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"Missing Hiker" is a narrative-driven, first-person exploration game. As a search and rescue team member, you must navigate through dense forests and rugged terrain to find a missing hiker. The game features a dynamic weather system and day/night cycles, adding to the sense of isolation and urgency. Uncover clues, make choices, and experience a gripping story of survival and mystery.

Missing Hiker screenshot
Missing Hiker screenshot
Missing Hiker screenshot
Missing Hiker screenshot
Missing Hiker screenshot

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,922 reviews
story118 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions

  • story
    362 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is generally described as simple and short, revolving around a man searching for his missing brother in a horror setting. While some players appreciated the eerie atmosphere and jump scares, many criticized the narrative for being underdeveloped and lacking depth, often feeling abrupt or clichéd. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the story has potential, it leaves players wanting more in terms of length and complexity.

    • “The story is interesting enough, the visuals can be impressive (in an intentionally dated kind of way), and it's certainly not the worst way to spend an hour of your time.”
    • “A very good horrifying and a very good story also.”
    • “This game had a couple really good jumpscares and was fun overall with a really interesting story.”
    • “The story is quite short and leaves a desire for more.”
    • “Dogshit, terrible story, made no sense and had around 20 minutes of play time just for it to end in the most cliche and expected jumpscare.”
    • “The story doesn't really go anywhere except to a couple of jump scares.”
  • graphics
    286 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a nostalgic PS1 aesthetic, which many players find charming and fitting for the horror genre. While some appreciate the retro visuals and atmospheric design, others criticize the low-quality graphics and performance issues, suggesting that they may not meet the expectations of players accustomed to modern standards. Overall, the graphics contribute to an immersive experience, though opinions vary on their execution and appeal.

    • “The graphic design and suspenseful soundscape build tension as you search for your missing brother in a snowy area.”
    • “The graphics are very good; it does a great job of capturing the feel of a retro-styled horror game with a nice use of color and designs.”
    • “It has a very moody and creepy atmosphere due to the VHS aesthetic, isolated setting, and low-fi graphics.”
    • “There is nothing special about the graphics, since it's a VHS-style game.”
    • “Sucks graphics were worse than expected. I know it's supposed to look weird, but it overall just looked horrible and it was super laggy.”
    • “Given the low detail visuals, the game never had an excuse to be using as much resources as it was or to be having low frame rates.”
  • atmosphere
    224 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively creating a sense of tension and dread through sound design, visuals, and setting. Many players appreciate the nostalgic VHS aesthetic and the game's ability to evoke feelings of isolation and creepiness, although some express disappointment with the abrupt endings and reliance on jump scares. Overall, the atmosphere is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, making it a compelling experience despite its short duration.

    • “The atmosphere was done really well, and the tension was great... up until that sudden, unsatisfying conclusion.”
    • “Right from the start its creepy atmosphere is catching and the visuals serve the additional layer of unease.”
    • “The atmosphere kept me on my toes, and I felt well immersed in the environment!”
    • “While the atmosphere and the sound in this game are extremely good for a free game, the ending ruined it for me.”
    • “I'm a bit disappointed by this game, because the atmosphere and build-up makes it feel like something is off with the people and where you are with pretty much every interaction you have.”
    • “It was an interesting looking game at first, does have an unsettling feeling and an atmosphere that keeps you on edge. I was quite disappointed with the ending.”
  • gameplay
    152 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is primarily a walking simulator with minimal interaction, featuring basic mechanics such as driving and hiking, but it often feels repetitive and lacks depth. Players noted the short duration of the game, with many completing it in under 30 minutes, and criticized the reliance on jump scares rather than engaging gameplay. While the atmosphere is praised, there is a consensus that the game could benefit from more creative mechanics and a longer playtime.

