PILGRIM

About

"PILGRIM is a first-person horror action game, offering both single-player and multiplayer/co-op modes. As a Pilgrim, you'll journey through a dark, medieval world filled with crypts, dungeons, and derelict towns. Armed with a powered wagon, crystalline engine, and a few supplies, prepare to face otherworldly horrors and challenge the unknown."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,922 reviews

gameplay110 positive mentions

stability288 negative mentions

gameplay
380 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
62%
9%
The gameplay of "Pilgrim" has been described as engaging and fun, particularly in cooperative settings, but it suffers from significant issues such as repetitiveness, bugs, and a lack of content variety. While the core mechanics and atmosphere are praised, many players feel that the game borrows too heavily from "Lethal Company" without capturing its unique tension, leading to a gameplay loop that can become stale after a short period. Overall, there is a consensus that with further development and refinement, "Pilgrim" has the potential to become a standout title in the cooperative survival horror genre.
- “It's got a great vibe and a really neat gameplay loop; there is a lot of potential with the setup.”
- “The core gameplay—exploring dungeons, gathering loot, and avoiding monsters—offers a tense experience that encourages caution.”
- “I enjoy the gameplay loop; I feel like the mechanics aren't too punishing or boring, and I can't wait to see more content be added to the game!”
- “After an hour or so of gameplay, every scenario feels more or less the same.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive; if you run out of oil, you're screwed almost every time.”
- “Instead, I decided to buy this hot pile of garbage where the entire gameplay is just walking into dungeons, grabbing a crystal, coming back out, continuing for a few miles, going into another dungeon, and repeating.”
stability
292 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting it as "very buggy" and "a buggy mess." Many players experienced frequent crashes, glitches, and issues with gameplay mechanics, particularly in multiplayer settings. While some acknowledge the game's potential and fun aspects, they generally advise against purchasing it in its current early access state due to its instability and lack of polish.
- “The current state of the game is still really early in development, and I don’t recommend buying it yet. The time I had with the early access release was not fun at all; it’s a buggy mess, even though I love dark fantasy, but this game stinks from Unreal Engine's typical asset flip smell.”
- “The game seems to have a lot of promise, but playing it with three people resulted in constant freezes and sometimes even crashes for everyone but the host.”
- “This game is a buggy mess, but it has so much potential.”
graphics
188 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
The graphics of the game evoke a nostalgic, pixelated aesthetic reminiscent of retro horror titles, effectively creating an eerie atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience. However, many players note that the visuals are plagued by bugs, poor lighting, and a lack of polish, which can detract from immersion and clarity. While the art style is generally appreciated for its charm and thematic cohesion, significant improvements are needed to address the graphical issues and enhance overall playability.
- “The pixelated aesthetic of the game effectively sets an eerie and nostalgic tone, reminiscent of retro horror games that evoke a sense of unease through their minimalist style.”
- “This aesthetic suits the game’s world, giving it an otherworldly feel that draws players into its dark atmosphere.”
- “The art style works wonders, and had both myself and my friends always on high alert and frightened of what was hiding in the forest.”
- “Locations are all nearly identical, the graphics follow that hip young 'we're using bad graphics intentionally, because it's totally spoooooky!' crap that just makes the game hard to see for the sake of 'atmosphere', when in reality it only hinders the experience.”
- “While I appreciate the minimalist approach to the graphics, this is beyond a blurry mess.”
- “The aesthetics could use some work because this game is ugly af and not even in a charming way, just kinda: meh.”
atmosphere
178 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
28%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and terrifying qualities, effectively drawing players into a dark, otherworldly experience. Many reviewers appreciate the unique aesthetic and sound design, although some express a desire for more variety and content to enhance the overall experience. While the atmosphere is generally considered a standout feature, issues such as visual clarity and gameplay pacing have been noted as areas for improvement.
- “The atmosphere and concept for this game is fantastic.”
- “The overall theme, the atmosphere, and the darkness that encapsulates you on your long trek in the wagon is a great horror experience.”
- “Successfully frightening, the dark atmosphere sets you up to be anxious about what’s around every corner, so when something does show up it’s genuinely fear inducing, even if nothing bad happens immediately.”
- “Locations are all nearly identical, the graphics follow that hip young 'we're using bad graphics intentionally, because it's totally spooky!' crap that just makes the game hard to see for the sake of 'atmosphere', when in reality it only hinders the experience.”
- “The atmosphere: overall is almost right, inside the dungeons and caves is just right, but I feel like it should be a bit darker outside and there should be more foliage to make players more paranoid.”
- “While the muffled effect adds to the atmosphere, it often makes communication too difficult, which is essential in cooperative play.”
humor
128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, particularly when played with friends, leading to hilarious moments and unexpected mishaps. Many players find the game's glitches and quirky mechanics add to its comedic value, making it a fun experience despite some bugs. Overall, the game is described as a blend of spooky and funny, with a strong emphasis on cooperative play enhancing the humor.
- “A hilarious and fun game to play with friends, it's nice that it's really affordable.”
- “The gameplay is fun with friends and you can have some great stupid, funny moments with the monsters.”
- “Very fun, very funny, deserves more love!”
story
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
88%
6%
