuses the light leads your way through the game, reminding me of classic horror films.”
- “The visuals really do a lot, despite their relatively low fidelity. The fog effect that masks everything and diffuses the light, which leads your way through the game, reminds me of classic horror films.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The gameplay of Marginalia involves navigating a dark forest at night, moving between glowing red lanterns that trigger story segments. While the mechanics are straightforward, the experience is heightened by a tense and atmospheric environment that evokes a profound sense of dread.
- “The gameplay of Marginalia involves walking through a forest at night, traveling between brightly glowing red lanterns where the player character will reveal the next part of the story.”
- “Mechanically, the game is very simple, but it's incredibly tense and atmospheric, filling you with a deep sense of dread as you wander through the forest of Kestlebrook.”
- “The gameplay of Marginalia is walking through a forest at night, traveling between brightly glowing red lanterns where the player character will speak the next part of the story.”
- “So mechanically, the game is very simple, but it's very tense and atmospheric; it fills you with a deep sense of dread as you wander through the forest of Kestlebrook.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
50%
The game offers a captivating atmosphere and encourages exploration beyond the main path, enhancing its replayability. However, its short duration of under an hour limits overall replay value, making it a worthwhile experience for the price but not one that invites repeated playthroughs.
- “Atmospheric and replayable, with interesting sights at the fringes if you leave the cleared path.”
- “Each playthrough offers new challenges and surprises, making it hard to put down.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes ensures that no two runs feel the same.”
- “Really short game (less than an hour) with no replay value, but a good experience for the price.”