Sir, You Are Being Hunted

About

"Sir, You Are Being Hunted" is a first-person stealth and survival game set in a procedurally-generated British landscape, where you evade robot hunters while scavenging for food and weapons. With five distinct biomes, AI that adapts to your playstyle, and a unique foliage-based stealth system, each playthrough offers infinite replayability in a quintessentially British setting. The game encourages you to scavenge to survive and play as either Sir or Madam.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,245 reviews

gameplay114 positive mentions

story20 negative mentions

Unique and charming atmosphere with a quirky British theme.
Engaging stealth mechanics that create a sense of tension and excitement.
Procedurally generated worlds provide variety and replayability.

Game feels unfinished and lacks depth, leading to repetitive gameplay.
Limited inventory management can be frustrating, especially with many useless items.
Multiplayer functionality is buggy and not well-supported.

gameplay
368 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
57%
12%
The gameplay of "Sir, You Are Being Hunted" is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its unique atmosphere and stealth mechanics, but criticizing its repetitive and often tedious quest structure. While the procedurally generated environments offer some replayability, the core gameplay loop of looting and avoiding enemies can become monotonous, and the mechanics, though interesting, often feel underdeveloped or clunky. Overall, the game provides a quirky survival experience that may appeal to fans of stealth and exploration, but it struggles with depth and variety in its gameplay.
- “Highly underrated game, which deserves more recognition for its co-op, in-game mechanics, and being a steampunk survival game.”
- “Great roguelike mechanics, it's procedurally generated, and a stealth game.”
- “The gameplay is fun and original.”
- “The gameplay is boring, repetitive, and the AI is easily exploited while you try to collect 12 macguffins in a world you don't care about in the slightest because there is no plot.”
- “Unfortunately, it is very repetitive, and any potential for deep gameplay disperses as soon as one realizes how easy it is to abuse very simple mechanics.”
- “The gameplay consists of looting buildings for ammo and other helpful items and sneaking around trying to kill or avoid enemy robots.”
graphics
218 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
59%
15%
The graphics of "Sir, You Are Being Hunted" have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the visuals are not cutting-edge and can appear dated or simplistic, they effectively contribute to the game's unique atmosphere and aesthetic. The art style, often described as charming and fitting for the Victorian setting, has been praised for its ability to create an immersive experience despite technical shortcomings. Overall, while the graphics may not satisfy those seeking high fidelity, they are generally considered adequate for an indie title, enhancing the game's quirky and humorous tone.
- “Each of the island biomes is absolutely oozing with this very unique not-so-merry England aesthetic.”
- “The graphics look amazing now.”
- “The atmosphere works well and the art style is fresh.”
- “The graphics are not the best you will ever see, but entertaining and enjoyable anyway, and while they are quite deadly, the hunters are an amusing lot to watch and listen to.”
- “The graphics seem poor but set up a brilliant atmosphere, reinforced by extraordinary sound effects.”
- “The graphics are mediocre, and the sounds need plenty of work.”
atmosphere
167 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
31%
2%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and unique qualities, effectively blending tension, humor, and a distinct British charm. Players appreciate the well-crafted sound design and environmental aesthetics that evoke feelings of dread and suspense, despite some criticisms regarding dated graphics. Overall, the atmosphere is considered the standout feature, enhancing the gameplay experience and drawing players into its eerie, yet captivating world.
- “The expert design of its enemies and environments does a stunning job of putting you into the headspace of a frightened little prey animal scurrying through the underbrush, and the atmosphere is top-notch.”
- “The atmosphere is fantastic, your heart will be beating out of your chest every few minutes.”
- “The creepy atmosphere this game creates will have you on the edge of your seat with tension, watching for the shadowy figures of hunterbots walking out of the mist on the horizon - highly recommended.”
- “Textures are blurry and the whole atmosphere (perhaps by design, in the spirit of Britain) is dreary.”
- “Only thing this game has going for it is British countryside aesthetics, and it hardly uses it to its potential: the environment is very dull and there is barely any atmosphere or flavor text; all you see is typical North England housing and robots wearing top hats (yet speaking in a very broad accent using common terms).”
- “The game has a pretty gloomy and dark atmosphere, not comical as the trailer suggested.”
humor
143 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
2%
The humor in "Sir, You Are Being Hunted" is often described as quirky and distinctly British, with many players finding the robotic enemies and their dialogue amusing. While some reviews highlight the game's ability to blend humor with tense survival gameplay, others note that the comedic elements can become repetitive over time. Overall, the game is appreciated for its charmingly absurd atmosphere, though opinions vary on the depth and consistency of its humor.
