Sinister City

About

Sinister City is a single player casual role playing game with a horror theme. It was developed by Jetdogs Studios and was released on October 20, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

In Sinister City, you play as a man searching for his missing fiancée in a eerie, supernatural world. Solve puzzles and uncover dark secrets in this hidden object adventure game, while encountering various mystical creatures. With stunning graphics and a captivating storyline, immerse yourself in this atmospheric and suspenseful experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 736 reviews

story99 positive mentions

graphics29 negative mentions

The game features a humorous and absurd storyline that parodies traditional vampire tropes.
The hidden-object gameplay is accessible and offers a relaxed experience for casual players.
The game is inexpensive, providing a few hours of entertainment for a low price.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay.
Graphics and animations are dated and can be visually unappealing.
The voice acting and dialogue are often poorly executed, detracting from the overall experience.

story
341 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
56%
15%
The story of the game is a campy, absurd parody of vampire tropes, featuring exaggerated characters and bizarre plot twists that often break the fourth wall. While some players appreciate its humor and silliness, others criticize it for being poorly written and lacking depth, with many finding the dialogue and overall narrative to be cheesy or ridiculous. Despite its flaws, the lighthearted and comedic approach to the storyline provides an entertaining experience for those who enjoy a more playful take on the genre.
- “At first glance, it appears to be a straightforward vampire-themed rescue story, but it quickly reveals itself to be something far stranger and more playful than it initially lets on.”
- “The characters you encounter are delightfully exaggerated, and the story frequently takes bizarre turns that blend fantasy, satire, and a touch of fourth-wall-breaking humor.”
- “The story is amusing, especially if you don't know what's coming, and goes from generic to insane in record time.”
- “I see that developers tried to make something nontrivial, but with weak characters and poor dialogues like here, even a potentially genius story will look like trash.”
- “The story is so bad that the developers had to be more than a little self-aware.”
- “The story is cringe-worthy.”
humor
143 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in the game is characterized by its campy, absurd, and self-aware style, often blending satire with bizarre plot twists and exaggerated characters. While some players found the humor genuinely funny and charming, others felt it fell flat or was unintentionally amusing due to poor writing and execution. Overall, the game appeals to those who appreciate quirky, ridiculous humor, even if it lacks sophistication or polish.
- “What begins as a gothic tale about love and danger gradually unravels into a surreal adventure full of odd characters, unexpected humor, and self-aware twists that push it far beyond the usual boundaries of its genre.”
- “The characters you encounter are delightfully exaggerated, and the story frequently takes bizarre turns that blend fantasy, satire, and a touch of fourth-wall-breaking humor.”
- “The story is really funny and is meant to be campy; there were really hilarious moments and lines.”
- “Painfully unfunny.”
- “Not funny, but amusing.”
- “One vampire had such a terrible voice, but I think that's supposed to be funny because [spoiler] he is an actor in a children's show.”
graphics
123 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
58%
24%
The graphics of the game have received largely negative feedback, with many users describing them as outdated, poor, and riddled with glitches. While some appreciate the campy charm and humor that the visuals contribute to the overall experience, the consensus is that the graphics fall short of modern standards, often appearing clunky and inconsistent. Despite these shortcomings, a few players noted that the visuals are acceptable for the game's low price point, though they still detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “Still, there’s a certain charm in the aesthetic—an unpolished earnestness that fits with the game’s campy humor.”
- “Together, the visuals and audio create an experience that feels like an affectionate tribute to classic supernatural stories rather than a serious attempt at horror.”
- “The graphics are okay at first glance, within five seconds of playing my character was hovering halfway up the front door.”
- “The graphics are dated, and the gameplay is very standard hidden-object, but the plot, voice acting, and dialogue are really funny.”
- “The amateur-hour graphics don't do sinister city any favors either, with inconsistent 3D models and some incredibly blurry backgrounds.”
- “The graphics are awful, the storyline is nonexistent, and the controls are so strange.”
gameplay
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
62%
17%
The gameplay of "Sinister City" is characterized by its adherence to the hidden-object genre, featuring simple mechanics and a mix of easy puzzles that cater to casual players. While the game offers a humorous narrative and some enjoyable moments, it suffers from technical issues, shallow mechanics, and a brief runtime, which may leave players feeling underwhelmed. Overall, the gameplay is seen as standard and uninspired, with many reviewers noting its lack of challenge and occasional glitches.
- “In terms of gameplay, Sinister City delivers the core elements of the hidden-object genre while keeping the mechanics accessible for casual players.”
- “The gameplay was fun for what it is; it doesn't punish you for clicking too much, and the varied puzzles were a nice addition.”
- “Mini-games and small logic puzzles are interspersed throughout the adventure to add variety, though they lean toward simplicity and are more about keeping the narrative flowing than providing deep mechanical challenge.”
- “Its brief runtime, occasional technical hiccups, and shallow mechanics might leave some players underwhelmed.”
- “The mechanics are klunky and low grade, and the majority of object finding you do is more 'click on everything in sight as it might have something hidden behind it' rather than any real skill in finding things.”
stability
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely reported to be plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, including issues with graphics, item loading, and interaction problems, which can disrupt gameplay significantly. While some players managed to resolve issues through restarts, many others experienced persistent problems, including unregistered achievements and difficulty starting the game on Windows 10. Overall, the stability of the game is a major concern, leading to a generally negative reception regarding its reliability.
