Ratshaker

About

Ratshaker is a single player casual simulation game with horror and mystery themes. It was developed by Sunscorched Studios and was released on October 31, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

RATSHAKER is the fun and quirky solution to all your rat problems! Hold on to the RAT, shake your arm, and watch life’s problems disappear! How far can you go?

Skip User Reviews

94%Audience ScoreBased on 2,953 reviews

humor188 positive mentions

grinding11 negative mentions

Unique and creative gameplay mechanic centered around shaking and squeezing a rat, which is funny and engaging at first.
Strong atmospheric and audio design that blends humor with disturbing and psychological horror elements.
Short and well-paced experience with a compelling narrative that gradually reveals itself, leaving players intrigued.

Repetitive rat shaking mechanic can cause physical discomfort and gets tedious over time.
Some confusing level design with obscure puzzles, poor checkpoint system, and instances of sudden instant-death forcing players to redo sections.
Predictable and sometimes unsatisfying story ending with cheap jump scares and minimal meaningful player interaction beyond rat shaking.

humor
199 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
94%
6%
The humor in this game centers on the absurd and quirky mechanic of shaking a rat, which many find initially hilarious and unique, especially due to the rat's funny noises and sarcastic dialogue. However, the comedic effect tends to wear off quickly as the game transitions into a darker, more unsettling horror experience, causing some players to find the humor repetitive, overshadowed by the horror, or simply not very funny overall. Despite mixed reactions, the blend of dark humor and horror provides a memorable and distinct tone that some players appreciate for its originality and contrast.
- “The reason this game experience is good is because it starts with a truly absurd and pretty funny premise, and as it delves into horror, it continues to keep the tongue-in-cheek humor, which is unusual for this kind of game.”
- “For everything funny and weird there is something unnerving and wrong going on and it all genuinely comes together in a cohesive way.”
- “It starts off hilarious—just grab, shake, and watch the squeaky chaos—but before you know it, you're digging deeper into the life choices and the meaning of this character's reality.”
- “Time is precious, so don’t go wasting it on an unfunny meme game.”
- “This game is really boring, unfunny after the first minute, and is terribly optimized.”
- “Extremely mediocre, unfunny 'scary' game.”
story
193 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
69%
4%
The story in Ratshaker is a short, dark psychological horror narrative that unfolds through environmental storytelling and symbolic imagery, often requiring player interpretation. While some praise its unique, thought-provoking atmosphere and gradual reveal of a tragic plot involving murder and regret, others find it predictable, vague, and occasionally repetitive or underdeveloped. Overall, it’s considered an intriguing but brief experience that blends unsettling themes with quirky gameplay, appealing primarily to those interested in atmospheric horror rather than traditional storytelling.
- “Though Ratshaker doesn't rely on traditional jumpscares or immediate threats, it instead immerses the player in a story with visual storytelling that gradually reveals itself in disturbing ways, leaving a lasting impact.”
- “So for starters... I didn't know I had bought this game as I purchased it through a bundle. I assumed it was a funny wholesome game about shaking a rat with goofy dialogue, but I was wrong. This game had me on the edge of my seat; I was incredibly uncomfortable as I pieced together the story. Everything from visuals to sound design to lighting was impeccable for what it was trying to do, and the rat’s voice got me each time.”
- “There’s a surprising amount of story packed into that time, and much of it is left open to interpretation.”
- “To briefly describe it without spoilers, Ratshaker has superb narrative setup; unfortunately, the story loses focus, drags on, and consequently offers an incredibly unsatisfying final segment.”
- “The story ends up having nothing to do with the rat, or shaking the rat, effectively making the game's main draw completely pointless.”
- “Just too repetitive, slow paced, and a bit boring, again should have ended sooner and tone the story in so we're not left confused on the whole thing just for the story to be 'guy killed wife'; I can't really recommend it on a gameplay point of view but if you want to support them sure.”
gameplay
166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
72%
11%
