Settled

About

Settled is a single player action game with a horror theme. It was developed by Allen Dayan and was released on February 29, 2016. It received positive reviews from players.

"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

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86%

Audience ScoreBased on 138 reviews

story34 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

Settled offers a deeply unsettling atmosphere and a compelling narrative that keeps players engaged throughout its short playtime.
The pixel art style and minimal dialogue effectively enhance the horror experience, allowing players to immerse themselves in the story.
The unexpected plot twist at the end adds depth to the narrative, making it a memorable experience for horror fans.

The gameplay is very simplistic, primarily consisting of walking and clicking, which may not satisfy players looking for more interactive elements.
The game is extremely short, lasting only about 30-45 minutes, which some players feel does not justify its price.
There are technical issues, such as a lack of save/load options and slow walking speed, which can detract from the overall experience.

story
141 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
74%
2%
The story of "Settled" is a dark and unsettling exploration of a father's grief following the death of his daughter, conveyed through minimal dialogue and impactful visuals, primarily in the form of flashbacks. While some players appreciate its surprising plot twists and atmospheric storytelling, others criticize it for being too short, lacking depth, or presenting a convoluted narrative. Overall, it offers a unique, albeit brief, interactive horror experience that may resonate with those who enjoy twisted tales.
- “The story itself is told mainly through its use of visuals with minimal dialogue through flashbacks.”
- “Settled's storyline introduces itself as a retroactive examination of a grieving father's relationship with his daughter.”
- “A wonderfully horrific story unfolds in flashes and I loved it.”
- “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
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
45%
7%
The game's graphics, characterized by 2D pixel art, effectively enhance its unsettling narrative and atmosphere, drawing comparisons to titles like "The Last Door." While not the most detailed, the visuals are praised for their ability to convey creepy imagery and evoke a sense of unreality, particularly during well-executed cutscenes. Overall, the artistic aesthetic, ranging from subtle to gruesome, contributes significantly to the game's unique horror experience.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “It's been compared to Home, but the similarities don't go past the graphic style; I want that to be clear.”
- “Sound design and graphics are pretty alright and really the only redeeming factor.”
gameplay
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
75%
8%
The gameplay is primarily a walking simulator with minimal interaction, focusing on moving between checkpoints and examining objects, which some players may find tedious. With only about half an hour of gameplay, it lacks complexity and puzzle elements, but the engaging story compensates for the simplicity. Overall, while the atmosphere and art style are praised, the gameplay experience is considered generic and limited.
- “It's mostly walking, but it's fine since the game has a heavier focus on the story than the gameplay, and since the story is really good, I didn't mind that there wasn't really anything puzzle-like for you to do.”
- “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, as well as wondering why your face never appears quite normal in the mirror.”
- “Very atmospherically creepy game, great art style, simple gameplay.”
- “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.”
- “The gameplay in this game is just a process of moving from one checkpoint that moves the story along to another.”
atmosphere
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
22%
9%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie and unsettling qualities, effectively creating a tense and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the well-crafted sound design, including creepy music and ambient noises, which enhance the game's dark narrative and visual style. Despite some criticisms regarding the plot and graphics, the overall ambiance is described as thick, melancholic, and uniquely captivating, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The music features creepy droning noises that I'm usually not a fan of, but in this game, they are really well done and 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, this game has a great atmosphere with a lot of creepiness in the little details that make it 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
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
18%
27%
The music in the game is characterized by its creepy, droning sounds that effectively create a tense and ominous atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience. While some players find the audio ear-splitting, many appreciate how well it complements the story and visuals, contributing to a spine-chilling ambiance throughout the gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is praised for its ability to evoke strong emotions and maintain suspense.
- “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.”
- “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 ear-splitting.”
- “The music is very ominous and sets the lo-fi tone.”
- “The music consists of creepy droning noises that I'm usually not a fan of, but they are well done and help build an incredibly tense atmosphere, often making you think that something is going to be waiting for you in the next screen.”
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 searching for missed items.
- “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.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players express that the game successfully evokes strong emotions, highlighting its ability to resonate deeply and create a meaningful connection.
- “He created something that made me feel.”
- “The story resonated with me on a personal level, evoking deep emotions.”
- “I was moved to tears by the character's journey and struggles.”