SEPTEMBER 1999

About

SEPTEMBER 1999 is a single player action game with a horror theme. It was developed by 98demake and was released on October 10, 2018. It received positive reviews from players.

A free, VHS styled, first-person found footage horror game, which runs exactly for 5 minutes and 30 seconds.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,487 reviews

graphics103 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The VHS aesthetic is executed perfectly, creating an authentic and unsettling atmosphere.
The game effectively builds tension and dread without relying on jump scares.
It's a short experience that leaves players with a sense of intrigue and questions about the story.

The gameplay is minimal, with no real interaction or exploration beyond walking between two rooms.
The story is vague and can be confusing, leaving players wanting more context and depth.
At only 5 minutes long, some players may feel it lacks substance and doesn't justify its existence as a game.

graphics
200 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
46%
2%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their impressive realism and effective use of VHS aesthetics, creating a nostalgic and unsettling atmosphere. Many reviewers highlight the authentic grainy visuals that enhance the horror experience, making it feel like genuine found footage. While the game is short, the stunning graphics and sound design contribute significantly to its eerie ambiance, making it a recommended experience for fans of indie horror.
- “The graphics are scarily realistic.”
- “The vhs-style visuals are incredibly authentic, and the slow unraveling of the scene is deeply unsettling.”
- “The graphics were visually stunning; from some parts, it genuinely looks like a real-life viewing from a 1990's camcorder.”
- “The graphics will make you choose between low and ultra high, but the truth is it doesn't really matter, as either way it's grainy and downgraded behind a VHS filter in a way that's highly reminiscent of old video cameras from back in the day.”
- “I will say that the visuals were eerily realistic at first glance, but that feeling also faded as you're staring at the same objects the whole time.”
- “But honestly, it's just default Unity graphics with an asset store shader on top doing all of the work.”
story
196 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
68%
4%
The game's story is a brief, atmospheric horror narrative that unfolds in about five to six minutes, primarily through environmental cues and visual storytelling rather than dialogue. While some players appreciate its unsettling and cryptic nature, many find the plot confusing and lacking depth, often feeling that it leaves too much to interpretation without sufficient context. Overall, it serves as an intriguing, albeit minimalistic, experience that emphasizes atmosphere over traditional gameplay.
- “It tells a disturbing story without a single word.”
- “It truly immerses you into its story, solid 10/10 no doubt.”
- “The story is mostly just implied from what you see/hear.”
- “No backstory, no explanation, just pure confusion and wonder of what happened in September of 1999.”
- “The story makes no sense.”
- “There's no interactions at all, you just walk around for about a minute until the camera cuts to advance the 'story' of the game and you rinse and repeat for 5 minutes and 30 seconds.”
atmosphere
169 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
39%
2%
The atmosphere of "September 1999" is widely praised for its unsettling and immersive qualities, enhanced by VHS aesthetics and effective sound design. Despite its brief playtime of around five minutes, players appreciate the game's ability to create a haunting experience without relying on jump scares, instead focusing on building tension and a sense of dread. Overall, the game is recognized as a compelling atmospheric piece that captivates players with its eerie ambiance and visual storytelling.
- “The atmosphere is haunting and the subtle twist is enough to have you staring at your desktop in silence for a few minutes.”
- “This game delivers a very ominous and eerie atmosphere for such a compact experience.”
- “The atmosphere is incredibly thick and the sound design sounds straight out of an old VHS tape.”
- “The atmosphere was so well done & uncomfortable, the confusion you feel asking yourself 'what is this?'”
- “This game (more of an experience as there is almost no interaction to speak of) relies solely on the creation of a creepy horrific atmosphere for its effect rather than jump scares or violence.”
- “Although its playtime is only 5 minutes and 30 seconds, it has such an uneasy atmosphere in it.”
gameplay
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
82%
7%
The gameplay is minimal, primarily consisting of a short exploration of two rooms with a focus on atmosphere rather than interactive mechanics, leading to a brief experience of around 5-6 minutes. Players noted the lack of traditional gameplay elements, describing it more as a walking simulator with a strong narrative and aesthetic appeal, though many expressed a desire for a longer, more engaging experience. Overall, while the game effectively creates a sense of dread, it falls short in gameplay depth and interactivity.