The gameplay of "Ratshaker" centers on a unique but simple and repetitive mechanic of physically shaking and squeezing a rat to interact with the environment, delivering a mix of dark humor and unsettling atmosphere. While some players appreciate its originality and thematic integration, others find it tedious, slow-paced, and lacking depth or meaningful variety beyond the rat-shaking interaction. Overall, the gameplay serves more as a narrative and artistic device than engaging traditional gameplay, appealing mainly to niche audiences seeking an unusual, short walking simulator experience.
- “The core mechanic is deliberately simple: you interact with a rat in first-person view, physically shaking it to build up a meter that drives progression.”
- “Before long you will grasp the basic and necessary mechanics, and then the real fun begins as you begin to grasp the nature of the story that they are telling.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are quite weird and unique, but essentially, shake the rat by holding the left mouse key to build up action bar, and then use the right mouse key choking the rat consuming action bar to interact.”
- “In terms of gameplay... we got no gameplay.”
- “Just too repetitive, slow paced, and a bit boring, again should have ended sooner and toned the story in so we're not left confused on the whole thing just for the story to be "guy killed wife". I can't really recommend it on a gameplay point of view.”
- “Gameplay is very barebone and annoying and horror is almost exclusively through jump scares.”
atmosphere
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
45%
4%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unsettling, tense, and immersive qualities, effectively blending horror and dark humor. It builds from a deceptively peaceful start into a claustrophobic, eerie experience enriched by strong visual storytelling and sound design. While some criticize cheap jump scares and abrupt moments that undercut the mood, overall, the atmosphere is seen as the game's standout strength, creating a unique and memorable horror experience.
- “A very unique horror game with a great atmosphere.”
- “The gameplay is simple but effective, and the sound design does a lot of heavy lifting for the creepy atmosphere.”
- “The game is great at crafting a genuinely tense and unnerving atmosphere and got a few jumps out of me without feeling like a cheap attempt at horror.”
- “For a game with the atmosphere of this game, this sucks and feels really cheap, like they thought what they had made wasn't good enough.”
- “I never had goosebumps or was excited because of the atmosphere.”
- “Although there is a twist and I'm sure lore YouTubers would have fun dissecting this game, the payoff at the end really isn't that great, and not worth enduring this sickening and deeply unsettling atmosphere.”
graphics
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
53%
5%
The graphics of the game feature a unique, deliberately off-kilter, and minimalist aesthetic that blends cartoonish, pixelated, and retro visuals with disturbing and gory imagery, creating a surreal and unsettling atmosphere. This distinctive art style effectively supports the game's horror-comedy tone, balancing creepy visuals with moments of dark humor, though it may be demanding on older hardware and not for those sensitive to graphic content. Overall, the visuals receive praise for their creativity, atmosphere, and enhancement of the narrative experience.
- “The graphics, atmosphere, and even humor are amazing, and the humor doesn't take away from the horror aspect too much.”
- “From the halfway point onward it gets really good, with strong horror moments, creepy sound design, atmospheric visuals and a genuinely interesting story.”
- “Visually, Ratshaker™ embraces minimalism to an almost satirical degree, offering an aesthetic that's both laughably simple and hauntingly effective.”
- “The graphics look simplistic at a glance but they take a heavy toll on older laptops and there isn't any way to adjust the settings to compensate for outdated hardware.”
- “Visually, ratshaker™ embraces minimalism to an almost satirical degree, offering an aesthetic that's both laughably simple and hauntingly effective.”
- “Get it if you’ve been craving some rat-shakin’ action with weird visuals.”
emotional
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional experience of the game is largely described as wholesome, fun, and oddly comforting, with many players feeling genuinely attached to the rat and finding stress relief through gameplay. However, some also report feelings of discomfort, emotional intensity, or even fear, highlighting a surprisingly deep and complex emotional impact beneath its lighthearted surface. Overall, the game evokes a unique mix of warmth, humor, and unexpected emotional depth.
- “So for starters, I didn't know I had bought this game as I purchased it through a bundle when I bought Glitch Spanker and had no idea what to expect going into it. I assumed it was a funny wholesome game about shaking a rat that had some funny and goofy dialog, but dayum was I wrong. This game had me on the edge of my seat for most of it. I was incredibly uncomfortable as I pieced together the story. Everything from the visuals to the sound design to the lighting was impeccable for what it was trying to do, and well, the rat's voice got me each time.”
