Masochisia
- October 9, 2015
- Oldblood
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Masochisia" is a single-player horror point-and-click game with an intriguing psychological horror narrative that may be unsettling for some. Its phenomenal visuals, outstanding music, and splendid atmosphere create a highly emotional experience, centered around a character with extensive psychological abnormalities and sadomasochistic tendencies. The game is intended for mature audiences and simulates a unique and unsettling mind-scape.
Reviews
- The art style is magnificent and effectively enhances the game's unsettling atmosphere.
- The storytelling is impeccable, drawing players into a deeply disturbing narrative that explores dark themes.
- The game successfully creates a haunting experience that lingers in the mind long after completion.
- The gameplay is very short, typically lasting only 1-2 hours, which may not justify the price for some players.
- The themes and content can be extremely harsh and triggering for sensitive individuals, making it unsuitable for a broad audience.
- Puzzles are often too easy, and the game can feel more like a visual novel than a traditional game, limiting interactivity.
- story188 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story, based on the true events surrounding serial killer Albert Fish, is described as dark, unsettling, and thought-provoking, effectively immersing players in its psychological horror themes. While many reviewers praise the storytelling and atmosphere, some criticize the linearity and lack of meaningful player choices, suggesting it feels more like an interactive narrative than a traditional game. Overall, the narrative's depth and emotional impact resonate strongly, making it a memorable experience for fans of the genre, despite its brevity and some technical flaws.
“The game's storyline revolves around a troubled adolescent named Hamilton, whose life is marred by harrowing visions and a dysfunctional family dynamic.”
“The story is thought-provoking and certainly well written, the world is pretty and unique, and the characters are captivating.”
“The story is raw and unforgiving in its depictions of these things, which makes it all the more compelling.”
“Despite the incredibly dark story, this game was too dull to care about.”
“The story is surface level and isn't redeemed by the twists.”
“The story drags, the dialogue seems to be made up, and don't get me started on the constant back and forth scrolling.”
- graphics69 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and disturbing art style, which effectively enhances the oppressive atmosphere and complements the narrative's dark themes. Many players appreciate the hand-drawn visuals and the way they juxtapose pleasant aesthetics with unsettling content, creating a captivating yet creepy experience. However, the graphic imagery and themes may be off-putting for more sensitive players, as the visuals are designed to evoke strong emotional reactions.
“Visually, Masochisia adopts a minimalist art style that effectively amplifies its oppressive atmosphere.”
“The art style is amazing and the horror elements of it send that uncomfortable feeling racing up your spine.”
“Polished graphics and haunting music make this an enjoyable and immersive experience for fans of the psychological horror genre.”
“The art style looks gross, but at the same time I like it because it fits the theme and the mind of a sadomasochist.”
“The graphics and animations are done in a weird way which adds to the spookiness, and the music, while sometimes calming, becomes quite morbid later on.”
“Just be prepared to be quite shaken by some of the graphics.”
- music50 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its haunting and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the overall atmosphere and complementing the horror themes. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack is both beautiful and eerie, contributing to a sense of dread and emotional engagement throughout the gameplay. While some found the music occasionally mediocre, the majority highlighted its ability to create a captivating and spine-chilling experience that lingers long after playing.
“Combined with a haunting soundtrack that perfectly complements the game's themes, Masochisia succeeds in creating an immersive horror experience that lingers long after the credits roll.”
“The art is stunningly creepy, and the soundtrack is a combination of beautifully somber and eerie.”
“Polished graphics and haunting music make this an enjoyable and immersive experience for fans of the psychological horror genre.”
“The music is mediocre and atmospheric; some soundtracks were quite better than the others.”
“The story is very well-told but simple and short; the music is mostly silent and creepy, and the graphics... just odd enough.”
“It is a game of no voice acting, repeated soundtracks, and constant narration to read.”
- gameplay37 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is largely characterized as simple and repetitive, with many players noting its point-and-click mechanics and slow pacing. While some appreciate the atmospheric elements and unique storytelling, others criticize the lack of engaging gameplay, describing it as more of a visual novel experience with minimal interaction. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a vehicle for the narrative rather than a robust gaming experience.
“It is the most glorious form of independent video game creativity anyone could ask for (especially for their first game) and is reflected in the exceptionally unique storybook art style and gameplay as well as the hauntingly intense sound design and euphonious soundtrack which lingers between players' ears for many days after.”
