Self-Delusion

About

Self-Delusion is a single player action adventure game with a horror theme. It was developed by RollingBread and was released on August 17, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

"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

Skip User Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 18 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

Self-Delusion offers a unique take on horror by incorporating Slavic mythology, featuring a variety of interesting and well-designed creatures.
The gameplay is engaging and challenging, with each level introducing new monsters that require different strategies to survive.
The game has a strong atmosphere, enhanced by good sound design and retro visuals, making it an enjoyable experience for horror fans.

Some players found the game to be boring at times, lacking the intensity expected from a horror title.
Visuals and animations can be simplistic and janky, which may detract from the overall experience for some players.
The text in notes can be hard to read due to inconsistent sizing, making it difficult to fully grasp the story elements.

gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The gameplay is praised for its engaging mechanics and variety, featuring multiple unique enemies that require different strategies to overcome. Players appreciate the mix of standard and introductory levels, which provide a break from the tension while still maintaining a challenging experience. The sound design enhances gameplay by helping players identify threats, contributing to a solid and enjoyable horror experience.
- “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.”
- “This is where the game shines - there are like 10 different enemies with rather original mechanics (I mean no 'it only moves when you don't see it' or other overused stuff).”
- “It has a unique setting, fun and challenging gameplay, and a nice spooky atmosphere, and that's exactly what makes for a nice horror experience for me.”
- “What I especially liked is that the monsters' mechanics are connected - for example, in the beginning, you get a monster that is scared of candles, so you light them up.”
- “From a gameplay point of view, sound plays a major role since it helps you identify some threats.”
- “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.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics are characterized by a simplistic, retro aesthetic that some players find charming, despite janky animations. Many appreciate the art style and attention to detail, which contribute to an overall pleasing visual experience, especially when paired with immersive sound effects.
- “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.”
- “The art style and numerous details are really aesthetically pleasing.”
- “The graphics and design are well done; the mechanics are very good.”
- “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 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 graphics and design are well done, but they could use some improvement.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its detailed and spooky locations, complemented by intense music that enhances the horror experience. While the number of locations is limited, the unique setting and ambient elements effectively create a captivating and immersive atmosphere that contributes to the overall challenge and enjoyment of the 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.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The story of "Self Delusion" is praised for its depth and engagement, surpassing expectations for a small horror game. Players appreciate the intriguing narrative that unfolds as they progress, alongside the retro visuals and immersive sound effects that enhance the overall experience. The inclusion of alternative endings adds replay value, making the story a standout feature.
- “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 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.”
- “But as you progress through the story, more and more of them are getting after you, making for some increasingly interesting challenges to overcome.”
- “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.”
- “The story felt disjointed and hard to follow, making it difficult to stay engaged with the characters and their motivations.”
- “I found the plot to be predictable and lacking depth, which diminished my overall enjoyment of the game.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The game's optimization 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 a smooth experience.”
- “Performance is top-notch, making gameplay seamless.”
- “The game runs poorly on even high-end systems, making it frustrating to play.”
- “I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the overall experience.”
- “The optimization is so bad that loading times are excessively long, making it hard to stay engaged.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
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 spooky ambience and intense music during chase scenes; it really does the job well.”
- “The music perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, creating a thrilling experience during intense moments.”
- “The soundtrack adds a layer of depth to the game, making every scene feel more immersive and engaging.”
- “The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it feel monotonous after a short while.”
- “While the sound effects are decent, the background music is forgettable and doesn't enhance the gameplay experience.”
- “The soundtrack feels out of place and doesn't match the game's theme, which detracts from the overall immersion.”