Pacify

About

Pacify is a single player and multiplayer casual simulation game with a horror theme. It was developed by Shawn Hitchcock and was released on February 22, 2019. It received positive reviews from players.

"Pacify" is a horror action game that can be played by 2-4 players in multiplayer or single-player mode. Players explore a haunted mansion and must pacify a scary girl to survive. With fast-paced gameplay, fantastic graphics, and a highly emotional plot, the game offers a spectacular atmosphere, although it can be very grinding and buggy at times.

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88%

Audience ScoreBased on 21,290 reviews

story128 positive mentions

stability214 negative mentions

story
692 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
72%
10%
The game's story is generally considered minimal and underwhelming, with most players noting that it lacks depth and is often overshadowed by repetitive gameplay. While some missions, particularly the "doll" mission, are praised for their atmosphere and minor lore elements, many reviewers express a desire for more substantial narratives and additional missions to enhance replayability. Overall, the story is seen as a secondary aspect, with players primarily enjoying the game for its cooperative horror experience rather than its plot.
- “As you uncover the dark secrets of the farmhouse, you realize that there's more to the story than meets the eye, leaving you with a sense of fulfillment unlike any other game I've played.”
- “The plot synopsis sets the stage for an intriguing experience, and the game's visuals, as seen in the screenshots, look fantastic for an indie production.”
- “The story is good and gameplay.”
- “The tasks are super repetitive and boring, there's no story, and it's not even scary.”
- “The story is all over the place and quite literally irrelevant.”
- “This game was sooooo boring, idk what's fun about this after the first 5 minutes, it really has a boring story line with 0 progression insight.”
gameplay
654 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
68%
11%
The gameplay of "Pacify" is characterized by its cooperative horror mechanics, where players work together to complete tasks while evading an AI-controlled enemy. However, many reviews highlight the gameplay as repetitive and lacking depth, with frustrating mechanics and limited content that can lead to boredom after a short time. While it can be enjoyable with friends, the overall experience is marred by bugs, unclear objectives, and a lack of engaging gameplay elements.
- “Pacify's gameplay is simple but captivating, making you want to see it through in a single sitting, which is entirely possible.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are simple, but work properly.”
- “With its immersive atmosphere, challenging gameplay, and multiplayer option, it can be an enjoyable choice for horror enthusiasts looking for a thrilling adventure.”
- “Pacify is a game that attempts to deliver a tense co-op horror experience but ultimately falls short due to its lackluster design and repetitive gameplay.”
- “The game has up to four co-op players, including you, working together to complete tasks while avoiding a relentless AI-controlled enemy, but this core mechanic quickly becomes more frustrating than frightening.”
- “The gameplay is unengaging and repetitive; it's not as scary apart from the jumpscares, and the game is buggy.”
humor
600 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in this game is predominantly derived from its chaotic and absurd moments, especially when played with friends, leading to a mix of laughter and screams. Many players find the game more funny than scary, highlighting the comedic interactions and glitches that arise during gameplay. Overall, it is recommended for a fun multiplayer experience, where the combination of horror and humor creates memorable and entertaining moments.
- “This game was absolutely hilarious to play with my friends.”
- “Hilarious co-op horror game, which is initially scary but turns into a laughter fest when playing with friends.”
- “We were all screaming and laughing for so long.”
- “Given that most of them are game breaking and not funny at all.”
- “Is not funny because everyone kicks you out and you don't have anyone left to play with.”
- “After it catches you, it turns you into a 'doll'; this means it shrinks your player model down. For some reason, you can now jump extremely high. I don't know if this is supposed to be funny, but it is.”
graphics
394 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
48%
9%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the atmospheric visuals and immersive sound design that enhance the horror experience, while others criticize the graphics as basic or outdated. Many agree that while the visuals may not be cutting-edge, they are adequate for the game's low price and contribute to its overall enjoyment, especially in multiplayer settings. Overall, the graphics are seen as serviceable but could benefit from improvements to meet higher expectations.
- “Immersive horror: eerie sounds and stunning visuals create a truly terrifying experience.”
- “The graphics are stunning, drawing you into a world that feels both familiar and otherworldly.”
- “The game's immersive atmosphere, challenging gameplay mechanics, and stunning visuals make it a must-play for fans of the genre.”
- “The graphics are often cited as basic, lacking the detail and atmospheric quality that can enhance the spookiness of the setting.”
- “Its basically devour but glitched out, graphics from 2005 and totally no quality.”
- “Unfortunately, the graphics are hard to look at and I couldn't figure out the point of the game.”
stability
220 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
1%
97%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting a plethora of bugs and glitches that significantly impact gameplay. While some users found the game enjoyable despite these issues, many expressed frustration over game-breaking glitches and unpolished mechanics, leading to a generally negative perception of its stability. Overall, the game appears to be in need of substantial updates and fixes to improve its performance and user experience.
- “No bugs or anything, and it runs great.”
- “Good graphics, good controls, no glitches, really fun game to play and lots of jumpscares but not too scary.”
- “No glitches.”
- “Multiple game-breaking glitches.”
- “This game is pure ass, it's unpolished and buggy as hell.”
- “Game is bad, buggy as hell, just complete nonsense, not worth the $3 I paid for it.”
atmosphere
184 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
47%
2%
The atmosphere in "Pacify" is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively creating a tense and chilling environment filled with jump scares and haunting sound design. However, some players note that the initial impact of the atmosphere diminishes over time due to predictable scares and repetitive gameplay. Overall, while the game excels in crafting a spooky ambiance, it could benefit from more variety and depth to maintain its unsettling charm throughout multiple playthroughs.
- “The atmosphere in Pacify is genuinely haunting.”
- “Atmosphere: the moment you step into that haunted house, you’re greeted with a spine-chilling ambiance that screams, 'you’re not making it out of here sane.' The lights flicker, the walls creak, and you’ll swear you saw something move in the corner of your eye.”
