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Play Things

Play Things Game Cover
100%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay
Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, music
100% User Score Based on 53 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows
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Play Things Game Cover

About Play Things

Play Things is a single player survival action adventure game with a horror theme. It was developed by Burning Eye and was released on May 8, 2026. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Play Things v1.2.7.1 In this game, you'll be investigating a collection of dolls. Some ordinary, others hiding a dark curse. Through a series of tests, you must determine which dolls are merely toys and which conceal something sinister. However, not everything is as it seems... WARNING: This game includes slight jumpscares, dark themes, murder, domestic abuse blood and flashing lights. AD…

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Play Things screenshot
Play Things screenshot
Play Things screenshot
Play Things screenshot
Play Things screenshot
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Reviews

100%Audience ScoreBased on 53 reviews
story6 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • Highly praised psychological horror with an unsettling atmosphere and effective use of tension rather than relying on constant jump scares.
  • Strong narrative and lore uncovering the dark backstories of each doll, encouraging exploration and attention to detail.
  • Engaging gameplay mechanics focused on investigation and decision-making, supported by appealing stylized graphics and well-crafted sound design.
  • Certain gameplay elements can be frustrating, such as confusing doll tracking, occasional soft locks, and slightly underused mechanics like power outages.
  • Some players found the final doll encounter and ending jarring and diminishing the overall experience, feeling out of place compared to the rest of the game.
  • Short overall length with limited variety in doll character designs and a lack of achievements makes completion feel less satisfying for some.

  • story

    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    35% positive mentions, 47% neutral mentions, 18% negative mentions

    The story is gradual and enriched with hidden lore and environmental storytelling, rewarding players who deeply investigate the game world. While some find the narrative straightforward and atmospheric with unique, memorable elements and multiple endings, others feel certain plot points and endings lack depth or polish, expressing a desire for further expansion. Overall, the dark, investigative story complements the gameplay well, creating a compelling and immersive experience despite occasional unevenness.

    • “The combination of investigative gameplay, unsettling atmosphere, strong environmental storytelling, and intriguing lore creates an experience that remains memorable long after it ends.”
    • “Hidden lore and subtle storytelling techniques reward players who take the time to investigate beyond the immediate objectives.”
    • “Investigating the story and lore of each doll and what happened to them is really good; each of their stories is unique and interesting.”
    • “But I really wasn't a big fan of the endings or story with Arnold overall; he wasn't interesting and the explanation didn't engage me. It felt like an afterthought rather than a main focus. While I understand it needed to end somehow beyond 'just kill the protagonist,' it just felt underwhelming. I'd like to see it expanded upon in a future update if it's going to be a big focus.”
    • “Furthermore, the number the story mode ends on at the time of reviewing is such an odd point to leave on.”
    • “The tension and atmosphere are completely obliterated by the last doll and the ending as a whole, which, after a few dolls that tell a story in a more subtle way, turns everything up to an 11.”

  • gameplay

    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    31% positive mentions, 46% neutral mentions, 23% negative mentions

    The gameplay centers on inspecting dolls in a unique mix of puzzle-solving and psychological horror, combining investigative mechanics with a tense, atmospheric experience. It offers a slower, narrative-driven pace rather than action, appealing to fans of mystery and environmental storytelling, with mechanics that are accessible and low-frustration but sometimes underutilized. Overall, the gameplay is memorable, engaging, and supports the game's dark, immersive story.

    • “The central gameplay loop revolves around inspecting dolls that arrive for evaluation.”
    • “This mechanic creates a unique blend of puzzle-solving and psychological horror.”
    • “The combination of investigative gameplay, unsettling atmosphere, strong environmental storytelling, and intriguing lore creates an experience that remains memorable long after it ends.”
    • “Some mechanics feel a bit underused.”
    • “The room with the corner where you can hide felt like it would be a more relevant mechanic, but it only ever comes into play one single time against Lily.”
    • “I suspect it has to do with your actual gameplay; however, I didn't see a difference in the endings regardless of whether or not I intentionally screwed up or I spared/killed any specific dolls.”

  • atmosphere

    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    60% positive mentions, 20% neutral mentions, 20% negative mentions

    The game excels at creating a memorable, unsettling atmosphere through its investigative gameplay, strong environmental storytelling, and intriguing lore, appealing to fans of narrative-driven horror and mystery. While some may find its slower pace less engaging, the tension is generally well-maintained—though the finale's overt intensity may disrupt the established mood for some players.

    • “One of the game's greatest strengths is its atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics may not aim for photorealism, but they successfully establish a memorable atmosphere.”
    • “The combination of investigative gameplay, unsettling atmosphere, strong environmental storytelling, and intriguing lore creates an experience that remains memorable long after it ends.”
    • “The tension and atmosphere are completely obliterated by the last doll and the ending as a whole which, after a few dolls that tell a story in a more subtle way, turns everything up to an 11.”

  • graphics

    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    60% positive mentions, 40% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game's graphics, while not photorealistic, effectively create a memorable and unsettling atmosphere that enhances its horror elements and jump scares. The distinctive style supports the storytelling and lore, making the visuals an integral part of the immersive experience.

    • “The graphics may not aim for photorealism, but they successfully establish a memorable atmosphere.”
    • “Got me good a few times with the jump scares, and the graphic quality absolutely adds to the scare element.”
    • “This is a genuinely scary game despite the purposeful graphics and doll subject matter.”

  • grinding

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    Grinding in the game is often perceived as overly tedious and somewhat arbitrary, which can diminish the enjoyment. Additionally, the current lack of achievements contributes to a sense of tediousness for completion-focused players.

    • “Feels like a lot more of it than it should is arbitrarily tedious or off.”
    • “The lack of achievements is also understandable right now but does make completionism feel rather tedious.”

  • humor

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The humor in the game includes some genuinely funny and memorable moments, with occasional clever or unexpected scares that add a playful twist. Overall, it offers lighthearted and entertaining interactions that can catch players off guard in amusing ways.

    • “There are some genuinely funny or memorable moments here and there.”
    • “Still, she's the only doll to actually make me jump (my clever ass thought it'd be a funny idea to hide directly behind her on the chair, she paused and stopped singing as if insulted and then jumpscared me, lol), so I can appreciate that.”

  • music

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 100% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The music effectively enhances the game's atmosphere with ambient noises, distant sounds, and well-timed musical cues that maintain tension and keep players engaged.

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Play Times

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

Play Things is a survival action adventure game with horror theme. Common tags for Play Things include first-person, indie, psychological, exploration, emotional and others.

Play Things is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 2 hours playing Play Things.

Play Things was released on May 8, 2026.

Play Things was developed by Burning Eye.

Play Things has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked Play Things for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Play Things is a single player game.

Similar games include The Cabin Factory, Left Alone, The Inn-Sanity, Ten Bells, Project Kat: Paper Lily Prologue and others.