Project Absentia

About

"Project Absentia" is a narrative-driven, psychological horror game that follows the story of a detective investigating a series of mysterious disappearances in a small town. The game features a unique art style and immersive environment, with gameplay that combines puzzle-solving and exploration. As the detective, players will uncover disturbing secrets and confront their own fears while attempting to solve the case.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 66 reviews

story4 positive mentions

The game features fast-paced, addictive gameplay with excellent movement mechanics, allowing players to glide and jump high, enhancing the overall experience.
The weapon variety is impressive, with unique mechanics that allow for engaging combat, including secondary fire options and a mix of explosive and elemental weapons.
The art style and character design evoke a charming retro aesthetic reminiscent of early 2000s internet culture, contributing to the game's unique identity.

The story and dialogue can feel juvenile and lack depth, with characters often resorting to vulgarity without meaningful context.
Some weapons, like the double-barreled shotgun, feel out of place in the game's fast-paced combat, making them less effective compared to other options.
While the levels are generally well-designed, some players may find them lacking in standout features or memorable moments due to the game's focus on speed and movement.

story
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
78%
9%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players praising its engaging narrative, strong female protagonist, and effective voice acting that enhances character development. However, others criticize the plot for being shallow, vulgar, and lacking emotional depth, suggesting it feels more like a series of inside jokes than a cohesive story. Overall, while the gameplay is highly regarded, the story may not resonate with everyone, leaving room for improvement.
- “Features an interesting story I could most definitely get behind, an awesome female protagonist with dialogue about her surroundings and the enemies she faces that builds her already soaring character, a very silly art style that all collectively fits very well when mashed up with the game and characters, and has voice actors that play their role extremely well, even all the way up to the enemies who call the protagonist expletives that I find hilarious.”
- “I easily recommend this game to anyone who wants some challenge and adrenaline-pumping gameplay with also well-written characters and an engaging story between chapters in episode 1!”
- “The actual core story feels a bit cliché, but it has one and it's presented relatively well, which is a plus in my book.”
- “It tries to be emotional at a few points, but it falls flat because I barely know anyone in this story.”
- “I don't intend on spoiling, but even if I did, you'd still be unimpressed because of how insignificant the story is. The gist is this: bad guys called Orkancorp bust into Absentia's dorm and kidnap her friends because they're petty.”
- “In conclusion, gameplay is good, but the story is bad.”
gameplay
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
41%
9%
The gameplay is highly praised for its fast-paced, addictive mechanics, featuring smooth movement, verticality in combat, and a unique weapon system that enhances the experience without cluttering the loadout. Players enjoy the distinct and satisfying weapons, likening the overall feel to classic shooters while appreciating the solid mechanics that make it ludicrously fun. Despite some criticism of the story, the gameplay stands out as a major highlight, making it a recommended choice for those seeking adrenaline-pumping action.
- “The fast-paced gameplay is addictive and very satisfying: the agility of the player movement, the verticality of the combat, and the arenas are super fun.”
- “Gameplay is rock solid; you run like a freight train, have a wicked vertical jump, and an arsenal of explosives.”
- “The gameplay is fun, the weapons are distinct and satisfying to use, and the movement is smooth and fast.”
- “It doesn't lean on the novelty kitsch of that concept either, the gameplay is a total headrush and would feel amazing if all the enemies were grey boxes and the guns were missing textures.”
- “Buy this game if you're willing to tolerate the story for its gameplay.”
- “Story is a little silly and the whole affair feels like an early 2000's forum chat inside-joke fest, but the mechanics are incredibly solid and the gameplay is ludicrously fun.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
61%
17%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a distinctive art style that sets it apart from typical low-poly shooters, evoking the feel of an over-the-top flash cartoon. While some users note that the visuals are rough around the edges, reminiscent of a game made in Game Maker, the unique aesthetic and vibrant use of color contribute to its charm and appeal. Overall, the art style is praised for its creativity and ability to enhance the game's fun and engaging atmosphere.
- “It helps it to stand out against the sea of 'just another low poly shooter' with its art style and use of color.”
- “The movement feels great (the character has wings so you can sort of fly when you jump), love the art style and level design.”
- “The art style and tone are very charming.”
- “The art style looks like it was straight out of DeviantArt, and graphically the game is rough around the edges. You simply can't escape the fact that it was made in a game maker, but there are some unique ideas here; I dig them.”
- “Aesthetic feels like playing through an old over-the-top flash cartoon.”
- “The art style looks like it was straight out of DeviantArt, and graphically the game is rough around the edges. You simply can't escape the fact that it was made in a game maker, but there are some unique ideas here; I dig them.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting the superb and spectacular soundtrack. While the sound effects and overall sound design are considered solid, some feel they are not particularly remarkable. Voice acting also receives positive remarks, contributing to a well-rounded audio experience.
- “The soundtrack is spectacular.”
- “The music is superb; I adore the soundtrack.”
- “Music's good, sound design is solid, and the voice acting is good across the board.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by clever one-liners from the protagonist that remain entertaining without becoming tiresome, complemented by a cartoonish yet gruesome style. The dialogue, particularly from the female lead and her adversaries, enhances the comedic experience, supported by strong voice acting that adds to the overall silliness and charm of the game.
- “The protagonist has one-liners that can be funny and don't get annoying.”
- “It has that style where it is not only funny and cartoon-like, but also has a kind of gruesome edge.”
- “Features an interesting story I could definitely get behind, an awesome female protagonist with dialogue about her surroundings and the enemies she faces that builds her already soaring character, a very silly art style that fits well with the game and characters, and voice actors who play their roles extremely well, even the enemies who call the protagonist expletives that I find hilarious.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is marked by unique and standout sprite designs, although the overall art may lack detail and impressiveness. This distinctive character design contributes positively to the game's identity, despite its artistic limitations.
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by surprisingly strong voice acting, particularly from Dr. Atmosphere, who delivers the standout performance, while Abby's playful one-liners add to the overall enjoyment.
- “The voice acting is surprisingly good, with Dr. Atmosphere delivering the best performance, and Abby being enjoyable when she's delivering one-liners and having fun.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game attempts to evoke emotional responses at certain moments, but many players feel it falls short due to a lack of connection with the characters, resulting in a diminished impact of the emotional scenes.
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the villain Phoenix is praised for delivering impressive performance that aligns well with the character's portrayal, indicating a strong execution in this aspect.
- “The villain Phoenix, for example, has really good performance for the kind of character they're portrayed as.”