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
- The game features a cool story with interesting twists that keep players engaged.
- Great atmosphere and well-designed environments contribute to a genuinely creepy experience.
- The jump scares are well-timed and effective, enhancing the horror elements of the game.
- The game is very short, taking around 1.5 to 2 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more.
- The gameplay is linear and lacks true exploration, as players are often guided down specific paths.
- The ending feels rushed and unsatisfying, leaving some players confused about the overall narrative.
- story520 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its intriguing twists and atmospheric depth, while others found it muddled or confusing, particularly towards the end. Some praised the unique storytelling mechanics and the way different narratives unfold through exploration, but noted that the linear structure limits replayability. Overall, while the story is engaging and creative, some players felt it could benefit from more elaboration and a stronger conclusion.
“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.”
“I loved the story, and it really lived up to my expectations for a horror game.”
“It was too muddled and confused about its own identity to tell a coherent story.”
“Story was clunky and forced.”
“Particularly the last act which just expositions you to death with a boring story that is totally disconnected from the rest of the game.”
- gameplay148 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mix of simple mechanics and innovative features, such as the use of a camera to reveal hidden elements, which some players found engaging while others felt it lacked depth and interactivity. Many reviews highlight the linear nature of the game, with repetitive exploration and limited puzzles, leading to a feeling of vacancy in gameplay despite a strong atmosphere and visuals. Overall, while the game offers some unique mechanics and a compelling story, it is often described as more of an interactive narrative than a traditional game, with gameplay that can feel scripted and simplistic.
“Chapter 2 was fantastic, the polaroid mechanic was so unique.”
“The gameplay has quite innovative elements, is never 'too spooky' but always retains a good atmosphere.”
“It has intense, dark atmosphere, creepy sound design, convincing voice acting performances, some interesting gameplay mechanics, great visuals and a nicely designed world.”
“But the gameplay is so vacant, I never got attached to the game nor the character. The storytelling was really bad, the conversations were super dumb, etc. Also, 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.”
“I keep getting that feeling that this would have been far better had there been actual gameplay and difficulty with the enemies.”
- atmosphere140 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its intense, eerie, and immersive qualities, effectively combining stunning visuals, sound design, and innovative gameplay mechanics to create a genuinely unsettling experience. Many players noted the game's ability to maintain tension and suspense through well-executed jump scares and a haunting environment, although some felt the reliance on jump scares detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the atmosphere is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, making it a compelling choice for horror enthusiasts.
“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 game masterfully balances jump scares and mind-bending twists, keeping me on edge and fully immersed in the suspenseful atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is one of the best I've encountered in a horror game in some time.”
“The atmosphere was eerie and the sound wasn't overdone, with the exception of the guy in my ear.”
“At some points it's a little bit empty, but for a reason this silence creates a weird tension that enhances the 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.”
- graphics100 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising their stunning quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. Players noted the impressive visuals, which include a dark and immersive aesthetic, and highlighted the game's effective use of sound design and voice acting to complement the graphics. While some comments suggest that the visuals may prioritize style over substance, the consensus remains that the graphics are a standout feature, particularly for an indie title.
“The graphics were stunning and added to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
“I was really impressed with the graphics and didn't encounter any bugs even though it's in early access.”
“The atmosphere caught me and the graphics surprised me on a high level.”
“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.”
“The tone of the music is appropriate, and graphically I don't have anything to complain about.”
- optimization20 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization received mixed reviews; while some players experienced smooth performance and found it well-polished, others noted significant optimization issues, particularly within the mansion environment. Despite these discrepancies, many appreciated the game's visuals and production value, contributing to a generally positive experience.
“But it is presented in quite a unique way and optimized pretty well.”
“Ending this off, it's well-polished, well-optimized with good production value, but the fragmented approach to, especially towards the ending, leaves more to be desired.”
“The game is very nice to look at and runs smoothly.”
“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.”
- replayability16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is largely criticized, with many reviewers noting its linear structure and scripted events that limit replay value. While a few players found some charm in replaying for deeper understanding, the consensus is that the game is short and lacks significant incentive to revisit, leading to feelings of disappointment and a sense of being overpriced.
“Short, replayable, loved it”
“☐ infinite replayability”
“Just know there’s a quirky, replay value as starting anew will aid in your understanding of motivations.”
“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”
- stability14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- -7 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
Overall, user experiences with stability vary significantly; while some report a smooth experience with no bugs or glitches, others encounter severe issues such as freezing and blue screens of death, particularly in later game stages. The game is still in early access, leading to mixed reports of stability, with some players experiencing minor bugs alongside a generally enjoyable gameplay experience.
“No bugs, no glitches, great experience whether using a controller or keyboard/mouse.”
“No bugs, no glitches, great experience whether using a controller or keyboard/mouse.”
“The game runs smoothly without any issues, providing a fantastic experience.”
“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 to my desktop somehow.”
“Though it's still in early access, it sounds like some folks are getting a few bad bugs and glitches here and there.”
- music10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music and sound effects in the game effectively contribute to a creepy and immersive atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience. Reviewers appreciate the appropriate tone of the music, which complements the gameplay and voice acting, although some note that certain areas, like the caves, lack visual appeal. Overall, the sound design is highlighted as a strong aspect of the game.
“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 tone of the music is appropriate, but it lacks variety and fails to enhance the overall experience.”
“The music is decent, but it quickly becomes repetitive and doesn't add much to the atmosphere.”
“While the sound design is decent, the music feels bland and uninspired, failing to engage the player.”
- humor10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -10 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players enjoying the lively and funny accomplice guiding them through the experience. While some monster encounters elicit genuine fear, others come off as silly or cheesy, leading to moments of laughter that enhance the overall enjoyment. The blend of humor and horror creates a unique atmosphere, making it a memorable experience for players.
“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.”
“Some of the monster encounters work very well while others just come off as funny and silly.”
“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 humor often falls flat, relying too heavily on clichés and predictable punchlines that fail to land.”
“While there are moments that aim for humor, they often miss the mark, leaving me more confused than amused.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, starting with a spooky atmosphere that transitions into a more profound emotional journey exploring various horror themes. However, the last act is criticized for being disconnected and overly expository, leading to a feeling of disengagement due to a lack of meaningful choices and a hand-holding approach that may feel patronizing.
“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.”
“Particularly the last act, which just exposes you to death with a boring story that is totally disconnected from the rest of the game.”
