Shadows Over Loathing
- November 11, 2022
- Asymmetric
- 11h median play time
Get on Steam"Shadows Over Loathing" is a single-player, browser-based RPG set in the 1920s. The game features an open world with procedurally generated locations and a unique, humorous storyline. Players can create and customize their character, forming a party to explore, combat enemies, and solve puzzles in a Lovecraftian-inspired universe.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Steam Deck
Windows
PlayStation
Reviews
- humor1,448 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in "Shadows Over Loathing" is widely praised for its cleverness and consistency, maintaining the quirky, absurdist style of its predecessor, "West of Loathing." While many players find it to be just as funny, some note that it lacks the same level of laugh-out-loud moments, with a few feeling that the humor is more sporadic and less impactful than before. Overall, the game is celebrated for its witty writing, engaging dialogue, and a plethora of humorous scenarios that keep players entertained throughout their adventure.
“The humor is still amazing.”
“This game is super funny and interesting, I spent 30 hours on it as of writing this.”
“The 'loathing' series is by and large one of the best, consistently funny series I've ever played, and that still holds up here.”
“It's painfully unfunny.”
“Edit: the more I play, the more tedious and unfunny this game gets.”
“It's like the first game but not funny.”
- story768 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story in "Shadows Over Loathing" is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its humor, engaging writing, and the depth of side quests that enhance the overall narrative. While some find the main plot more structured and coherent compared to its predecessor, "West of Loathing," others feel it can be tedious with excessive dialogue and fetch quests. Overall, the game balances comedic elements with a more serious undertone, offering a rich and varied storytelling experience that encourages exploration and replayability.
“The story is funny and interesting, the characters are lovable (my favorite being Molly), and the mechanics are excellent.”
“The story and the humor are top notch.”
“The visuals are mind-blowing, the audio out of this world, and the story just beyond my expectations.”
“The number one reason I believe I do not like this game is the main story. The 'West of Loathing' story was nothing short of beautiful, a complete lack of one, rather just a broad directive 'get to 'Frisco'. But here you're not allowed to do anything without advancing the main story, which I found quite boring as a concept. Assisting in the banishing of evil spirits from objects is a relatively boring concept and not one worthy of the promised Lovecraftian dark horror with that classic loathing humor that I was waiting for; instead, I got 'Ghostbusters: Straight to DVD Stickfigure Edition.'”
“The sheer amount of forgettable side quests (I'm not exaggerating when I say that I dreaded talking to new NPCs because I knew they would give me 20 minutes of busywork) was so tiring that I stopped doing them entirely near the end of the game, with the exception of the more interesting storylines like the mob or that one cool NPC in the S.I.T.”
“The story is long and boring with incredibly tedious side quests.”
- gameplay384 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Shadows Over Loathing" is generally praised for its humor and engaging RPG mechanics, maintaining a similar charm to its predecessor, "West of Loathing," while introducing new elements like crafting and a broader subclass system. However, some players feel the gameplay is shallower and less strategic than before, with a more convoluted perk system and inventory management issues. Overall, while the game offers a fun and comedic experience, it has received mixed feedback regarding its depth and complexity compared to earlier titles in the series.
“The gameplay I loved a lot, simple but very enjoyable.”
“Excellent gameplay, fantastic storyline, fun puzzles, nonsensical goodness, and full of funny bits!”
“Great gameplay and skill system, with an optimized combat scheme and companion system.”
“If in Wol we had ample opportunity to make use of our non-combat skills or class in the form of dialogue choices, that mechanic is almost completely absent in Sol.”
“Some of the puzzles tend to rely on trial and error, busywork, and other mechanics that often felt like chores.”
“I didn't hate this game by any means and was still engaged enough to finish it, but due to its lack of engaging humor, Shadows Over Loathing feels less like a barrage of jokes and more like a barrage of annoying systems and mechanics, making it... well, an average RPG.”
- music262 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in "Shadows Over Loathing" has received widespread acclaim for its exceptional quality and integration into gameplay, with many praising Ryan Ike's composition as a standout feature. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, with memorable tracks that fit the quirky and humorous tone, although some note that the music can become repetitive in certain areas. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant improvement over previous entries in the series, making it a must-listen for fans.
“Ryan Ike nailed the aesthetics of the music flawlessly yet again, and the game itself is a treat from start to finish.”
“The music is phenomenal; I adored every single track and will probably listen to the soundtrack on my own time.”
“The soundtrack is absolutely stellar, and the music never disappoints.”
“The one thing I'd say I disliked was the music at some parts, especially in the latter chapters - not that it's bad, it just becomes too intense when compared to going through corn mazes and just wandering around farms, with this feel of urgency, which is not fitting the overworld exploration.”
“It's like having boss fight music 100% of the time, so it stands out too much and becomes tiring.”
“I wish there was more music variety though it feels like only a handful of tracks in the first area.”
- graphics162 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a simple, stick-figure aesthetic that some players initially find unappealing, yet many appreciate for its charm and how well it complements the game's humor and storytelling. While the visuals are not groundbreaking, they are described as distinct and engaging, with a polished presentation that enhances immersion. Overall, the art style is seen as a key element that contributes to the game's unique identity, proving that compelling gameplay and writing can shine even with minimalistic graphics.
