Pumpkin Eater

About

"Pumpkin Eater" is a psychological horror visual novel based on the rhyme "Peter, Peter pumpkin eater." The game features a family taking care of their pumpkin-headed son in a 40-minute kinetic story. With hand-drawn illustrations and a focus on medical accuracy, players can expect a disturbing and unique experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 97 reviews

story21 positive mentions

music1 negative mentions

The story is engaging and well-written, providing a genuinely unnerving experience that keeps players on the edge of their seat.
The watercolor art style complements the dark themes of the narrative, creating a unique and visually appealing experience.
The game offers medically accurate depictions of decomposition, which adds an educational element to the horror experience.

The game is very short, lasting only about 30 minutes to an hour, which may leave some players wanting more content.
There are no choices or alternate endings, making it feel more like a visual novel than a traditional game.
The graphic descriptions of decay and gore may be off-putting for some players, potentially causing discomfort.

story
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
59%
5%
The story of "Pumpkin Eater" is a haunting and well-crafted narrative that explores themes of grief and madness through the gruesome tale of a mother who becomes delusional after her son's accidental death. With its unique watercolor art style and medically accurate depictions of decomposition, the game offers a disturbing yet captivating experience that lingers long after the short playtime of 30 minutes to an hour. While the content may be unsettling for some, the depth of research and detail enhances the storytelling, making it a memorable visual novel for those who appreciate dark themes.
- “Despite its short playtime, this is a story that will stick with you – whether you want it to or not.”
- “The contrast between the watercolor art style and the dark subject matter made this story feel so much more eerie, lending to how easy it was to get caught up in.”
- “Pumpkin Eater provides an engaging and genuinely unnerving story that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.”
- “But this story is distressing, disgusting, and distasteful.”
- “The story is incredibly gross, and the sickening descriptions play a huge part in facilitating that theme.”
- “The story is well-written, though with gruesome depictions of decomposition, so if you're sensitive to such things I'd recommend staying away from this game, as decomposition is what it centers around.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
15%
23%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique watercolor art style, which effectively contrasts with the dark themes of the story, enhancing its eerie atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the attention to detail and the visually appealing elements, although some express a desire for more visual content, particularly towards the end of the game. Overall, the art style is considered a strong fit for the narrative, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
- “The art style is quite nice and the attention to visual detail is laudable.”
- “I really love the unique art style as it really fits with the story in a way I can't explain.”
- “My one complaint is that the very end of the game is just text and lacks any visuals, but it's understandable considering this was made for a game jam.”
- “The contrast between the watercolor art style and the dark subject matter made this story feel so much more eerie, lending to how easy it was to get caught up in.”
- “The art style is different from other visual novels, and it's really fitting!”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game elicits strong emotional reactions, with some players reporting feelings of nausea due to its graphic depictions of gore and themes of abuse. While the horror elements are jarring, they are also praised for their authenticity, creating a deeply impactful experience that resonates with players.
- “There was a trigger warning for the artistic gore, but I think there could be a trigger warning for the emotional and physical abuse as well.”
- “It is a jarring horror experience with accurate and emotional depictions of the decomposition process.”
- “Gross, disgusting, and made me feel a bit sick... I loved it.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its generic and exaggerated character portrayals, reminiscent of a B-horror movie, which many players found entertaining and laugh-inducing.
- “This one made me laugh a lot with how generic and exaggerated the characters were acting, but it was entertaining in a way like a B-horror movie.”
- “Funny.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The gameplay is straightforward and focuses primarily on the core mechanics, offering a no-frills experience that emphasizes the essential elements of play.
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music and sound design are considered average, not particularly noteworthy but still effective in enhancing the game's atmosphere, providing a thematic backdrop that is preferable to silence.
- “The music and sound design isn't anything to write home about, but it's definitely better than silence and was thematic enough.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it requires an unrealistic amount of effort, akin to needing a second life to complete it.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users generally praise the game's background music and overall atmosphere, highlighting it as a strong and enjoyable aspect of the experience.
- “The background music and atmosphere are quite great; I really like it.”
- “The immersive atmosphere draws you in and makes every moment feel significant.”
- “The game's atmosphere is hauntingly beautiful, creating a perfect blend of tension and wonder.”