Pleh!

About

Pleh! is a single player simulation game with a horror theme. It was developed by BLAZE42 and was released on March 17, 2023. It received very positive reviews from players.

Pleh! is a short psychological horror walking simulator which tells the story of a depressed game developer, his intrusive thoughts and his dark mysterious secrets.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 991 reviews

story67 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game features a beautifully crafted story that resonates deeply with players, particularly those who have experienced mental health struggles.
The unique blend of 2D and 3D environments, along with engaging gameplay mechanics, creates an immersive experience that keeps players invested.
It's a free game that offers a powerful message about mental health, making it a must-play for anyone looking for a meaningful narrative.

Some players found the pacing slow and the walking mechanics frustrating, which detracted from the overall experience.
The game can be emotionally heavy and may not be suitable for those currently struggling with mental health issues, as it tackles sensitive topics directly.
Certain elements, like the intrusive red text and some dialogue choices, were criticized for being overly on-the-nose and lacking subtlety.

story
152 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
54%
2%
The game's story has been widely praised for its emotional depth and relatability, often resonating with players on a personal level. Many reviews highlight its engaging narrative, which includes unexpected twists and a rich exploration of themes related to mental health and the struggles of game development. While some players noted that the gameplay is minimal, the storytelling and atmosphere effectively immerse players in a compelling and thought-provoking experience.
- “The narrative at first glance is easy to follow, but as you play and get deeper into it, you see that what's on the surface may not be the whole story... so you dig deeper, and get into a whole another rabbit hole involving secret documents, a hacking system, and so much more.”
- “This game is incredible, love the story, definitely worth playing.”
- “The story was amazing but heartbreaking, the music was great, the atmosphere was both calming and uneasy, and this game genuinely made me feel something.”
- “My biggest gripe with this game is the mediocrity of the storytelling, and the actively bad game interactions and visuals.”
- “It's not even excusable as a coincidence; from the premise to the plot points to multiple scenes being straight up exactly copied, and I'm not even halfway through the game!!”
- “Without the story, the game is just about walking; you barely do anything else.”
emotional
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
3%
The emotional aspect of the game has resonated deeply with players, often leading to tears and profound reflections on personal experiences, particularly related to mental health and relationships. Many users describe it as a beautifully heartbreaking journey that evokes strong feelings, with some noting it as one of the most impactful games they've ever played. While the game effectively connects with those who have faced similar struggles, it also carries a warning for players sensitive to themes of depression and emotional turmoil.
- “This is such a beautifully heartbreaking game.”
- “The story hit very close to home, and made me cry at a few points.”
- “Absolutely amazing, heartbreaking, emotional, brilliant, perfection.”
- “The game made me cry, holy crap.”
- “I felt absolutely nothing during the emotional scenes; they fell flat.”
- “The attempts at emotional depth felt forced and unconvincing.”
music
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
26%
12%
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many players praising the soundtrack as "beyond perfect" and "iconic," enhancing the emotional depth of the story. Reviewers noted that the music effectively sets the atmosphere, ranging from calming to unsettling, and resonates deeply with personal experiences. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “The story was amazing but heartbreaking, the music was great, the atmosphere was both calming and uneasy, and this game genuinely made me feel something.”
- “What I can say is that the soundtrack is amazing, and the creator should be proud of the game as a whole.”
- “The way atmosphere/music/color is used to accentuate emotions behind each scene is done flawlessly.”
- “The music is nothing too out of the ordinary.”
- “And the soundtrack????”
- “The pacing, the music, the story, the graphics, the chair ;) everything is beautiful.”
gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
53%
12%
The gameplay is characterized by minimalistic designs that prioritize a rich narrative, with some players appreciating the innovative mechanics that break the fourth wall and manipulate game files. While some found the controls and gameplay limited, many praised the thoughtful integration of mechanics with storytelling, effectively conveying deep themes and emotions. Overall, the game is recognized for its unique approach to gameplay, making it both engaging and thought-provoking.
- “A beautiful narrative, good gameplay, gorgeous environments.”
- “It takes this idea and explores everything about it with interesting mechanics and amazing storytelling, even changing the whole game focus on like three different occasions.”
- “You really get to understand the pain all of these characters have to deal with, and the gameplay mechanics even manage to represent how depression feels without being intrusive or explicit in how they do so.”
- “The game features frustrating, not clever meta mechanics like deliberately crashing and closing the game, forcing you to reload.”
