Masochisia

I really can’t stress enough that Masochisia is certainly not a game for everybody. I’m not honestly sure that I can, in good faith, say I’d recommend that anyone play it. This isn’t because it’s a bad game, or suffers from design flaws. It’s simply due to the nature of its content, and a few scenes in particular that I’m still wrestling with as I write this.

80%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

stability, character development

84% User Score Based on 574 reviews

Critic Score 60%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

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About

Masochisia is a single player action game with a horror theme. It was developed by Oldblood and was released on October 9, 2015. It received neutral reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

A young man discovers through a series of hallucinations that he will grow up to become a violent psychopath. How will he respond to these revelations? Can he change his fate? Can you even... change fate...

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 574 reviews

story66 positive mentions

stability10 negative mentions

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 heavy themes.
The game successfully creates a haunting experience that lingers in the mind long after completion.

The gameplay is simplistic and lacks meaningful choices, making it feel more like a visual novel than a traditional game.
The game is very short, typically taking only 1.5 to 3 hours to complete, which may not justify the price for some players.
The themes and content can be extremely disturbing and may not be suitable for all players, particularly those sensitive to topics like abuse and violence.

story
376 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
78%
4%
The game's story, based on the true events surrounding serial killer Albert Fish, is described as dark, unsettling, and thought-provoking, with many players appreciating its immersive and well-written narrative. While some found the storytelling to be impeccable and engaging, others criticized it for being linear and lacking meaningful player choices, leading to mixed feelings about its execution. Overall, the story's heavy themes and psychological depth resonate strongly with fans of the horror genre, though its brevity and reliance on real-life events may not appeal to everyone.
- “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 atmosphere is just sublime, the story is layered and the more research you do the more you notice about the intricacies of it.”
- “Despite the incredibly dark story, this game was too dull to care about.”
- “The story drags, the dialogue seems to be made up, and don't get me started on the constant back and forth scrolling.”
- “The story is surface level and isn't redeemed by the twists.”
graphics
138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
57%
2%
The graphics of "Masochisia" are widely praised for their unique and disturbing art style, which effectively enhances the game's oppressive atmosphere and psychological horror elements. Players appreciate the hand-drawn visuals and the juxtaposition of pleasant aesthetics with twisted content, although some find the graphic imagery and themes overwhelming. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive and unsettling experience.
- “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.”
- “Additionally, the game's reliance on shock value and graphic imagery may prove to be too much for more sensitive players.”
- “It was a graphic and gory game, sure, but it seemed like too many of the elements that you're supposed to ponder are lost.”
- “Just be prepared to be quite shaken by some of the graphics.”
music
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
41%
3%
The music in "Masochisia" is widely praised for its haunting and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the game's psychological horror atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to evoke feelings of dread and discomfort, with many noting its beautiful yet eerie compositions that linger long after gameplay. While some found the music occasionally overshadowed by other elements, the overall consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's emotional impact and immersive experience.
- “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.”
gameplay
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
76%
8%
The gameplay has been described as simplistic and often repetitive, primarily consisting of point-and-click mechanics that some players find lacking in depth and engagement. While the atmosphere and story are praised, many reviewers note that the gameplay feels more like a visual novel with minimal interaction, leading to a slower pace and occasional frustration with navigation and objectives. Overall, the game may appeal to those who appreciate narrative-driven experiences, but it may disappoint players seeking more traditional gameplay mechanics.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “Since there is no real gameplay, it reduces the experience to a visual novel of sorts.”
atmosphere
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
37%
4%
The atmosphere of "Masochisia" is widely praised for its bleak, oppressive quality, enhanced by minimalist art and a haunting soundtrack that effectively conveys themes of dread and psychological horror. While some players appreciate the depth and intricacies of the narrative, others note that the slow pacing and limited gameplay may detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is recognized for its ability to create a genuinely disturbing atmosphere that resonates with players, despite some criticisms regarding its jump scares and gameplay mechanics.
- “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 music is mediocre and atmospheric; some soundtracks were quite better than the others.”
- “There are jump scares that didn't help the game with the atmosphere.”
- “Masochisia nails its atmosphere and is genuinely disturbing.”
emotional
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game elicits a strong emotional response, often leaving players feeling disturbed, unsettled, or even heartbroken due to its exploration of dark themes such as abuse and moral dilemmas. Many players report being deeply invested in the characters and narrative, experiencing a range of intense feelings from discomfort to emotional catharsis. However, the game’s heavy subject matter may be triggering for those with past trauma, making it advisable for emotionally vulnerable individuals to approach with caution.
- “One of the most interesting psychological 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.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews consistently highlight significant stability issues, with multiple users describing the game as "buggy" and a "buggy mess." These problems detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration and disappointment among players.
- “Never thought a point and click game could be this buggy.”
- “A buggy mess.”
- “Super short, and buggy as hell.”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
40%
40%
Reviews highlight a stark contrast in character design, noting that while the grim and sketchy aesthetics effectively create an unnerving atmosphere, they fall short in terms of character development. Players feel that the lack of depth in character progression detracts from the overall experience, despite the artistic and musical merits of the game.
- “The art is nice, the music as well, and the character design is rough and sketchy.”
- “Contrasting, sketchy character designs.”
- “Lack of character development”
- “The game is very unnerving, with character designs seemingly crafted specifically to make the player uncomfortable.”
- “Contrasting, sketchy character designs”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The game offers moderate replayability, primarily due to multiple endings and varying dialogue choices, though its overall short length of about two hours may limit the incentive for repeated playthroughs. Players appreciate the differing conversations and outcomes, but some feel that after a single playthrough, a break is needed before returning. Overall, it is considered a worthwhile experience, especially if purchased on sale.
- “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.”
- “Spanning six acts to completion, it takes an hour and a half for the first play-through but retains replayability due to differing dialogue choices.”
- “It's a bit short, yes, but there's some replayability to get different conversations throughout the various scenes of the game.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a blend of dark comedy and emotional engagement, effectively serving as a dramatic tool, though some players find it unconvincing. The developers incorporate funny elements that juxtapose serious themes, eliciting genuine enjoyment and laughter, even when addressing the darker aspects of humanity. Overall, the humor is seen as a notable aspect that enhances the game's narrative depth.
- “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.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”
- “I found the grinding to be a mind-numbing experience that drained all the fun out of the game.”
- “The repetitive tasks felt like a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the gameplay.”