Nightmare Frames

Nightmare Frames is solo developer Postmodern Adventures' most ambitious project yet. It is a great old-school supernatural thriller point-and-click adventure game with some pacing issues.

95%Game Brain Score

story, music

gameplay, character development

97% User Score Based on 203 reviews

Critic Score 90%Based on 1 reviews

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About

Nightmare Frames is a single player action game with horror, mystery and thriller themes. It was developed by Postmodern Adventures and was released on June 16, 2022. It received positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Nightmare Frames" is a point-and-click adventure game set in 1985 Hollywood, where struggling screenwriter Alan Goldberg seeks to find the rumored scariest film of all time by eccentric millionaire Helen Westmore. The game offers over 80 locations, 50 characters, and an original synthwave soundtrack. As Alan, you'll venture through B-film studios, visual effects workshops, religious cults, and a haunted town witnessing the horror escalate from eerie to gruesome.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 203 reviews

story84 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

Engaging story that combines elements of comedy, horror, and intrigue, keeping players invested throughout.
Well-written characters and dialogue that evoke a strong sense of nostalgia for 80s horror cinema.
Visually appealing pixel art and a captivating soundtrack that enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.

Puzzles are often too simple and straightforward, lacking the challenge that some players may expect from adventure games.
The game can feel dialogue-heavy at times, which may slow down the pacing and detract from the overall experience.
Some players may find the lack of voice acting and reliance on text to be a drawback, making it less immersive.

