Mists of Aiden
- November 10, 2020
- Steppe Hare Studio
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Mists of Aiden" is a first-person, story-driven horror game where you play as a thief trying to steal a valuable jewel from an old mansion. The house traps you inside, and each attempt to escape leads to a new story and ending. Every walkthrough is unique, with different routes hiding their own tragedies and horrors. Uncover the secrets of the house, your partner, and yourself as you delve deeper into madness.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Engaging storyline with interesting twists that keep players invested.
- High-quality graphics and sound design that enhance the horror atmosphere.
- Unique mechanics, such as the camera feature, add depth to the gameplay.
- Game is very short, typically completed in under 2 hours.
- Linear gameplay with limited exploration and choices, contrary to the store description.
- Ending feels rushed and lacks coherence, leaving players wanting more.
- story324 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is a compelling blend of horror and adventure, featuring multiple interconnected narratives that unfold through exploration and player choices. While many players praised its intriguing plot twists and atmospheric storytelling, some found the narrative to be muddled or rushed, particularly towards the end. Overall, the game is recognized for its unique storytelling approach, engaging characters, and the ability to evoke suspense, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of story-driven horror games.
“From the beginning to the end of the game, there is a solid story, which is very interesting to follow.”
“The story has great twists that highlight the horrors of the creative mind, while pointing out the pains of real life.”
“The narrative is tightly written and very story-forward.”
“It was too muddled and confused about its own identity to tell a coherent story.”
“But the gameplay is so vacant, I never got attached to the game nor the character; storytelling was really bad, the conversations were super dumb, etc. The endings were not impressive at all.”
“The story concluded, but didn't have much of an ending.”
- gameplay89 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, featuring interesting mechanics like a unique camera system and some engaging puzzles, but it is often criticized for being overly simplistic and linear, resembling a walking simulator. While the atmosphere and visuals are praised, many players feel that the gameplay lacks depth and variety, leading to a less immersive experience. Overall, it offers some enjoyable moments and scares, but may leave players wanting more in terms of interactive gameplay.
“Chapter 2 was fantastic, the polaroid mechanic was so unique.”
“The gameplay is also solid with some relatively interesting puzzles and interactions throughout.”
“It has intense, dark atmosphere, creepy sound design, convincing voice acting performances, some interesting gameplay mechanics, great visuals and a nicely designed world.”
“Very strong slowdown of gameplay due to constant crawling in tunnels.”
“But the gameplay is so vacant, I never got attached to the game nor the character; storytelling was really bad, the conversations were super dumb, etc. The endings were not impressive at all.”
“Which means that while you’re getting some good atmosphere and scares, ultimately, it’s not a game that has anything to offer gameplay-wise other than walking around and opening doors.”
- atmosphere86 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its effectiveness in creating a genuinely unsettling and immersive horror experience, with many reviewers highlighting the impressive environmental design, sound effects, and lighting. While some noted a reliance on jump scares, the overall ambiance is described as dark, creepy, and engaging, successfully maintaining tension throughout the gameplay. Despite minor criticisms regarding pacing and story clarity, the atmosphere remains a standout feature that enhances the horror elements and keeps players intrigued.
“During my playthrough, I was genuinely unsettled by the fantastic atmosphere, to the point of being quite afraid, and that's something I've found lacking in other popular indie titles.”
“The atmosphere was phenomenal and the voice acting was top notch.”
“The highlight for me was the atmosphere - the lighting, sounds, pacing, and visual effects were all perfect.”
“Almost all scary moments lack atmosphere and dynamics.”
“The objects that are present glow an unmistakable fluoro blue color, which is extremely out of place in such a dark, gritty horror atmosphere.”
“I understand that they keep the walking speed slow for the atmosphere's sake, but since you visit some of the same areas several times, as well as it not making much sense to not run in some instances in the story, I would have preferred the option to choose myself.”
- graphics69 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their impressive quality, particularly for an indie title, with many reviewers highlighting the stunning visuals and atmospheric design that enhance the horror experience. While some noted that the graphics utilize default assets from the Unreal Engine store, the overall aesthetic and attention to detail contribute significantly to the game's eerie vibe and storytelling. Despite a few criticisms regarding certain character models, the consensus is that the graphics are a standout feature, effectively complementing the game's narrative and ambiance.
“This game was the first game I bought from Steam and I was truly blown away by its story and graphics.”
“The graphics were stunning and added to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
“The atmosphere caught me and the graphics surprised me on a high level.”
“The visuals of the interface show that the game is made on an asset for making horror games - 'horror engine unreal'.”
“Mostly it's default assets from the UE store put together; graphics and sound are kind of okay, but the English voice acting is good.”