- “This is a game that emotionally touched me to my core!”
- “It was so deep and emotional, I was actually excited for New Game Plus.”
grinding
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
85%
Users consistently find the grinding in the game to be extremely tedious and repetitive, with mechanics like shaking and squeezing becoming monotonous over time. While the premise and some gameplay elements are unique and initially charming, the overall experience quickly turns dull and tiresome.
- “Only criticism I really have is the first 3 times you need to fill the shake meter takes way too long to do, it becomes tedious and practically gave me carpal tunnel.”
- “Interacting with anything requires you to shake the rat and then squeeze which becomes tedious.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
37%
27%
The music in the game receives mixed reactions, ranging from annoying or missing entirely to highly praised for enhancing the eerie, visceral atmosphere. Some appreciate the unsettling and contrasting tracks that add depth and humor, while others enjoy the cheerful, lighthearted tunes suited for children. Overall, the soundtrack effectively supports the game's tone, with moments of silence adding to the tension and immersion.
- “The soundtrack perfectly complements the eerie atmosphere, and you’ll be thanking the developers for those moments of silence because that means nothing is trying to kill you… yet.”
- “The lingering, vague shape of the killer in the background or the oddly disconnected and discerning first person POV of the stalker himself, all accompanied by Pavlovian-inducing soundtracks that have embedded themselves into media-literacy's cultural identity, is extremely visceral and invigorating.”
- “It is pretty funny at times and the voice actor was pretty good; the atmosphere of the game was good and the music helped set the tone of the game nicely.”
- “Bad; ugly; no music; annoying sounds; annoying gameplay.”
- “Some unsettling music, audio, and visuals.”
- “The music?”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
Ratshaker offers limited replayability, primarily appealing through its alternate endings and unique moments rather than extensive content or varied gameplay. While the game is short and not highly replayable, its low price and intriguing story make it a worthwhile experience. Overall, replay value is minimal, but the game's distinctive atmosphere provides a memorable, if brief, playthrough.
- “At the current price point of $2.99, Ratshaker is a solid low-budget horror title, and despite the short length with low replayability, offers a couple hours of reasonable entertainment.”
- “With multiple endings that might or might not be found, the replayability of Ratshaker™ is questionable at best, making it a game that's either a profound comment on the nature of gaming or just a really strange way to spend an afternoon.”
- “In conclusion: Ratshaker is not very replayable.”
- “There is little in the way of replay value beyond experiencing alternate endings or revisiting specific surreal moments.”
- “But has zero replay value.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization is inconsistent, with some users reporting terrible or nonexistent optimization and performance issues, while others note improvements after developer updates. Overall, optimization remains a concern, affecting gameplay experience.
- “Performance: 8”
- “But either way dev(s) listened and did some great optimization.”
- “On top of that optimization is non-existent and developer decided to use Epic Online Services for their game for some reason.”
- “This game is really boring, unfunny after the first minute, and is terribly optimized.”
- “On top of that, optimization is non-existent and the developer decided to use Epic Online Services for their game for some reason.”
- “Available for $2.99 on Steam and soon on Epic Rat Shaker, the Rat Shaker demands a mid-range gaming rat shaker for optimal performance.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization in the game features absurd and unconventional mechanics, including quirky ads like shaking a rat to solve problems. While these fresh approaches stand out, some players find the advertising gimmicks off-putting and limiting, detracting from the overall appeal.
- “Absurd and fresh mechanics - to add to this, there is an element of oddness at the beginning of the game: an advertisement about getting rid of your problems by shaking a rat.”
- “Overall, after dealing with major audio issues, the thing that drew me to the game in the ads was the biggest drawback.”
- “As someone who comes from a pro-rat household, I was surprised by this game's advertisement of being a one trick pony.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game shows occasional minor bugs but remains generally stable during play.
- “Lil' buggy at times.”