Siren's Call

About

Siren's Call is a single player action game with horror, mystery and thriller themes. It was developed by ThePenSword and was released on April 15, 2022. It received very positive reviews from players.

Siren’s Call is the first "friendship simulator" where your friends can actually fight back. Make these last moments you have with them count. Say the right things...because they won't accept anything less than your absolute best. Will you reach escape velocity?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 182 reviews

story47 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Engaging and well-crafted story that explores themes of friendship, loss, and personal growth, keeping players invested throughout.
Beautiful art style and a captivating soundtrack that enhance the emotional impact of the narrative.
Characters are well-developed and relatable, with unique personalities that contribute to a rich storytelling experience.

Some technical issues, such as slow loading times and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, detract from the overall experience.
Choices often feel inconsequential, leading to a sense of frustration when trying to explore different narrative paths.
The pacing can be uneven, with some sections feeling drawn out or confusing, making it difficult for players to stay engaged.

story
164 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
69%
2%
The story of the game is praised for its emotional depth, character development, and intricate narrative structure, often described as a poignant coming-of-age tale that explores themes of loss, friendship, and personal growth. While some players found the pacing and dialogue occasionally confusing or overly lengthy, many appreciated the gradual reveal of backstory and the engaging interactions with multi-dimensional characters. Overall, the storytelling is considered a standout feature, with a mix of humor, gravity, and impactful moments that resonate with players.
- “The story was really well put together, not too linear but also not too confusing, rarely missed some important detail.”
- “The details... the symbolism... the parallels - I'm simply blown away by the storytelling!”
- “This is a beautiful story focused around the themes of loss and moving on - you are presented with the extremely unique and interesting perspective of the story beginning in what would normally be the epilogue in any other story.”
- “The signposting on how to navigate some of the dialogue choices is cryptic, the game's initial goal is weirdly mundane, and the character's motivations are far from clear until deep into the story.”
- “Unfortunately, Judith was the one character I couldn't warm up to by the end of the story - though I'm guessing she wasn't a creepy psychopath in real life, she was overwhelmingly so for so much of the dream story that I wasn't ready to support her and Oliver being together.”
- “Whatever had happened to the characters during the summer seems like it would have been a better starting point for the story, as this rehashing of the events through tidbits of dialogue that is vague and hard to put together just doesn't work.”
music
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
24%
8%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance emotional depth and set the tone for various scenes, with many players expressing a desire to listen to the soundtrack outside of gameplay. While some noted issues with audio mixing and repetitiveness, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is engaging, well-composed, and integral to the game's atmosphere, contributing significantly to the storytelling experience. Players appreciate the blend of heartfelt, eerie, and comedic moments that the music effectively underscores, making it one of the standout features of the visual novel.
- “Music is well made; really brings the emotional impact of the scenes to the forefront.”
- “The game goes between heartfelt conversations, tense discussions, eerie situations, and even some comedic bits, managing to flow through these events without compromising the pace and pulling you in at every moment (thanks in no small part as well to the amazing music).”
- “The early '10s-teenage-summer-beach atmosphere and the amazing soundtrack create the perfect setting for the themes of friendship, love, growing up, and moving on.”
- “It's definitely rough at times; the audio mixing could be better. I had to have the sound effect volume at 3/50 - the opening scene was definitely rough before I lowered the sound effect volume, and the music often fades in focusing solely on one ear, which made it sound odd since my left earbud is damaged.”
- “The soundtrack is something that you can vibe to, but it doesn't always stand out in a memorable way, which is a bit disappointing given the potential of the game.”
- “While the music is well made and brings emotional impact, there are moments where it feels repetitive and doesn't quite elevate the experience as much as it could.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
50%
19%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful, painting-like art style, which enhances the overall experience with a poetic yet sometimes disturbing aesthetic. Players appreciate the attention to detail, vibrant backgrounds, and expressive character animations, noting that the contrasting styles of characters and environments create a unique visual appeal. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's immersive storytelling and emotional impact.
- “The painting-like art style looks nice.”
- “Beautiful graphics, backgrounds are extremely gorgeous with their painting style, characters have a wide range of expressions and sprites, and the surprising amount of animations gives them a lot of life.”
- “Also, the graphics are insanely beautiful as if they were painted on a canvas.”
- “As for the graphics, the art is something you would not expect from a free visual novel.”
