Penitence

About

"Penitence" is a single-player Mystery Adventure game, built in Unreal Engine, that offers a short atmospheric horror experience. As the protagonist, you return home to uncover the mystery of your daughter's death and the demon that haunts you, through engaging puzzles, unique mechanics, and exploration of the house's dark history. With a focus on building tension and avoiding cheap scares, it serves as a light introduction to horror video games for newcomers.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

61%

Audience ScoreBased on 23 reviews

story7 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game features well-crafted environments and a good atmosphere, making it enjoyable for horror fans.
Despite its short length, the game offers some effective jump scares and an interesting story.
For a first game, it shows a lot of potential and is well put together, with good pacing and storytelling.

The game is extremely short, with most players completing it in under 30 minutes, leading to feelings of dissatisfaction.
There are significant technical issues, including crashes and lag, which detract from the overall experience.
Many players found the puzzles to be too easy and the game lacking in genuine scares, making it feel more like a demo than a full release.

story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
17%
25%
The story is generally well-received, praised for its atmosphere, pacing, and unexpected twists, making it a solid entry in the horror genre. While some players felt it could have been deeper or longer, the writing and overall execution were considered strong, contributing to an engaging experience despite occasional confusion. Overall, it offers a compelling narrative that enhances the gameplay, though technical issues like lag can detract from immersion.
- “It was very well rounded and fleshed out in my opinion, with everything you could want in a horror: story, jump scares, puzzles, even a bit of a sense of danger which I thought was a nice touch.”
- “(psst. go into your office) I loved the story because it had a twist I did not expect and the team behind this nailed the atmosphere.”
- “Good story, good writing, good spelling, great atmosphere and it gave me a decent heart attack.”
- “The story wasn't terrible, but the constant lag pulls you out of the environment almost constantly.”
- “The story could have gone a little deeper, but for a first game... solid work.”
- “If only the story of this game was longer, it would be more fun to play.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its creepy and immersive qualities, enhanced by nice graphics and a compelling story with unexpected twists. Reviewers highlight the effective horror elements that contribute to a thrilling experience, making it both engaging and unsettling. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature that significantly elevates the gameplay.
- “Fun little game with nice graphics, builds a good atmosphere.”
- “(Psst. Go into your office) I loved the story because it had a twist I did not expect and the team behind this nailed the atmosphere.”
- “Good story, good writing, good spelling, great atmosphere and it gave me a decent heart attack.”
- “Just a bit of creepy atmosphere.”
- “Horror atmosphere, save yourself from the devil's pursuit.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews; while some users find them terrible, others appreciate the nice visuals that contribute to a fun atmosphere and complement a strong storyline. Overall, the quality of graphics seems to vary significantly among players.
- “Fun little game with nice graphics, builds a good atmosphere.”
- “The storyline is very good as well as the graphics.”
- “The graphics are terrible.”
- “The visuals look outdated and lack detail.”
- “The character models are poorly designed and lack realism.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The gameplay has received mixed feedback, with some users noting a lack of challenge and scares, while others express enjoyment of the experience. Overall, it appears to be a short and less engaging gameplay experience for some players.
- “I really like this gameplay.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
200%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, leading to performance problems that detract from the overall experience, despite its length being a non-issue for some players.
- “The game is horribly unoptimized.”
- “Only real con of this is the length (which isn't a con for me but maybe for some). It's about a half hour.”