Self-Delusion

About

"Self-Delusion" is a single-player Horror Action game that immerses you in a first-person survival experience set in a world of grim fairy tales and myths. Encounter unique monsters such as Kolobok, Leshy, Boggart, and Lapot while exploring eerie locations, each with their own secrets. With alternate endings, a tense atmosphere, and a thrilling storyline, your survival strategy will depend on understanding the monsters' behavior and the environment.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 33 reviews

gameplay5 positive mentions

Self-Delusion offers a unique take on horror by incorporating Slavic mythology, featuring a variety of interesting and creatively designed monsters.
The gameplay is engaging and challenging, with a good mix of mechanics that require players to adapt their strategies as new monsters are introduced.
The game has a strong atmosphere, enhanced by effective sound design and a retro visual style that adds to the overall experience.

Some players found the graphics to be inconsistent, with certain animations appearing janky or simplistic.
The pacing can feel slow at times, and some mechanics may not behave as intended, leading to occasional frustration.
A few players noted that the game can become repetitive, with some levels feeling boring or lacking in genuine scares.

gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
69%
12%
The gameplay is praised for its variety and originality, featuring multiple unique enemies with distinct mechanics that enhance the horror experience beyond typical jump scares. Players appreciate the well-structured tutorial that eases them into the game's complexities, while the mix of different challenges and objectives keeps the gameplay engaging and replayable. Despite some minor issues, the overall mechanics and sound design contribute to a solid and enjoyable horror gameplay loop.
- “What I liked the most is that we got actual gameplay instead of just a walking simulator with some jumpscares that are common for horror games.”
- “While many other games in the genre feel like copy-pasted, generic clones of 'find this many things and don't die' gameplay, this game jam-packs the experience with a variety of different challenges and objectives.”
- “Although in my humble opinion, the gameplay here is more variable; you have the freedom of movement around the house you are stuck in, and each monster has to be dealt with in a unique way, which makes for a nice and challenging gameplay loop.”
- “The movement/momentum felt a little floaty; I initially disliked the look-into-every-nook-and-drawer mechanic, but it started to grow on me.”
- “If you go into it bashing your head against the wall, barely getting past the mechanics, it only gets more difficult as it progresses.”
- “A couple of minor issues such as some mechanics perhaps not behaving as exactly intended, but from looking at the notes, they have been since patched.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The graphics of the game are described as simplistic yet effective, with a retro aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. While some animations may appear janky, the art style and attention to detail are praised for creating a memorable atmosphere, particularly in relation to the game's lore and monster design. Overall, the visuals successfully convey the game's vibe, balancing between polished and cheesy elements.
- “The visuals gave the game a retro feel with a square ratio, and the sound effects bring true terror at times when teamed with headphones for maximum effect. The story was great, and now that I've finished the game, I'll be diving back in for those alternative endings.”
- “Love the Slavic aesthetic, which provides some truly memorable monsters and an in-depth look at some lore you may not have ever heard of!”
- “The graphics get across the vibe of the game really well, and you can see the level of work that went into most of the monsters.”
- “Of course the visuals are rather simplistic and some animations are honestly pretty janky, but I don't really care about it considering it is a small indie game.”
- “- The graphics conflict sometimes between polished and kind of cheesy.”
- “The graphics get across the vibe of the game really well, but there are moments where they feel lacking.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The story of "Self Delusion" is highly praised for its depth and engagement, incorporating elements of Slavic folklore that enhance the horror experience. Players appreciate the unique and terrifying creatures, as well as the intriguing narrative that encourages exploration of alternative endings. Overall, the combination of a compelling storyline and effective scares contributes to a memorable gaming experience.
- “I picked out Self Delusion from the Steam horror page not expecting much, just a small game filled with cheap jump scares, and what I got was a truly extraordinary game with one of the best storylines I've ever played through.”
- “The story was interesting, especially around the Slavic folklore, and the creatures themselves were creepy and unique.”
- “The creatures were otherworldly, absolutely horrifying, and some of the ugliest characters I've ever encountered (in the best way possible). The story itself was really interesting, and the scares were pretty well done.”
- “I didn't know what I was doing at first, even though you go through a class for each new level or story. But that's probably just me since this was only the third horror game I had played.”
- “But as you progress through the story, more and more of them are getting after you, making for some increasingly interesting challenges to overcome.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its detailed and spooky locations, effectively creating an immersive horror experience. Users appreciate the combination of intense music and ambient sounds that enhance the tension during gameplay, contributing to a unique and engaging atmosphere. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a strong point, complementing the challenging gameplay.
- “Locations are few, but they are made very nicely, with lots of attention to detail; they create a really nice and spooky atmosphere.”
- “In terms of atmosphere, it's pretty fine as well, with a bit of spooky ambience here and there, and some intense music for chase scenes. It did the job.”
- “It has a unique setting, fun and challenging gameplay, and a nice spooky atmosphere, and that's exactly what makes for a great horror experience for me.”
- “In terms of atmosphere, it's pretty fine as well; a bit of spooky ambience here and there, some intense music for chase scenes, etc. It did the job.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The optimization of the game is highly praised, with users noting that the technical performance is exceptionally strong.
- “The technical performance is really impressive.”
- “The optimization of the game ensures smooth gameplay.”
- “Performance is top-notch, making for a seamless experience.”
- “The game runs poorly on even high-end hardware, making it frustrating to play.”
- “I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the immersion.”
- “The optimization is so bad that loading times are unacceptably long, even for simple tasks.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game highly replayable due to its increasing complexity and difficulty, which encourages them to tackle harder game modes. The gradual rise in challenge keeps the gameplay engaging and motivates repeated playthroughs.
- “Gameplay, while seemingly deceptively simple at first, rises in complexity and difficulty at a nice rate. In the end, I found it definitely replayable, and the challenges of moving onto harder game modes are pretty great.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music effectively enhances the game's atmosphere, featuring a mix of spooky ambient sounds and intense tracks for chase scenes, successfully contributing to the overall experience.
- “The atmosphere is enhanced by the music, featuring a bit of spooky ambience and intense tracks for chase scenes that really do the job.”