Palmyra Orphanage

About

"Palmyra Orphanage" is a narrative-driven psychological horror game. Players uncover the dark secrets of the orphanage as they step into the shoes of a investigative journalist. The game features a distinctive art style and immersive atmosphere, with puzzles and story developments that will keep players on their toes.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 177 reviews

story23 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The game offers a good atmosphere and visuals, effectively creating a sense of dread and immersion.
It features a variety of jump scares that, while sometimes predictable, still manage to elicit genuine reactions.
The story is engaging with multiple endings, providing replay value and a deeper exploration of the narrative.

The game suffers from a reliance on cheap jump scares, which can detract from the overall horror experience.
Some gameplay mechanics, such as the inventory system and hiding mechanics, feel underdeveloped and can lead to frustration.
The ending is abrupt and features an excessive amount of exposition that can feel unnecessary and detracts from the pacing.

story
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The story of the game is generally well-received, with many players finding it engaging and immersive, particularly appreciating its connection to the setting of a post-Soviet orphanage and the exploration of dark themes. However, some critiques highlight predictability, convoluted explanations, and a reliance on notes for backstory, which can detract from the overall experience. While the narrative has its strengths, including multiple endings and a strong atmosphere, it is often noted that the execution could benefit from more originality and depth.
- “The story was surprisingly interesting and it has several endings that all feel significant, given what you've learned about the characters and the situation they're in.”
- “The early notes you find furthermore shed a gradual light upon a genuinely interesting story, and are adequately written aside from the occasional (mild) blunder in the English translation.”
- “So, as mentioned, on your next rainy day, maybe consider picking up Palmyra Orphanage, a ghost story of a missing brother, dead children, and a morally bankrupt and financially ruined orphanage.”
- “It's a shame that the plot was so predictable.”
- “Sadly for myself and my partner, being dropped in a quickly established predictable plot and controlling a protagonist with zero personality didn't work for us.”
- “The majority of the plot is conveyed via notes, but there is also quite a long ending that explains everything in further detail; that doesn't stop it from coming off very convoluted, though the complexity of the story may be a 'lost in translation' issue.”
atmosphere
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
44%
7%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its chilling and immersive qualities, effectively combining elements of dread, psychological horror, and jump scares. Many reviewers highlight the unique settings, such as an abandoned orphanage, and commend the game's sound design and visuals for enhancing the overall experience. However, some critiques mention that technical issues and design choices can detract from the intended tension, suggesting a need for improvement in certain areas.
- “The atmosphere and music were great.”
- “This game's atmosphere is outstanding!”
- “The atmosphere is very spooky and really well done.”
- “Solid atmosphere early on but there is very little to do, nothing is telegraphed properly so it feels like you are wandering around a college game design major's capstone project as lighting issues become apparent with bare-bones UI/UX design making this feel cheaper than what you paid the developers for.”
- “This fear is undermined by certain technical and design choices I will explain shortly, but nevertheless the dark lit hallways, the ominous children’s cries, the unlit candles, the creaking of opening and closing doors – these all work to generate an overall ominous atmosphere.”
- “You anti-Russian posters which flood the hallways of the orphanage, in notes that, instead of world-building or summoning atmosphere, just distract me with general, unjustified anti-Soviet/Russian propaganda.”
gameplay
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
76%
8%
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of exploration, item collection, and stealth mechanics that some players found enjoyable, while others criticized it for being linear and lacking innovation. The lighter fluid mechanic, intended to add tension, is often deemed unnecessary due to its abundance, and while the atmosphere and visuals are praised, the overall experience is described as somewhat predictable and reminiscent of other horror titles. Despite its shortcomings, the game offers decent replay value with multiple endings and a solid balance of atmosphere and jumpscares.
- “Little mechanical details made this more enjoyable than average for me: nice looking inventory system, particularly enjoyed the aesthetic of the note collecting, item descriptions, and children's drawings.”
- “Equipped with a sturdy platinum Zippo, the gameplay in Palmyra Orphanage consists mainly of exploration, item collection, stealth, hiding, and puzzle-solving.”
- “The balance between atmosphere and jumpscares is well maintained and the gameplay is very intuitive.”
- “If I had notes, I would have dropped the lighter fluid mechanic since it's actually just more annoying than anything.”
