Ratshaker
- October 31, 2024
- Sunscorched Studios
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"Ratshaker" is a single-player Horror Action game that offers a good plot with plenty of humor, creating an amazing atmosphere. As the ultimate solution to rat problems, players take control of the rat-shaking device and enjoy the satisfying experience while ensuring a pest-free space. The game also guarantees fun and effective results with its unique squeak-free technology.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and absurd experience that blends humor with horror, making it both entertaining and unsettling.
- The sound design and voice acting for the rat are particularly praised, adding to the immersive and comedic atmosphere.
- Despite its short length, the game effectively builds tension and delivers a surprising narrative twist.
- The gameplay can feel repetitive and tedious, with some players finding the mechanics of shaking and squeezing the rat to be overly simplistic.
- The game is quite short, with many players completing it in under an hour, leading to concerns about replay value.
- Some technical issues, such as performance drops and bugs, detract from the overall experience.
- humor50 mentions
- 94 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of dark and absurd, with many players finding the rat's squeaks and screams genuinely hilarious, often leading to unexpected laughter amidst the horror elements. While some users appreciated the comedic aspects and found the experience entertaining, others felt the humor fell flat or was not suited to their tastes, leading to mixed reactions overall. The game's unique blend of funny audio and unsettling gameplay dynamics creates a distinctive experience that resonates differently with players.
“This game has made me laugh harder than any game I've played in a while; I was crying.”
“Equal parts horrifying and hilarious, with rats that squeak in Dolby Ratmos.”
“Really glad all I knew was you shook a rat going in; equal parts hilarious and horrifying, definitely recommend haha.”
“Not even an hour of playtime (my playtime is longer because I AFK'd for a bit), and it's not funny at all.”
“Extremely mediocre, unfunny 'scary' game.”
- story34 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by its unique blend of environmental storytelling, humor, and horror, often leaving players with a thought-provoking experience despite its brevity. While some found the plot twists predictable and anticlimactic, many praised the immersive narrative and quirky elements that contribute to its charm. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a standout feature, effectively engaging players through its creative and sometimes bizarre approach.
“This is the best game I have ever played in my life. 10/10 story, would recommend the game.”
“This is a short horror game, very creative with excellent atmosphere and story.”
“The storyline is intriguing and keeps you guessing.”
“Quite short, but the gags and weirdness make up for it, and the plot is just basic 'you killed your wife, have you played Silent Hill 2 before' stuff.”
“I was hoping the plot would have gone more into the abstract/absurd/trippy horror territory, but I saw the plot twist coming a mile away, and it was honestly anticlimactic and kind of disappointing.”
“This game has virtually no story and zero gameplay value.”
- atmosphere21 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its ability to create a tense and unsettling experience, effectively building suspense throughout its short runtime. While some players noted issues with visibility in darker sections, the overall imagery and sound design contribute to a chilling ambiance that enhances the horror elements. Despite a few criticisms regarding the abrupt ending and tonal shifts, many found the atmosphere to be a standout feature that makes the game worth experiencing.
“This is a short horror game, very creative and excellent atmosphere and story.”
“Amazing imagery and fantastic atmosphere that really amps up the horror feel.”
“The soundtrack perfectly complements the eerie atmosphere, and let’s just say you’ll be thanking the developers for those moments of silence because that means nothing is trying to kill you… yet.”
“Although there is a twist and I'm sure lore YouTubers would have fun dissecting this game (and I would find it interesting to watch those videos), the payoff at the end really isn't that great, and not worth enduring this sickening and deeply unsettling atmosphere.”
“Very nice and short indie horror game with extremely thick atmosphere.”
“Short and simple, but very effective in its atmosphere and art design.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its absurdity and simplicity, primarily revolving around the humorous act of shaking a rat, which has garnered mixed reactions from players. While some appreciate the unique and immersive dynamics, others express disappointment over the lack of depth and variety in mechanics, feeling misled by the game's promotional materials. Overall, the gameplay experience ranges from entertaining and innovative to shallow and lacking in substance, depending on individual expectations.
