Not in Heaven

About

Not in Heaven is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by Ricardo Pratas and was released on January 31, 2019. It received neutral reviews from players.

"Not in Heaven" is a third-person horror adventure game following Emily, an 8-year-old girl searching for her father after waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. The game features puzzle-solving and intense horror elements as Emily navigates a surreal world. Help Emily find her father, but be prepared for unexpected obstacles.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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45%

Audience ScoreBased on 44 reviews

story6 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game has a compelling and emotional storyline that resonates with players.
The graphics and atmosphere are visually appealing, especially for a solo developer.
Despite its flaws, the game offers a unique and eerie experience that some players find enjoyable.

The controls are clunky and unresponsive, making gameplay frustrating and difficult.
The camera angles are awkward and can lead to disorientation, hindering player navigation.
The game is plagued by bugs and crashes, which significantly detract from the overall experience.

story
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
40%
20%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its emotional depth and atmospheric elements, while others criticize it for being simplistic, rushed, and lacking in depth. Despite its engaging themes and Lovecraftian influences, many feel that the narrative is hindered by gameplay issues and a lack of complexity. Overall, while the story has its merits, it leaves players wanting more in terms of length and development.
- “Overall, the game has a great story.”
- “I really loved the idea behind the game and its eerie atmosphere, the plot is pretty good too.”
- “It's like reading a creepy story, which you know won't take too long but is still enjoyable.”
- “Emily's story seemed basic and somewhat rushed; there wasn't really much to go on, and it was just moving from point A to point B time and time again.”
- “Poorly programmed, bad voice-over, cheap storyline, bad storytelling.”
- “I would recommend it only if it were longer, with a few gameplay changes, better story, and more challenging encounters instead of mindless enemies just set to follow the protagonist when she's near.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
39%
23%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the atmospheric visuals, lighting, and certain well-designed areas, while others criticize the overall quality and inconsistencies. Despite the promising start and some visually appealing elements, many users note issues such as poor implementation and graphical glitches that detract from the experience. Overall, while the graphics show potential, they fall short of expectations for a polished game.
- “Graphically, for a solo developer it's really good.”
- “I liked the dev's previous game and this one starts out promising enough with some interesting visuals.”
- “The graphics are great so far, the story is a perfect balance of real meets creepy next world.”
- “While other gamers might have more luck than I did, the premise of this game is spoiled by a very low quality implementation and poor graphics.”
- “On one hand, the skies are very nice and certain areas of the game are visually pleasing, but the game has a lot of graphical inconsistencies splattered throughout.”
- “I went in ready to ignore the lackluster graphics because I held onto hope that it would be an enjoyable game with an interesting story and good gameplay.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The gameplay is characterized by basic mechanics that involve navigating in third person and solving horror-themed challenges related to caring for young characters. While some mechanics may not synergize well, the game's unique atmosphere and emotional connection to the characters create a compelling experience, making it recommendable despite its flaws and lackluster graphics. Overall, it shows potential for greater success with a higher budget.
- “The uniqueness of the game, and the dread it makes you feel while taking care of the little ones, is very compelling. You feel the innocence of the kids and their fragility; their voices are super cute, and you really feel for them. The gameplay is very basic, but it works very well. This could very well be a super hit with more budget to make it even more compelling, but as it is right now, it is very recommendable.”
- “I went in ready to ignore the lackluster graphics because I held onto hope that it would be an enjoyable game with an interesting story and good gameplay.”
- “Gameplay consists of bumbling around in third person and solving horror problems of a young girl or something.”
- “However, the flaws don't take away from the game's playability as it isn't too bad, but a lot of the mechanics do not complement one another.”
- “The gameplay is very basic, but it does work very well. This could very well be a super hit with more budget to make it even more compelling, but as it is right now, it is very recommendable.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the effective combination of story, visuals, and soundtrack that creates a memorable experience. However, some users express disappointment regarding gameplay issues that detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game's eerie and engaging atmosphere stands out, despite some criticisms.
- “After playing the developer's previous game 'The 111th Soul', I came into 'Not in Heaven' with high expectations, and I was not disappointed. The story, the visuals, the soundtrack, all worked incredibly well in creating a great atmospheric experience I will not soon forget. Keep up the great work, and I will be looking forward to your next game.”
- “I really loved the idea behind the game and its eerie atmosphere; the plot is pretty good too.”
- “And very atmospheric.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs that hinder gameplay, such as low mouse sensitivity and difficulty interacting with key items. Players report persistent glitches that disrupt camera movement and overall experience, making certain sections nearly impossible to complete.
- “But the game is buggy, and the mouse sensitivity was so low that it made one part impossible for me to get through.”
- “In the cells, the key you had to pick up was really buggy and hard to actually pick up. I had to mash my keyboard and hope something would eventually work, which it did, but I don't know what.”
- “Constantly glitches, and you cannot move the camera.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Reviews on the music aspect are mixed; while some players feel the music and ambience clash, others praise the soundtrack for enhancing the overall atmospheric experience, particularly in comparison to the developer's previous game. Overall, the music is generally considered enjoyable and contributes positively to the game's impact.
- “After playing the developer's previous game 'The 111th Soul', I came into 'Not in Heaven' with high expectations, and I was not disappointed. The story, the visuals, the soundtrack, all worked incredibly well in creating a great atmospheric experience I will not soon forget. Keep up the great work, and I will be looking forward to your next game.”
- “Music was enjoyable.”
- “The ambience combined with the music doesn't go too well together; I feel as if the developers should have picked one or the other.”