In PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo, players investigate a series of ghost stories in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, uncovering the hopes, fears, and deadly curses of unique characters. As ordinary office worker Shogo Okiie, you and a friend visit Kinshibori Park at night to investigate the Seven Mysteries of Honjo, leading to a mysterious "Rite of Resurrection" with supernatural consequences. This horror-adventure visual novel game is now Steam Deck Verified.
Engrossing story that pulls you in from the first chapter.
Well-written and charming characters that convey their personalities effectively.
Great art style and music that enhance the overall experience.
The ending can feel abrupt and may not satisfy all players.
Some puzzles and gameplay mechanics are underutilized throughout the game.
The pacing slows down significantly after the prologue, which may detract from the overall experience.
story
2,237 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
55%
2%
Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo features an engaging and intricately woven story that captivates players from the start, blending elements of horror, mystery, and Japanese folklore. While the narrative is rich with twists and character development, some players found the ending unsatisfying and the pacing uneven, particularly in the latter half. Overall, the game is praised for its unique storytelling mechanics, immersive atmosphere, and well-developed characters, making it a recommended experience for fans of visual novels and mystery genres.
“Paranormasight has an engrossing story that pulls you in from the first chapter.”
“The way it is presented to you by the storyteller is very alluring.”
“The story, music, and characters are all so well done and incredible; I genuinely wish I could go back in time just to experience this game brand new all over again.”
“I love the ink, thick lines art style, I love the ominous music, I love the eerie vibe I get throughout the playthrough, but I just don't think it delivered in the story department.”
“The prologue advertises stalking the night, in a death game to curse others before they can curse you, only to bait-and-switch you with a very limited murder investigation story concluding in an out-of-left-field, completely disjointed ending.”
“The story is quite linear since most of your choices do not matter much.”
gameplay
542 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
64%
2%
The gameplay of "Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo" is primarily focused on reading and making choices, typical of visual novels, but it introduces innovative mechanics that encourage players to think critically and engage with the story. While some mechanics, like the curse system, are underutilized, the game features clever puzzles and a unique 360-degree environment that enhance the experience. Overall, players appreciate the engaging narrative and character interactions, though many feel the gameplay could have been more fleshed out and less linear.
“Paranormasight has puzzles and mechanics that I have never seen in a video game, let alone a visual novel.”
“The game mechanics are really innovative for a visual novel and provided an experience completely unique to anything else I've played; it's also just a solid mystery with well-executed writing, music, and art.”
“The cleverly crafted gameplay mechanics provide tools for players to make their own deductions, creating an interactive and engaging experience.”
“But the meat of the game is far too linear, there's basically no gameplay to speak of, and the branches and backtracking mechanisms are extremely limited.”
“After the prologue it went into a completely wrong direction - the curse mechanic is ditched for most of the story and it feels like a huge missed opportunity to me.”
“While the gameplay is sparse, there is this really neat mechanic where the player can guess twists in the story before they happen, and when you get it right you feel like a total genius.”
music
463 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
32%
2%
The music in "Paranormasight" has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the game's eerie atmosphere and emotional depth, with many players praising its haunting and diverse soundtrack. While some noted occasional mismatches between the music and on-screen events, the overall composition is described as phenomenal, with standout tracks that players found memorable and immersive. The combination of music and art style effectively contributes to the game's unique aesthetic, making it a significant highlight of the experience.
“The music is haunting and adds to the game's eerie atmosphere, which is perfect for a mystery game.”
“The music in Paranormasight is fantastic, and it really sets the mood for the game.”
“The soundtrack of this game creates an incredible atmosphere, and it accompanies the story perfectly.”
“There's a couple of instances where the music for a scene really doesn't fit what's happening.”
“A lot of scenes suffer from the same music and it's jarring.”
