Saturnalia

Saturnalia excels at delivering a unique horror experience rich in creepy atmosphere and sinister themes.

70%Game Brain Score

emotional

story, atmosphere

91% User Score Based on 23 reviews

Critic Score 73%Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

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About

Saturnalia is a single player survival action adventure game with horror and mystery themes. It was developed by Santa Ragione and was released on January 30, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

A third-person roguelite horror adventure where you play as four characters, experiencing an intergenerational storyline tied to the haunting traditions of an ancient village in Sardinia, Italy, a region rich with unique folklore… The village itself is an elaborate maze with no two iterations being precisely the same—you will have to explore and solve the mysteries of the game largely unguided. …

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 23 reviews

emotional1 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game features a unique and engaging story with multiple characters, each having their own abilities and backstories, which adds depth to the gameplay.
The sound design and atmospheric visuals create a genuinely creepy and immersive experience, enhancing the horror elements throughout the game.
The procedural generation of the village and the mechanics of character capture and rescue keep the gameplay fresh and maintain tension, making each playthrough feel unique.

The game's dark atmosphere can be excessively limiting, making it difficult to see and navigate, which may frustrate some players.
Movement and camera controls can be rough, leading to instances where characters get stuck, detracting from the overall experience.
The game's reliance on a small light radius and lack of modern navigation tools can feel unrealistic and may hinder immersion for some players.

story
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The story is engaging and provocative, filled with intriguing twists and well-developed characters, each with their own mysteries to uncover. Players are drawn into a gritty, spooky narrative that unfolds based on their exploration, creating a satisfying and immersive experience. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its depth and emotional impact, making it a standout aspect of the game.
- “The story is provocative and keeps you guessing as to what comes with the next clue.”
- “It keeps you creeped out, invested in the story, and satisfied with how it all ties together.”
- “Crafted with great passion and talent, it makes you feel unique sensations thanks to its mood and great storytelling.”
- “I almost don't want to say more, just go play it if you like gritty, spooky things where the story unfolds depending on how much you want to dig.”
- “The characters each have a story mystery to discover, and a valid plot reason for being in the situation they are in.”
- “Can't wait to figure out the rest of the story and hopefully not get caught by the monster.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its unique blend of industrial and rural settings, enhanced by a haunting soundtrack and striking visuals that contribute to a surreal and immersive horror experience. While some players appreciate the dark and uncanny elements, others find the lack of visibility and certain gameplay mechanics frustrating. Overall, the game is recognized for its fresh take on the survival horror genre, creating a captivating and eerie environment.
- “Pretty fresh take on the survival horror genre, that creates its thrilling surreal atmosphere by mixing an industrialized rural area in Sardinia, where yet the spirit of ancient paganism dwells.”
- “I hate and am bad at writing my opinions on anything, but Saturnalia stands as an exception, because I think it deserves more attention for not being a blatant copy of some classics of the genre, having charming visuals and uncanny atmosphere.”
- “Wonderful horror game with great atmosphere and soundtrack.”
- “I hate media like this where the entire premise relies on completely idiotic and unrealistic conditions to create a horror atmosphere.”
- “Character gets stuck on nothing frequently, and while I appreciate the dark atmosphere, not being able to see three feet in front of me, even with matches lit is a bit excessive.”
- “Maybe a 10% increase would help this feeling but I understand the atmosphere building and horror of the dark.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players initially disliking the art style but ultimately appreciating its uniqueness and charm. Many commend the sharp visuals and atmospheric design, which contribute significantly to the game's immersive experience, particularly in creating a labyrinthine feel. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, enhancing the game's mystery and ambiance.
- “I hate and am bad at writing my opinions on anything, but Saturnalia stands as an exception, because I think it deserves more attention for not being a blatant copy of some classics of the genre, having charming visuals and an uncanny atmosphere.”
- “The art style alone is worth it, to be honest.”
- “I didn't exactly love the art style of the game, but I adjusted to it and give the developers credit for having a unique looking game.”
- “Personally not a big fan of games where you're chased by something, but I really appreciated the music, the graphics, and the general atmosphere.”
- “The map isn't huge, but the sharp graphics (especially palaces), the narrow passages, and the contrasting colors generate a unique labyrinthine sensation, very important in this kind of game.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The gameplay is characterized by a simple yet engaging loop that prevents frustration by concluding before players tire of its mechanics. It features familiar horror elements, such as solving puzzles to progress, but introduces a unique twist where character deaths result in lost tools while retaining objective progress and a procedurally regenerating map. Overall, players appreciate the blend of folk horror themes with original gameplay mechanics.
- “I strongly recommend this game if you love folk horror and some original gameplay.”
- “The gameplay loop is relatively simple, but given the game length, it doesn't get too frustrating.”
- “This is all just speculation on my part, and I could be completely wrong, but there's so little information out there about this game, and there is no resource explaining these mechanics.”
- “The game ends before it lets you get tired of any of its mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is similar to many horror games (e.g., a door is locked, find a tool to open it), with the twist that, if your characters die, you keep the progress made on your objectives, but lose the tools, and the city map procedurally regenerates.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The music in the game is highly praised for enhancing the overall atmosphere, contributing significantly to the horror experience. Reviewers appreciate the soundtrack as a standout element, complementing the art and gameplay effectively.
- “One of the best games I've played! I thoroughly enjoyed this: the art, the music, and the gameplay.”
- “Personally, I'm not a big fan of games where you're chased by something, but I really appreciated the music, the graphics, and the general atmosphere.”
- “Wonderful horror game with a great atmosphere and soundtrack.”
- “The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I found the soundtrack to be quite bland and forgettable, which detracted from the overall experience.”
- “While the game has its strengths, the music is a major weak point that fails to enhance the gameplay.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game's replayability is mixed; while it can be completed in under 10 hours and may lack depth after unlocking everything, the procedurally generated village and multiple endings offer some incentive to replay. Additionally, the option to toggle experiences at the start enhances replay value for some players.
- “The game offers great replay value since you can toggle the experience at the beginning of the game.”
- “Although the game can be completed in less than 10 hours, the procedurally generated village and multiple endings provide some replay value.”
- “The game can be completed in less than 10 hours, and I don't feel like there is much replay value once you've unlocked everything, although I suppose a case could be made with the procedurally generated village and multiple endings.”
- “After finishing the main story, I found little incentive to play again. The lack of meaningful choices and consequences really diminishes the replayability.”
- “While the game offers different paths, the core experience remains largely the same, making it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the game's stability is questionable, with players expressing uncertainty about whether certain issues are intentional design choices or merely glitches.
- “I'm not even sure that these were intentional game design decisions and not just glitches!”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the overall experience.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that adjusting the difficulty below the standard level can diminish the emotional pacing of the game, potentially leading to a less impactful experience.
- “You might miss out on some of the emotional pacing of the game if you lower the difficulty below the standard.”