“Much like the previous game, this installment of the loathing series is full of hilarious wordplay, engaging RPG mechanics, and a simple yet visually appealing art style.”
“The game's polish also really helps with the immersion; despite stick figure graphics and grayscale colors, the game does its best to present the world through small details, effects, and nice parallax backgrounds.”
“While the graphics may appear lackluster at first, they do provide a very unique charm and fit in well with the general wackiness of the game.”
“Graphics are non-existent; RPG mechanics are fine but not enough to keep you through the game; it's not a short one.”
“My eyes did hurt a little after playing for a long time because of the monotone art style.”
“You won't find groundbreaking graphical fidelity here, nor innovative gameplay mechanics.”
- replayability110 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its diverse character classes, numerous side quests, and impactful choices that lead to different outcomes. Players appreciate the comedic elements and hidden content, which encourage multiple playthroughs to explore all available paths and secrets. While some feel it may not reach the replayability heights of "West of Loathing," it still offers a wealth of engaging content that keeps players coming back for more.
“This is such an incredible choices-matter game - super fun tone, great black and white stick figure art, all of the side quests you could ask for, highly replayable.”
“In all seriousness, like West of Loathing, this game is filled with loads of comedy and about a billion different options and paths for your character to take, giving it an almost infinite replay value.”
“The gameplay is pretty simple turn-based RPG combat, but with all of the options and customization, it manages to feel fresh throughout the journey, and with different class options and tons of different skills and partners, replayability is heavily encouraged.”
“The game has some semblance of replayability, but falls short of anything meaningful in my opinion, outside of different options for characters and some side quests.”
“There's a huge amount of variation in the game's ending, and likewise in the path you take through the game, so this thing's replayable... but I'm not sure I would make any different decisions, so I don't feel personally compelled to replay it.”
“Very silly, replayable but you will see most things on your first playthrough if you are trying to.”
- grinding76 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 5 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and unfulfilling, particularly in areas like the college and time-travel lake, where backtracking and repetitive tasks detract from the experience. While some appreciate the humor and variety in side quests that can make grinding feel rewarding, others criticize the combat and puzzles as overly complicated and lacking in engagement, leading to a sense of frustration and boredom as the game progresses. Overall, the grinding is often described as a significant drawback, overshadowing the game's potential enjoyment.
“Straight to the point, no grinding, tons of choices.”
“The longer you play this game, the more tedious and less rewarding it becomes.”
“There's way less content than the rest of the chapters, so you spend the game grinding stats for... nothing, really.”
“A tedious collection of tasks, activities, and puzzles that never quite resolves into gameplay; none of the charm of KOL or even WOL.”
- atmosphere42 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its creative world-building, blending supernatural elements with the mundane, and a captivating musical score that enhances the experience. While many reviewers highlight the game's unique and immersive vibe, some note that the sequel's disjointed map and shift in humor detract from the overall atmosphere compared to its predecessor. Overall, the game successfully creates a rich and engaging environment, though opinions vary on its consistency and depth.
“One of the most atmospheric games I've ever played, with creative world building, a beautiful score, and fantastic, rewarding combat.”
“The atmosphere of the game is amazing - it's the fine blend of supernatural vs the mundane, like having a college course named 'spiders' played completely straight, or having the mob fight vampires in the city because it's just another gang to them.”
“Shadows Over Loathing makes massive leaps when it comes to atmosphere and worldbuilding.”
“In this sequel, though, there's much less of a commitment to actual jokes and self-contained gags, with much more emphasis put into the Victorian, 1920s-era atmosphere and combat/perk mechanics.”
“The map is bigger than 'WOL' but split into completely different sections that retain their own characters and atmosphere, making the world feel more disjointed - which works against the consistent atmosphere that this sequel is trying to build.”
“Meanwhile, the charming humor has been replaced with a spooky Victorian atmosphere that's sometimes serious and sometimes funny, but never settles into one groove for long enough to feel authentic.”
- emotional20 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its unexpected emotional depth, blending humor with heartfelt moments that resonate with players. Unique characters and a rich narrative contribute to a surprisingly touching experience, culminating in an emotional ending that defies initial expectations. Overall, it balances fun and absurdity with poignant storytelling, making it a memorable emotional journey.
“It's insanely dense, oddly emotional, and extremely funny.”
“The ending actually made me kind of emotional, which I didn't expect from a loathing game, but... hey.”
“From an eerily realistic visual art style to touching character arcs, and from petting cute cats to battling Lovecraftian horrors beyond human comprehension, this game has got it all.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, featuring instant startup and loading times, smooth performance, and an efficient use of computer resources. Reviewers highlight the well-optimized gameplay mechanics, including the combat and companion systems, contributing to a solid overall experience.
“It starts up and loads games instantly, with instant loading times and smooth performance.”
“Great gameplay and skill system, featuring an optimized combat scheme and companion system.”
“A solid performance all around.”
“I have so many other games that are poorly optimized trash in terms of using computer resources.”
- stability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is praised, particularly for its performance on the Steam Deck, where it runs smoothly with a solid six hours of battery life. While there are minor challenges in gameplay and puzzle-solving, players report no significant issues or glitches.
“It's pretty darn good; it runs great on the Steam Deck with 6 hours of battery life.”