“Fine music, but the amount of tracks are limited, so expect some repetition.”
graphics
402 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
32%
1%
The graphics of *Paranormasight* are widely praised for their unique and captivating art style, which combines retro aesthetics with expressive character designs and atmospheric visuals. Reviewers highlight the effective use of color, detail, and a nostalgic vibe that enhances the game's horror elements, although some note limitations in animation and resolution options. Overall, the visuals, complemented by a strong soundtrack, significantly contribute to the immersive experience of the game.
“The art style is beautiful and the music is amazing.”
“The visuals, characters, gameplay, and mystery are all top notch.”
“The art style combined with the very unique setting and how all these characters wrap themselves in the story and mystery of the 'rite of resurrection' while still having believable personalities that interweave with these things makes it both interesting and a worthy purchase.”
“The graphics were appropriate to the setting and were generally well done.”
“These aesthetics remain throughout the entirety of the game; however, I do wish that more CGs were included, potentially even with more animations, as I was left yearning for more visuals.”
“The story isn't engaging, the puzzles can be very cheesy, and the 'horror' theme is just an aesthetic: it feels more like a detective/mystery game.”
atmosphere
198 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
34%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively blending visuals, music, and storytelling to create a captivating experience. Players appreciate the unique art style and sound design, which enhance the spooky ambiance and keep them engaged throughout the narrative. While the game may not rely heavily on jump scares, its psychological tension and rich lore contribute to a compelling atmosphere that resonates with fans of horror and mystery genres.
“The way it was able to mix mystery and the paranormal was quite enjoyable, and the way it was able to set up such a spooky atmosphere with its visuals, music, and story heavily immersed me in the game.”
“The atmosphere is immaculate, the mystery is compelling, the characters are appealing.”
“The setting, music, and art style come together to perfectly wrap this game up in an atmosphere that locks you in from start to end.”
“I wouldn't go into this game expecting to be particularly scared; the atmosphere is certainly eerie, but the writing has more in common with JoJo's Bizarre Adventure than with Junji Ito.”
“Only real downside is it [spoiler] loses most of the actual horror vibes pretty early on, but the suspense and atmosphere more than make up for it.”
“I feel like it could have helped out to bring out the game's atmosphere a little more.”
character development
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
51%
5%
Character development in *paranormasight* is generally well-received, with players praising the depth and realism of the characters, enhanced by the distinctive art style and design by Gen Kobayashi. While the character arcs are engaging and intertwined, some reviewers noted that the payoff may not fully meet expectations due to narrative issues. Overall, the combination of compelling character moments, immersive atmosphere, and strong visual presentation contributes to a captivating experience.
“I was incredibly invested in the characters' fates and the intertwined stories, and in love with the character design.”
“The character designer, Gen Kobayashi, is more known for his works in The World Ends With You series and makes a very distinct impression in making everything look grounded yet stylized and memorable.”
“The puzzles and revelations of the game are top-notch in every fashion, the themes and messages are tremendously profound, and all of this is masterfully tied together with the most stylish character designs I've seen in a long time for a modern visual novel.”
“Really nice mystery horror visual novel game, at first I thought it was about unraveling the 7 mysteries one by one but that's not what it is. However, I was still pleasantly surprised by the game with its character development and story. It was a shadow-dropped game, zero marketing and advertising, and I can say it's better than Forspoken already.”
“The character designer, Gen Kobayashi, is more known for his works in The World Ends With You series, making a very distinct impression in making everything look grounded yet stylized and memorable.”
“The puzzles and revelations of the game are top-notch in every fashion, the themes and messages are tremendously profound, and all of the previously listed is masterfully tied together with both the most beautiful arrangements of sounds I've ever heard and the most stylish character designs I've seen in a long time for a modern visual novel.”
emotional
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with many players experiencing profound connections to the characters and story, often resonating deeply due to personal struggles like grief. While some moments are impactful and touching, others suffer from pacing issues and a lack of investment in the characters, leading to emotional beats that don't always land as intended. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to evoke a range of feelings, from nostalgia to sorrow, particularly through its art direction and music, making it a compelling choice for those who enjoy emotionally charged narratives in horror settings.