story
182 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
52%
2%
The story of "Nightmare Frames" is a compelling homage to 80s horror cinema, following a struggling screenwriter on a quest to uncover a lost film that delves into the nature of evil and the supernatural. While the narrative unfolds at a slow pace with heavy dialogue, it is rich in character development and references to classic horror, ultimately creating an engaging and immersive experience. Despite some critiques regarding pacing and linearity, many players found the writing and atmosphere captivating, making it a standout in the genre.
- “The story is one passionate, blood-soaked love letter to horror cinema, and catching all the references is a blast.”
- “Nightmare Frames is an excellently written game, with a story that unravels little by little, in a natural way, with a perfect rhythm for an investigation and mystery adventure.”
- “The story itself is a very well-developed homage to those 80's slashers and the 80's culture in general, but the references are well done and placed, so you always feel that there is a story and not only nostalgia.”
- “The story moves along at a snail's pace, and especially the beginning is very dialogue-heavy, which had mixed quality.”
- “However, at some point the truth dawned on me: what I assumed to be a narrative-heavy introductory chapter meant to get the player acquainted with the protagonist's snarky wit and his slowly developing quest was, in fact, the formula for the whole game.”
- “It's just unfortunate that the writer didn't seem to have a particularly strong concept for the very end of the game, with the plot coming to rest instead on a messy pile of clichés.”
music
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
45%
5%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting its exceptional quality and ability to evoke an authentic 80s atmosphere through a mix of original synthwave tracks and licensed songs. The soundtrack not only enhances the game's emotional depth but also complements its pixel art and storytelling, making it a standout feature that immerses players in the retro horror experience. However, some users noted minor issues with volume control and a desire for more synth-heavy tracks.
- “The soundtrack is a special high note.”
- “A nearly flawless old school point & click adventure with an incredible soundtrack, wonderful pixel art, solid story, and absolutely oozing with love for 80s horror.”
- “The sound design and synthwave soundtrack are a perfect fit for this story, and the latter is still stuck in my head a couple of days after finishing the game.”
- “Honestly, my only (minor) complaint is that there is no option for setting music/sfx volume separately.”
- “It also features less synth-y 80s music than I would have hoped for.”
- “The unskippable company logo and the main menu ignore it, so you'll face loud noises and music every time the game starts, and not even loading a save resets it properly; you have to go to the menu and adjust it again.”
graphics
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
35%
9%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their nostalgic pixel art style that effectively captures the essence of the 80s, complemented by detailed hand-drawn character portraits. While the visuals are generally considered beautiful and atmospheric, some players noted issues with hotspot visibility and animation stiffness. Overall, the combination of retro aesthetics, engaging soundtracks, and immersive environments contributes to a compelling experience for fans of the genre.
- “A wonderfully simplistic pixel art style captures the 80's, in all its woodgrain, carpet, yellowed IBM desktop computer with a lit cigarette in the ashtray - glory, with detailed hand-drawn portraits for all the characters taking it to the next level.”
- “The game's artists did a fantastic job getting the pixel graphics to be nostalgic, atmospheric, and legitimately creepy.”
- “Beautiful graphics if you are into pixel art and painted portraits.”
- “The faux-retro pixel art mixed with pixelized realistic art is an odd choice and makes the art style incohesive.”
- “Never mind the palette and post-processing of a modern AGS adventure, the audio-visuals positively reek of cigarettes, grease, special-effects corn syrup, and typewriter ink.”
- “The dialogue does get really wordy and the art style makes it hard to view certain small items, but I recommend it to anyone who loves a good ol' fashioned point and click adventure/mystery game.”
atmosphere
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
74%
13%
13%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, featuring beautifully crafted backgrounds, nostalgic pixel art, and a compelling sound design that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the effective use of music and environmental storytelling to create a sense of dread and intrigue, particularly in its horror elements reminiscent of 80s cinema. Overall, the combination of strong writing, engaging characters, and atmospheric artistry contributes to a captivating and authentic gaming experience.
- “Excellent writing and atmosphere, with a constantly increasing sense of dread.”
- “This is an intriguing, creative horror story with a well-defined protagonist and genuinely creepy atmosphere, and I look forward to trying out the studio's follow-up.”
- “The atmosphere is top-notch; I wish more games could do horror so well, especially in a genre where you can't actually die.”
- “Here the atmosphere truly shines: the never-ending rain, the unhelpful inhabitants of the town, the crumbling buildings, unresolved cases, old tragedies that no one let go...”
- “It is really easy to feel the atmosphere of Hollywood of the 80s.”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
66%
17%
The gameplay in the reviewed titles is characterized by traditional point-and-click mechanics, often featuring simple puzzles and fetch quests that prioritize story and dialogue over complexity. While some players found the gameplay lacking in depth or challenge, others appreciated the engaging narratives that compensated for any shortcomings. Overall, the gameplay is described as standard for the genre, with a mix of enjoyable elements and occasional design flaws.
- “Gameplay could be a notch more difficult puzzle-wise, but the story made up for this big time.”
- “Very traditional point-and-click gameplay, puzzles are generally fair and logical.”
- “The story was gripping, and the gameplay was really fun.”
- “Inspired writing cannot save nightmare frames from lackluster gameplay that varies from flimsy to non-existent.”
- “Rather, the game has too little meaningful gameplay altogether.”
- “Gameplay-wise, the puzzles were mostly relatively simple 'find the thing for the thing' fetch quests, but I did not mind that.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
90%
10%
The humor in the game is characterized by a clever blend of wry wit and lighthearted moments, often juxtaposed with darker themes, creating a unique balance that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the absence of overused tropes and unfunny references, instead enjoying genuinely funny interactions, particularly with the omniscient narrator and character dialogues. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's charm, making it both captivating and entertaining.
- “Early on, you get to brainstorm for movie ideas with a producer, whose reactions were so funny they literally made me laugh out loud.”
- “The balance of the horror was perfect: some parts were surprisingly dark and disturbing, but they were surrounded by lighter moments and fitting humor.”
- “A really tightly made horror point-and-click that manages to be funny, captivating, and spooky in an amazing balancing act that I haven’t seen from the genre in a long time.”
- “In postmodern adventures, they know the theory behind the best games of the genre and put it into practice, avoiding the commonplaces of other indie developers, such as inbred references, unfunny jokes, and uninventive puzzles.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is praised for its natural progression and strong writing, with each character, including minor ones, receiving meaningful backstories and growth. The presence of a memorable, disillusioned character adds depth, making the overall character arcs engaging and impactful.
- “The character development progresses naturally and isn't forced or nonsensical.”
- “Every character has character development and an interesting backstory, including what would be considered 'extras' if this were a movie and not a game.”
- “Besides, a memorable disillusioned twerp who gets a share of character development is worth an army of agreeable duds and tactful scumbags.”
- “Nightmare Frames has some strong writing and character development.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users highlight that the game's approach effectively elicits strong emotional reactions, enhancing the overall experience.
- “This approach evokes a lively emotional response.”
- “The game's narrative deeply resonated with me, leaving a lasting emotional impact.”
- “I found myself genuinely moved by the characters' struggles and triumphs.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally acceptable, though players have noted some translation glitches in the dialogues and a lack of voiceovers. Additionally, the volume settings are reported to be buggy, making it difficult to balance sound effects, music, and ambiance effectively.
- “The dialogues are a bit talky and show some translation glitches, but it's nothing major.”
- “No voiceovers, but the single volume slider still won't do, as there are sound effects, music, and ambiance, and the volume setting is buggy.”

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90%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Nightmare Frames
Nightmare Frames is solo developer Postmodern Adventures' most ambitious project yet. It is a great old-school supernatural thriller point-and-click adventure game with some pacing issues.
Com.au
90%

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5h Median play time

5h Average play time

5-5h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Nightmare Frames is a action game with horror, mystery and thriller themes.

Nightmare Frames is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 5 hours playing Nightmare Frames.

Nightmare Frames was released on June 16, 2022.

Nightmare Frames was developed by Postmodern Adventures.

Nightmare Frames has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Nightmare Frames is a single player game.

Similar games include Kathy Rain, Unforeseen Incidents, VirtuaVerse, The Excavation of Hob's Barrow, An English Haunting and others.

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