“The gameplay is deceptively simple: grab a rat, shake it like it owes you rent, and let the sheer absurdity take over.”
“This game offers so much: immersive gameplay, a compelling story, challenging bosses, amazing customization, beautiful soundscapes, sexy voices, and so much more.”
“Insanely interesting gameplay dynamics + quite funny/jarring/surprisingly horrific story.”
“I bought a game named Ratshaker, which I thought would contain nothing but lovely rat shaking, so here I was, with the expectation that I would only shake the rat, but imagine my shock when I learned it has an abhorrent rat squeezing mechanic.”
“Don't buy this expecting 'gameplay' as it is more of a story being told with symbolism and horror.”
“This game has virtually no story and zero gameplay value.”
- emotional9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its unexpected depth and the profound connection players feel towards the central theme of "shaking rats." Many reviewers express that the experience is both wholesome and thought-provoking, leading to lasting emotional impacts, while others humorously note the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, even likening it to a form of emotional catharsis. Overall, players appreciate the rich storytelling and the emotional journey it offers, making it a memorable experience.
“I stayed for the emotional journey.”
“Gone are the days of emotional outbursts directed towards my loved ones.”
“It was so deep and emotional, I was actually excited for new game plus.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the creative blend of 2D and 3D styles that evoke a nostalgic retro feel, reminiscent of PS1 visuals. While some players appreciate the unique artistic approach and the ingenuity behind the design, others criticize the overall quality, suggesting that improvements are needed. The visuals are described as both interesting and creepy, contributing to the game's tongue-in-cheek atmosphere.
“Beautiful retro visuals (PS1 fever dream)”
“The visuals were interesting with a mix of 2D and 3D styles; that underlying pixelated touch and the retro vibe was so cool.”
“I am awestruck by the ingenuity and the sheer amount of creativity put into this artwork of a game.”
“First off, the visuals are seriously creepy.”
“Despite the gory visuals and whispering audio, the game is very tongue-in-cheek; there is no actual horror to be found here.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's soundtrack has been highly praised for its ability to enhance the eerie atmosphere, with some users even suggesting it deserves a Grammy for its unique composition. The music effectively builds tension, and the moments of silence are appreciated as they signal a temporary reprieve from danger.
“If this game doesn’t win a Grammy for Best Soundtrack featuring vermin, we riot.”
“The soundtrack perfectly complements the eerie atmosphere, and let’s just say you’ll be thanking the developers for those moments of silence because that means nothing is trying to kill you… yet.”
“The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I found the soundtrack to be uninspired and forgettable, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
“The audio quality is poor, and the sound effects often clash with the music, creating a jarring experience.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding mechanics tedious, particularly due to the repetitive nature of shaking the controller to charge actions before squeezing. While some enjoy this aspect, many feel it detracts from the overall experience.
“Interacting with anything requires you to shake the rat and then squeeze, which becomes tedious.”
“Controls can be a little bit tedious, charging up (shaking) for an action (squeeze).”
“I'm glad other people enjoy it; I just found it tedious.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some users noting that it requires a mid-range gaming setup for optimal performance. While the developers have made commendable improvements, there are still concerns about extreme unoptimization and potential issues resembling those of a bitcoin miner.
“But either way, the developers listened and made some great optimizations.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is noted for having minimal replayability, with users indicating that once completed, there is little incentive to play again. However, at a low price point, it is still considered a worthwhile experience despite this limitation.
“But has zero replay value.”
“For three dollars, this is a great game, even if replayability is essentially nonexistent.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's monetization strategy has been criticized for being overly simplistic and lacking depth, leading some players to feel misled by its promotional claims.
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's stability is notably lacking, with users reporting issues such as sudden framerate drops, texture glitches, and an abrupt ending, indicating it was hastily developed in a short timeframe. While it may provide some amusement, these technical flaws detract from the overall experience.
“As playable shitposts go, it's at least amusing, but there are some very obvious signs pointing to how it was made in only two days, like sudden framerate drops, some texture glitches, and a rather abrupt ending.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to enjoy any extended play sessions.”
“I experienced constant lag and numerous bugs that completely disrupted my gameplay experience.”