- “And all the while infused with such 'Englishness' that I'd burst out laughing with how ridiculous the whole thing was.”
- “The narration and robot banter is also a nice break once in a while as it's both charming and humorous.”
- “You creep around randomly generated islands, being stalked by robots that are a hilarious pastiche of the British aristocracy on a fox hunt.”
- “Not a funny game at all.”
- “It's sort of like a combination of DayZ and unfunny British humor.”
- “The humor falls flat and feels forced.”
story
130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
71%
15%
The game's story is generally considered minimal and vague, primarily serving as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a driving force. Players embark on a repetitive fetch quest to collect items that allow them to escape an island inhabited by robots, with little narrative depth or character development. While some appreciate the atmospheric elements and hints of lore scattered throughout, many feel that the lack of a compelling story detracts from the overall experience.
- “I want to understand the backstory of what happened that made this chain of islands full of robots.”
- “Sir, you are being hunted is a phenomenal game where you must combine stealth, guile, and brutal combat tactics in order to escape a relentless horde of very British robots on a group of very British islands, while a very British butler guides you in a quest to recover the fragments of a mysterious machine.”
- “The story is quite playable in this initial form as well, graphics look quite okay compared to it being an alpha version, and new contents/aspects are added with each patch.”
- “The storyline is vague and doesn't really have any bearing on the events that occur, but the 'fragments', when assembled, allow you passage off of the island and completion of the game.”
- “If it had a little more story on what happened to the people and why exactly the robots are hunting you, it would be a bit better.”
- “The game essentially boils down to one long fetch quest for component parts to fix a portal to return home - but there's no ongoing story discovery, the variation in items you can find is thin at best, there's no real 'survival' aspects and the stealth/combat parts are uninspiring.”
replayability
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
49%
16%
Replayability in this game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the randomly generated levels and various gameplay approaches that enhance replay value, others find it quickly becomes repetitive and lacks depth after a few playthroughs. Many reviews highlight that while the game offers unique experiences each time, the overall content may not sustain long-term interest, leading to a consensus that replayability is present but limited. Overall, the game's replay value is seen as dependent on individual player preferences and the desire for challenge or exploration.
- “It's a pretty fun concept, and due to its randomly generated worlds, has a good amount of replay value each time you play!”
- “Short and sweet with plenty of replayability if that's your thing because the world you play in is completely re-generated and random on each playthrough.”
- “The emergent gameplay from the generative world gives this huge amounts of variety and replay value.”
- “It was said to have replayability, but I don't see myself playing this more than two times.”
- “Despite being open world and randomly generated, it has low replayability.”
- “There's not much replayability here, even with the worlds randomly generated.”
music
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
54%
6%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the overall experience and fitting seamlessly with the game's environment. While some players noted moments of silence or a lack of constant music, many found the ambient sounds and occasional tracks to be immersive and tension-building, contributing significantly to the game's mood. The credits music, in particular, received special mention as a highlight, leaving players with fond memories of the soundtrack.
- “The music is not constant and only shows up at the right time and is spot on to the atmosphere.”
- “The ambient music and sound are so appropriate, and I enjoy having that suspense broken by a flock of squawking birds giving away my position or the splashing of water when robot tentacles surface.”
- “The eerie and contextual music adds a layer of tension and ambiance that draws me back to playing older PC games like Myst for the atmosphere, though the subtly oppressive one in this game has a flavor all its own, a very British one at that with a thin layer of dry dark comedy.”
- “The graphics aren't as polished as a AAA game, and the music is ambient and atmospheric, sounding like some of the stock sounds from a synth app.”
- “I feel as though there's a lack of music at times.”
- “Music doesn't appear to play a large role in the game.”
stability
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
88%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with many users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some players find enjoyment in the core mechanics and visuals, the overall experience is marred by game-breaking issues and a sense of being unfinished, leading to frustration and disappointment. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess" that feels abandoned by its developers, making it difficult to recommend at full price.
- “A finished product worth the money and not buggy.”
- “Runs great on my Arch Linux box too.”
- “Mostly bug-free, although sometimes the generator makes wonky islands, with buildings half underwater and stuff.”
- “Came back years later to play it again with a buddy and it was so bug-ridden and awful that it was virtually unplayable.”
