September 7th
- January 6, 2023
- EMIKA_GAMES
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.
Reviews
- The game features excellent jump scares that are well-timed and effective, providing a genuinely scary experience.
- The atmosphere and graphics are beautifully crafted, creating an immersive and creepy environment that enhances the horror elements.
- Despite its short length, the game is engaging and fun, making it a great choice for quick horror sessions, especially for fans of the genre.
- The game is very short, typically taking only 30-50 minutes to complete, which may leave players wanting more content.
- The story is weak and lacks depth, with many players feeling it is underdeveloped and not particularly engaging.
- Some players found the reliance on jump scares to be excessive and predictable, diminishing the overall horror experience.
- story64 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it lacking depth and coherence, often describing it as short, simplistic, or poorly translated. While some appreciated the atmosphere and jump scares, they felt the narrative did not enhance the overall experience, leaving it feeling disconnected or unimportant. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game may excel in horror elements, its story fails to engage or satisfy players looking for a more substantial plot.
“I enjoyed the story, and the scares were perfectly placed.”
“Good story and very scary.”
“While it is short (around 40 minutes) it has a good story base to continue to build off of, and some great jump scares as always.”
“Maybe it's a translation issue, but the story is just lacking any sense of importance or weight for me.”
“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.”
“However, the story was horribly lacking; the ending was also lacking, and I finished this in its entirety in 30 minutes.”
- atmosphere41 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its creepiness and immersive sound design, effectively creating a spooky environment that enhances the horror experience. Many reviewers noted the effective use of jump scares, though some suggested that building anticipation could improve the overall tension. Overall, the game's atmospheric elements, including graphics and level design, contribute significantly to its engaging and unsettling vibe, making it a standout feature despite its shorter gameplay length.
“The atmosphere is incredibly creepy and the jump scares were as good as ever.”
“The game's graphics and atmosphere were quite beautiful, especially considering the fact this is an indie title.”
“I found the atmosphere and sound design pretty creepy, especially using a common knocking sound effect or even the elf’s laugh.”
“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.”
“Jumpscares were frightening, but due to the very limited runtime, I feel like the atmosphere wasn't built up as well as it could have been.”
- gameplay32 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as simple and short, lasting around 30 to 45 minutes, primarily involving walking and basic puzzles. While the atmosphere and graphics receive praise, many reviewers express disappointment over the predictability of jumpscares and the reliance on recycled mechanics from previous titles by the same developer. Overall, there is a call for more complex gameplay and innovative mechanics in future releases.
“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.”
“Gameplay is only about 30-45 minutes, but it's worth it for the lush graphics and suspense.”
“Gameplay only lasts around 40 minutes if you just follow tasks, but appreciate the developer and take a little stroll around the yard.”
“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.”
- graphics31 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise, with many users highlighting their excellence and immersive quality, particularly for an indie title. The visuals are described as beautiful and well-crafted, contributing significantly to the game's spooky atmosphere and overall experience. However, some reviews note that while the graphics are impressive, they may be the game's only standout feature, with criticisms aimed at the lack of depth in gameplay and story.
“The graphics make the game very immersive and create a spooky atmosphere.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Scary but short and not the best graphics.”
“The graphics were this game's only redeeming quality.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its nostalgic 1970s horror movie vibes and effective integration into the gameplay, enhancing the overall atmosphere and jump scares. Players appreciate the quality of the soundtracks and the immersive experience it provides, particularly when using headphones. However, some reviewers suggest that the developers should focus on creating larger-scale projects while maintaining their strong musical elements.
“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!”
“I really liked the boombox music too!”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of silly moments and effective jump scares, contributing to an entertaining experience. Players appreciate the comedic elements alongside the creepy imagery, making for a fun and engaging atmosphere. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch to the game's thrilling aspects.
“Recorded a really funny video with it.”
“Though not bad for some creepy imagery and getting your adrenaline going with some good jump scares and fun humor.”
“It was short, had nice jump scares and a bit of silly humor!”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
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.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming and often tedious, with some tasks feeling underwhelming and requiring a significant investment of time to progress.
“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.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
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. Optimization is severely lacking.”
“I can't believe how poorly optimized this game is; it stutters and lags even on high-end hardware.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
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.”