“This game made me cry :(”
“The game had so many emotional moments that hit really hard as someone who's been struggling with grief recently, and I can't help but find myself resonating with the characters a lot.”
“The story is very good as I said, I won't go into details but it touches on a lot of dark subjects and hits a lot of emotional beats that make you feel a lot of different ways about these complicated characters who all have their differing ideas of what's going on within the world.”
humor
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Paranormasight" is described as a well-integrated element that provides relief amidst its darker themes, featuring genuinely funny moments and quirky character interactions. While it may not reach the comedic heights of titles like "Ace Attorney," players appreciate its clever writing and the balance of humor with mystery and horror. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with its narrative, creating memorable and engaging experiences.
“The writing is also just a little bit better than Death Mark or AI: The Somnium Files - it's actually funny when it tries to be, for one, and it isn't relentlessly and obtrusively horny.”
“The fact that there's so much heart and humor woven into this dark story makes it one that will stay with you long after you've stopped playing.”
“Some of the characters will get you into stitches for how funny they are, and the game isn't all too melancholic in itself with the deaths and curses going about.”
replayability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
55%
30%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find value in revisiting the experience to uncover missed details, others argue that once the game is fully completed, it loses its significance and impact, making it less appealing to replay. Overall, the replay value seems to depend heavily on individual preferences for re-experiencing narratives and puzzles.
“There's quite a bit of replay value, as well, considering there are things you can very easily miss if you're not paying attention.”
“Its replayability will be dependent on whether you're the type of person to re-read books over and over, but cost vs value is definitely there whether you are or not.”
“🔲 Infinitely replayable”
“Although I'm not sure if replayability in this (meta) context is a blessing or a curse.”
“I only consider replayability to be for games that have value when replaying the full game all over. As a result, Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo does not have any replayability unless an individual is looking to re-experience the game in its full, but it won't have its significance or impact anymore.”
“Is long enough and worth its price, but it has no replay value.”
grinding
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
11%
78%
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game can be tedious, particularly due to the extensive reading and the need to replay sections for multiple endings. While some players appreciate the depth and variety of endings, others find the repetitive nature of clicking through text and exploring every detail to be outdated and frustrating. Overall, the experience can feel laborious, especially for those not invested in the narrative.
“I usually feel tired having to replay a visual novel for multiple endings, but for this game, it is very well done and not tedious.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“I consider this to be tedious and outdated game design, but I guess it's not uncommon for point-and-click adventure games like this one.”
“That said, I also always disliked the tendency of these games to overexplain plot points, require you to click on literally every tiny thing on the scene before allowing you to proceed with the story and, if they have lots of potential story timelines in the chart/timeline, being grindy about it.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The game exhibits a mix of stability experiences, with users noting it runs exceptionally well on the Steam Deck, providing a fun and mostly frustration-free experience. However, some players report encountering minor glitches and bugs, though none are deemed game-breaking. Overall, while there are stability issues, they appear to be manageable, especially on the Steam Deck.
“Game runs great on Steam Deck.”
“Game is a perfect fit for Steam Deck, where it runs great (although you will have to call up the on-screen keyboard occasionally).”
“Not much else to say other than the fact that it was a fun time with very little frustration, and it runs great on the Steam Deck (with only having to remember the keyboard prompt at certain points).”
“The game is a buggy mess.”
“It currently does have a few small glitches that I've encountered, but nothing game-breaking.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's monetization strategy has been criticized for its lack of advertising, with users expressing that it deserves more promotion given its quality. Despite being a shadow-dropped title with minimal marketing, players are pleasantly surprised by its engaging story and character development, suggesting that better visibility could enhance its success.
“The fact this game doesn't have more advertising is criminal.”
“Square Enix was wrong for barely advertising this game!”
“It was a shadow-dropped game, zero marketing and advertising.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is reported to run smoothly on the Steam Deck without any issues, indicating strong optimization for the platform.