- “While the art style of the characters is different from the one of the backgrounds, the contrast is fitting, in my opinion, aesthetically as well as for some other reasons, but you will have to find those out yourself.”
- “While the art style of the characters is different from the one of the backgrounds, the contrast is fitting, in my opinion, aesthetically as well as for some other reasons, but you will have to find those out yourself.”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is described as a powerful blend of heartwarming and unsettling moments, enhanced by a well-crafted soundtrack that amplifies the impact of key scenes. Players report experiencing deep emotional connections with the characters, often leading to tears and a sense of personal resonance with the story, despite some fragmented narrative elements. Overall, the game successfully navigates a poignant tale with a mix of heartfelt and eerie themes, leaving a lasting emotional impression.
- “Music is well made; really brings the emotional impact of the scenes to the forefront.”
- “I cried 6 times, and rewatched the ending 3 times.”
- “The game goes between heartfelt conversations, tense discussions, eerie situations, and even some comedic bits, managing to flow through these events without compromising the pace and pulling you in at every moment (thanks in no small part as well to the amazing music).”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
Gameplay is described as generally natural, with helpful hints provided, but it suffers from issues such as noticeable delays in menu navigation and dialogue progression. The time loop mechanic, while central to the narrative, is criticized for not enhancing the gameplay experience, as choices feel superficial and do not significantly impact the game. Additionally, the reliance on a journal for clarity in dialogue adds to the initial confusion.
- “Gameplay felt very natural, not to mention the game itself gives you hints.”
- “It wasn’t just because that is where a lot of the story gets revealed but it had more choices and less time loop mechanics, and even the ones it did have weren’t really annoying.”
- “The dialogue was confusing at first until I realized that the in-game mechanic of having the journal was truly necessary.”
- “Game mechanics of Siren's Call don't help it either.”
- “Maybe it just wasn’t for me, but I took issue with a lot of the core gameplay and story mechanics.”
- “Gameplay-wise, there's a noticeable delay when opening/closing menus and advancing dialogue.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its nostalgic early '10s beach vibe complemented by an amazing soundtrack, effectively enhancing themes of friendship and growth. Additionally, it features a compelling dark atmosphere that intrigues players, balancing between creepy and cozy elements throughout the experience.
- “The early '10s teenage summer beach atmosphere and the amazing soundtrack create the perfect setting for the themes of friendship, love, growing up, and moving on.”
- “This game exceeded my expectations with its dark atmosphere and intriguing plot.”
- “The visual novel always manages to maintain a great atmosphere, dancing between creepy and comfy with no disconnect.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to repetitive dialogue and the lack of a scene select feature, which makes unlocking gallery images cumbersome. While some bugs have been addressed by the developer, the overall experience still feels like it requires excessive time investment.
- “Visiting each friend was tedious, and if you don't pick the right choice, it sends you back to the beginning, which is frustrating when trying to get through that dialogue again, even with skipping it and knowing which choice to pick.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report that despite having ample RAM, they still experience unexpected performance issues, indicating potential optimization problems within the game.
- “I have tons of RAM, so it wasn’t a performance issue, but it’s still weird.”
- “The game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, even on high-end hardware.”
- “Optimization seems to be an afterthought, as the game frequently stutters and lags.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The character development in the game is praised for being excellent, contributing significantly to the overall storytelling experience alongside its art, music, and backgrounds.
- “The character development is exceptional, with each character feeling unique and evolving throughout the story.”
- “I love how the characters grow and change based on the choices I make, making every decision feel impactful.”
- “The depth of the characters and their backstories adds so much richness to the overall experience.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is characterized by its unpredictability, blending elements of surprise and absurdity that evoke laughter alongside moments of fear and tension. Players appreciate the unique combination of hilarious and disturbing scenarios that keep them engaged and on edge.
- “Each day brought something new, unexpected, and funny. There were moments that were scary, hilarious, and even disturbing. I literally felt afraid of what would come next on my screen, a feeling that not a single horror game has managed to evoke in me! :D”
- “The humor in this game is brilliantly woven into the narrative, making even the most tense moments feel light-hearted and enjoyable.”
- “I found myself laughing out loud at the clever dialogue and absurd situations. The humor is perfectly timed and adds a unique charm to the gameplay.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users have noted that while there are bugs and glitches present, the developer is responsive and supportive when addressing these issues, contributing to a positive experience despite stability concerns.