Nightmare on Azathoth

About

Nightmare on Azathoth is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Modesto Rabena and was released on October 30, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

In "Nightmare on Azathoth," you explore a dark planet, trapped in a time loop with increasing enemy numbers. Collect memory fragments to uncover the subtle story, gather resources to power your spaceship, and escape with the help of robotic allies. This mysterious planet is named after a sinister entity, adding to the game's intriguing atmosphere.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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71%

Audience ScoreBased on 21 reviews

graphics3 negative mentions

The game has a very dark and tense atmosphere, effectively creating a creepy and Lovecraftian experience.
It offers a decent survival aspect, requiring players to scrounge for resources while facing unique and frightening enemies.
The developer is responsive and actively working on updates to improve the game, which enhances the overall experience.

The game lacks polish and feels unrefined, with issues such as poor voice acting and a confusing introduction.
There is no tutorial or clear guidance, making it difficult for players to understand the objectives and mechanics.
Some players find the game frustrating due to its unclear goals and repetitive gameplay, leading to a sense of aimlessness.

story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The story is characterized by its ambiguity and Lovecraftian influences, creating a sense of tension and unease as players navigate their unclear objectives. While some find the narrative compelling and atmospheric, others note a lack of clarity and explanation, emphasizing the game's focus on survival rather than a traditional storyline. Overall, the experience is enhanced by the game's dark ambiance and the player's solitary journey amidst non-sentient robots.
- “They clearly look like they're coming from a Lovecraft story.”
- “The TPS and survival mechanics of this game are pretty run of the mill, but the game's winning assets are the atmosphere and mysterious story.”
- “Great game so far, the story is very compelling.”
- “The story is unclear; even you are not sure what you are doing, and you do not know what your goal is, which only adds to the tension and unease that the game has.”
- “As I said, don't expect a story or an explanation; just try to get out of this planet.”
- “It's dark, I'm alone, with only non-sentient robots to guide me through my quest to escape.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a dark, tense, and creepy ambiance, heavily influenced by Lovecraftian themes. Players appreciate the blend of sci-fi and horror elements, which create a sense of urgency and desperation, making the atmosphere its standout feature despite more conventional gameplay mechanics. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a chilling and immersive experience.
- “This game has a very dark and tense atmosphere; it is very creepy and clearly shows the impact of horror.”
- “If you're looking for a short, good survival game with a creepy atmosphere and an absence of a clear scenario that makes the game more uncomfortable, then you found it.”
- “The atmosphere and enemies reflect a truly Lovecraftian malevolence, giving you a sense of urgency and desperation.”
- “This game has a very dark and tense atmosphere; it is very creepy and the impact is obvious.”
- “Other than this fairly off-putting moment, this game has a dark, spooky sci-fi atmosphere and a creepy, Lovecraftian monster vibe, which I think is a pretty cool blend of genres.”
- “The atmosphere and enemies reflect a truly Lovecraftian malevolence, and you are given a sense of urgency and desperation.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay of "Nightmare on Azathoth" features standard third-person shooter and survival mechanics, with an emphasis on atmosphere and a mysterious narrative. While the game lacks polish and a tutorial, it offers intriguing experiences for players who enjoy horror and sci-fi themes, particularly through its resource management and unique monster design. However, players should be prepared for a learning curve and limited shooting opportunities due to the survival focus.
- “The TPS and survival mechanics of this game are pretty run of the mill, but the game's winning assets are the atmosphere and mysterious story.”
- “Considering this is sort of an alpha and looks to be a mostly independent concept project, it would be unfair to knock it for gameplay mechanics or polish.”
- “If you like to support independent projects like this and enjoy horror and/or sci-fi, you will get a few hours of intriguing gameplay from Nightmare on Azathoth, once you get past the learning curve as this game has no real tutorial.”
- “The survival mechanics in this game (scrounging for ammo and all that good stuff) make shooting somewhat of a rare thing in this game.”
- “The TPS and survival mechanics of this game are pretty run-of-the-mill, but the game's winning assets are the atmosphere and mysterious story.”
- “Monster design and avoidance/teleport mechanics are lacking.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The graphics are reminiscent of early 2000s blockiness, yet they effectively enhance the game's atmosphere, particularly with a strong Lovecraftian influence. While not high-end, the visuals are deemed appropriate for the story, contributing to a creepy ambiance that successfully instills fear in players.
- “The graphics are cool, not for being high-end but for being appropriate to the story and creepy.”
- “The graphics remind me more of early 2000s blockiness.”
- “The graphics are alright, but the lack of color makes the fog seem really overwhelming. The Lovecraft influence is strong, which is a plus, but the overall visual experience feels lacking.”
- “The graphics are underwhelming and do not meet modern standards.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality, contributing to a relaxing atmosphere amidst the tense exploration and encounters with creepy monsters. Players appreciate how the sound design enhances the overall experience, providing a soothing backdrop that contrasts with the game's stark visual palette.
- “You're a man whose ship crashed on a planet, you spawn in a base and have to explore the environment in order to find resources to survive (food, ammo, other stuff used as spare parts...) you'll encounter various monsters that are pretty creepy (a huge flying head, a dancer-like slender creature that changes the music when it charges you...) overall the game has nothing but black/white/grey colors, it is very, very dull.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “The sound and music is well done.”