- “The game is also buggy with some items not loading properly and appearing as white rectangles, and I once had to restart the game as I could no longer interact with things.”
- “The game is extremely buggy and there won't be any fixes, but restarting the game helped me resolve all issues.”
- “There are so many glitches I honestly do not think the game is even worth the cards!”
music
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
54%
16%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its ability to enhance the atmosphere and provide a relaxing backdrop, despite some finding it repetitive or annoying. While some users highlight the soundtrack's suitability for the game's tone, others criticize it for being forgettable or even headache-inducing. Overall, the music is seen as a redeeming quality in an otherwise average game experience.
- “The soundtrack, with its moody piano and faintly melodramatic undertones, supports the atmosphere nicely, even when the tone of the story veers more toward comedy than fear.”
- “The music is nicely matched to the mood, including the over-the-top drama.”
- “It has an amazing attention to detail, amazing background that don't look like they were made in MS Paint, crisp dialogue, a truly astounding soundtrack that never ceases to amaze me.”
- “The music is not a thing.”
- “The game comes off like a very jerky hybrid of a point and click adventure game that is trying to be a hog game, and the soundtrack doesn't fit with the game in my opinion.”
- “The story is bad, the music is bad, it's full of glitches but hey!”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
60%
30%
Overall, the game has been criticized for its low replayability, with many users noting that it offers minimal changes upon replay and is relatively short in content. While it may provide a brief entertainment experience for fans of the hidden object genre, the lack of significant variation or challenge in subsequent playthroughs results in a replay value rating of around 1 to 5 out of 10.
- “It has limited replayability (it features two difficulty settings: easy gives you hints, faster help timer, etc., while normal difficulty does not give you hints as to where to go next).”
- “The replay value is virtually zero, only 2 puzzles changed, and then only slightly.”
- “It has very little replay value beyond its second playthrough.”
- “This is an overall decent game, but has very little replay value, is short in content, and contains minor flaws.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to repetitive puzzles and hidden object searches that occur too frequently. While some enjoy the challenge, many express that the experience becomes monotonous and can lead to technical issues that further hinder progress. Overall, the grinding element detracts from the enjoyment of casual gameplay.
- “I wouldn’t mind it so much if the hidden objects puzzle appeared once or twice, but it appears in every area I go to and it gets to be really tedious after the third area in the game.”
- “It's a hidden object game but it's extremely tedious.”
- “This made it very tedious and frustrating, when casual gaming should not bring up these types of situations and emotions.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with players experiencing a surprising depth of investment and attachment despite initial appearances. Many describe it as an "emotional damage simulator," eliciting laughter and tears, while others note a lack of depth in the protagonist's character. Overall, the game is praised for its thoughtful storytelling that resonates long after playing.
- “I laughed, I cried, I alt-tabbed.”
- “But I'm invested emotionally.”
- “When I first saw this game on Steam, I was unsure about its directional capabilities; however, I found myself surprised by the sheer level of thought and care taken into crafting such an epic and emotionally investing story that will keep you thinking about it for days on end.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a moody soundtrack that enhances its vampiric and horror elements, although some players feel it struggles to balance comedy with its intended tone. While many appreciate the overall ambiance, opinions are mixed on the effectiveness of its comedic attempts and world-building.
- “The soundtrack, with its moody piano and faintly melodramatic undertones, supports the atmosphere nicely, even when the tone of the story veers more toward comedy than fear.”
- “There is no other spot I can press in terms of negativity; everything else works fine in a cool vampiric atmosphere!”
- “Classic puzzle game with a horror atmosphere and setting.”
- “The game has a classic puzzle design, but the horror atmosphere feels forced and lacks depth.”
- “While the setting is intended to be eerie, it often comes off as bland and uninspired.”
- “The atmosphere tries to evoke fear, but it ultimately falls flat, leaving players feeling disconnected.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The game's optimization is generally considered lacking, with users noting that while the sound quality is acceptable, the script and story suffer from cheesy dialogue and stuttering performance, detracting from the overall experience. Character interactions are present but fail to deliver engaging performances.
- “The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the graphics settings, making it accessible for a wider range of players.”
- “The game's performance is optimized well, ensuring minimal lag and a seamless experience throughout.”
- “The sound is okay, though the script and story are cheesy and stuttering, and not amusing enough to make up for it.”
- “Music and environment sound are normal, all characters talk to you, but their performance does not allow them to win an Oscar.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
Reviewers note that while the game features visually appealing character designs, the character development feels lacking, with a desire for deeper exploration and more engaging interactions, particularly involving additional antagonists. Overall, the game is considered enjoyable and well-made, but it could benefit from enhanced narrative depth.
- “The character development is engaging and adds depth to the gameplay, making each character feel unique and memorable.”
- “The game offers a rich narrative that enhances character growth, allowing players to form emotional connections with the characters.”
- “I appreciate how the character arcs evolve throughout the game, providing a satisfying sense of progression and transformation.”
- “Sometimes some objects can be tricky, but still enjoyable and also worth the price as the game is well made. However, more character development could have been added, and maybe more vampires trying to stop you from reaching your goal.”