“Amazing, haunting, intriguing; great short horror adventure with some unique gameplay and delightfully creepy undertones that legitimately leaves you with some dark inner debates.”
“The gameplay, while simple, has a deeper meaning in it in my opinion.”
“Some players may find its pacing to be slow and its gameplay mechanics somewhat repetitive.”
“Certainly fascinating, however there's virtually no actual gameplay.”
“The atmosphere is pretty good, but overall I don't think there really is much gameplay at all, and for a walking simulator it doesn't work.”
- atmosphere34 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Masochisia" is widely praised for its bleak, oppressive, and immersive qualities, enhanced by a minimalist art style and a haunting soundtrack. Reviewers note that the game effectively communicates themes of psychological horror and emotional struggle, creating a deeply unsettling experience that resonates with players. While some find the pacing slow and the gameplay lacking, the overall atmosphere is considered a standout feature that elevates the narrative and emotional impact of the game.
“Released in 2015, Masochisia continues to stand out among the plethora of horror titles for its unapologetically bleak atmosphere and thought-provoking themes.”
“The atmosphere is thick, dark, and beautifully schizoid.”
“The atmosphere is just sublime, the story is layered and the more research you do the more you notice about the intricacies of it.”
“Masochisia nails its atmosphere and is genuinely disturbing.”
“But the soundtrack, visuals, and effects on the UI make for a very well put together atmosphere.”
- emotional17 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is deeply impactful, eliciting strong feelings of discomfort, sadness, and even horror from players. Many reviewers noted that it effectively explores dark themes such as destiny, choice, and abuse, often leaving them feeling unsettled or emotionally drained. However, the game's intense subject matter may be triggering for those with a history of trauma, making it a challenging experience for some.
“One of the most interesting psych horror games I've ever played - officially made me cry.”
“Twisted brilliance, with beautifully creepy artwork, well thought out characters who all made me feel uncomfortable, and a narrative that runs through all the acts of the story.”
“It made me feel as if I were actually living through a horrible day in this guy's head, which is why I felt pretty horrible after playing this.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs that significantly detract from the experience. Many describe it as a "buggy mess," indicating that technical issues are a major concern. Overall, the game's stability appears to be a significant drawback.
“Super short, and buggy as hell.”
“Never thought a point and click game could be this buggy.”
“A buggy mess.”
- character development5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for its lack of depth, with users noting that while the grim and sketchy character designs effectively create an unsettling atmosphere, they do not contribute to meaningful character growth or narrative progression. The designs evoke discomfort but fail to provide insight into the motivations behind the characters' actions.
“The art is nice, the music is great, and the character design is rough and sketchy.”
“Lack of character development.”
“The game is very unnerving, with character designs seemingly crafted specifically to make the player uncomfortable.”
“Contrasting, sketchy character designs.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game offers moderate replayability, primarily due to multiple endings and varying dialogue choices, which encourage players to explore different scenarios. However, its relatively short total playtime of around two hours may limit the incentive for repeated playthroughs, especially at full price. Overall, while it has replay value, players may benefit from a break between sessions.
“It has replayability as there is more than one ending.”
“If you pick it up on sale like I did, it's a must buy, but at full price you're getting a pretty good horror game that's only about 2 hours long in total with little replayability.”
“It's a bit short, yes, but there's some replayability to get different conversations throughout the various scenes of the game.”
“Spanning six acts to completion, it takes an hour and a half for the first playthrough but retains replayability due to differing dialogue choices.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game blends dark themes with comedic elements, aiming to engage players emotionally while also providing levity. While some find the humor effective in enhancing the narrative, others view it as a tool that feels somewhat forced. Overall, the game successfully balances serious topics with moments of genuine laughter.
“I've always had an attraction to the darkest parts of the mind and the worst parts of humanity, and oh god, I can't finish typing this self-serious sentence without laughing.”
“Sometimes it's because it's funny, sometimes it's genuine enjoyment.”
“There's lots in here about destiny vs. choice, and the game clearly wants to emotionally implicate the player in the nasty goings-on in a funny games sort of way, which I ultimately find unconvincing as much more than another dramatic tool, but it is admittedly a tool that's being put to good use here.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively boring and tedious, leading to a negative experience overall.
“I gave it a shot, but it was incredibly boring and tedious.”
“The grinding feels endless and lacks any real reward.”
“I found myself doing the same tasks over and over, which made the game feel like a chore.”
