Masquerade

About

Masquerade is a single player puzzle game with a horror theme. It was developed by ARTFX SCHOOLS and was released on July 4, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Masquerade is a single-player horror adventure game inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Players guide Romeo through a twisted, fully voiced narrative set in a mysterious Theater filled with rotating sets, real-time puzzles, and dark secrets. Uncover hidden truths beneath the stage while striving to save Juliet from her puppet fate.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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100%

Audience ScoreBased on 32 reviews

story7 positive mentions

The game features stunning visuals and a beautifully crafted atmosphere, making it a joy to experience.
The narrative is engaging and offers a unique twist on the classic Romeo and Juliet story, enhanced by excellent voice acting.
As a free indie game, it provides a memorable and enjoyable short adventure, showcasing the potential of its developers.

The game is very short, with many players wishing for a longer experience to fully explore the story and gameplay.
Puzzles can feel simplistic and repetitive, lacking the challenge that some players may desire.
The ending feels rushed and abrupt, leaving players wanting more closure and depth in the narrative.

story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
29%
21%
The game's story, inspired by a blend of Dante's Inferno and Romeo and Juliet, is praised for its unique twists and engaging narrative, despite being brief and feeling rushed at the end. Players appreciate the clever integration of platforming and puzzles, along with beautiful visuals and voice acting, though some express a desire for more depth and background. Overall, it is recommended for fans of story-driven games, offering a sweet and enjoyable experience in a short playtime.
- “Highly recommended for anyone who loves story-driven games with a theatrical twist.”
- “It has a Romeo and Juliet theme wrapped up in clever platforming and puzzles, and in only 45 minutes it has such a sweet story as you follow Romero on his journey to be reunited with Juliet.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the gameplay is simple and accessible, with easy puzzles and a compelling story.”
- “I liked the whole angle and implication that this was Dante's Inferno meets Romeo and Juliet, but this game finished just when I felt the story was getting started.”
- “Not a bad story game, just a little bit of a rushed ending.”
- “I wish we could've gotten more background on the story of the theater, but overall a very well-made game.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The gameplay in Masquerade is described as simple and accessible, featuring easy puzzles and an interesting story, but some players find it limited and occasionally boring. While the visuals and art presentation receive high praise, there is a sentiment that the game might have been more effective as an interactive art piece rather than a traditional gameplay experience. Overall, it offers a unique adventure worth exploring despite its shortcomings.
- “Masquerade isn’t perfect — at times it can feel a bit limited in gameplay — but overall it offers an interesting and unconventional adventure worth trying.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the gameplay is simple and accessible, with easy puzzles and a compelling story.”
- “Especially visuals, art and presentation deserve praise, although the whole idea for the story is interesting, and gameplay is very well-made too.”
- “Unfortunately, it might have been better as an interactive art piece, because the gameplay is kind of boring.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The graphics in the game are consistently praised for their stunning craftsmanship and artistic presentation, enhancing the overall experience alongside strong voice acting that adds emotional depth. Players appreciate the beautiful visuals and seamless performance, contributing to a well-made game that captivates with its compelling story and accessible gameplay.
- “The visuals are gorgeously crafted, and the voice acting adds emotional weight to every scene.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the gameplay is simple and accessible, with easy puzzles and a compelling story.”
- “Especially the visuals, art, and presentation deserve praise; the whole idea for the story is interesting, and the gameplay is very well-made too.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its heartfelt and engaging qualities, enhanced by strong voice acting and a captivating visual style. Reviewers highlight its mysterious and theatrical elements, describing it as a beautiful and immersive experience, especially for a free-to-play student project. Overall, the game's art design and atmospheric depth contribute to its status as one of the best free games available.
- “For a free-to-play student project game, it’s an absolute gem: atmospheric, heartfelt, and surprisingly deep.”
- “Masquerade is an engaging interactive game that combines mystery with a theatrical atmosphere.”
- “The voice acting and visual style complement the atmosphere and make the experience enjoyable.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its stunning visuals and impactful voice acting, which together create a heartfelt and atmospheric experience. Despite being a free-to-play student project, it is praised for its surprising depth and emotional resonance, making it a hidden gem worth discovering.
- “The visuals are gorgeously crafted, and the voice acting adds emotional weight to every scene.”
- “For a free-to-play student project game, it’s an absolute gem: atmospheric, heartfelt, and surprisingly deep.”
- “Masquerade, from the same geniuses that brought you Terminus, is a short yet emotional experience that is easy to overlook and definitely worth finding.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is highly praised for its loveliness, complemented by excellent audio quality and strong voice acting.
- “The music is lovely!”
- “The audio also shines, with great music and voice acting.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is praised for its well-constructed scenes and smooth transitions between sets, effectively immersing players in a theater-like experience.
- “The scenes are well-constructed, the sets change smoothly, and it creates a sense of actually being present in a theater performance.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The character designs received positive feedback, indicating that players found them visually appealing, though there is no specific mention of character development in terms of growth or narrative depth.