- “It is currently a buggy mess with some stitched-on multiplayer support.”
- “It's a mostly full experience (on singleplayer... multiplayer's a half-finished mess) that I've had many hours of fun in, but it's held back by game-breaking/immersion-breaking glitches and bugs which even include save/world corruption, and the developers abandoned it in this half-finished state.”
grinding
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of "Sir, You Are Being Hunted" is widely criticized for its repetitive and tedious gameplay, particularly in the context of extensive walking, inventory management, and fetch quests. While the initial hours may offer some excitement, players quickly find the novelty wears off, leading to a frustrating experience marked by boredom and a lack of engaging content. Overall, the game struggles with pacing and design choices that contribute to a sense of tedium throughout the experience.
- “Not a bad game, but a tedious one. 'Sir, You Are Being Hunted' has good ideas and an interesting world, but the repetitive gameplay loop tries the patience a little too much.”
- “The actual gameplay is fun and thrilling for the first 2-3 hours, but becomes boring and tedious towards the end game.”
- “It's a game that's so close to being interesting and good, but falls short because of bad gameplay design decisions that result in it feeling like a tedious fetch quest rather than nail-biting survival against all odds.”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
44%
33%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting smooth performance and no issues, while others highlight significant optimization problems, even on high-end PCs. Many agree that the game requires updates and tweaks to improve its performance, particularly at higher graphical settings, where it struggles to run smoothly. Overall, while some users find it playable, there is a consensus that optimization remains a key area for improvement.
- “I've had my eye on this game for quite some time now and I'm glad to see they made it a full and complete game, runs smoothly and doesn't have any problems for the most part.”
- “- not a performance hog so it can run on lower end PCs easily.”
- “For the most part the game runs smoothly for me; however, I have had a problem with this game crashing on me as I move between islands.”
- “It clearly needs lots of updates and optimization.”
- “The game is very poorly optimized, and is a long way from being playable.”
- “Poor optimization, even on high-end PCs.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Character development in the game is marked by an engaging progression system that allows players to evolve from prey to predator, enhancing the sense of empowerment and resource-building. While the character design and environment are praised for their uniqueness and creativity, some players feel that the depth of character development and plot may not be as fulfilling as that found in traditional storytelling mediums. Overall, the game offers entertaining designs and a strong initial atmosphere, but may leave some players wanting more in terms of narrative depth.
- “Its clever reinterpretation of the classic scaling challenge/empowerment mechanic invites new opportunities for emergent character development: building resources and confidence so you can eventually embolden yourself to take on the hunters - the cathartic fantasy of transformation from prey to predator or from a master thief to Gordon Freeman, if you like.”
- “[Entertaining character designs, voice-overs, and flavor text; strong initial sense of tension and discovery.]”
- “If I want character development or a solid plot, I will read a book.”
- “The character design and how new robots appear as you progress is an excellent escalation.”
- “Its clever reinterpretation of the classic scaling challenge/empowerment mechanic invites new opportunities for emergent character development.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a deeply emotional experience, often feeling intense fear and empathy as they navigate a haunting world filled with purpose-driven elements and AI-driven enemies. The combination of atmospheric art, sound, and stealth mechanics enhances the sense of being hunted, evoking strong feelings and personal reflections on loss and familial connections. Overall, the game effectively elicits tears and tension, making it a memorable emotional journey.
- “A combination of the first-person perspective, the AI-driven enemy behavior, the atmospheric art and soundscape, the stealth mechanics, and the fact that almost everything in the world has some kind of purpose really made me feel like I was on that terrible little set of islands running from robots.”
- “I was about 10 years old when my mother said to him, 'If you ever want to see your grandchildren graduate, you have to stop immediately.' Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
- “Yooooo, this game made me feel like I was being hunted.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
The monetization aspect of the game has received negative feedback, with users criticizing the reliance on ads to enhance gameplay while expressing relief that there are no microtransactions or DLC. Many feel the game is an unfinished product that resembles a cash grab, particularly given its early release state.
- “At the very least, there are no microtransactions or DLC, which would be downright insulting for the state that this game is in.”
- “Unpolished, unfinished, Kickstarter cash grab.”
- “Unfortunately, this looks like another early release cash grab, pushed along by Rock Paper Shotgun's megaphone.”
- “I don't like the direction they went with this and being released in this state feels like a lazy cash grab.”