shita ni

About

shita ni is a single player action game with a horror theme. It was developed by LuN and was released on March 3, 2023. It received very positive reviews from players.

A surreal dream exploration game, both beautiful and terrifying. Shita ni is a surreal dream exploration RPG Maker game. Through the exploration of both beautiful and haunting dreamscapes, you will uncover the different facets of a young girl's mind. This game will not hold your hand. Instead, you will be free to investigate the mysteries of your surroundings at your own pace in whatever way you …

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 13 reviews

atmosphere3 negative mentions

The game features a beautifully crafted art style and varied soundtracks that enhance its surreal atmosphere.
It offers a vast and expansive world to explore, filled with unique maps that evoke different moods, from cute to creepy.
The introduction of interesting gameplay mechanics, such as collecting objects to unlock new areas, adds depth to the experience.

Progression can be hindered by confusing points of interest and a lack of clear landmarks on the maps.
Some puzzles are excessively punishing, requiring lengthy retries that can lead to frustration.
The game may feel too similar to Yume Nikki for some players, potentially limiting its appeal to those seeking a more original experience.

music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
20%
40%
The game's music is highly praised for its ability to enhance the unique atmosphere and emotional depth of various locations, with standout tracks that evoke a range of feelings from warmth to tension. The soundtracks, including a favorite from the rose garden, are well-integrated and serve as effective ambient music, contributing to an unforgettable gaming experience without being disruptive. Overall, the music complements the game's stunning graphics and adds to the sense of discovery across different maps.
- “The game appropriately tracks songs that are fitting for the environment — it conveys a range of emotions including warmth, calm, discomfort, tension, and danger.”
- “I’d even go as far to say that some of these songs could function as ambient working music.”
- “The music is composed of loops, some that are more noticeable than others, but not disruptive to the overall experience.”
- “The graphics and music are varied and unique, and there are many surprises every time you switch between maps.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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The graphics are praised for their appealing art style and impressive map design, creating immersive "first-layer" dreamscapes that enhance exploration. Users appreciate the unique visuals and the surprises that come with transitioning between different maps, making the overall visual experience engaging and enjoyable.
- “The art style is very nice and the maps look great.”
- “Not far behind the audio are the visuals; the 'first-layer' dreamscapes are easy to spend time in, and more often than not you're able to 'anchor' something to your screen to help orient yourself to cover ground effectively to determine if you've been to a place before.”
- “The graphics and music are varied and unique, and there are many surprises every time you switch between maps.”
- “The graphics are underwhelming and lack detail, making the environments feel flat and uninspired.”
- “The character models are poorly designed, which detracts from the overall immersion of the game.”
- “The visual effects are inconsistent, leading to a jarring experience that pulls you out of the gameplay.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its beautiful and surreal qualities, enhanced by a diverse range of locations and captivating soundtracks. Reviewers note the successful blend of beauty and terror, with art direction that masterfully combines visual and audio elements to create a layered experience.
- “Thank you for this unforgettable experience. The game is wonderful - beautiful, surreal, with its unique atmosphere, variety of locations, and amazing soundtracks (the rose garden is my favorite).”
- “The game captures its atmosphere masterfully through its art direction, both audibly and visually.”
- “The game successfully establishes a layered atmosphere of beauty and terror through its visual and audio elements.”
- “The environment feels lifeless and lacks any sense of immersion, making it hard to get invested in the game.”
- “Despite the potential for a rich atmosphere, the repetitive sound design and bland visuals leave much to be desired.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game's story effectively utilizes environmental storytelling, impressing players with its depth and execution, especially for a solo developer's debut. Surreal imagery enhances the narrative, conveying psychological anxiety and creating a compelling experience.
- “Additionally, it executes on environmental storytelling without much sacrifice.”
- “Lastly, I was wary of the idea of environmental storytelling by a solo developer’s first release, but I’m glad to say that my caution was wasted as I found the experience incredibly satisfying.”
- “Surrealistic images effectively convey psychological anxiety through environmental storytelling.”
- “Additionally, it does execute on environmental storytelling without much sacrifice.”
- “Lastly, I was wary at the idea of environmental storytelling by a solo developer’s first release, but I’m glad to say that the caution was wasted as I found the experience incredibly sufficient.”
- “Surrealistic images express well a psychological anxiety with environmental storytelling.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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The gameplay introduces innovative mechanics not found in the original Yume Nikki, offering a refreshing experience for fans. However, the minimal text approach can lead to frustration, as players may feel uncertain about whether they have fully explored an area, with certain elements activating later without clear indication.
- “While I call it a fan game, this game introduces a lot of interesting gameplay mechanics that Yume Nikki didn't have, and it pleasantly surprised me.”
- “It’s understandable that the game is leaning into its minimal text aspect as part of the game, but from a gameplay perspective, it can be a bit frustrating to think you’ve explored everything in a zone, only for something to become active later on because of reasons unbeknownst to you.”
- “It's understandable that the game is leaning into its minimal text aspect as part of the experience, but from a gameplay perspective, it can be a bit frustrating to think you've explored everything in a zone, only for something to become active later on for reasons unknown to you.”
- “The controls feel clunky and unresponsive, making it difficult to enjoy the gameplay fully.”
- “The pacing of the game is off, with long stretches of downtime that disrupt the flow and make it hard to stay engaged.”