Missing Children | 行方不明 | Game Brain

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Missing Children, a Japanese horror-themed adventure game, follows the story of a bully-turned-detective tasked with solving the mysterious disappearance of several children. As the detective, players will uncover the dark secrets of the town and confront their own past actions, while experiencing a haunting atmosphere and supernatural elements. The game is part of Chilla's Art's horror series, which includes titles such as Hanako, The Convenience Store, Stigmatized Property, and Okaeri.

Play Modes

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

Reviews

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 288 reviews

story58 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The game features an interesting story that explores themes of bullying and family dysfunction, making it more than just a typical horror experience.
The atmosphere is well-crafted, with a mix of eerie visuals and sound design that effectively builds tension throughout the gameplay.
The inclusion of two endings adds replayability, allowing players to explore different outcomes based on their choices.

Many players experienced frustrating bugs that hindered gameplay, including freezing during loading screens and issues with inventory management.
The game is relatively short, with some players feeling that it ends abruptly and leaves certain plot points unresolved.
While it has horror elements, the game is not very scary compared to other titles from Chilla's Art, which may disappoint fans looking for a more intense experience.

story
126 mentions
46 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a compelling blend of horror and mystery, focusing on the investigation of missing children and addressing serious themes like neglect and bullying. While many players appreciated the atmosphere and narrative depth, some criticized the story for being too straightforward or lacking in detail, with a few expressing disappointment in the abrupt endings. Overall, it offers a short yet engaging experience that resonates with players who enjoy story-driven horror games.
- “The story was the best about this game; it was very interesting and kept me engaged even with the bugs.”
- “Missing children is a fantastic horror game short story that revolves around a lady's investigation into three children.”
- “The story raises awareness of an issue that shouldn't be neglected, so I'm grateful for it.”
- “It would be okay if the story weren't so straightforward and undetailed.”
- “The characters are so strange and 'accommodating' that I constantly thought it was all just a manifestation of our guilt, but somehow the story ends without really clarifying anything or ever becoming a horror game.”
- “The story was short, boring, and lacked tension.”
atmosphere
64 mentions
61 % positive mentions
34 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively creating a spooky environment that enhances the storytelling. While some players noted that the horror elements are light and not particularly scary, the overall ambiance, visuals, and sound design contribute significantly to the game's unsettling vibe. However, a few reviews pointed out that the dialogue and pacing occasionally detract from the otherwise strong atmospheric experience.
- “The atmosphere is spooky, though I'd never deem it at all scary, but that's not really so bad.”
- “Amazing atmosphere, great tension and mystery to the game.”
- “I can sing the usual praises; fantastically unsettling atmosphere, excellent sound design and music, gorgeous aesthetic, etc.”
- “Unfortunately, the quality of the game's design mostly doesn't live up to its atmosphere.”
- “A game full of atmosphere that really draws you in, but unfortunately the dialogue is a bit jarring and didn't make sense in some parts, which pulled you out of the atmosphere that had been so nicely set up.”
- “There's nothing particularly scary about it, but the dark atmosphere gives it a spooky feel.”
gameplay
33 mentions
12 % positive mentions
79 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as a familiar walking simulator with a "treasure hunt" feel, involving slow-paced exploration, item collection, and interaction with NPCs to progress the story. While it maintains the standard mechanics of previous Chilla's Art titles, some players found it less engaging and more linear, with certain puzzles causing frustration. Overall, the experience leans heavily on narrative and atmosphere rather than complex gameplay mechanics.
- “The gameplay is more of a treasure hunt, going back and forth and finding items to continue the story, and it was fun!”
- “The gameplay itself is straightforward and was easy enough to figure out what to do next.”
- “The group of puzzles mixed with partially open world type of gameplay grants a very interesting and engaging experience, even if fairly linear.”
- “Gameplay is a familiar walking sim from the developer: very slow walking pace to stretch out play time (with faster transition speed this game could be passed for half an hour or less), talking to characters, finding objects to use - go there, find that, go back here, use this on that, repeat a few times.”
- “Secondly, the gameplay really wasn't as riveting or thrilling as some of the other Chilla's Art games.”
- “As for this one, it's short and focuses more on story than actual gameplay (that is limited to picking up items and using them in the right places).”
graphics
30 mentions
53 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Missing Children" reflect the signature low-poly style typical of Chilla's Art games, featuring a retro horror aesthetic that enhances the unsettling atmosphere. While some players appreciate the moody visuals and improved character designs, others note that the graphics can feel dated and basic, with a mix of hyper-realistic faces and simplistic body models. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's eerie ambiance, despite some minor graphical issues.
