Search Party

About

"Search Party: Director's Cut" is a survival horror game with puzzle-solving elements, inspired by Clock Tower and Resident Evil. Players control Claire, searching for her missing brother in a creepy house while defending herself against a mysterious stalker. The Director's Cut includes new endings, a new area, unlockable content, and updated art assets. The game features 16-bit graphics and aims to shock and sicken players with its gruesome true crime slasher tale.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 124 reviews

graphics8 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Beautiful art style and engaging atmosphere that enhances the horror experience.
Fun gameplay mechanics with multiple endings and secrets to discover, providing good replay value.
The game effectively explores themes of loss and grief, resonating deeply with players.

The game is very short, with many players completing it in under three hours.
Some mechanics, like the killer's AI and combat options, can reduce the tension and scare factor.
Achievements may not sync properly with Steam, causing frustration for completionists.

graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
45%
15%
The graphics of the game are praised for their beautiful art style and unique, somewhat psychedelic visuals, contributing to an eerie atmosphere. While some reviewers note that the graphics may not be groundbreaking, their simplicity enhances the horror experience. Overall, the art style is well-received, though opinions vary on its effectiveness in creating a truly scary environment.
- “Graphics are outstanding, soundtrack is amazing.”
- “I really like the graphics and art style this game gives off (check out the screenshots).”
- “There's weird, somewhat psychedelic visuals!”
- “Classic survival horror of the best kind even though it might not look like it from a graphical standpoint.”
- “The graphics weren't earth-shaking, but their simplicity assisted with the ambiguity of the horror of this game.”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
78%
6%
17%
The gameplay is characterized by a spooky atmosphere and engaging mechanics that blend evasion and combat against a patrolling killer, creating a tense experience as players explore the mansion. The game effectively incorporates survival horror elements, such as a Resident Evil-style save system and a unique inventory system, while also delving into themes of loss. Overall, players find the gameplay fun, immersive, and a standout feature of the game.
- “The gameplay and pacing is so tense and the story is beyond what usual horror games talk about.”
- “Overall, the gameplay is fun and tense, the visual design is interesting, and the sense of horrifying discovery as you explore makes this a great horror game that's definitely worth a play.”
- “The gameplay is great, but perhaps my favorite aspect of the game is the way the horror of the setting ramps up as you go deeper into the mansion.”
- “The gameplay feels clunky and unresponsive, making it difficult to enjoy the experience.”
- “The mechanics are overly complicated, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “The pacing is inconsistent, leading to moments of boredom that disrupt the flow of the game.”
story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
63%
19%
The game's story is praised for its creativity and engaging atmosphere, providing a unique backdrop that enhances the gameplay experience. While some players appreciate the short and fun narrative, others feel it lacks depth and resolution, leaving certain plot elements unexplored. Overall, the story serves as a compelling yet minimalistic framework for the game's mechanics, with potential for multiple endings and replayability.
- “The gameplay and pacing is so tense and the story is beyond what usual horror games talk about.”
- “It's storyboard is extremely creative and I would recommend this to everyone.”
- “The storyline is pleasing to me; this game is unique to me in a way I can't explain and I'll most likely play it over and over again.”
- “The only thing that bothers me about this game is that the story leads nowhere; we never find out what is behind the happenings.”
- “The story could be a bit beefier, though.”
- “This game's definitely more spooky rather than scary, with a fun, gritty atmosphere, some interesting evasion/combat mechanics with regards to the killer, and there's a bit of a story, but at its strongest it's just a background template to drop the player into the gameplay.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is described as spooky and gritty, effectively immersing players in a compelling horror experience filled with secrets to uncover. While the story serves primarily as a backdrop, the atmospheric elements are highlighted as the standout feature, making it a worthwhile game for multiple playthroughs. Overall, players appreciate the engaging and eerie environment that enhances the gameplay.
- “Great atmospheric horror game with a bunch of secrets to be discovered, so worth playing through multiple times.”
- “What's best about it is the atmosphere.”
- “Lovely atmosphere.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
50%
13%
The music in the game has received high praise, with many users highlighting the outstanding soundtrack that enhances engagement and immersion. The memorable music box song, in particular, leaves a lasting impression, often lingering in players' minds and evoking a sense of readiness for action. Overall, the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's atmosphere and player experience.
- “The soundtrack is amazing and really enhances the overall experience.”
- “Another thing that got me engaged is the soundtrack.”
- “I dare to say that the music box song still plays in my head, and I feel like I need to pick up something and prepare for an attack!”
- “I dare to say that the music box song still plays in my head and I feel like I need to pick up something and prepare for an attack!”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a beautiful art style and an engaging short story, complemented by humorous achievements that add a lighthearted touch to the experience.
- “Beautiful art style and great short story, with some funny achievements.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and often boring, particularly when it comes to unlocking certain endings. This repetitive nature detracts from the overall enjoyment of the experience.
- “Some of the endings are really tedious to get, and the game was kind of boring, to be honest.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers a solid, brief horror experience that players find has a notable amount of replay value, encouraging multiple playthroughs.
- “A good, short horror experience with a good amount of replay value!”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report that the game elicits strong emotional reactions, with some feeling physically affected, such as nausea, shortly after starting. This suggests that the game's intensity or themes may be particularly impactful, though the specific reasons for these feelings are not detailed.