The story in "Pilgrim" begins with a compelling premise where players embark on a pilgrimage to signal life beyond their village, but it lacks depth and environmental storytelling, leaving the world feeling disconnected. While the atmospheric setting and voice acting are praised, many players express a desire for a more developed narrative, including additional quests and an opening cinematic to enhance immersion. Overall, the foundation is strong, but there is significant potential for expansion to create a richer storytelling experience.
- “The story in Pilgrim starts with an intriguing setup: players are chosen by lottery to embark on a pilgrimage down an ominous road.”
- “Their mission is to reach the end and release a pigeon to signal that there is indeed life beyond the village.”
- “The voice acting is great and the world itself is so atmospheric; I can't wait to see what the creator wants to do with the story.”
- “The story establishes a foundation that suits the game’s atmosphere well but could be expanded for greater impact.”
- “There are no scattered notes, signs, or environmental cues to suggest a backstory, which can make the world feel somewhat disconnected.”
- “As it stands, the story feels thin, though it shows potential for development into a more immersive narrative experience.”
music
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
78%
9%
The music in the game is praised for its atmospheric qualities, particularly the music box theme, which enhances the overall vibe and tension. However, many players feel that the game suffers from a lack of consistent musical presence, often leaving areas too silent and diminishing the experience. Suggestions for improvement include adding more varied music and sound effects to create a richer auditory environment, especially during key moments and encounters.
- “The game has some awesome vibes to it; I especially love the music box and the overall atmosphere. With friends, it's some serious fun!”
- “It's a great atmosphere, and I really enjoy the sound design and music.”
- “The medieval horror tonality is on point, and makes me think of games like Thief, with its dark soundscape and sparse music, the sprawling gothic catacombs and caves, and the open road ahead and behind.”
- “The music feels non-existent.”
- “The merchant carnival-like theme is good, but other than that, the game is most of the time filled with silence.”
- “Merchant music box repetitiveness - have the music box stay permanently off when toggled, instead of needing to shut it off every time.”
replayability
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
67%
13%
Replayability for this game is a mixed bag; while some players find it engaging due to its unique mechanics and procedural generation that offers varied experiences, others criticize it for being barely replayable, especially given the limited dungeon layouts and lack of developer support. The game has potential for enjoyment, particularly for fans of jump scares, but many feel it ultimately falls short in providing lasting replay value.
- “10/10 for the price! The game is a must-have if you want a game in this genre with a lot of jump scares and replayability.”
- “Replayability is phenomenal! I feel like I could play this for a long time before ever getting sick of it!”
- “When you restart a playthrough or continue a save, the locations, and even the directions you take, are always different to some degree, making it all the more replayable.”
- “Game is abandoned by the dev and it's barely replayable.”
- “The game is simply barely replayable, which is a death sentence for this kind of game, in my opinion.”
- “There is currently only a few dungeon layouts, and considering I ran into at least 50 dungeons before beating the game, there needs to be a variety to keep it replayable.”
optimization
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
55%
36%
Overall, the game's optimization is a significant concern among users, with many reporting severe stuttering and bugs that detract from the experience. While some players see potential in the game, they emphasize the urgent need for performance improvements and quality of life enhancements to fully enjoy it. The consensus is that better optimization could elevate the game to a much higher status.
- “On top of this, one of the best things about this game is how well optimized it is.”
- “With better optimization, this game will be huge.”
- “The game is horribly optimized with constant stuttering (not due to my hardware) to the point that it gives you a headache after 20-30 minutes of playing, and that horrible camera bobbing doesn't help at all. The game also lacks many quality of life features, and the UI is generally weird.”
- “Overall, I really hope you iron out the bugs and improve the game's performance because if figured out, this will definitely be one of my favorite games of the year.”
- “FPS and optimization are huge issues.”
grinding
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
Players consistently express that grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming and can feel tedious, often requiring a significant investment of time. While the dungeons and content are appreciated, the repetitive nature of grinding can diminish enjoyment, making it advisable to play with others to alleviate some of the monotony.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The dungeons are pretty cool and as more content, monsters, and variety get added, it will definitely only get better in the future, but pushing and riding feels a bit boring and just plain tedious once you've done it for the 10th time (and you do it way more).”
- “However, I will say that it's recommended to play with at least one other person because it does get more difficult and tedious the longer you travel.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to evoke strong emotional connections, describing it as a wholesome experience that fosters a sense of companionship and adventure, particularly through the journey of pushing a cart alongside a beloved character. The emotional impact is highlighted by multiple users rating it highly for its heartfelt themes.
- “This game really made me feel like a pilgrim. 10/10”
- “Nice little wholesome game with pushing a cart with my main man Jeff.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game is widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with users strongly advising against purchasing it and suggesting returning it promptly if bought.
- “Do not buy this cash grab, and if you do, return it before it's too late.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is notably strong, with fantastic and unsettling character designs that foster a deep emotional connection among players. Despite the macabre masks, players often feel attached to their fellow pilgrims, leading to genuine feelings of loss and distress when characters are left behind.
- “Character design is fantastic; everyone wears an unsettling and macabre mask, but you still feel attached to your fellow pilgrims in a strange way. I've seen players become upset if they lose someone or leave them behind out of desperation and confusion.”