- “This game has that overused mechanic of indie horror where you have a light source and need to constantly look for fuel for it... but the light source has such a long life that it was very pointless looking for fuel at all.”
- “Hiding mechanic gets a little boring after a while.”
graphics
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
41%
10%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the atmospheric visuals and unique design elements, such as lighting mechanics and detailed inventory systems. While some players note that the graphics are decent for a budget indie title, others criticize them as dated or mediocre compared to higher-quality horror games. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's eerie atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience despite some technical issues.
- “Little mechanical details made this more enjoyable than average for me: nice looking inventory system, particularly enjoyed the aesthetic of the note collecting, item descriptions, and children's drawings.”
- “The scenery is pretty unique while the atmosphere and the graphics wrap a great experience overall.”
- “In the highly oversaturated market of early access indie horror games, this is actually a pretty good game, mainly due to the good graphics, high-resolution textures, unique post-soviet environment, and creepy atmosphere.”
- “The graphics are very dated, maybe by 8 - 10 years.”
- “The sound is well done - the graphics are pretty mediocre.”
- “This short little indie horror game is made in Unreal, so you know what you are getting graphic-wise; you most likely have seen a ton of the assets used if you play indie horror games regularly.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its efficient performance that doesn't strain their PCs, while others criticize it for poor frame rates, lack of field of view adjustments, and overall unplayability. Many users express a desire for future updates to address these optimization issues, particularly for ultra-wide and multi-screen setups.
- “Great optimization - didn't make my PC work overtime (something I dislike in some indie games).”
- “Terrible optimization.”
- “Just not playable with no FOV adjustment, low FPS, and terrible optimization.”
- “If I don't read in 'patch updates' about ultra-wide, multi-screen, and FOV optimization fixes, then I will not consider this game again.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely unintentional, with poorly rendered jumpscares eliciting more laughter than fear, particularly due to the low-poly character designs. Additionally, players who understand Russian may find amusing elements in the dialogue, and the credits feature entertaining dance moves that add to the lighthearted tone. Overall, the comedic aspects detract from the intended horror experience.
- “The few jumpscares that it has amount to sudden low-poly faces; the woman looked so bad she was honestly more funny than scary, even with the jumpscare factor on her side.”
- “If you know Russian well, you'll see and hear some funny things.”
- “Instead of completely startling me or horrifying me like a jump scare should do, they just made me laugh and suspend my disbelief.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game has received mixed feedback; while some players appreciate the atmospheric soundscapes, others feel that the lack of music detracts from the experience and suggest that more ambient sounds and musical elements would enhance the overall gameplay.
- “The atmosphere and music were great.”
- “The music doesn't exist, but the environmental sounds are too good.”
- “The music doesn't exist, but the environmental voices are too good.”
- “I would like to hear more ambient noise and music; it's lacking in that regard, in my opinion, and would also benefit from more puzzles and/or game mechanics overall.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered decent, primarily due to multiple endings and achievements, offering around two hours of gameplay. While some players feel there is limited replay value beyond achievements, others appreciate the option to revisit the game for a quick, spooky experience.
- “In fact, the full price is pretty generous for what you're getting here - around two hours of quality entertainment, with decent replayability - and I can't see many horror aficionados being bitterly disappointed.”
- “Other than some achievements, there is no replay value.”
- “There is replay value in achievements and extra scares if you are bored and want to knock out a spooky game in under an hour.”
- “You get about two hours of gameplay depending on how you play it, and multiple endings mean the replay value is pretty decent.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report experiencing a wide range of intense emotions while playing the game, highlighting its ability to evoke strong feelings and reactions.
- “This game made me feel all kinds of emotions.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviews indicate that the character development in the game is lacking, with players expressing disappointment in the depth and growth of the characters throughout the story.
- “The character development is lacking, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I found the character arcs to be poorly executed and unconvincing.”
- “There is minimal growth for the characters, which makes the story feel flat.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the grinding aspect for striking a balance; it is long enough to create suspense and develop the plot without becoming tedious or overly prolonged.