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Version 1.01 Now Available! Missing Children | 行方不明 is a Japanese horror-themed adventure game about a bully detective searching for reported missing children.  From the creators of  The Convenience Store Stigmatized property Inunaki Tunnel Missing Children | 行方不明 is a short game. The game is about 40min-60min long. Though this game has two endings. This game contains disturbing scenes, impl…

Missing Children | 行方不明 screenshot
Missing Children | 行方不明 screenshot
Missing Children | 行方不明 screenshot
Missing Children | 行方不明 screenshot
Missing Children | 行方不明 screenshot
Missing Children | 行方不明 screenshot

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 306 reviews
story62 positive mentions
optimization3 negative mentions

  • Engaging story that touches on serious themes like bullying and family issues, providing a unique perspective on horror.
  • Atmospheric design with a mix of unsettling visuals and sound, creating a creepy experience throughout the game.
  • Short playtime with two endings encourages replayability, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of Chilla's Art.
  • Game is very short, leading to a feeling of abruptness and leaving some plot points underexplored.
  • Technical issues such as bugs and glitches, including loading screen problems and inventory management, detract from the overall experience.
  • Not very scary compared to other titles in the genre, relying more on atmosphere than actual horror elements.
  • story
    139 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of the game revolves around the unsettling theme of missing children in Japan, intertwining elements of urban legends and societal issues. While some players appreciated the atmosphere and emotional depth, many criticized the narrative for being confusing, underdeveloped, and lacking coherence, leading to a mixed reception overall. Despite its brevity and some engaging moments, the storytelling often left players feeling uninformed and disconnected from the characters and plot.

    • “The story touches on the unsettling reality of missing persons cases in Japan, where disappearances are sometimes linked to urban legends or societal pressures.”
    • “Missing children is a fantastic horror game short story that revolves around a lady's investigation on 3 children.”
    • “The story raises awareness to an issue that shouldn't be neglected, so I'm grateful for it.”
    • “I really have no idea what the story even really was about. The little snippets you get of the lives of the kids you're investigating aren't enough to give a clear sense of what's actually going on, but the exposition of the two endings is written as though the player is well informed as to the events of the story, when in reality I was basically completely uninformed, either about the kids being investigated, the loss of the person you're playing as's son, or that the person you're playing as is a woman (which literally one sentence in the good ending identifies).”
    • “The story was short, boring, and lacked tension.”
    • “Whatever story it was trying to tell was not very interesting.”
  • atmosphere
    69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in Chilla's Art games is consistently praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, often blending elements of Japanese horror with a unique visual style. While the games may not be heavily reliant on jump scares, they effectively create a spooky ambiance that enhances the storytelling and engages players. However, some reviews note that the gameplay can become repetitive, and the dialogue may 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
    39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized as a familiar mix of walking simulation and item collection, often described as repetitive and tedious, involving back-and-forth tasks to progress the story. While some players appreciate the immersive atmosphere and narrative focus, others find the mechanics lack depth and can lead to frustration, particularly with certain puzzles. Overall, the gameplay is seen as straightforward and short, appealing to fans of the genre but potentially disappointing for those seeking more engaging mechanics.

    • “I loved the story, I liked being a detective, and as always, the gameplay is one of my favorites.”
    • “The gameplay is a staple of Chilla's Art games where you walk/run and talk to NPCs.”
    • “The gameplay's the same old mix of walking sim/collectathon as all the other Chilla's Art games have been so far, only this time you don't actually need a guide in order to get all of the achievements.”
    • “The usual atmosphere, environments, and story as a concept are really well done and immersive in a way, though the gameplay became tedious as it's talk to a person, go to a place, find an item, travel back, then return to the person, use it on them or the object, then repeat until the game is done. Luckily, since the game is short and you do have fast travel with the police car, it isn't as bad as other games, but it's noticeable when that's the entire gameplay.”
    • “Gameplay is a familiar walking sim from the developer: very slow walking pace to stretch out playtime (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.”
    • “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
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in "Missing Children" reflect the signature low-poly aesthetic typical of Chilla's Art games, featuring blurred and darkened visuals that enhance the retro horror atmosphere. While some players appreciate the unique art style and the unsettling charm of the character models, others note that the graphics can feel dated and basic, with occasional janky animations. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's eerie ambiance, though opinions vary on their quality and execution.

    • “Visuals / graphics: 10/10”
    • “Terrific atmosphere with max graphics, love everything this developer puts out.”
    • “The graphics and presentation were superb with Chilla's Art's unique art style, featuring low-poly models and high-quality textures.”
    • “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.”
    • “Other than that, Missing Children has the usual ingredients you'd expect of a Chilla's Art j-horror - the retro feel, the distinct visuals, the uncanny valley NPC models and the dark, unsettling environments.”
  • emotional
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 heartwarming good ending and the protagonist's journey of providing emotional support to others particularly impactful, adding depth to the overall mystery.

    • “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 Positive Neutral Negative

    While the game boasts impressive visuals, players have reported performance issues, including persistent stuttering when entering new areas. Overall, the optimization is rated variably, with some users 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 Positive Neutral Negative

    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.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, as it often involves repetitive tasks like talking to characters, fetching items, and backtracking. However, the inclusion of fast travel mitigates some of the frustration, and the overall immersive atmosphere helps maintain engagement despite the grind. Achievements are generally easy to obtain, though some, particularly those related to travel, can feel monotonous.

    • “The usual atmosphere, environments, and story as a concept are really well done and immersive. However, the gameplay became tedious as it involves talking to a person, going to a place, finding an item, traveling back, and then returning to the person to use it on them or the object. This cycle repeats until the game is done. Luckily, since the game is short and you do have fast travel with the police car, it isn't as bad as in other games, but it's noticeable when that's the entire gameplay.”
    • “It was cool connecting the pieces by going to the different houses, although at times it did feel a little tedious.”
    • “The achievements are easy to get, though the one for traveling can feel a bit tedious.”
  • stability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers strong replayability due to its 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, the game manages to be replayable and keeps you invested.”
    • “The variety of paths and outcomes encourages multiple playthroughs, making each experience feel fresh.”
    • “Each decision you make leads to unique scenarios, ensuring that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
    • “With different endings, depending on your choices, it manages to be replayable and keep you invested.”
  • humor
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of humorous, creepy, and bizarre moments, creating a unique and engaging experience for players.

    • “There are moments that are humorous, creepy, bizarre, and all in the best ways.”

Buy Missing Children | 行方不明

3h Median play time
3h Average play time
2-3h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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