Nightmare Zapping

About

Nightmare Zapping is a single player action game with a horror theme. It was developed by Maldo19 and was released on July 17, 2023. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

In "Nightmare Zapping" , you tune into a mysterious TV showing stories of a cursed town, with two stories included in the game - one about mysterious disappearances in Canela Town and another of a summer festival in Laurel Town. The game features rotoscope animations and various mini-games, challenging you to watch, piece together, and uncover the horrors that threaten these towns.

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Single-Player

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98%

Audience ScoreBased on 48 reviews

story6 positive mentions

music1 negative mentions

The game features a unique channel-surfing concept that effectively weaves together multiple horror stories, creating an engaging narrative experience.
The art style and atmosphere are charming and spooky, enhancing the overall experience and immersing players in the game's lore.
The inclusion of mini-games and puzzles adds interactivity, making the gameplay enjoyable and varied while maintaining a sense of dread.

Some players found the dialogue to be poorly written, with grammatical errors and a lack of clarity in character interactions, detracting from the overall experience.
The horror elements may not be as impactful for everyone, with some feeling that the reliance on a single monster and repetitive scenarios diminished the tension.
The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content or a deeper exploration of the story and characters.

story
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
57%
14%
The game's story is praised for its creativity and engaging narrative, featuring a mix of humor and horror that captivates players. The non-linear storytelling, achieved through a unique channel-surfing mechanic, allows players to piece together a chilling tale filled with unexpected twists and a spooky atmosphere. While some players desired deeper backstory for the antagonist, the overall experience is described as a compelling journey through a world of forgotten horrors and intriguing character arcs.
- “A fantastic and creative way of telling a story, setting a mood, and inducing dread.”
- “The non-linear storytelling combined with the helplessness of watching these events unfold is a fun little trip into these doomed cities and the forgotten horrors they held.”
- “It tells a chilling and fascinating story of horror that leaves you on the edge of your seat.”
- “With the lackluster buildup of repetitive deaths, I was hoping some meaningful backstory or motive would be shared for the main antagonist of the game.”
- “Weird and messed up story goes on the whole time.”
- “Most of the channels simply play out pixel-style images and dialogue for that story, while others will exist to just creep you out (which it does very effectively).”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game's atmosphere is a polarizing aspect among reviewers; some praise its spooky and immersive qualities, enhanced by effective storytelling, hand-drawn art, and rotoscope animations, while others criticize it for relying too heavily on a single monster and lacking the charm of its predecessor. Despite mixed opinions, many agree that the game successfully creates a horrifying experience with a strong sense of tension and lore. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both captivating and unsettling, contributing significantly to the game's impact.
- “I absolutely loved this game for its spooky atmosphere, storytelling, and the sheer terror of an entity like the monster!”
- “I love how creepy it is; the atmosphere that is set up for the game is top-notch, and the lore around the monster that slowly comes to light is really good.”
- “The impressive rotoscope animations and minimal sound also pile on the atmosphere, which is what makes this game so good.”
- “Primarily, there was no horror atmosphere.”
- “There were moments that were clearly meant to be tense, or scary, or saddening, but the developer relies on a single monster with a generic premise for the maybe 30 or 40 deaths you'll witness in the game, hoping that shock value alone is enough to provide the atmosphere conveyed in the trailer.”
- “However, this game lacks any of the spooky yet charming retro atmosphere the last game achieved with its distinctive art style and controls.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game's graphics feature a unique hand-drawn art style that effectively complements its horrifying narrative, allowing for disturbing content to be presented without excessive graphic detail. While the visuals are eye-catching and fit the theme well, some players feel it lacks the spooky retro atmosphere of its predecessor. Overall, the simple yet specific graphics enhance the game's chilling atmosphere and narrative.
- “The game's channel-surfing concept is unique and the visuals are quite eye-catching.”
- “The art style and the pretty novel narrative device work well together.”
- “Very simple, specific style of graphics that somehow fits the theme very well.”
- “However, this game lacks any of the spooky yet charming retro atmosphere the last game achieved with its distinctive art style and controls.”
- “With simple graphics, maldo gives us an update and overall upgrade from part one (released back in February).”
- “The game's channel-surfing concept is unique, and the visuals are quite eye-catching.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The gameplay is a blend of narrative-driven elements and puzzle mechanics, primarily revolving around reading dialogue and uncovering secrets within a horror-themed visual novel framework. Players appreciate the clever integration of minigames and the effective use of a channel mechanic, which enhances the overall experience while maintaining a balance of tension and levity. The art direction complements the gameplay, contributing to the immersive atmosphere.
- “It was so worth it! I love this game and how the mechanic of the channel gets used for some puzzles.”
- “It's an excellent premise, and the gameplay loop of watching the horrifying scenes unfold, followed by trying to uncover the secrets behind what is happening, is excellent.”
- “I genuinely think this was a genius narrative device to build around what is essentially a short horror visual novel with minigames included. It has weaved all of those mechanics quite deftly around what the story has developed into, carrying on the horror of the looming doom of an unknowable threat with some consistent levity and great art direction that fits the tone wildly well.”
- “Reading dialog comprises the majority of gameplay.”
- “Gameplay here: https://youtu.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The soundtrack has received positive feedback, with users noting that it effectively enhances the overall experience of the game.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Nightmare Zapping is a action game with horror theme.

Nightmare Zapping is available on PC and Windows.

Nightmare Zapping was released on July 17, 2023.

Nightmare Zapping was developed by Maldo19.

Nightmare Zapping has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its atmosphere.

Nightmare Zapping is a single player game.

Similar games include Dinner with an Owl, Lily's Well, At Home Alone Final, Last Report, Yuppie Psycho and others.

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