“Maybe if I'd kept playing through all of the stories out of order I would've gotten a different ending or uncovered some secrets, but for me it wasn't worth it sitting through the same dialogue, visuals, and puzzles just so I could maybe see a small change.”
- optimization13 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while some players report smooth performance and minimal bugs, others experience significant issues, particularly in the mansion setting. Despite these discrepancies, many appreciate the game's visuals and production quality, suggesting that it is generally well-optimized for a majority of users.
“But it is presented in quite a unique way and optimized pretty well.”
“The game is very nice to look at and runs smoothly.”
“Very well put together and very optimized.”
“Only major issues I've found is that it's very badly optimized.”
“Just not very scary and performance inside the mansion (which is most of the game) is a bit weak.”
“The game worked fine initially, albeit performance was bad to say the least.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is largely criticized, with many reviewers noting its short length, linear structure, and lack of engaging story as significant drawbacks. While a few players found some value in starting anew for better understanding, the consensus is that it offers little incentive for multiple playthroughs, making it feel overpriced for its content.
“Short, replayable, loved it.”
“Just know there’s a quirky replay value as starting anew will aid in your understanding of motivations.”
“☐ infinite replayability.”
“It's short, not replayable with a misleading store page, feels overpriced for what it is, disappointing.”
“The linear path and scripted events mean there is no real replayability value, and the overarching story was not one I found interesting or wanted to delve into deeper than surface level.”
“No replay value.”
- stability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many players report a smooth experience with no bugs or glitches, some have encountered significant issues, such as freezing and crashes that require hard restarts. A few users noted minor glitches, like walking through walls, but these seem to be less common. As the game is still in early access, some players are experiencing varying degrees of stability, with a few reporting serious problems.
“No bugs, no glitches, great experience whether using a controller or keyboard/mouse.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes, providing a seamless experience.”
“I appreciate how stable the game is; it never lags or freezes during gameplay.”
“Got to the third act and upon entering the cave it freezes and causes a blue screen of death, forcing a hard restart of my desktop.”
“I went through this three times before troubleshooting, and after the second time it killed the sound on my desktop somehow.”
“This game is decent but not the greatest since it has some glitches, like I could walk through a wall of the map.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for effectively enhancing the eerie atmosphere, contributing to the overall immersive experience. While the sound effects and voice acting received mixed reviews, the tone of the music is generally considered appropriate and well-executed. Overall, the music plays a significant role in setting the mood, despite some criticisms of other elements.
“The house is super creepy; the music and sound effects really help to create an eerie atmosphere.”
“Simple gameplay, but good atmosphere, music, and voice acting.”
“The tone of the music is appropriate, and graphically I don't have anything to complain about.”
“The music is decent, but it doesn't stand out in any meaningful way.”
“While the set design is good, the music feels bland and forgettable.”
“The tone of the music is appropriate, but it lacks variety and excitement.”
- humor5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players enjoying a lively accomplice and engaging in amusing interactions, such as one-sided conversations with a raven and humorous bathroom decorations. While some monster encounters are genuinely frightening, others veer into cheesy territory, eliciting laughter rather than fear, resulting in a mixed but entertaining experience. Overall, the blend of humor and horror contributes to a memorable and enjoyable gameplay session.
“10/10 it scared me, it made me sad, it was exciting, it was spooky, it made me laugh many times... what more could you ask for?!”
“You have an accomplice guiding you through the mansion and he's funny and lively.”
“I played it with friends watching and even with going out of my way to yell at locked doors, have a one-sided conversation with a raven in a window, and spending 10 minutes laughing about dolphins because of bathroom decorations, we finished it in a single sitting.”
“Genuinely frightening some of the time, but it's not consistent enough; other times I was scoffing and laughing out loud at how cheesy and cringey some of the presentation was.”
“The attempts at humor often fall flat, leaving me more confused than amused.”
“I expected a clever wit, but instead, I was met with jokes that felt outdated and forced.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while it begins with a spooky atmosphere, it transitions into a more profound emotional journey that explores various horror themes. However, the final act is criticized for being disconnected and tedious, with limited player agency, leading to a feeling that the game is overly simplistic and perhaps aimed at a younger audience.
“Starts out spooky (if not a little cheesy) then towards the end it becomes a little bit more of an emotional journey covering your slasher, supernatural, cosmic, and psychological horrors.”
“The last act exposes you to death with a boring story that feels completely disconnected from the rest of the game.”
“The emotional moments felt forced and lacked genuine impact, leaving me feeling indifferent.”
“I expected a deep emotional experience, but instead, I was met with clichés and predictable outcomes.”
