Reflection

About

Reflection is a single player survival simulation game with horror and thriller themes. It was developed by JustTomcuk and was released on May 1, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

Reflection is a single-player indie horror simulation game where you wake up in a basement with no memory and must escape while uncovering the truth. Featuring realistic graphics, immersive sound design, and a tense atmosphere, the story unfolds visually and through sounds, delivering a haunting experience that keeps players on edge.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 72 reviews

atmosphere11 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features an incredibly disturbing atmosphere, enhanced by excellent sound design and graphics.
It delivers effective jump scares and maintains a consistent sense of tension throughout the short gameplay experience.
The minimalistic approach to storytelling and gameplay allows for a focused horror experience that some players find engaging.

The game lacks a settings menu, preventing players from adjusting brightness, sensitivity, or other controls, which can lead to frustration.
Its short length and linear gameplay may leave players wanting more in terms of narrative depth and replayability.
Some players found the jump scares predictable and the overall story to be clichéd and lacking originality.

atmosphere
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
44%
12%
The atmosphere in "Reflection" is widely praised for its disturbing and immersive qualities, effectively creating a sustained sense of unease through minimalism, darkness, and sharp sound design. Reviewers note that the game excels in delivering tension and fear, often relying on atmospheric elements rather than complex mechanics or storytelling. While some mention a few gameplay distractions, the overall consensus is that the game's atmosphere is its strongest feature, making it a compelling horror experience.
- “Reflection is a compact but evocative horror experience that relies heavily on atmosphere, minimalism, and psychological tension rather than elaborate mechanics or extensive storytelling.”
- “The most disturbing atmosphere in a game I have ever experienced.”
- “The game makes its intentions clear early on — it is not here to overwhelm with plot, but to immerse you in a sustained atmosphere of unease.”
- “The atmosphere kept me on edge the whole game with fantastic payoffs with jumpscares.”
story
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
50%
14%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its intriguing concepts and plot twists, while others found it predictable and lacking depth. Many noted that the storytelling relies heavily on atmosphere and minimalism, often leading to disengagement due to its linear progression and basic mechanics. Overall, while the narrative has its merits, it may not satisfy those seeking a more elaborate or original experience.
- “The game is pretty cool, with a plot twist at the end that made it worth finishing!”
- “The story of the game has a great twist and has amazing storytelling.”
- “Overall pretty enjoyable—good storytelling without any actual dialogue.”
- “Game is super linear and can be tedious in that you have to go places to get the story moving along.”
- “My biggest issue is that I felt that it didn't really convey a story and thus I stayed unengaged.”
- “It's essentially a slow-paced walking simulator with no dialogue, cheap jumpscares, and a cliché storyline.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
10%
10%
The graphics in the game have received widespread praise for their photorealism, clarity, and effective use of lighting and shadows, contributing to a compelling atmosphere. Many players noted the graphics as a standout feature, enhancing the overall experience, although some expressed a desire for adjustable settings. Overall, the visuals are considered top-notch, elevating the game's horror elements and immersion.
- “The graphics are photorealistic, really well done, and the game feels polished.”
- “Insane graphics and light effects.”
- “The graphics on this game were the best I've seen, the sounds and atmosphere were scary, and the puzzles weren't overly difficult.”
- “The graphics are crystal clear, except for the wet darkness.”
- “Something to note: though he mentions it on the store page, there are no graphical settings.”
gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The gameplay of "Reflection" is characterized by its minimalistic approach, focusing on atmosphere and psychological tension rather than complex mechanics or extensive storytelling. While some players appreciate the intimate and immersive horror experience, others criticize the lack of replayability, basic mechanics, and limited settings, leading to mixed reviews on its overall engagement and depth. The game is short, typically lasting around 40-50 minutes, and while it offers effective tension and jumpscares, it may not satisfy those seeking more intricate gameplay elements.
- “Reflection is a compact but evocative horror experience that relies heavily on atmosphere, minimalism, and psychological tension rather than elaborate mechanics or extensive storytelling.”
- “This simplicity allows the horror to remain uninterrupted — nothing pulls you away from the atmosphere, and no elaborate gameplay systems distract from the tension.”
- “It took me 50 minutes to beat, magnificent gameplay and fantastic jumpscares.”
- “Way too dark, no gameplay, no secrets, no replayability, no menu to change settings...”
- “The story, gameplay mechanics, and puzzles are all very basic.”
- “30 min of boring gameplay.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Character development in the game is perceived as lacking depth, with players expressing a desire for richer lore and more expansive character arcs.
- “The character development in this game is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character's backstory and motivations.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making choices that truly impact their growth and relationships.”
- “The intricate character arcs and personal growth make the story feel immersive and engaging, keeping me invested in their journeys.”
- “Players seeking deeper lore, character development, or a broader environment may find themselves wanting more.”
- “The characters feel one-dimensional and lack the depth needed to make their stories engaging.”
- “There is little to no growth in the characters throughout the game, making it hard to connect with them.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious due to its linear structure, which requires them to travel to specific locations to progress the story.
- “The game is super linear and can be tedious, as you have to go to specific places to progress the story.”
- “Grinding feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “The amount of time spent grinding for resources feels excessive and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, running smoothly without performance issues, even on lower-end hardware like the OLED Deck. However, players with less capable PCs may find limited options for performance tweaks.
- “No performance issues.”
- “This ran great on the OLED deck, and hopefully any future games are as well optimized as this.”
- “So if your PC is not up to snuff, you can’t tweak anything to get better performance.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers indicate that the game suffers from low replayability due to its dark atmosphere and minimalistic design, which leaves little room for exploration or new experiences after the initial playthrough. The lack of gameplay variety and secrets further diminishes the incentive to replay.
- “Similarly, the minimalistic structure means that once the primary scares and atmospheric moments have been experienced, there is little replay value.”
- “Way too dark, no gameplay, no secrets, no replayability, no menu to change settings...”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the game's ability to maintain emotional momentum through its simplicity, with many noting a pervasive sense of unease that enhances the overall experience. The design choices effectively reinforce the emotional tone throughout the short playtime.
- “The lack of mechanical complexity also helps maintain momentum, especially in a short game where every minute must reinforce the emotional tone.”
- “Made me feel uneasy throughout the entire playthrough.”