One-Eyed Likho

About

One-Eyed Likho is a single player action game. It was developed by Morteshka and was released on July 28, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

One-Eyed Likho is a first-person horror adventure set in a haunting world inspired by a 19th-century Slavic fairy tale. Players explore a grim, greyscale environment filled with folk horror elements, solving fire-based puzzles to uncover secrets and escape an evil fate. The game weaves atmospheric storytelling with unique mechanics centered around light and shadow.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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92%

Audience ScoreBased on 98 reviews

story8 positive mentions

The game features a haunting atmosphere and stunning black-and-white visuals that effectively immerse players in Slavic folklore.
The storytelling is engaging, with a unique blend of mythology and cultural references that enrich the player's experience.
Puzzles are simple yet enjoyable, and the matchstick mechanic adds an interesting layer to the gameplay.

The gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth, with many puzzles being too easy and not challenging enough.
Some players found the pacing uneven, with the middle sections of the game feeling less engaging compared to the beginning and end.
The voice acting and some technical aspects, such as animations, were criticized for being subpar, detracting from the overall experience.

story
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
67%
9%
The game's story is a visually striking and atmospheric homage to Slavic folklore, weaving together familiar mythological themes with a simplistic, fairy tale structure. While some players appreciate the engaging storytelling and immersive environment, others find the narrative repetitive and lacking in depth, often feeling railroaded through the experience. Overall, it excels in creating a captivating atmosphere, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more complex or interactive narrative.
- “This game doesn't just tell a story; it pulls you deep into the dark heart of Slavic folklore with an intensity that's both beautiful and terrifying.”
- “The developers masterfully showed how similar mythological figures exist in cultures from different corners of the world, creating a universal story about humanity's ancient fears.”
- “Playing this game feels like I'm sitting beside the fireplace listening to my grandfather tell a story.”
- “While I wanted to like this game, it was mostly just walking around and reading similar versions of the same story.”
- “The game's story, while simplistic purposefully due to its emulation of ancient legends passed on through word-of-mouth, gets rather repetitive in its symbolism and hammers you over the head with 'hey look, doesn't this look like a certain legend that I've already mentioned fifty trillion times!'”
- “I think the core problem of the game is that it follows a simple fairy tale beat by beat, without any western-style development of the story.”
atmosphere
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
27%
10%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and spine-chilling qualities, drawing heavily from Slavic folklore to create a unique blend of mystery and horror. Players appreciate the haunting visuals, enchanting soundtrack, and the absence of cheap jump scares, which contribute to a deeply engaging experience. However, some critiques note that while the atmosphere is exceptional, the gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth, potentially detracting from the overall experience.
- “The atmosphere, the writing, the voice acting, the music - this game nails it.”
- “Its monochrome visuals and eerie Slavic folklore create an authentic, spine-chilling atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere wraps around you and is somehow equal parts fascinating and apprehensive.”
- “Substantially detrimental to the overall atmosphere.”
- “The experience leans hard into atmosphere and aesthetics, offering simple puzzles and minimal stealth that never demand too much.”
- “The simplistic puzzles and brief stealth segments fit neatly into the game’s casual-centric DNA as the story builds up its dark, fever dream-like atmosphere; however, for those looking for a stronger narrative and more meat to sink their teeth into on the gameplay front, One-Eyed Likho could very well fall short.”
graphics
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
52%
13%
The graphics of "Likho" are strikingly beautiful, utilizing a stark black-and-white aesthetic that enhances its eerie atmosphere and storytelling. While the visuals are praised for their artistic direction and ability to evoke a sense of dread, some players note that the poor contrast can hinder gameplay. Overall, the game is celebrated for its haunting beauty and strong visual presentation, though it may lack depth in other gameplay aspects.
- “The striking black-and-white aesthetic isn't just a stylistic choice - it's storytelling perfection.”
- “Its monochrome visuals and eerie Slavic folklore create an authentic, spine-chilling atmosphere.”
- “If you’re looking for a relatively brief experience of about 4 to 5 hours that lives and breathes Slavic folklore, with the focus being primarily on the visuals and the overall presentation, One-Eyed Likho is a short and sweet trip into a monochrome world of haunting beauty.”
- “Additionally, the black and white graphics and the poor contrast make it hard to play.”
