Shadow of Pharos

About

Shadow of Pharos is a short first-person horror game. The game aims to be a fully immersive experience and has no UI by default. To enable accessibility options and general settings, input the following command using the keyboard arrow keys or the controller D-Pad: left, right, left, right, down, down The menu will then be accessible by pressing ESC on the keyboard or Back/Share on a controller…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 33 reviews

atmosphere3 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The atmosphere is creepy and unsettling, effectively enhancing the horror experience.
The game is free to play, making it accessible for anyone interested in a short horror experience.
Sound design is well-executed, contributing to the overall immersive experience.

The game lacks clear guidance, making it difficult to progress without a walkthrough.
Gameplay involves repetitive loops with little variation, leading to boredom.
Technical issues such as crashes and the need for a code to access settings detract from the overall experience.

atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its creepy and unsettling qualities, effectively enhancing the horror experience. Players appreciate the dynamic changes in ambiance that contribute to a tense and immersive environment, despite occasional frustrations with game progression. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, elevating the overall experience.
- “The atmosphere in this game is amazing and it really sells the horror aspect of it.”
- “Great atmospheric game that is completely free of charge!”
- “The way to progress the game feels very obtuse at points and it can feel like you are totally stuck, but the atmosphere can feel very tense and makes me excited to see the full product.”
- “Very creepy and unsettling, the atmosphere constantly changing to suit the game was cool.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The story in "Shadow of Pharos" unfolds through scattered notes and exploration within a hauntingly designed house, creating a dark and captivating narrative. While players may find the story fragmented, the immersive experience of unraveling it through repeated loops adds depth to the horror walking sim genre.
- “The story is really dark and captivating too.”
- “There's a couple of notes to be found, but no cohesive story can be made from them.”
- “You wander around a house with a pixelated art style, going through each loop as you slowly unravel the story.”
- “Shadow of Pharos is one of those horror walking sims where the story mainly takes place at your home.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The graphics feature a blocky, minimalist design with a pixellated art style that adds charm to the low-poly visuals. While the aesthetic may be simplistic, it effectively complements the game's storytelling and atmosphere.
- “The sound design is great, and the low-poly graphics look really good and have a lot of charm.”
- “Graphics are very blocky and minimalist.”
- “You wander around a house with a pixelated art style, going through each loop as you slowly unravel the story.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
While some users report experiencing crashes, others have not encountered any glitches, indicating a mixed experience regarding the game's stability.
- “Although I've seen other people complain of crashes in their reviews, I personally experienced no glitches at all.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any noticeable lag or interruptions.”
- “I've played for hours without a single crash, which is impressive for a game of this scale.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users indicate that the game lacks replayability, with no achievements that contribute to player profiles or trading cards, suggesting limited incentive to revisit the game after completion.
- “Lastly, there's one achievement which doesn't count on your profile, no trading cards, and no replayability.”
gameplay
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with the looping mechanic, suggesting it feels repetitive and is better suited to specific titles like "PT," as other games have struggled to replicate it effectively.
- “I can't stand looping most of the time and think that mechanic should be kept to PT since no other game has done a very good job at emulating it.”