Missing Hiker
- February 14, 2023
- Gemezl
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"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.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Great atmosphere and sound design that effectively builds tension.
- A few well-timed jump scares that genuinely startled players.
- Short and free, making it an easy recommendation for a quick horror experience.
- The game is very short, lasting only about 15-20 minutes, leaving players wanting more.
- The ending is abrupt and lacks resolution, which disappointed many players.
- Gameplay primarily consists of walking and driving with minimal interaction, making it feel linear and repetitive.
- story181 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story in this game is generally described as short, simple, and lacking depth, often revolving around a protagonist searching for a missing brother. While some players appreciate the eerie atmosphere and jump scares, many express disappointment with the abrupt endings and the overall predictability of the plot. Overall, the narrative is seen as a decent but underdeveloped experience, suitable for a brief horror game but leaving players wanting more.
“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.”
“The atmosphere was great, the story too, but I think it was too short and the ending too boring and uninteresting.”
“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.”
- graphics143 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
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 reviews praise the retro visuals for enhancing the eerie atmosphere, others note that the low-quality graphics may not appeal to everyone, with some expressing a desire for better optimization and detail. Overall, the graphics effectively contribute to the game's ambiance, 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 good job in 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.”
“The graphics are nothing special, 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.”
“Graphics might leave something to be desired, but I'm not that picky, especially for how short the game is.”
- atmosphere112 mentions
- 74 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively creating a sense of tension and isolation through sound design, visuals, and environmental storytelling. Many players appreciate the nostalgic VHS aesthetic and the chilling ambiance, although some express disappointment with the abrupt endings and reliance on jump scares. Overall, the game is recognized as a strong atmospheric experience, particularly for a short indie title.
“Right from the start, its creepy atmosphere is catching and the visuals serve as an 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.”
“The atmosphere was done really well, and the tension was great... up until that sudden, unsatisfying conclusion.”
“A short story in video game form, missing hiker is short, and the ending is honestly a bit abrupt, but the atmosphere is strong and weirdly lonely.”
- gameplay76 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is generally described as simplistic and minimalistic, often likened to a walking simulator with basic interactions and a short duration, typically around 10-30 minutes. While some players appreciate the atmospheric elements and driving mechanics, many criticize the lack of depth, creativity, and variety in gameplay, with several noting that it relies heavily on jump scares rather than engaging mechanics. Overall, the gameplay experience is seen as lacking, with potential for improvement in both mechanics and length.
“Good game about possible true crime with diverse gameplay mechanics, such as 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.”
- music25 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
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. Many players appreciate the eerie and tension-building qualities of the soundtrack, particularly during key moments, but express a desire for a more extensive soundtrack. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's aesthetic, though it may not be memorable enough for repeated playthroughs.
“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.”
- humor18 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding it both funny and silly, often highlighting amusing interactions with characters and unexpected moments, such as humorous achievements and jump scares. While some elements may feel repetitive, the overall comedic tone, including the protagonist's clumsiness and absurd situations, contributes to a lighthearted experience that balances scares with laughter.
“Very funny little story, I liked it haha.”
“The achievements of the game are easy to get, but most are not related to the story and are kind of funny.”
“Funny enough, the fake scare got me more than the real one, lol!”
- grinding14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and time-consuming, with many players feeling that it requires an excessive amount of time and effort, almost as if they need a second life to fully engage with it.
“It can be a bit grindy sometimes, but the rewards make it worth it.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding, but the journey is incredibly satisfying.”
“The grinding aspect can be intense, but it adds depth to the gameplay.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“More tedious than spooky.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
- optimization11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many users noting poor performance, high resource demands for subpar graphics, and a need for overall improvements. While some aspects of the game are enjoyable, significant optimization efforts are necessary to enhance the experience and performance.
“I like this game; maybe better optimization 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).”
“Poorly optimized walking simulator with a cheap jumpscare at the end.”
“The game's image quality, optimization, and performance may need improvement.”
“The game isn't very optimized.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its low replayability, with users noting its short and linear structure, which limits the incentive to play again. Overall, it received a score of 4/10 for replay value, indicating that while it may provide a brief enjoyable experience, it lacks depth for multiple playthroughs.
“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”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a mix of emotional responses, ranging from feelings of emptiness due to abrupt moments to being deeply moved by a heart-wrenching story that intricately weaves together themes from both the Bible and the Quran, creating a powerful emotional rollercoaster for players.
“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.”
- stability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that users are questioning the game's stability, specifically regarding the presence of bugs, suggesting concerns about its overall performance and reliability.