- “Also, I think that the sounds (footsteps, echoes) are very important in a horror game and, in this game, they were well adapted to the gameplay.”
- “Very short with a greater focus on atmosphere over gameplay and story, but it was a very enjoyable experience that I'd recommend any horror fan check out.”
- “Without any real gameplay, September 1999 manages to instill a sense of dread that even some full-on horror games can't achieve!”
- “The only gameplay is you going through the same 2 rooms and revisiting them some days later.”
- “There's basically no gameplay whatsoever; the game is a walking simulator where you explore the house and after some time the game automatically advances the in-game time to another piece of the footage.”
- “There is no gameplay, no scares, and nothing of substance here.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The music in the game is described as atmospheric and effective, with uplifting piano moments that enhance the experience, particularly in tense or emotional scenes. While some reviewers appreciated the ominous tones that contributed to the horror ambiance, others felt the overall musical design lacked personality and could have been better integrated with gameplay elements. Overall, the sound design, including music and ambient effects, plays a significant role in creating an engaging atmosphere, despite some criticisms regarding its execution.
- “The atmosphere, sound, and music design are so fantastic.”
- “Uplifting piano music in all the right moments.”
- “Yes, the music was ominous and the atmosphere and old camera aesthetic were neat, but the game itself not only is devoid of gameplay (which isn't a sin in itself, since I think walking sims can be enjoyable if they're done correctly), but also of personality.”
- “In addition, the voice acting was pretty convincing, and the music was offputting enough to work!”
- “Used music”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players describe the emotional impact of the game as intense and unsettling, with many feeling a deep sense of unease and discomfort throughout the brief experience. The combination of spooky sounds and visuals effectively immerses players, evoking feelings of fear and moral ambiguity. Overall, the game successfully elicits strong emotional reactions, leaving players feeling both captivated and disturbed.
- “The sounds were spooky, the footage was spooky; for a game that lasts 5 minutes and 30 seconds, it definitely made me feel uneasy and left me questioning if the killer was me.”
- “Loved how it looked, and it made me feel uneasy (as obviously intended).”
- “[u]september 1999[/u] is raw emotional horror.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally perceived as amusing, with players finding the concept and certain moments, like the crying guy, to be funny, albeit in a mixed way. While some moments may fall flat or feel boring, others provide unexpected humor that can enhance the experience. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch, contributing to the game's charm.
- “Funny concept.”
- “Pretty funny.”
- “If you find it boring... just walk around for a few minutes. I was going to do a bad review, but then I had to wait 5 minutes, and that's funny enough when the game gets interesting.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Players note that grinding in the game can be time-consuming, suggesting it may require a significant investment of time, akin to having a "second life." However, they also mention that the experience is not overly tedious, maintaining a balance that keeps it engaging.
- “The game isn't particularly scary, but it's not tedious either.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it still feels like I'm nowhere.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Players highlight the game's strong replayability, noting that the timed elements encourage exploration and discovery of previously unnoticed details. Many suggest that aiming for different routes enhances the experience, making it worthwhile to revisit the game.
- “It has a replay value, allowing you to notice things you missed the first time because it's timed.”
- “It has replay value, as you can notice things you haven't seen the first time due to the timed nature of the game.”
- “Aim for something with replay value; you're doing fine, just don't take the easy route.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The game's optimization is praised for its excellent performance, with users reporting no slowdowns or lag, indicating a well-optimized experience that encourages interest in similar titles if they maintain the same level of optimization.
- “Performance was great with no slowdowns or lag.”
- “I would be down to play similar games if they are optimized correctly.”
- “The game runs poorly on my system, even though my specs are above the recommended requirements.”
- “Frequent frame drops and long loading times make the experience frustrating.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users have reported various bugs and glitches that affect the overall stability of the game, indicating that these issues are a notable concern in their experience.
- “As the final fifth of my new review format, it wouldn't be complete without mentioning bugs, glitches, and other issues I come across.”