Nyctophilia

Nyctophilia is a 2D psychological thriller that eschews typical horror tropes like monsters, maniacs, and magic. Instead, it delves into the human psyche, exploring "bad things" that are often left unspoken. The game's atmospheric visuals and immersive storytelling create a haunting experience that will linger long after you've finished playing.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

56%

Audience ScoreBased on 151 reviews

story21 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

The game features a mysterious and abstract story that some players found intriguing.
The soundtrack is well-received, adding tension and atmosphere to the gameplay.
As a free game, it offers a decent experience for those interested in indie titles.

The story is often described as bland, confusing, and lacking in engagement, leaving many players disappointed.
Gameplay mechanics, such as slow walking speed and clumsy controls, detract from the overall experience.
The English translation is poorly executed, with numerous grammatical errors and typos that hinder understanding.

story
83 mentions
25 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it abstract and intriguing, while others describe it as confusing, poorly paced, and lacking depth. Many noted that the narrative struggles to engage, with some elements feeling anticlimactic or irrelevant to gameplay, though a few appreciated its artistic design and emotional themes. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a significant weakness, detracting from the overall experience despite some positive aspects.
- “Overall, Nyctophilia is a solid experience with an artistic design and story premise that have come to be expected in this genre.”
- “An amazing story, and the gameplay is awesome.”
- “Nyctophilia is a slow-going horror/mystery indie game where you experience nightmares and try to unravel the story of what's happening to this guy.”
- “The story itself was not impressive, or even engaging, in my own opinion.”
- “The game has a tendency to feel very long, slow, and for me, the story didn't have any relevance to anything you were able to do as far as I could see either, with pointless sequences and incredibly obvious pointers to what or where you would be going next.”
- “The story is a jumbled mess to me, as I had no clue what was going on.”
music
28 mentions
64 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many reviewers praising its ability to create tension and enhance the overall atmosphere, often drawing comparisons to iconic soundtracks like those from Silent Hill. While some found the soundtrack to be a standout feature that complements the game's design, a few critiques noted that the music could be simplistic or average in certain instances. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant asset, contributing to the game's immersive experience.
- “I loved the music; it was fun and created a fair amount of tension.”
- “It has a great soundtrack, mysterious vibes, and an overall creepy atmosphere.”
- “I enjoyed playing it; the nice creepy story and design are complemented by a really good soundtrack.”
- “The music is definitely trying to emulate Silent Hill, and there's nothing wrong with that as it's done pretty well, but it's wasted on the game because it lacks any real tension.”
- “The music is simple, cheap, and moody.”
- “The story is eh, and the music is eh; all in all, the game is eh.”
graphics
20 mentions
30 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro pixel art style that appeals to some players for its nostalgic charm, effectively contributing to the game's creepy atmosphere. However, opinions are mixed, with some reviewers finding the visuals bland and lacking in variety, while others appreciate the simplicity and thematic coherence. Overall, the graphics are seen as decent for an indie title, though they may not stand out in the long run.
- “The simple art style helps add to the creepy atmosphere, and the story is good as well.”
- “A very great game; it has a decent short storyline and has really good graphics for an indie 16-bit game.”
- “What makes this game stand out is not just its classic pixelated graphics, but the overall theme and atmosphere.”
- “The controls are spotty and there are no graphics options (not even window vs fullscreen).”
- “Ok, the pixel graphics are very retro and all, but let’s face it, it gets tired really fast.”
- “The graphics are bland and uninspired, and the music is average at best.”
gameplay
18 mentions
22 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it slow-paced and lacking in engaging mechanics, often describing it as a walking simulator. While some appreciate the potential for exploration and storytelling, others criticize the confusing navigation and absence of satisfying puzzles, leading to frustration. Overall, the gameplay is seen as straightforward but could benefit from clearer progression elements and improved mechanics to enhance the experience.
- “Every other puzzle aspect was fairly straightforward and I didn't have any issues regarding gameplay.”
- “In conclusion, good story, the art adds atmosphere, enjoyable gameplay.”
- “An amazing story, and the gameplay is awesome.”
- “A lot of questions are asked without answers, the related gameplay dragging the player on without any real satisfaction or incentive beyond 'tell me what is going on'.”
- “Interesting, but gameplay is boring; it's just a walking simulator.”
- “The gameplay is pretty stale, and the environments are relatively absent of any polish.”
atmosphere
9 mentions
78 % positive mentions
11 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is frequently praised for its intriguing, Lynch-inspired qualities and effective use of simple pixel art, which contributes to a creepy and engaging experience. While many players appreciate the overall theme and storytelling, some feel that the potential for a more intense atmosphere was not fully realized. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a strong point, enhancing the enjoyment of the gameplay.
- “The simple art style helps add to the creepy atmosphere, and the story is good as well.”
- “The pixel art is basic but actually has a nice atmosphere to it.”
- “What makes this game stand out is not just its classic pixelated graphics, but the overall theme and atmosphere.”
grinding
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
-20 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game can be tedious and complicated, particularly in challenging areas like the catacombs. Players express frustration with the repetitive nature of searching for solutions, which detracts from the overall enjoyment and prevents some from recommending the game.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It's not ultimately that bad, but it gets tedious, and because of that, I can't recommend it.”
- “What prevents Nyctophilia from getting a recommended score is the fact that the core of the game gets tedious.”
humor
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its sarcastic characters and intentionally poor translations, which contribute to a comedic experience that many players find entertaining. The protagonist's negative attitude and the absurdity of the storyline add to the overall hilarity, making it a standout feature for those who appreciate a humorous approach in gaming.
- “An absolutely hilarious and sarcastic character.”
- “There is one great reason to play this game: if you enjoy hilariously bad translations on dialogue.”
- “It made me laugh more often than not.”
stability
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, including game-ending issues and frequent crashes, which significantly hinder the gameplay experience. Players have reported problems such as black screens and unresponsive controls, leading to frustration and negative reviews.
- “I was digging the art style and audio, which was amazingly done by the way; however, the buggy nature of the game and the simple fact that I can't even continue the storyline is driving this review to a complete negative.”
- “As a caveat, I need to point out that I played this game back when the English translation was rather rough, and things were a bit buggy; I had a game-ending issue about one-third of the way through and had to replay the first day or so.”
- “So many crashing glitches, like black screens with weird sound files and just not being able to move.”
emotional
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with users expressing feelings of sadness due to the walking animation, while also finding the overall art design and story to be uninspiring and dull. This combination of elements detracts from any potential emotional impact, leading to a disappointing experience.
- “The walking animation just made me want to cry.”
- “The broken English and boring story made this not even worth being free.”
- “It has boring art design, boring story, and boring everything.”