Phantasmal: City of Darkness

About

Phantasmal: City of Darkness is a single player survival survival game with a horror theme. It was developed by Eyemobi Ltd. and was released on April 14, 2016. It received negative reviews from critics and neutral reviews from players.

Phantasmal: City of Darkness is a procedurally generated survival horror game set in the run-down Kowloon Walled City before its destruction in the early 90s. Every playthrough is unique, with different lurking horrors that challenge your sanity. Careful resource management, stealth, and strategic combat are crucial for survival as you face grotesque creatures in this intense, atmospheric experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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46%

Audience ScoreBased on 249 reviews

gameplay12 positive mentions

stability31 negative mentions

The game has a creepy atmosphere with interesting Lovecraftian elements.
Procedurally generated levels provide a unique experience each time you play.
The sound design effectively enhances the horror experience.

The game is plagued by bugs and optimization issues, making it difficult to play.
Basic functionality is missing, such as a proper settings menu and resolution options.
The AI is inconsistent, often leading to frustrating encounters with enemies.

gameplay
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
67%
7%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its unique mechanics and procedural generation, while others criticize it for being buggy and poorly executed. Many users noted issues with the stealth mechanics, enemy AI, and overall game balance, leading to a frustrating experience. Despite these flaws, some players see potential in the game's concept and atmosphere, suggesting that with further development, it could improve significantly.
- “Gameplay ran fine, resolution was right, solid frames, not any bugs so far.”
- “The atmosphere is good, the gameplay is solid.”
- “The procedural and rogue-like gameplay make this one stand out from the rest.”
- “Game is interesting enough, but the mechanics are all buggy.”
- “Well, the mechanics and locomotion are really poor, and opponents/monsters are often overpowered. This problem becomes more apparent with each passing moment. Stealth and hiding abilities are mostly useless because monsters see you most of the time and attack on sight. The game feels like it's set to ultra hard difficulty at the beginning, and in some areas, monsters keep coming, making it almost impossible to overcome them. Overall, the game feels unfinished but has potential.”
- “Gameplay-wise, in my experience, map textures often aren't stitched together properly, sometimes to such a bad degree that you can actually get stuck between them and not be able to proceed without starting a new game.”
graphics
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
55%
10%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users noting a significant disparity in quality, ranging from early 2000s visuals to moments of impressive detail. Common issues include graphical glitches, low draw distances, and unresponsive controls, which detract from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the atmospheric design and lighting effects, others criticize the game for feeling unfinished and plagued by bugs, leading to a generally underwhelming graphical performance.
- “Amazing visuals and a new experience to the roguelike genre.”
- “There's a lot of good work put into it and the graphics are phenomenal for your average indie horror game.”
- “Very scary and atmospheric, with some impressive graphics and design.”
- “The graphics are early 2000's era with a fair many bugs leaving the screen unseeable from greenish glare and clipping.”
- “The whole experience just feels like an unfinished student project, and it seems odd to use the involvement of a Life of Pi production crew member as a selling point for the 3D artwork, if they professionally work as a lighting tech.”
- “5 minutes into the tutorial, my eyes are in pain from the atrocious graphics and flickering lights with the quake-like FOV.”
atmosphere
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
47%
8%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its spooky and immersive qualities, featuring a blend of dark visuals, haunting sounds, and well-designed monsters that enhance the horror experience. Many players appreciate the game's ability to create a tense and foreboding environment, although some express concerns about occasional irritating sounds and gameplay bugs. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout aspect, contributing significantly to the game's appeal as a survival horror title.
- “This game is amazing, the atmosphere and monsters are simply well done and make for an exciting game.”
- “The mixture of ultra creepy atmosphere, stealthy roguelike, unpredictable procedurally generated environment, and extremely scary creatures delivered a true and awesome survival horror experience.”
- “They got the visuals, music, and sound effects just right to build up a truly creepy atmosphere.”
- “I don't know why someone would ruin the atmosphere of a horror game by putting irritating sounds in it.”
- “While I would recommend this for the atmosphere and the general idea behind it, I wouldn't recommend this game if reused assets (and by assets I mean entire rooms) or really wonky combat bother you.”
- “The atmosphere is indeed creepy at times, but I just didn't enjoy my experience enough to warrant a recommendation...for now.”
stability
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is severely criticized, with numerous users reporting it as a "buggy mess" that is nearly unplayable. Common issues include freezing during startup, graphical glitches, and poorly optimized performance, even on high-end PCs. While some players see potential in the game, the overwhelming consensus is that it is currently riddled with bugs and lacks the polish necessary for a functional experience.
- “It's an unplayable buggy mess; you can't even use the settings menu.”
- “The game is terribly optimized, riddled with bugs and glitches, and has never-ending lag. I have a $1500 PC build that runs smoothly on even the newest AAA titles and all the new indie games, yet this game cannot run because of how poorly it was made.”
- “In almost 30 years of playing games, I have never come across another game that is this poorly optimized, buggy, or just plain broken.”
story
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
The game's story is criticized for being unclear and rushed, with many players noting a lack of depth and coherence. While some elements hint at intriguing themes, such as a Hong Kong detective searching for a missing person, the overall narrative feels disjointed and underdeveloped, leaving players unsatisfied. Additionally, the presentation and voice acting detract from the experience, leading to a general consensus that the story needs significant improvement.
- “The touching story of a man and his plank, overcoming all odds to defeat the darkness.”