- “As usual in Chilla's Art, the visuals and atmosphere are great and unnerving.”
- “The graphics and presentation were superb with Chilla's Art's unique art style featuring low-poly models and high-quality textures.”
- “I loved the realistic graphics and the puzzle elements.”
- “Graphics is usual for the games of Chilla's Art: the models are low-poly, the picture is blurred and darkened (of course, the action takes place at night) to hide the lack of details, I suppose.”
- “Somewhat moody, but dated and basic graphics.”
- “The game relies on its narrative and retro graphics to tell its story and engage the players, relying on no mechanics beyond interacting with the environment.”
emotional
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted through its touching narrative that addresses real-life issues such as bullying, neglect, and domestic abuse, rather than relying on typical horror tropes. Players find the good ending heartwarming, and the protagonist's journey of providing emotional support adds depth to the overall story, creating a poignant experience that resonates with players.
- “I thought the good ending was heartwarming as well.”
- “This isn't your typical in-your-face scary horror game with jumpscares and monsters, but a touching story dealing with real life issues (with a right touch of supernatural) involving children - bullying, neglect, and domestic abuse.”
- “It adds an emotional layer to the mystery.”
optimization
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
While the game boasts impressive visuals, some users have reported performance issues, including persistent stuttering when loading new areas. Overall, the optimization is rated variably, with some placing it between other titles in the developer's lineup, emphasizing that performance should be a key consideration for potential buyers.
- “Performance: 10/10”
- “Visually, it's by far the most impressive Chilla's game I've played, but unlike the other ones, I actually had some performance issues during a couple of my sessions with this one.”
- “With a persistent stutter whenever you load into a new area for the first time, I place it somewhere between Okaeri and Night Delivery on the performance scale.”
- “After all, performance should be your top priority when buying from these devs, because let's be real, it's all the same game.”
music
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-25 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is characterized by a subtle yet unsettling soundtrack that enhances the creepy atmosphere, complemented by excellent sound design. Reviewers appreciate the blend of dark environments and off-beat humor, which together create a unique and immersive experience. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's eerie aesthetic and emotional impact.
- “A mix of slow-paced exploration, dark, dirty environments, subtle soundtrack, and unsettling sound design complete with traces of an off-beat sense of humour adds up to a genuinely creepy adventure.”
- “Great atmosphere and music.”
- “I can sing the usual praises; fantastically unsettling atmosphere, excellent sound design and music, gorgeous aesthetic, etc. Bizarre NPCs with their realistic image-mapped faces and wholly unrealistic Gumby limbs, complete with totally off-kilter personalities that serve to either scare you or make you laugh.”
- “No music, a mix of graphic quality, no real quality of life or playability.”
- “A mix of slow-paced exploration, dark, dirty environments, subtle soundtrack, and unsettling sound design complete with traces of an off-beat sense of humor adds up to a genuinely creepy adventure.”
stability
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game has received significant criticism for its stability, with users reporting frequent bugs and freezing issues, particularly related to control inputs. Despite a strong appreciation for the developer's previous work, these technical problems have led to a lack of recommendations from players.
- “First, I would like to say I'm a huge fan of Chilla's Arts work, but I can't recommend this game because of how buggy it is.”
- “It doesn't work properly; I tried adjusting the controls and the game just freezes. Please fix this game, I love all of them and want to play it so badly.”
- “The bad: I have glitches when using WASD.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Players find that while most achievements are easily attainable, the requirement for traveling can become tedious and contribute to a sense of grinding.
- “The achievements are easy to get, though the one for traveling can feel a bit tedious.”
- “Grinding feels like a never-ending chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
replayability
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability through multiple endings that are influenced by player choices, keeping players engaged and encouraging them to explore different outcomes.
- “With different endings depending on your choices, it manages to be replayable and keep you invested.”
- “The variety of paths and outcomes makes each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
- “I love how the game encourages multiple runs to explore all the unique storylines.”
- “With different endings, depending on your choices, it manages to be replayable and keep you invested.”
- “The game lacks significant changes in gameplay on subsequent playthroughs, making it feel repetitive.”
- “Once you've experienced the main story, there's little incentive to replay, as the side content feels uninspired.”
humor
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of humorous, creepy, and bizarre moments that contribute to its unique charm and appeal.
- “There are moments that are humorous, creepy, bizarre, and all in the best ways.”
- “The humor in this game is delightfully absurd, making every encounter a memorable experience.”
- “I found myself laughing out loud at the witty dialogue and unexpected situations throughout the game.”