Pamali: Indonesian Folklore Horror

About

Pamali: Indonesian Folklore Horror is a single player simulation game with horror and thriller themes. It was developed by Storytale and was released on December 27, 2018. It received positive reviews from players.

Pamali: Indonesian Folklore Horror is a collection of four dark stories based on Indonesian folklore and superstitions. Each story presents a unique protagonist and setting, where players must navigate through a series of challenges inspired by traditional Indonesian beliefs. The game combines atmospheric horror and puzzle elements, immersing players in a chilling world of Southeast Asian folklore.

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Single-Player

Pamali: Indonesian Folklore Horror screenshot

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88%

Audience ScoreBased on 468 reviews

story16 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

The game offers a unique exploration of Indonesian folklore, providing an immersive cultural experience.
Atmospheric sound design and visuals create a genuinely creepy environment that enhances the horror experience.
The multiple endings encourage replayability, allowing players to explore different outcomes based on their choices.

The gameplay can feel tedious and repetitive, as players often have to redo similar tasks to achieve different endings.
Many players report technical issues, including bugs and a lack of save functionality, which can disrupt the gaming experience.
The game is often too dark, making it difficult to see and navigate, even with brightness settings adjusted.

story
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
74%
4%
The game's story is praised for its intriguing narrative and cultural depth, particularly in its exploration of Indonesian folklore, which adds a unique layer to the horror experience. Players appreciate the branching paths and multiple endings, although some find the gameplay repetitive and the pacing slow. Overall, while the story is engaging and relatable, technical issues and a lack of a cohesive overarching narrative detract from the experience for some players.
- “The intriguing aspect is that you do not play a case as a researcher, but as the protagonist of the story.”
- “The game’s simple but strong story contributes to an emotionally resonant experience, and its wide variety of endings makes it worth coming back to time and again for further exploration.”
- “Pamali is a narrative and story-driven scenario-based horror experience that delves into local Indonesian mythology.”
- “You will have to do X then Y then Z to get to the end of the story, and there are two or three options for how you do each, so to get all of the dozen endings, you will be doing mostly the same stuff a dozen times.”
- “The game hasn't given me any motivation to unfold deeper into the story of the first chapter because I already got what I wanted; safely and respectfully sell the house.”
- “The last one is a lack of a save system that makes us have to repeat the story if we want to see the whole ending, and it's very boring, but overall this game is recommended.”
atmosphere
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
40%
5%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively blending cultural elements with psychological horror to create a uniquely unsettling experience. While some players note that the reliance on atmosphere over jump scares may lead to a slower pace, many appreciate the rich sound design, dim lighting, and cultural references that enhance the overall ambiance. However, a few critiques mention that the darkness can sometimes hinder visibility, detracting from the experience.
- “The game masterfully builds suspense, relying on psychological horror rather than cheap jump scares, and the wise use of atmospheric sound design, dim lighting, and chilling whispers creates an unnerving ambiance that will keep you on edge more than once, which is refreshing.”
- “Love the atmosphere the game provides, the unsettling sound and it's refreshing to play against (or alongside?) 'entities' that I'm familiar with (even if you're not familiar with the cultural aspects that this game puts forward, trust me you'd still enjoy it!).”
- “Fantastic atmosphere, exceptionally creepy even after five playthroughs (which is good since there are apparently 35 endings so I'll be playing through a lot).”
- “Sometimes it can feel a bit slow, as the game focuses heavily on storytelling and atmosphere rather than action.”
- “It doesn't do a very good job of building or maintaining a creepy atmosphere.”
- “Another disadvantage is that the atmosphere is too dark even though the gamma settings are set to the maximum.”
gameplay
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
74%
13%
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of exploration, puzzle-solving, and interaction with the environment, deeply rooted in Indonesian mythology and culture. While it offers unique mechanics and multiple endings, many players find it repetitive and plagued by bugs, leading to a tedious experience at times. Overall, the game provides an immersive horror atmosphere, but improvements in mechanics and consistency are needed for a more engaging experience.
- “This is a spine-chilling journey into the depths of Indonesian mythology, weaving together captivating narratives and immersive horror gameplay!”
- “The mechanics revolve around exploration, puzzle-solving, and avoiding supernatural entities that will gladly take more than a hold on you if allowed to!”
- “One of the most interesting elements of the gameplay is the possibility to interact almost with everything, with often many decisions associated with each item.”
- “Interesting story but janky and tedious gameplay.”
- “Actually, the gameplay is quite monotonous and can be fairly boring; you just walk through Jaka's old house and collect items, clean the house, and so on.”
- “My main issue with this game is how it was played out (gameplay); certain events are scripted toward a certain action, which means the replayability value goes down the drain; if you memorize what action triggers which event, it's not scary at all.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
57%
11%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the atmospheric and dreamlike visuals that enhance the horror experience, while others find them mediocre or reminiscent of older titles. Many note that the graphics work well with the game's themes, but there are complaints about limited configuration options and occasional bugs affecting the overall experience. Overall, while the graphics are not groundbreaking, they contribute positively to the game's unique atmosphere and storytelling.
- “Very good graphics, very easy controls, lots of improvisation, good DLC which introduces mythical legends and mystical creatures in Indonesia. Hopefully, in the future, there will be more interesting DLCs to play!”
- “Good atmosphere, good graphics, rich character background, and horror that doesn't rely on jump-scares.”
- “The graphics are dreamlike and otherworldly with a solid gripping mortality where I feel I am in the world.”
- “Graphics are so-so.”
- “The game isn't perfect; the graphics are budget quality at best, and there certainly is room for improvement in gameplay as well.”
