Shiver

About

"Shiver" is a single-player Horror Point and Click game that transports you to the eerie and abandoned Windy Oaks National Park in the early 1990s. With only your wits and bravery to rely on, you must uncover the park's mysteries, contact help, and escape before it's too late. The game's dense atmosphere is enhanced by its unique art style, created through a combination of painting and photography, and its spine-tingling puzzles.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 280 reviews

story28 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Great atmosphere and immersive storytelling that keeps players engaged.
Easy to complete with straightforward puzzles and a short playtime, making it accessible for casual gamers.
Free to play, offering a fun experience without any financial commitment.

Extremely short, with gameplay lasting only about 30-60 minutes, leaving players wanting more.
Lacks depth in the story and character development, making it feel incomplete.
Some jump scares may not be effective for seasoned horror fans, as the game relies heavily on atmosphere rather than intense horror elements.

story
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
59%
4%
The story in this game is generally described as intriguing yet brief, with many players expressing a desire for more depth and length. While it features a compelling premise involving a mysterious creature and a deserted lodge, some reviews note that the narrative lacks depth and can feel shallow at times. Overall, the storytelling is appreciated for its immersive qualities and atmosphere, but many players feel it could benefit from further exploration and elaboration on its lore.
- “You truly feel immersed in your situation as you slowly progress through the story, ever wondering just what is hiding out there stalking you.”
- “The story behind the mine and the weird creature is terrifying and makes you want to play more, plus, the puzzles are fun and easy, which makes crafting cool, also, the part with the flare makes the ending epic.”
- “The story was very well written and could be as entertaining as watching a movie in my opinion.”
- “Not much of a horror story - it was a very shallow story with a few mild jump scares.”
- “The plot is practically absent and it's impossible to empathize with such an anonymous main character.”
- “The story is nonexistent.”
atmosphere
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
36%
5%
The atmosphere in "Shiver" is widely praised for its effectiveness in creating a creepy and immersive experience, with many reviewers noting its ability to build tension without relying heavily on jump scares. The game's sound design, visuals, and setting contribute to a haunting ambiance that enhances the mystery and engagement, making it a standout feature despite its short length. Overall, players appreciate the game's atmospheric depth, which successfully evokes feelings of unease and curiosity throughout the experience.
- “The atmosphere resembles Penumbra while the first-person point-and-click gameplay is similar to Scratches, which is a recipe for success and makes Shiver a great game.”
- “It's atmospheric without being overbearing, and at times unsettling and genuinely scary.”
- “Shiver is an amazing short point-and-click horror game; it doesn't rely on jump scares to make it creepy, it has a great atmosphere and I would love to see more games like this.”
- “Sure, it has a creepy atmosphere and a jumpscare or two, but hardly a hardcore horror experience.”
- “The game's atmosphere is decently creepy, although the word 'horror' in the game's description is not accurate.”
- “While short, this game offers a haunting atmosphere.”
graphics
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
50%
8%
The graphics of the game are generally described as decent, with a mix of simplistic and charming art styles that effectively contribute to the overall atmosphere. While some users noted the visuals as crude or childish, others appreciated the unique aesthetic and the combination of prerendered 3D and digital painting, which enhances the game's creepy ambiance. Overall, the graphics are considered adequate for a point-and-click adventure, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful artwork and effective sound design that complement the visuals.
- “Creepy atmosphere that's slowly built throughout the game, fun puzzles and beautiful graphics.”
- “The art style is really beautiful and the story itself keeps you on your toes.”
- “Shiver had a nice-looking aesthetic—everything is obviously drawn for this game specifically (see: no asset flipping).”
- “Graphics are crude, and the sections in the mine, even with the light, may be tough for some folks with low vision.”
- “Graphics are fine, a bit childish, crude, and muddy, but fine.”
- “The graphics weren't staggering, but the atmosphere and sounds were decent enough to make you jump a few times and left enough mystery that it left you with all the 'what if's and the feeling that there was so much more to the mystery.”
gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
71%
14%
