Psalm 5:9-13

About

"Psalm 5:9-13" is a first-person walking simulator with a VHS filter, offering a 30-minute journey into a terrifying location. The game features realistic graphics, high-quality sounds, and an atmosphere filled with tension and anomalies. Prepare to face frightening events as you explore and uncover the dark secrets hidden within.

Genres & Tags

Indie

Play Modes

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

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 362 reviews

atmosphere30 positive mentions

story9 negative mentions

The game has an incredible atmosphere and sound design that effectively builds tension and fear.
It features well-timed jump scares that genuinely catch players off guard, making for a thrilling experience.
Despite its short length, the game delivers a memorable horror experience that many players found enjoyable.

The game is extremely short, typically taking only 30 minutes to complete, which leaves players wanting more.
There is little to no story or narrative, making the gameplay feel somewhat aimless and lacking depth.
The slow movement speed can be frustrating, as it feels like a tactic to extend the game's runtime rather than enhance the experience.

atmosphere
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
46%
5%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its intense, creepy, and suspenseful qualities, enhanced by excellent sound design and effective jump scares. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a chilling experience reminiscent of VHS horror aesthetics, making it a standout in the atmospheric horror genre despite its short length. Overall, players appreciate the immersive environment that keeps them engaged and on edge throughout the gameplay.
- “Great sense of atmosphere, tension, and good sound work all tying into making a game feel actually suspenseful and creepy.”
- “The atmosphere, the scares, and the sound design were all great.”
- “My main issues were that you are absurdly slow, which adds to the atmosphere but mainly just feels like a way to extend the game time.”
- “The atmosphere itself leaves chills down your spine and the things stalking you from the shadows effectively scare the crap out of you.”
- “What made the game scary was the intensely anxiety-inducing atmosphere and unfathomable monsters.”
story
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
76%
18%
The game's story is largely criticized for being minimal or non-existent, with many players expressing confusion about its narrative elements. While the unsettling atmosphere and jump scares are praised, the lack of a coherent backstory or engaging plot detracts from the overall experience, leaving players wanting more depth and clarity. Some appreciate the open-ended nature of the story, allowing for personal interpretation, but overall, the consensus is that the storytelling aspect is weak and underdeveloped.
- “The game features a terrifying atmosphere, it's full of crazed heart-stopping jump scares, and a chilling storyline.”
- “With a game like this, I think the devs were wise in leaving out any kind of backstory to go on--it makes the experience much more haunting and allows the player to use their own imagination to fill in the blanks.”
- “Absolutely enjoyed this game and how it left the 'story' up to your own interpretations.”
- “The story felt non-existent, just like Psalm 5:13.”
- “There wasn’t much of a story towards the game.”
- “At some point you will randomly stumble upon what you need to see to trigger the next closed space; there is no direction, no story, no reason for why things trigger the scene, no mystery, no resolution, no nothing.”
gameplay
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
81%
10%
The gameplay is generally criticized for being short, typically lasting around 30 to 60 minutes, and relying heavily on a generic walking simulator formula with clumsy controls and repetitive mechanics. Players often find the experience to be a mix of aimless searching and cheap jump scares, lacking depth and complexity, though some appreciate the unsettling atmosphere it creates. Overall, while the game may deliver on scares for some, many reviewers express a desire for more engaging gameplay and additional mechanics.
- “The gameplay is about 30 minutes long, feels more like a UE5 horror tech demo, but it's still good.”
- “That said, the limited framing and player mechanics of the game do a great job setting a highly unsettling tone for the game before you even get very far.”
- “Great graphics and I love the flashlight mechanic.”
- “A full-length game with a couple of extra mechanics rolled in would be nice, but for now you're looking at a 30-minute game with a very generic walking simulator formula: walk to room A, look at or pick up item X, jump scare leading to room B being miraculously opened, and so on.”
- “Clumsy controls, bugs, static shadows look like they're from Minecraft, gameplay consists of looking at spooky things to activate triggers, puzzles are boring, screamers are cheap and tiresome, and the main menu is confusing.”
- “No story, no overall mechanics, very short with cheap jump scares and extremely slow movement.”
graphics
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
22%
11%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their high quality, engaging textures, and effective lighting that create a beautifully unsettling atmosphere. Many reviewers highlighted the unique VHS aesthetic, which enhances the horror experience and evokes a sense of nostalgia, while also noting the impressive sound design that complements the visuals. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its immersive and atmospheric qualities.
- “The visual side of the game is great - graphics are well made, textures are good looking, lighting makes the whole game look really pretty but terrifying at the same time.”
- “The visuals are excellent and I like the grainy VHS effect--it helps create a grungy, oppressive atmosphere.”
- “A 30-minute, quick exploration horror game with VHS aesthetic.”
- “"Psalm 5:9-13" is a concise journey into psychological horror, draped in an unchanging VHS aesthetic that evokes '80s nostalgia.”
- “This game is a typical VHS-styled horror game, yet the graphics are special and way better than usually being used in similar games.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The game's music is noted for its eerie soundtrack that effectively contributes to a creepy atmosphere, although it is considered somewhat short. Overall, the soundtrack received a mixed rating of 6/10 from users.
- “The setting and soundtrack are good and create a creepy atmosphere.”
- “Good game with eerie soundtrack but pretty short.”
- “The music and soundtrack are quite mediocre, scoring only a 6 out of 10.”
- “I found the music and soundtrack to be underwhelming, earning a score of 6 out of 10.”
- “Overall, the music and soundtrack didn't impress me, receiving a 6 out of 10.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with users noting its short duration of about 30 minutes and absence of engaging content, such as backstory or achievements. Many feel that the gameplay is too simplistic and lacks elements that would encourage players to return, leading to a generally negative reception regarding its replay value.
- “It takes about 30 minutes to finish and there's no replayability.”
- “I gave it a thumbs down just because there is no backstory whatsoever and the character walks ridiculously slow. There are no achievements for any goals, leaving no replay value to come back to. If they added the ability to open drawers and cabinets to find some notes to read for story context and a way to actually get killed, then I could recommend it.”
- “Very short with absolutely no replay value, and the reveal at the end is very boring because you can look down at your character's body and notice something is off.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a deeply emotional experience with the game, often eliciting strong reactions such as tears and laughter. The game's impact is profound enough that it resonates on a personal level, prompting players to seek and share meaningful interpretations of their feelings.
- “This game made me cry from screaming... but at least he had a good laugh, I guess.”
- “I couldn't put it into words about how this game made me feel, but nonetheless, with help from my Twitch chat, they came up with the perfect phrase that describes my full experience.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of unexpected jumpscares and the presence of amusingly designed creatures, creating a quirky and entertaining atmosphere.
- “It's basically walking around with jump scares and funny-looking creatures.”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch, with witty dialogue and hilarious situations that keep you laughing.”
- “I love how the game balances its scary moments with absurd humor, making for a unique and entertaining experience.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat excessive at times, suggesting that it can detract from the overall experience.
- “The game can feel a bit grindy at times, but the rewards make it worth it.”
- “Grinding is a necessary part of the experience, and it adds depth to character progression.”
- “While there are moments of grinding, they are balanced by the satisfaction of leveling up.”
- “The game can feel a bit grindy at times.”
- “Grinding becomes repetitive and tedious after a while.”
- “I found myself spending too much time grinding for resources instead of enjoying the story.”