- “The graphics are okay; it's just like 2010 games graphics.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The game boasts high replayability due to its numerous endings, with players able to explore around 27 to 30 different outcomes, encouraging experimentation and multiple playthroughs. While the interactive elements and narrative paths enhance the thrill, some players note that memorizing scripted events can diminish the replay value. Overall, the potential for varied experiences and exploration makes it a compelling choice for those who enjoy replaying games.
- “This interactive element adds a layer of tension which turns this thrilling journey into a replayable one, encouraging you to explore different narrative paths!”
- “The multiple endings provide great incentive for replayability.”
- “The replay value of this game and the amount of things to explore makes up for the problems, in my opinion.”
- “My main issue with this game is how it was played out; certain events are scripted toward a certain action which means the replayability value goes down the drain. If you memorize what action triggers which event, it's not scary at all.”
- “Each scenario has around 27 to 30 different endings, which gives it hours of replay value, as you go back through the scenarios to explore more and see what other outcomes can be unlocked.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
86%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often describing it as boring due to the need to redo tasks like cleaning and finding items for multiple endings. The limited base game content and reliance on DLCs for additional chapters further exacerbate the grind, making the gameplay feel janky and unengaging. Overall, while the story has potential, the repetitive nature of the tasks detracts significantly from the experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
- “I would call it tedious, repetitive, grinding, and ultimately... boring.”
- “Cons: each ending is kind of short, so if you want to achieve other endings you need to redo every tedious thing again, like cleaning the house, finding stuff, etc. The base game is only 1 chapter; to get other chapters, you need to buy the DLCs.”
- “Seemingly cool concept with creepy vibes, but when I realized I was supposed to mop the floor a second time after dying, I realized this is not going to be fun, but tedious and repetitive.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The music in the game is highly praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the eerie ambiance with elements of Indonesian folklore, such as epic gamelan music and haunting sounds. Reviewers note that the audio design creates a deeply immersive experience, though some feel it lacks a climactic payoff, like a jump scare, to fully capitalize on the tension built by the soundtrack. Overall, the music and sound design are integral to the game's unsettling atmosphere, contributing significantly to its emotional impact.
- “The game does its atmosphere really well, with scary sounds and background music, as well as unsettling visual pieces (for example, a ghost appearing from behind a wall; lights flickering; or a painting suddenly shifting.)”
- “Music and audio are perfected into language.”
- “The game does its atmosphere really well, with scary sounds and background music, as well as unsettling visual pieces (for example, a ghost appearing from behind a wall; lights flickering; or a painting suddenly shifting). However, there was no end release to it all, no jumpscare, no chase sequence, or anything of the sort, and to get you truly terrified, it just needed a final jump at the end.”
- “The game is pretty scary; the atmosphere and music fit Indonesian folklore.”
- “I played around with this game and I was genuinely surprised and scared on my first playthrough; its atmosphere and soundtrack befit Indonesian folklore.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is marked by several bugs, particularly with achievements not triggering correctly and occasional camera glitches that disrupt gameplay. While some mechanics, like cleaning, are notably buggy, the overall experience remains enjoyable and playable despite these issues.
- “I have found several of the achievements to be buggy, either not popping when they should, or popping the wrong achievement for the actions I was taking.”
- “There are very few interactions with horrific spirits or entities, and those that are there lack weight, or the camera glitches out so bad that it's just confusing as to what the hell has just happened.”
- “There are still some glitches and bugs.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game delivers a deeply emotional experience through its simple yet impactful story, evoking strong feelings and prompting self-reflection. Players appreciate its wholesome atmosphere and cultural elements, with multiple endings encouraging replayability and further exploration of its emotional depth. Many have reported being moved to tears, highlighting the game's ability to connect with players on a personal level.
- “The game’s simple but strong story contributes to an emotionally resonant experience, and its wide variety of endings makes it worth coming back to time and again for further exploration.”
- “Oh my god, I cried my eyes out.”
- “It genuinely made me feel bad about being an asshole to imaginary ghost people I never knew in the first place.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with users noting that it performs poorly on AMD/Radeon systems, suggesting a preference for Intel/NVIDIA configurations. Additionally, there are concerns about its streaming capabilities and a general consensus that further optimization could enhance the overall experience.
- “A good game, but I think it could be optimized more.”
- “Not optimized for AMD/Radeon. Others say UE4 doesn't work well with AMD, but I know otherwise. It seems the developers have made this game specifically for Intel/NVIDIA machines.”
- “Not very optimized for streaming.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely attributed to the voice acting, with players noting that the voice actors deliver performances that are amusing and enhance the comedic elements of the experience.
- “The voice actors deliver their lines with such comedic timing that I couldn't help but laugh out loud.”
- “The humor in the game is spot-on, with witty dialogue that keeps the experience light and entertaining.”
- “I love how the characters have quirky personalities that add a layer of humor to every interaction.”

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2h Median play time

2h Average play time

2-2h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Pamali: Indonesian Folklore Horror is a simulation game with horror and thriller themes.

Pamali: Indonesian Folklore Horror is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 2 hours playing Pamali: Indonesian Folklore Horror.

Pamali: Indonesian Folklore Horror was released on December 27, 2018.

Pamali: Indonesian Folklore Horror was developed by Storytale.

Pamali: Indonesian Folklore Horror has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Pamali: Indonesian Folklore Horror is a single player game.

Similar games include Layers of Fear, The Mortuary Assistant, Home Sweet Home, The Beast Inside, IMSCARED and others.

Pamali: Indonesian Folklore Horror

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