The gameplay is characterized by a straightforward and accessible point-and-click mechanic, reminiscent of classic adventure games, which allows players to easily navigate and interact with the environment. While the game offers a brief experience, typically ranging from 15 to 60 minutes, it features a mix of puzzles and exploration that some players find enjoyable, albeit simplistic. Overall, it serves as a light introduction to the genre rather than a challenging or deeply engaging experience.
- “The atmosphere resembles Penumbra while the first-person point-and-click gameplay is similar to Scratches, which is a recipe for success and makes Shivers a great game.”
- “Gameplay is straightforward for the genre and easy to understand; points of interest aren't obscured, so there will be no frustrations when looking for items.”
- “Gameplay is typical point-and-click adventuring, meaning you collect items to use on objects in the game world in order to advance in the game.”
- “This is mostly a gameplay-oriented game, so don't expect anything major in the story department.”
- “There's only about 10 minutes of gameplay, and it's very middle-of-the-road.”
- “Edit: it's currently free, but it's still difficult to suggest people should download this... there are free mobile apps with more gameplay.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The music in *shiver* is minimal, with most of the audio experience relying on sound effects that effectively convey mood and atmosphere. While some players find the music a bit loud and not exceptional, the ambient sounds, including howling wind, are praised for enhancing the game's tension and overall experience. The game utilizes royalty-free music from artists like Kevin MacLeod, but many agree that the lack of a traditional soundtrack does not detract from the immersive quality of the audio design.
- “The music and sound effects are, again, perfectly fine; they convey mood and tone sufficiently.”
- “There's basically no music in Shiver, most of the game is sound effects, and let me tell you that the audio design is amazing.”
- “Shiver is a nice and quick point-and-click experience that does a great job building tension with its music and the environment.”
- “There's basically no music in Shiver; most of the game is sound effects, and let me tell you that the audio design is amazing.”
- “There are only settings for sound effects and music.”
- “Turn the music down; it's a tad loud.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players noting clever and funny achievements that elicit genuine laughter. Overall, the combination of great atmosphere and humor contributes positively to the gaming experience.
- “Some achievements were very clever and funny, making me laugh.”
- “Great humor!”
- “Well done with great atmosphere and humor.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game manageable, noting that while some inventory tasks can become tedious due to repetitive item retrieval, the puzzles remain enjoyable and not overly difficult. Overall, the grinding does not significantly detract from the gaming experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The puzzles were doable and varied, though my only complaint would be having to pick up an inventory item every time, making actions that needed it more than once (e.g., screwdriver for multiple screws) a little tedious.”
- “Struggled with a few of the puzzles, but they weren't difficult to the point that made the game tedious or unable to be enjoyed.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers note that the monetization strategy is enhanced by clever ads that add humor, making the experience more enjoyable for players who pay attention to the details.
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is praised for its emotional depth, featuring a heartfelt ending that resonates strongly with players, despite its short horror format.
- “10/10 short horror game with a heartfelt ending”
- “The emotional depth of the characters left me in tears.”
- “This game beautifully captures the struggle of loss and redemption.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features impressive graphics and a creepy atmosphere, with smooth performance throughout its short 30-40 minute playtime, indicating effective optimization for a point-and-click adventure.
- “A kind of generic, short (about 30-40 mins) point-and-click adventure with a creepy atmosphere, nice ambient sounds, and fantastic graphics that runs smoothly.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game offers minimal replayability, primarily serving as a platform for players to achieve any missed achievements rather than providing new experiences or content for subsequent playthroughs.
- “There's also no replay value as far as I can tell, meaning the only real reason to play again is to get any achievements you missed the first time, if you're into getting those.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and experience it again. The story doesn't change, and the gameplay feels repetitive.”
- “After finishing the game, I found that there was nothing new to discover on a second playthrough, which made it feel like a one-time experience.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development is criticized for being shallow, with designs lacking depth and complexity.
- “The character designs are flat.”
- “I felt no emotional connection to any of the characters.”
- “The character development is predictable and lacks depth.”