Settled

About

"Settled" is a single-player Horror Adventure game with delightful 2D pixel graphics and a dense atmosphere. The player delves into the mind of a man experiencing nightmarish memories after the loss of a loved one. As the plot unravels, the player confronts a darker truth, revealing the toll of understanding another's perspective on one's own sanity.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 182 reviews

story46 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game features a compelling and twisted story that keeps players engaged, with a surprising plot twist at the end.
The pixel art style and cutscenes are well-executed, creating a creepy atmosphere that enhances the horror experience.
Despite its short length, the game effectively builds tension and unease, making it a memorable experience for horror fans.

The gameplay is very limited, primarily consisting of walking and interacting with objects, which may feel tedious to some players.
The game is extremely short, lasting only about 30-45 minutes, which may leave players wanting more content.
There are technical issues, such as the game not closing properly and lacking a save function, which can detract from the overall experience.

story
200 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
75%
2%
The story of "Settled" is a dark and unsettling narrative centered around a father's grief following the death of his daughter, conveyed through minimal dialogue and striking visuals. While some players found the plot engaging with surprising twists, others criticized it for being thin or predictable, leading to mixed feelings about its depth and execution. Overall, the game is noted for its atmospheric storytelling, though it leans heavily on visual elements rather than traditional gameplay mechanics.
- “The story is the most compelling aspect of Settled; you begin as a father who has lost his only daughter, and as the plot unfolds, there are some satisfying twists and turns that leave you guessing as to what exactly has happened.”
- “A wonderfully horrific story unfolds in flashes and I loved it.”
- “Players are deliberately led through various conclusions to what happened, but it's within the last 3-5 minutes of the game where the whole picture really becomes clear, and the horrifying, unpredictable plot twist becomes a sick reality.”
- “I think it's supposed to have a story, but the story is so bland and they don't flesh it out at all, so it left me feeling like there was absolutely nothing to latch onto.”
- “The story is very unclear and the 'twist ending' where it turns out you're some random dude that killed the father because he wanted to have his daughter for himself did not clear anything up at all.”
- “The story is just a goddamn mess.”
graphics
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
55%
4%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro pixel art style that effectively enhances its unsettling atmosphere and storytelling, reminiscent of titles like "The Last Door." While some users noted the graphics as simplistic or amateurish, many appreciated the haunting visuals and well-executed cutscenes that contribute to the game's eerie vibe. Overall, the pixelated aesthetics, combined with a strong artistic direction, create a unique and immersive horror experience.
- “Every layer you play through is sicker and more diseased-ridden than the last; backed by a killer artistic aesthetic with range that goes from subtle to gruesome.”
- “I have a massive soft spot for pixel type graphics and while not the most detailed game I've played, it does look really decent and does portray its creepy imagery well, especially during cutscenes which are really well done.”
- “The 2D graphics add a nice sense of unreality to the proceedings, and the subliminal images were suitably freaky.”
- “The graphics were very amateur, but okay for the most part.”
- “Developed in Construct 2, the game's pixelated art style is very simplistic, while the hand-drawn look of the cutscenes delivers a more creepy vibe.”
- “Sound design and graphics are pretty alright and really the only redeeming factor.”
gameplay
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
75%
6%
The gameplay is primarily a walking simulator with very limited interaction, consisting mainly of moving left or right and clicking on objects to advance the story. Players can expect about half an hour of gameplay with simple mechanics, which some find lacking in complexity but acceptable due to the engaging narrative. Overall, the focus is heavily on storytelling rather than intricate gameplay, making it more suitable for those who appreciate narrative experiences over traditional gameplay challenges.
- “There are cool mechanic touches like nervously peering out your front door's peephole and finding new parts of the house unlocked the deeper our main character falls into the past recesses of his brain.”
- “Very atmospherically creepy game, great art style, simple gameplay.”
- “This game proves once again that even without intricate game mechanics, you needn't be so reliant on words to tell a worthy story and create a solid narrative experience.”
- “There's only about a half hour of gameplay here with none too complex objectives set to accomplish in order to advance the game.”
- “Sadly counts more as a walking simulator as gameplay is next to non-existent, but its story is quite engaging and will throw the player for a loop.”
- “Firstly, the gameplay is very limited even for the standards of an indie adventure game.”
atmosphere
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
31%
6%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unsettling and eerie qualities, effectively combining pixel graphics with realistic sound to create a tense and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the absence of jump scares, instead appreciating the subtle details and ambient sounds that contribute to a thick, melancholic atmosphere. Overall, the game is recommended for those seeking a short, atmospheric horror experience that evokes deep thought and intrigue.
- “The music is creepy droning noises I'm usually not a fan of, but I feel like the ones in Settled are really well done and really help build an incredibly tense atmosphere, often making you think that something is going to be waiting for you in the next screen.”
- “A truly unsettling and twisty short story, Settled has a great atmosphere and a lot of creepiness in a lot of little details that make the game really unique.”
- “The thing this game does best is build a mysterious and creepy atmosphere that allows the other horror elements to work.”
- “Thick atmosphere that is simultaneously terrifying, melancholic and soul-crushing.”
- “Things moving out of the corner of your eye, minor graphical changes in an object you think you've seen over and over - it's the little touches that really give the game an eerie atmosphere.”
- “It's not perfect (the plot is a bit thin) but it's not terrible and is pretty decent at building a spooky atmosphere.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
31%
19%
The music in the game is described as ominous and atmospheric, effectively enhancing the tension and eerie tone with its lofi and creepy droning sounds. While some players appreciate the haunting soundtrack that complements the visuals, others criticize it for being simplistic and lacking variety, with some sound effects feeling generic. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience, though opinions on its quality vary.
- “Finished in about an hour, excellent game, beautiful soundtrack.”
- “The audio is incredibly good at encouraging this, with music that will have your spine shivering through the whole playthrough.”
- “The music is creepy droning noises I'm usually not a fan of, but I feel like the ones in Settled are really well done and really help build an incredibly tense atmosphere, often making you think that something is going to be waiting for you in the next screen.”
- “Ear-splitting music.”
- “Pretty weak: not that much of a soundtrack, and the sound effects are royalty-free.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
38%
The game has been criticized for lacking true replay value, with many users noting that there is little incentive to play it again despite enjoying the initial experience. Overall, it seems that while the journey is appreciated, the replayability is limited.
- “There’s little to no replay value here, unfortunately, but it’s still a ride I’m glad I took.”
- “There’s little to no replay value here, unfortunately, but it’s still a ride I’m glad I took.”
- “- no true replay value”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game frustrating due to the main character's slow walking speed, which makes backtracking tedious and can lead to annoyance when trying to explore previous areas thoroughly.
- “The main character has a really slow walking speed, and sometimes it gets really tedious to walk back and forth, thinking you missed something in the previous area and then having to walk all the way back, which is incredibly annoying.”
- “Slow walking speed could get tedious.”

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