- “It's artistic, atmospheric, and deals with a fascinating subject matter, but its innovations are largely limited to the aesthetics, while the rest of the experience is sort of just… okay.”
- “Despite very uncanny visuals, you are pretty safe most of the time; the few moments where the safety breaks are brief, and failing them is not a big deal - you just try again until you succeed.”
gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
68%
14%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by simple mechanics and a focus on exploration, often resembling a walking simulator with minimal interaction. While the visual puzzles and atmosphere are praised for their engaging qualities, many reviewers note a lack of depth and challenge in the gameplay, which may disappoint players seeking more substantial interaction. Overall, the game prioritizes mood and storytelling over complex gameplay, appealing to those who appreciate a more casual experience.
- “The gameplay mechanics are deceptively simple yet deeply engaging.”
- “The matchstick mechanic and unsettling sound design pull you deep into its nightmarish world.”
- “Mechanics and puzzle gameplay strike a nice balance—not too hard, not too easy.”
- “There is also a terrible lack of gameplay, even for a walking simulator.”
- “There is not much gameplay, but I would not have expected it anyway of this genre.”
- “The simplistic puzzles and brief stealth segments fit neatly into the game’s casual-centric DNA as the story builds up its dark, fever dream-like atmosphere; however, for those looking for a stronger narrative and more meat to sink their teeth into on the gameplay front, One-Eyed Likho could very well fall short.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers noting its uniqueness and connection to Slavic folklore. While it contributes significantly to the game's aesthetic and mood, some players feel that the music alone cannot compensate for the game's shortcomings in gameplay and variety. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, elevating the game's ambiance despite its repetitive nature.
- “The atmosphere, the writing, the voice acting, the music - this game nails it.”
- “I give this game about an 8/10 mostly because of how unique it is and I can tell how much work and effort went into this game, especially the music.”
- “The atmosphere of mystery, wonderful visual style, enchanting soundtrack and endless references to Slavic folklore are combined in a unique swirl that will take the player to the dark corners of folk tales known to every kid.”
- “The music in this game feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “While the game has a lot of strengths, the music is forgettable and doesn't enhance the experience.”
- “The soundtrack is underwhelming and doesn't match the game's atmosphere, leaving it feeling flat.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, particularly for its smooth performance on ultra settings and excellent compatibility with the Steam Deck. While the sound design receives mixed reviews, the pacing and aesthetics contribute positively to the overall experience.
- “Pacing is perfect, aesthetics are over the top, great optimization for the Steam Deck.”
- “Performance and graphics: super smooth—runs perfectly on ultra settings without a single crash.”
- “The only redeeming quality is the sound design, although the Russian voice acting performance is quite mediocre.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game offers limited replayability, primarily appealing to players interested in achieving 100% completion, as the main content can be completed in just over five hours.
- “The game offers a variety of choices that significantly change the outcome, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
- “With multiple endings and different character paths, I found myself coming back to explore every possibility.”
- “The dynamic gameplay mechanics and random events keep each session unique, ensuring that replaying the game is always a rewarding experience.”
- “It took me just over 5 hours to complete, and there's not much replay value unless you are looking for 100% achievements.”
- “Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
- “The story is linear, and after the first playthrough, it feels repetitive with no new content to explore.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the varying difficulty of optional locked chest puzzles, which range from overly simplistic to perplexingly complex, often leading to amusingly frustrating moments for players.
- “The difficulty of the optional locked chest puzzles ranges from 'for babies' to 'complete brainfuck', which is funny as sometimes they are quite obscure.”
- “The game's witty dialogue and absurd situations had me laughing out loud more than once.”
- “I love how the characters have such quirky personalities that lead to hilarious interactions throughout the game.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "One eye likho" highlights its ability to transcend traditional entertainment, positioning it as a significant cultural work that resonates deeply with players by tapping into archetypal images and the collective unconscious.
- “One eye likho proves that video games can be more than just entertainment — they can be full-fledged cultural works capable of touching the deepest strings of the human soul through appeals to archetypal images of the collective unconscious.”