Oakwood

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 317 reviews
  • story
  • atmosphere
  • graphics
Oakwood Game Cover
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"Oakwood is a single-player Horror Action game with a good story and fabulous atmosphere. As the lone survivor of a campground massacre, players must explore the woods and survive the night, avoiding prehistoric predators while uncovering the violent history of the abandoned campground. With just your flashlight and wits, evade raptors, hide from giant dinosaurs, and search for your missing friends in this intense first-person horror adventure."

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 317 reviews
story17 positive mentions
optimization3 negative mentions
  • Fun and engaging gameplay with a unique dinosaur horror theme.
  • Atmospheric sound design and visuals that enhance the horror experience.
  • Offers a nostalgic feel reminiscent of Jurassic Park, with some clever references.
  • Very short playtime, typically around 1-2 hours, leaving players wanting more.
  • Gameplay can feel linear and scripted, reducing replayability and tension.
  • Flashlight mechanics are poor, making it difficult to navigate dark areas effectively.
  • story58 mentions

    The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it either convoluted or lacking depth. While some appreciated the eerie atmosphere and intriguing premise, they noted that the narrative often felt underdeveloped, relying heavily on scattered notes that failed to provide substantial context. Overall, players expressed a desire for a more fleshed-out storyline and greater exploration of the game's lore.

    • “First off, this game has excellent atmosphere; the music is actually creepy and unsettling and fits the tone of this game. The lore and story are told mostly well and interestingly enough to where you definitely want to know more. I found myself motivated to go back and find more of the secrets.”
    • “Good story, and great atmosphere the whole way through, and at a very reasonable price.”
    • “Oakwood has an interesting story and setting.”
    • “But the story got needlessly convoluted, the secret was lackluster for the backtracking most people will have to do to get it, and the later chapters didn't feel nearly as spooky or frightening as the second one.”
    • “The story in this game is basically non-existent; the only slight part of something resembling a story is that you are here because you were going to go camping with some friends, but oh, the (totally not a horror trope) situation where all your friends go missing with no explanation happens.”
    • “The ending was perhaps a little lackluster, as we learn so little about the story of what is going on in Oakwood, and scripted deaths can be immensely unfulfilling if not employed correctly - this one didn't quite hit the mark.”
  • atmosphere42 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively building tension and fear through sound design and environmental storytelling. Despite some criticisms regarding graphics and gameplay mechanics, many players found the atmosphere to be gripping and unsettling, enhancing the overall horror experience. Overall, it successfully creates a suspenseful environment that keeps players on edge, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The atmosphere was terrifying!”
    • “I was so sure when I started and saw the forest graphics that I would end up having a good laugh at the dinosaurs or that I wouldn't find them scary, but because of the absolutely fantastic atmosphere and build-up of the tension, I was so terrified.”
    • “Oakwood is a game consisting of an immersive atmosphere and amazing sound design, which lets all be real, is a major part of indie horror.”
    • “The graphics aren't fantastic, the animations are a little wonky and the gameplay is formulaic; however, it also has an incredibly eerie and unsettling atmosphere, a story which doesn't hold your hand, and some incredibly tense moments.”
    • “The atmosphere consists of the bog standard darkness that is somehow just enough to see even when there is no light source nearby, a single, continuously droning note as an excuse for music, amongst other spooky background noises, and cheap jumpscare animations.”
    • “The environments are well crafted and add to the ominous atmosphere.”
  • graphics33 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they are functional and occasionally evoke a nostalgic atmosphere, they often fall short of modern standards. Issues such as poor optimization, janky animations, and subpar textures were frequently mentioned, yet some players appreciated the eerie aesthetic and how it contributed to the overall horror experience. Overall, while the visuals may not impress everyone, they do not significantly detract from the game's enjoyment.

    • “The graphics in this game were actually pretty good. I enjoyed the aesthetic of everything; it had a kind of retro vibe that took me back to the period when dinosaurs became popular with the release of Jurassic Park. The dirty feel of the environments really brought some bad vibes (bad in a good way).”
    • “Decent graphics and a good atmosphere of horror.”
    • “The graphics are impressive for an indie game, but there are some people that might be put off. Don't let the graphics fool you; you have got to play this game.”
    • “Had to repeatedly mess with graphics settings because it was very unoptimized; for a game from 2018, I should be able to run it easily, but I had to fight it.”
    • “The only real problem I have with this game is the graphics. Now, I'm not usually a big graphics guy; hell, I love playing old school FPS games, but the old Unity asset flip look is just really ugly to me.”
    • “While the dinosaurs have neat textures and appear to be accurately modeled to scale from the player, the texture is, in brighter settings or higher graphics, just passable.”
  • gameplay32 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a linear and formulaic design, primarily involving stealth mechanics and exploration, which some players found frustrating due to its trial-and-error nature and lack of depth. While the atmosphere and tension are praised, the overall experience is marred by short playtime, awkward mechanics, and a reliance on scattered notes for storytelling. Despite its shortcomings, many players appreciate the game's eerie ambiance and express hope for improved gameplay in future titles.

