Paranormal

About

Paranormal is a single player arcade role playing game with a horror theme. It was developed by Matt Cohen and was released on September 12, 2013. It received neutral reviews from players.

"Paranormal" is a single-player horror simulation game that puts you in the role of a haunted house's artist owner, Mattel Clarke, who films the escalating hauntings with his camera, providing the game's viewpoint. With a dynamic haunting system, top-notch graphics and sound, and free content updates, the game promises a unique, atmospheric, and memorable horror experience with multiple endings and a different event each time. However, the game is known to be very buggy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

57%

Audience ScoreBased on 398 reviews

graphics14 positive mentions

stability26 negative mentions

Paranormal offers a unique and unpredictable horror experience, with no two playthroughs being the same, which keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.
The game has a creepy atmosphere and effective sound design that enhances the overall horror experience, making it genuinely scary for players.
Despite being in early access, the game shows potential for growth and improvement, with players expressing hope for future updates and expansions.

The game has been criticized for being buggy and unfinished, with many players experiencing crashes and glitches that hinder gameplay.
There is a lack of content and depth, with some players feeling that the game does not justify its price due to its limited scope and repetitive elements.
The developer has been accused of abandoning the game, with long periods of inactivity and little communication regarding updates, leading to frustration among the player base.

graphics
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
48%
19%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the beautiful visuals and atmospheric effects, while others criticize them as outdated, buggy, and poorly executed. Many users note that despite the graphical shortcomings, the game's horror elements and immersive atmosphere can still provide a chilling experience. Overall, while there are calls for improvements and updates, the graphics are seen as a secondary concern to the game's potential and engaging gameplay.
- “The graphics are absolutely gorgeous (not exaggerated at all) and the gameplay and sound design are great.”
- “It has beautiful graphics, and a lot of jump scares and other parts that really are just creepy.”
- “In terms of graphics, it actually looks pretty decent for an indie game.”
- “The graphics are poor, sound is poor, not scary, boring, and not fun.”
- “It's buggy, the triggers don't always work, the graphics are very bad, the story delivery is often hamfisted.”
- “The design and graphics are boring.”
story
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
70%
9%
The game's story is generally criticized for being shallow and poorly executed, with many reviewers noting its lack of depth and cohesion. While some players find the premise intriguing and appreciate the gradual reveal of the narrative through environmental clues, others feel it remains overly simplistic and cliched. Despite promises of future updates and expansions, the current version leaves much to be desired in terms of storytelling, often feeling incomplete or buggy.
- “This game truly brings out the fear of the supernatural, and its story really makes you feel deeply invested in the character and makes you want to solve the mystery.”
- “As you play through the game, you are gradually introduced to the story of what happened in the house, with a host of jump scares to keep you busy.”
- “As you spend more time in the studio, you'll find little tidbits of information that help you slowly understand the haunting and the story behind it.”
- “The story that is pretty much non-existent is barely cohesive and could have been written by a 10-year-old in 5 minutes.”
- “The story is paper-thin (basically, it really is just a haunted house).”
- “More story (and scares) keeps being promised, but has barely changed since the launch of early access.”
stability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent glitches, crashes, and buggy menus that hinder gameplay. While some players appreciate the experience despite these issues, others find the bugs too disruptive, leading to mixed feelings about its overall value. Overall, the game is seen as a work in progress, with many hoping for improvements in future updates.
- “Don't waste your money, I never request refunds but I wouldn't spend a penny on this buggy mess.”
- “The game is so full of glitches I can't even play it, and it's stuck on 3D mode. The settings only work half of the time, and every time I pick up a page I can't move. Apparently, other people have reported the same problems.”
- “I do not recommend this game; it looks like it can be a great game, but it's just broken. I play a lot of early access games and can deal with glitches, but this is too much even for me.”
gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
74%
13%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing its lack of depth, repetitive mechanics, and a rushed experience due to a battery system. While some appreciate the unique found-footage style and potential for dynamic gameplay, others feel it currently lacks innovation and polish, making it feel more like a tech demo than a complete game. Overall, the gameplay is seen as basic and generic, with potential for improvement in future updates.
- “The graphics are absolutely gorgeous (not exaggerated at all) and the gameplay and sound design are great.”
- “The found-footage style this game gets from things like Paranormal Activity and Blair Witch Project is a unique take on gameplay, and something I've only seen Paranormal do.”
- “I would actually say that it's one of the best horror games out there, because of its haunting atmosphere and never the same gameplay.”
- “If you have money to burn and need a spook, it may be worth checking out, but do not expect a story, depth of gameplay, or even a complete game.”
- “The entire experience feels like I'm playtesting a new mechanic in an amateur work-in-progress level for a friend.”
- “However, at this current stage of development, I find the game to be rather basic and generic, with its limited gameplay, controls, writing, and even audio and visuals.”
atmosphere
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
15%
15%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and creepy qualities, enhanced by excellent sound design and effective jump scares. While some players note a lack of real danger, many find the unsettling ambiance and unique scenarios, such as the mannequin in the attic, to be genuinely terrifying and engaging. Overall, it is considered one of the best horror games for its haunting atmosphere and ability to evoke fear without relying heavily on gore.
- “The concept is awesome and the atmosphere truly frightening.”
- “Creepy atmosphere, great sound effects, simple controls.”
- “It's immersive atmosphere and subtle to downright terrifying scares has left its mark on me, and believe you me, I am counting the days anxiously (but patiently) between updates.”
- “The whole atmosphere was unsettling.”
- “It's one of those 'the spoopy is out to get you' sort of things, and if you want to get into a horror atmosphere, look elsewhere.”
- “The game really feels like an indie game, but with the atmosphere it delivers, it's more than enough to give you your daily horror fix.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game offers high replayability due to its dynamic event system and random occurrences, ensuring that each playthrough feels unique and engaging, especially when played with friends. However, some users noted a lack of replay value in certain scenarios, where experiences can become repetitive over time. Overall, the potential for varied encounters contributes significantly to the game's replayability.
- “This game easily is replayable with a friend.”
- “The idea of a dynamic event system for replayability, and with that an immense amount of potential entities and happenings to encounter.”
- “The idea of a dynamic event system for replayability offers an immense amount of potential entities and happenings to encounter.”
- “As for replayability, each experience is different.”
- “No replay value - for example, one late night results in the same experience every time you play.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of absurdity and frustration, with players finding amusement in the slow movement mechanics and clumsy character interactions. While some elements aim for a scary experience, they often result in comedic moments that evoke laughter rather than fear.
- “The scariest part of this is that someone thought making you walk slowly and fall over a lot for no apparent reason would be scary (as opposed to just somewhere between frustrating and hilarious).”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization has been criticized, with users reporting significant framerate fluctuations between 40-60 FPS, indicating that further improvements are needed for a smoother experience.
- “This game is also horribly optimized.”
- “Likewise, there is still some optimization that needs to be looked at, as I did find my framerate fluctuating between 40-60 quite consistently.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is described as nerve-racking and highly effective at creating tension, with some players noting it has even induced a strong physical reaction, such as fear.
- “The music is nerve-racking.”
- “For starters, I'd like to say this game has made me nearly pee my pants just from the music.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy is perceived as exploitative, with users labeling the game as an abandoned cash grab that prioritizes profit over player experience.
- “As it is, this is simply an abandoned cash grab.”