- “Pacify, developed by Shawn Hitchcock, is an indie horror game that masterfully blends eerie atmosphere, clever puzzles, and intense gameplay to deliver a truly spine-chilling experience.”
- “The atmosphere, while initially eerie, loses its impact as the jump scares and enemy behavior become predictable and honestly just monotonous.”
- “While the game sets out to create an atmosphere filled with tension and fear, several aspects fall short, affecting the overall gameplay experience and enjoyment for players.”
- “Similarly, the audio design, while adequate, does not contribute significantly to building a creepy atmosphere, missing opportunities to elevate the tension or surprise players.”
replayability
170 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
53%
22%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the unique experiences offered by unpredictable AI and varying difficulties, while others find it quickly becomes monotonous after uncovering its secrets. Many reviews highlight that while the game can be fun, especially with friends, its limited content and lack of new challenges significantly reduce its replay value. Overall, it seems that while there are moments of enjoyment, the game may not sustain long-term interest for most players.
- “Replayability: each game is unique with unpredictable AI and varying difficulties.”
- “The game's mechanics are intuitive and easy to learn, but mastering them requires skill and strategy, which adds a lot of depth and replayability to the game.”
- “With the three game modes (single player, co-op, and PvP), there's tons of replayability (especially with the latter one).”
- “This simplicity might initially engage players seeking a straightforward horror experience, but it quickly becomes monotonous, reducing the game's replayability.”
- “Moreover, the game's replay value might be limited for some, as once you uncover the secrets and complete the main objectives, subsequent playthroughs may feel less suspenseful.”
- “There are 3 scenarios and once you play them they have little replayability, so you're looking at a play-once kind of game.”
grinding
148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
39%
59%
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with players expressing frustration over uninspired environments and monotonous objectives. Many reviews highlight that the gameplay often feels like a long grind, detracting from the overall enjoyment and horror experience. While some acknowledge moments of fun, the consensus leans towards the grinding being a significant drawback that hampers the game's potential.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “One long, tedious grind.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “Each environment feels uninspired, with objectives that grow tedious after just a few attempts on any of the missions.”
- “However, the game quickly becomes tedious as you must repeatedly search the same areas for the same dolls, with the possessed girl randomly appearing to chase you down.”
- “This game is tedious as hell and has awful game design in every sense.”
music
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
88%
5%
The music in the game is described as haunting and atmospheric, effectively enhancing the horror experience with unsettling sound effects and a spooky soundtrack. While many players appreciate the tension created by the sound design, some express a desire for a more dynamic and varied musical score that adapts to gameplay situations. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's eerie ambiance, though there are calls for improvements in volume control and additional tracks.
- “The game's haunting music, sound effects, and visuals create a sense of dread and tension that keeps players on edge throughout the game.”
- “The music and sound effects really add to the ambience.”
- “The graphics are good, no issues with gameplay, creepy atmosphere, creepy mansion, creepy twitchy girl walking, creepy doll running around and giggling, and the music adds that scary vibe to the game.”
- “There are just a few pieces of music in the game; the menu and maybe the outro scenes have music, but that's all.”
- “No music, and when you hear the silence, you feel its oppressiveness.”
- “I really enjoy the game, but I think if it had in-game ambience and music that changed depending on the situation (being chased, more exciting and scary music playing, otherwise very eerie or creepy music), it would make it much more interesting and scarier.”
optimization
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
36%
29%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with reports of inconsistent performance across various systems, frequent bugs, and a general lack of polish. While it runs smoothly on low-end PCs and offers enjoyable gameplay, many players experience stuttering and performance degradation after updates. Overall, improvements in optimization and bug fixes are needed for a more enjoyable experience.
- “If you’re looking for a horror game that runs smoothly on low-end systems, this is it.”
- “It is well optimized to play as 2-3 persons.”
- “As well as some performance upgrades, overall it's a good concept and a good game. Just a few bug fixes and features, and I have a feeling this game will shine!”
- “Additionally, the game's performance can be inconsistent across different systems, further detracting from its accessibility and enjoyment.”
- “Game performance is poor and the performance gets worse after every update.”
- “Its boring and the farm map is basically the same mechanics as the first one, it didn't scare me at all and it's not optimized. I got 120 fps in an RTX 2080 in 1080p!”
emotional
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
94%
6%
The emotional responses to the game are mixed, with some players experiencing deep feelings of fear and laughter, while others find the horror elements repetitive and the storyline lacking. Despite its shortcomings, many appreciate the game's heartwarming message and innovative gameplay, which can evoke strong emotional reactions, including tears of both joy and fear. Overall, the game leaves a lasting impression, though not all players find it engaging throughout.
- “Lets just say it made me cry....”
- “But perhaps the most surprising thing about Pacify is its heartwarming message.”
- “With its stunning visuals, innovative gameplay, and heartfelt message, it's a game that will stay with you long after you've put down the controller.”
monetization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game is widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, lacking depth and originality, with many players feeling it was designed primarily to attract young audiences seeking quick thrills. Despite some positive notes on the developer's responsiveness to feedback and bug fixes, the overall sentiment is that the game prioritizes profit over quality, leading to disappointment and refunds from players.
- “The game feels more like a cheap cash grab than a well-crafted game.”
- “Looks and feels like a game purely made for young impressionable kids that want to start a YouTube channel and want cheap 'freak outs.' This cash grab was an easy refund for me.”
- “I realize I loved the game more than the developer did; it was meant to be a cash grab to help make 'Emily Wants to Play 3.' It was not meant to have more than one map, which is an asset; pretty much most of what is in the game is pre-asset stuff.”