September 7th

About

September 7th is a first-person exploration game set in a surreal, ever-changing world. Players uncover a mysterious story by interacting with objects and environments, solving puzzles, and unlocking secret areas. The game features a hauntingly beautiful original soundtrack by Emika.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 492 reviews

story20 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game features well-executed jump scares that effectively catch players off guard.
The atmosphere is chilling and immersive, enhanced by good graphics and sound design.
It's a short but enjoyable experience, making it perfect for quick horror sessions.

The game is very short, typically completed in under an hour, which may not justify the price for some players.
There is minimal story development, making the gameplay feel shallow and lacking depth.
The reliance on predictable jump scares can diminish the overall horror experience for seasoned players.

story
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
57%
16%
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its simplicity and lack of depth. While some appreciated the atmosphere and jump scares, others criticized the narrative for being incoherent, poorly translated, and lacking meaningful engagement. Overall, the consensus suggests that the game prioritizes jump scares over a compelling storyline, leaving many players wanting more in terms of plot development and character depth.
- “I really love the story behind this game.”
- “The whole idea of the possessed creepy elf is an incredible idea that works well with the ideal story I believe Emika was trying to form.”
- “Good story and very scary.”
- “The story is basic, and there is only one real puzzle; everything else is 'go here, do this' style tasks.”
- “The story was rushed and boring; there wasn't anything interesting happening, which is a shame because the previous games from this developer have better stories than this.”
- “Absolutely 0 story and just a lazy jumpscare-fest; graphics are nice though.”
atmosphere
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
39%
7%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its chilling and immersive qualities, enhanced by effective sound design and well-placed jump scares. Many reviewers noted the game's ability to create tension and a creepy ambiance, although some felt that the atmosphere could have been further developed, especially given the game's short runtime. Overall, the combination of graphics, sound, and environmental design contributes to a compelling horror experience.
- “The atmosphere was scary, jump scares were really good because you don't know when they will come, and the story will be expanded in pieces, so I can't say anything about it yet because I don't even understand it.”
- “I found the atmosphere and sound design pretty creepy, especially using a common knocking sound effect or even the elf’s laugh.”
- “The atmosphere is incredibly creepy and the jump scares were as good as ever.”
- “5.5/10 short game and weird atmosphere.”
- “The game is scary due to jumpscares, though the atmosphere in some parts of the game felt overly welcoming to be scary.”
- “The atmosphere didn't really grab me until the last few minutes, so I think it's a little too expensive for what you get for over 5 euros.”
gameplay
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
72%
8%
The gameplay is generally described as short, lasting around 30 to 45 minutes, with a focus on atmosphere and jumpscares. While the graphics and sound design receive praise, many reviewers criticize the gameplay for being simplistic, repetitive, and lacking depth, often feeling like a rushed experience with predictable mechanics. Overall, players express a desire for more complex gameplay and innovative mechanics in future titles.
- “Cool atmosphere, great jumpscares, simple gameplay that is mostly walking with a bit of puzzling.”
- “I think the game has great graphics for an indie dev, the jumpscares are really well made, the atmosphere is fantastic and the gameplay, unlike the last game, isn't feeling stuck in any way.”
- “Shorter game (45 minutes of actual gameplay) but does not let up on the atmosphere, dread, and well-placed jumpscares!”
- “It should get completed within half an hour of gameplay, which for this price is quite demanding if you ask me.”
- “The real gameplay felt like it was just getting started before it abruptly ended.”
- “$7 for 30 minutes of what feels like rushed, thrown-together gameplay isn't cool.”
graphics
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
29%
9%
The graphics in the game have received generally positive feedback, with many users praising their quality and atmospheric design, particularly for an indie title. While some noted issues with settings resetting and a reliance on jump scares, the visuals were often described as impressive and immersive, contributing significantly to the overall horror experience. However, a few reviews pointed out that the graphics, while good, may rely on reused assets from previous games.
- “The graphics are iconic!”
- “The game's graphics and atmosphere were quite beautiful, especially considering the fact this is an indie title.”
- “The realistic graphics really immerse you into the game, which pretty much throws you into all the horror and jump scares straight off the bat.”
- “This game has the exact problem as probably all others from this developer; all my video and graphics settings reset to default after each autosave. Otherwise, it's another 'okay' horror game!”
- “I get that it's trying to be a 'festive short horror game' with neat visuals, but that's everything this game has to offer.”
- “The graphics were this game's only redeeming quality.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
The music in the game is widely praised for enhancing the atmosphere, with a standout soundtrack that evokes a strong "Christmas vibe" and nostalgia for 1970s horror films. Reviewers appreciate the quality of the sound design, noting that it complements the gameplay effectively, even if the overall experience is brief. While the music contributes significantly to the game's ambiance, some players feel that the short length limits its potential for deeper storytelling.
- “There is a phenomenal soundtrack.”
- “Great game, really cool music, and last but not least had some of the best jump scares for a very short and beautifully designed game I've played on Steam so far.”
- “So, 10 minutes of hanging out at the menu screen listening to 1970's horror movie music - I love it!”
- “So, 10 minutes of hanging out at the menu screen listening to 1970s horror movie music - I love it!”
- “- Awesome jumpscares, music, and atmosphere get intense often, really short game though.”
- “I really liked the boombox music too!”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as hilariously effective, blending funny moments with creepy imagery and jump scares. Players appreciate the combination of adrenaline-pumping scares and lighthearted, silly humor, making for an entertaining experience despite its short length.
- “Hilariously good”
- “Recorded a really funny video with it.”
- “It was short, had nice jump scares and a bit of silly humor!”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of effort that can feel tedious and unfulfilling. Many express that the tasks necessary for progression detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Some of the tasks that the game has you complete in order to progress also feel tedious and underwhelming.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, with some players noting a lack of engaging content for multiple playthroughs. While it can be replayed, the experience tends to shift towards speed-running and searching for easter eggs, which may not appeal to everyone.
- “It is replayable, but it gets more and more speed-run oriented, so you spend most of the time looking for Easter eggs.”
- “Those games even have more replay value, which is something this game lacks.”
- “Zero replayability.”
- “It is replayable, but it gets more and more speed-run oriented, so you spend most of the time looking for easter eggs.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, particularly with GPU performance, leading to overheating and instability during gameplay.
- “It's a big no-no for me that it has no optimization for GPU at all, and everything tried to catch on fire while playing.”
- “The game runs like a slideshow on my system, despite meeting the recommended specs. Clearly, optimization is not a priority.”
- “I was really disappointed with the performance; the lack of optimization makes it nearly unplayable on mid-range hardware.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find that the game effectively evokes fear, with moments that remain unsettling even when they anticipate them, highlighting its strong emotional impact.
- “In some places, you know it's going to be scary, and even when you prepare yourself emotionally, it is still scary.”