    • “Good game about possible true crime with diverse gameplay mechanics, for example, driving a car, hiking, and interacting.”
    • “If anything, the most interesting piece of gameplay is probably the section where you’re driving down the road, with one of the three achievements (and endings) being to actually crash into a car and die.”
    • “Really creepy atmosphere and smooth gameplay!”
    • “The gameplay is as simple as walking from place to place, pressing a button here and there to interact with people or set up your tent, for example.”
    • “There's really not much to say about the gameplay in Missing Hiker as all you really do is walk down a straight path and then once in a while look at something that's of interest, then the game ends.”
    • “Incredibly poor experience marred by a lack of actual gameplay and overly loud audio jumpscares.”
  • music
    50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the intro track and ambient sounds for enhancing the atmosphere, while others find it ordinary or forgettable. The car music is particularly noted for its effectiveness in setting a tense mood, although players wish for a more substantial soundtrack overall. While the music contributes to the game's eerie vibe, some feel it lacks variety and depth, making it feel more like a demo than a complete experience.

    • “The atmosphere is indeed very good, and while there isn't a lot of it, the music fits the scene without feeling too distracting.”
    • “Such a great use of this graphic genre and the music, oh, the music.”
    • “The style and grit goes really well with the crunchy audio; the music adds greatly to the building of tension before the couple of jump scares.”
    • “The only other thing I could really say about the game is that admittedly, there isn’t a soundtrack as much as ambient droning that probably came from a free sample CD, though truth be told, I don’t have a problem with that in the slightest.”
    • “The sound and music elements of the game can be considered ordinary or forgettable.”
    • “Was falling asleep at the start to the calm music while driving in the middle of the night for a while.”
  • humor
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding it both funny and silly, particularly in its quirky dialogue and absurd scenarios, such as the protagonist's antics and humorous achievements. While some moments are genuinely laugh-out-loud, others can feel repetitive, but the overall comedic tone, including funny jump scares, adds to the enjoyment. Many reviewers note that the humor complements the game's spooky atmosphere, making it a lighthearted experience despite its darker themes.

    • “This game really scared me with the dark snow; it's like Cry of Fear vibes, but shortest. It’s worth it, free 7/10 because the jumpscare at the end was funny.”
    • “You know what, it is free, you can beat it in a few minutes, and it made me laugh once and even had a genuinely scary moment; A+ tiny indie game all around.”
    • “The jumpscares are hilarious.”
  • grinding
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as excessively time-consuming, with many players feeling that it requires an unrealistic amount of effort, often likening it to needing a "second life" to manage. While some acknowledge it can be a bit grindy at times, the overall sentiment leans towards it being more tedious than engaging.

    • “It can be a bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “Grinding can take a significant amount of time.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “More tedious than spooky.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
  • optimization
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many users noting that it is poorly optimized, particularly for a walking simulator. Performance issues are prevalent, with high resource demands for subpar graphics, leading to a mixed experience. Overall, players feel that improvements in optimization could greatly enhance the game's performance and enjoyment.

    • “I like this game; maybe better optimization of the game and more endings would improve it.”
    • “The car ride needs to be optimized, but overall it's a very good game.”
    • “GPU usage was acceptable for an indie game and barely optimized (70% at 2k 144hz before capping).”
    • “The game's image quality, optimization, and performance may need improvement.”
    • “And the graphics demand way too much resources for the graphics displayed, so some optimization could be done.”
    • “The game isn't very optimized.”
  • replayability
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game has been criticized for its low replayability, with reviewers noting its short and linear structure, which limits the incentive to play again. Many found the experience enjoyable but felt that it lacked depth and variety, resulting in a replay value rating of around 4/10.

    • “And while that might not be the worst way to tell your story, it certainly isn't the most satisfying way; not to mention the complete lack of replay value.”
    • “Replayability - 4/10”
    • “Replayability - 4/10”
  • emotional
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players have reported a mix of emotional responses, ranging from feelings of emptiness due to abrupt moments to being deeply moved by a heart-wrenching narrative. The game is praised for its emotional rollercoaster experience and its intricate plot that weaves together themes from both the Bible and the Quran.

    • “Wow, this was an emotional rollercoaster!”
    • “Heart-wrenching story with an immaculate overarching plot that also ties the stories of the Bible and Quran together.”
    • “It was abrupt and made me feel kind of empty.”
  • stability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews consistently highlight concerns about bugs, indicating that users are experiencing stability issues with the game. Overall, the feedback suggests that the game is not bug-free, which negatively impacts the overall stability.

Buy Missing Hiker

4h Median play time
4h Average play time
0h Main story
0h Completionist
4-4h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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