- “Your quest draws you ever deeper into madness, both figuratively and literally, as you descend through the dark, dank floors of a condemned, crack head filled tenement building in Kowloon City.”
- “You play as the nephew of a Christian missionary who went missing while running a heroin addiction clinic, who descends into the city to find her before the whole thing is leveled by the Hong Kong government.”
- “The story is too rushed and it barely explains a single thing that is happening in the game.”
- “There is no real story, a Hong Kong detective searching for a woman.”
- “While there's a story going on, the voice acting and the way it's presented was never really appealing to me, so I didn't care much for it.”
optimization
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
60%
27%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with users reporting severe performance issues, including frequent bugs, glitches, and significant lag, even on high-end PCs. Many players note a lack of updates or improvements since its release, leading to frustration over the game's playability. Overall, the optimization is deemed poor, with minimal adjustments yielding little to no performance enhancement.
- “Phantasmal is a game that runs smoothly with above-average graphics and lighting.”
- “The game is terribly optimized, riddled with bugs and glitches, and never-ending lag. Furthermore, I have a $1500 PC build that runs smoothly on even the new AAA titles and all the new indie games, yet it cannot run this game because of how poorly it was made.”
- “I think it has the potential to be enjoyable, but three years since its release there has been little to no optimization, no updates since 2017, and no fixes for the stealth system.”
- “Aside from some of the most abhorrent optimization I've personally witnessed (and I thought Obscuritas was bad), Phantasmal has a large amount of bugs. It's even a chore to set your resolution as you cannot see all of the options and you must select blindly, restart the game, and try again.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate its ability to enhance the creepy atmosphere and complement the visuals, others find it generic and lacking in impact. A few users suggest that the menu music can sound problematic, likening it to sound card issues, while others recommend pairing the game with external music for a better experience. Overall, the sound effects and music contribute positively to the game's ambiance, though opinions on its quality vary.
- “The monsters, the colors, the music, the sounds, the atmosphere, everything fits very well, and I actually have faith in this project.”
- “They got the visuals, music, and sound effects just right to build up a truly creepy atmosphere.”
- “The music was not overbearing but kicked up just when it needed to, and the sound effects really added to the overall experience of the game.”
- “I advise playing this with Silent Hill music in the background.”
- “Immediately after starting the game and getting to the menu music, it sounded like my sound card was having issues, and/or my speakers were actually possessed.”
- “Nothing to write home about: the sound of the monsters are generic, and the music is pretty weak.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
28%
29%
The game boasts strong replayability due to its randomly generated levels, which provide a fresh experience with each playthrough. Many users highlight that, unlike other titles, it offers a high fun factor and significant replay value, especially after recent patches that have improved gameplay. Overall, it is considered infinitely replayable, particularly in the horror genre.
- “The game features randomly generated levels, which greatly enhances its replayability.”
- “On one hand, the game is, in theory, infinitely replayable.”
- “Some of the best horror, high fun factor, and really good replay value thanks to the procedural levels!”
- “Try playing Amnesia twice; you don't find the same amount of replayability in Amnesia as you do in Phantasmal.”
- “After many patches, the game gets more and more playable.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and absurd elements, such as severed heads that ambush players with laughter, creating a comically unsettling atmosphere. Additionally, the buggy enemy AI adds to the comedic experience, making players appreciate the game's flaws in a lighthearted way. Overall, the humor is a blend of dark comedy and playful absurdity that enhances the gaming experience.
- “Severed heads which cling to ceilings and ambush you, chuckling heartily as you swing after them and miss.”
- “[*] Enemy AI can be buggy (in a funny way).”
- “I knew this game was bad, but I wanted to humor the devs and just see where this thing went.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes strong emotional responses, presenting a poignant story of resilience and companionship, as exemplified by the unique bond between a man and his plank. However, some players find the overall experience to be overwhelming and unsettling.
- “The touching story of a man and his plank, overcoming all odds to defeat the darkness.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game is criticized as a cynical cash grab, with users feeling that it is unfinished and not worth recommending, even for free. Despite some positive aspects, the overall impression is that the game prioritizes profit over quality.
- “Even free, I cannot recommend this game due to its quick, lazy, and cash grab approach. It's not even a game.”
- “There are a lot of positive things I have to say about the tiny amounts of this game that I've played, but I'm not going to say them because this game was obviously left unfinished, and attempting to sell it is a cynical, lazy cash grab.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
200%
300%
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or additional lives to progress effectively.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”

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30%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Review: Phantasmal: City of Darkness
Went wrong somewhere along the line. The original idea might have promise, but in practice it has failed. Threatens to be interesting sometimes, but rarely.
Destructoid.com
30%

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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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Frequently Asked Questions

Phantasmal: City of Darkness is a survival survival game with horror theme.

Phantasmal: City of Darkness is available on PC, Xbox One, Windows and Xbox.

On average players spend around 2 hours playing Phantasmal: City of Darkness.

Phantasmal: City of Darkness was released on April 14, 2016.

Phantasmal: City of Darkness was developed by Eyemobi Ltd..

Phantasmal: City of Darkness has received negative reviews from players and negative reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its stability.

Phantasmal: City of Darkness is a single player game.

Similar games include P.A.M.E.L.A, Welcome to Hanwell, Nether, Dark and Light, Mist Survival and others.

Phantasmal: City of Darkness

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