    • “The gameplay also sets up rules and then breaks them.”
    • “This game was pretty good; it had a lot of cool scripted chase scenes and the overall gameplay was fun.”
    • “It gives genuinely scary jump scares, an unsettling atmosphere, and even a mysterious story with a pretty polished gameplay experience.”
    • “Unfortunately, it's pretty short; completely beaten in around an hour, and the gameplay is more 'run from place to place' than action-styled, so it's not likely to be something anyone would replay over and over again in quick succession.”
    • “The game has trial-and-error based gameplay, which can get frustrating when you just want to get back to where you were.”
    • “Bad gameplay, awful and lazy level design; the story is delivered through notes, and the non-existent monster AI makes for a disappointing experience.”
  • music16 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to create a creepy and unsettling atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience and immersing players in the lore. While some users noted occasional issues with looping and minimal exploration, the soundtrack and sound design are generally considered impressive, contributing significantly to the game's tension and mood. Overall, the music is a standout feature that effectively complements the game's eerie setting.

    • “It was so much fun but also genuinely creepy at points, and the music was amazing!”
    • “First off, this game has excellent atmosphere. The music is actually creepy and unsettling and fits the tone of this game. The lore and story are told mostly well and interestingly enough to where you definitely want to know more. I found myself motivated to go back and find more of the secrets.”
    • “Also, the music really gives this game its atmosphere, and makes the forest environment a creepy place to be by yourself. It gives the feeling of dread and fear as well as isolation.”
    • “The sound and music was way too much for me to handle!”
    • “Perhaps the feeling tension at times could be kinda compared to Alien Isolation, due to the sounds and music, but under every other aspect, the game just fails.”
    • “The atmosphere consists of the bog standard darkness that is somehow just enough to see even when there is no light source nearby, a single, continuously droning note as an excuse for music, amongst other spooky background noises, and cheap jumpscare animations.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, such as low frame rates and the need to frequently adjust graphics settings. While some users noted that certain indie titles run better, the general consensus is that this game suffers from poor optimization, impacting the overall experience.

    • “Oakwood is definitely one of the better running cheap indie titles out there, and the only improvement that could be suggested for performance and settings is the inclusion of subtitles; the few included grainy, distorted voiceovers were difficult to make out, and much of the dialogue gets lost.”
    • “Final verdict: scary, atmospheric, tasteful Jurassic Park Easter eggs but also a bit short, questionable ending, and a bit of performance hiccup in the intro.”
    • “Had to repeatedly mess with graphics settings because it was very unoptimized; for a game from 2018, I should be able to run it easily, but I had to fight it.”
    • “I really wanted to give this game a chance and I believe in supporting small indie game makers, but it appears to be poorly optimized and I can barely get 19 frames per second from it.”
    • “Final verdict: scary, atmospheric, tasteful Jurassic Park easter eggs but also a bit short, questionable ending, and a bit of performance hiccup in the intro.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    Overall, the game offers limited replayability, with only minor variations in paths and object locations between playthroughs. While there are hidden collectibles and a secret area to explore, most players may find little incentive to replay unless pursuing achievements or enjoying the game's aesthetics.

    • “There's also hidden totems and a secret area to offer some replay value.”
    • “That being said, once you've gone through the game once there's not much replay value unless you want to get all the achievements or just generally like the look of the game.”
    • “Not a huge amount of replay value, to be honest, though I do wish I could have played the Halloween event - looks fun.”
    • “That being said, once you've gone through the game once, there's not much replay value unless you want to get all the achievements or just generally like the look of the game.”
    • “The little voice acting there is in the game is done very well, and there are some very slight variations in paths and object locations between playthroughs to add a little replay value, which is appreciated.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game's stability is mixed; while some players report a generally solid experience with fast loading times and stable frame rates, others encounter frequent glitches, such as getting stuck on terrain and issues with controls. Overall, the game shows potential but suffers from notable technical inconsistencies.

    • “It's a little wonky with a couple of glitches at points, especially if you try to explore off the normal path. I got stuck on terrain or objects briefly a few times, but it's a pretty solid short horror game.”
    • “There were a few glitches and very few scares.”
    • “There is pretty much no storyline, controls are iffy, and I experienced many glitches where dinosaurs got stuck in walls, I teleported, and the list goes on.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it requires an unrealistic amount of effort akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players expressing a strong sense of immersion that evokes the thrilling experience of being in Jurassic Park, particularly highlighting memorable scenes that significantly enhance the overall enjoyment.

    • “It made me feel like I was in Jurassic Park. 10/10”
    • “Made me feel like I was playing the kitchen scene in Jurassic Park, which is worth the cost of admission on its own.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

1hMedian play time
1hAverage play time
1-2hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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