- “Rubbish controls, boring gameplay, and on-the-nose storytelling.”
- “The game is a walking sim, so no in-depth gameplay; the graphics are basic, and the focus is mainly on the story, which was on point.”
graphics
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
47%
18%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the unique visual style and effective use of simple 2D graphics to enhance storytelling, while others criticize the visuals as mediocre or basic. Overall, the game's ability to convey deep themes and emotions through its graphics, despite their simplicity, is noted as a significant strength. However, there are also strong opinions highlighting the lack of quality in the graphics, particularly in comparison to the game's narrative ambitions.
- “The pacing, the music, the story, the graphics, the chair ;) everything is beautiful.”
- “It uses a variety of graphic and gameplay styles to present dark, depressing topics in a unique and palatable way.”
- “I found it so interesting how it was able to transmit so much, even with limited assets, but it reminded me that you don’t need 4K graphics to tell a compelling and touching story.”
- “Bad graphics.”
- “The visuals are bad.”
- “The graphics are basic, the focus on the game is mainly the story, which was on point.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
90%
30%
The humor in the game is a mix of light-hearted moments and dark comedy, with players appreciating its unique and surprising elements, such as the image selection segment and the incorporation of personal touches like Discord usernames. While some users found the humor hit-or-miss, many highlighted the game's ability to balance funny content with deeper, more somber themes, making it a memorable experience overall.
- “Overall, definitely play this; it has some funny moments and is a super unique game.”
- “The image selection segment was kind of funny, and the little thing where the game nabbed your Discord username was also a very nice touch that surprised me quite a lot.”
- “Really amazing game (I feel like I've written that 47 times already, but I cannot express enough how good this game is), has fun achievements, some sick dark humor, and good attention to detail.”
- “Bro, you're not funny.”
- “The jokes fell flat and felt forced.”
- “I expected more laughs, but it was mostly cringeworthy.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
37%
25%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its emotional depth and immersive qualities, effectively combining music, sound design, and visual elements to evoke a range of feelings from calmness to dread. While some players found the atmosphere occasionally incoherent or repetitive, many appreciated its ability to create a profound and unexpected narrative experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both haunting and beautifully crafted, enhancing the storytelling significantly.
- “As a hobbyist game developer with years of mental health struggles, the writing and atmosphere of the game felt profoundly familiar.”
- “The story was amazing but heartbreaking, the music was great, the atmosphere was both calming and uneasy, and this game genuinely made me feel something.”
- “The sound design and general atmosphere was great, especially in moments that suddenly transition between calm and quiet to panic and dread.”
- “Despite its well-made atmosphere, it was difficult to put together at times; it still felt rather incoherent.”
- “I think it was trying to build an atmosphere, but it takes more than just repeating the same design over and over to create something immersive.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with some users experiencing notable glitches and bugs, while others report a smooth experience without significant issues. Despite the presence of these technical problems, many players still find the game enjoyable and recommend it for family play.
- “Had a lot of glitches which were pretty weird, but it's alright since he took care of it for me in-game.”
- “Also, why do so many people have issues with this game? I've heard numerous reviews mentioning bugs and glitches, and some even described it as a horror game, claiming someone was telling them really creepy stuff, but those things didn't happen to me.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
The game offers high replayability, particularly for those who enjoy revisiting its engaging puzzle platforming elements. While some players may not feel compelled to complete it multiple times, it still provides memorable experiences that can entice others to replay.
- “Fun little puzzle platformer with lots of replayability.”
- “High replayability, and incredibly memorable experiences.”
- “There is replayability if it's your cup of tea.”
- “I'm not a completionist, so I won't replay the whole thing again, but there is replayability if it's your cup of tea.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is highly praised, with users rating it a perfect 10/10 for top performance.
- “Top performance; on my scale, I would give it a 10/10.”
- “The optimization in this game is outstanding, making every session smooth and enjoyable.”
- “I appreciate how well the game runs on lower-end hardware without sacrificing quality.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be enjoyable, particularly when pursuing achievements, though some tasks, like the chair-related ones, are considered excessively grindy. Overall, it may require a significant time investment to complete all grinding elements.
- “I really enjoyed playing through to get the achievements, although a few (the chair ones) are a bit grindy.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”