Slayaway Camp
- October 25, 2016
- Blue Wizard Digital
- 6h median play time
Slayaway Camp hits checks all the boxes and will slash its way into your heart.
Get on Steam
Get on Apple Store"Slayaway Camp" is a puzzle game that lets you play as a psycho slasher killing campers in a gruesome tribute to 80’s horror, with over 140 levels across 11 tapes, and more to come. Critics call it a "brutal" and "bloody tribute" to vintage horror, with "smart" and "addictive" puzzles. The game is known for its over-the-top violence and dark humor, making it a unique and entertaining experience for horror fans.
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Reviews
- Engaging puzzles that gradually increase in difficulty, keeping players challenged and entertained.
- Charming 80s slasher movie aesthetic with humorous references and over-the-top gore.
- Variety of unlockable killers and unique kill animations add replay value and fun to the gameplay.
- Some puzzles can be frustratingly difficult, leading to potential player frustration.
- The hint system may not always provide helpful guidance, making it hard to progress at times.
- The grind for coins to unlock content can feel tedious and repetitive.
- gameplay158 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Slayaway Camp* is characterized by its addictive sliding tile mechanics, where players navigate through increasingly complex puzzles while employing various unique mechanics introduced in each "movie" level. The game combines dark humor and horror-themed elements with solid puzzle design, offering hundreds of levels and a variety of unlockable characters, ensuring a fresh and engaging experience throughout. While the core mechanics are simple, the challenge ramps up effectively, keeping players entertained with clever puzzles and amusing references to slasher films.
“With its addictive gameplay, dark humor, and nostalgic charm, it's a must-play for fans of both horror films and puzzle games.”
“The gameplay itself is very reminiscent of Hitman Go, where the killer must navigate the isometric levels by sliding in a series of logical moves that result in the murder of all victims, but one wrong move could lead to the killer's demise or could lead to the level becoming unwinnable.”
“The introduction of mechanics is well-paced, and each of the game's levels (styled as the sequels of this horror movie franchise) has its own little arc that ends on a comparatively difficult level surrounding the use of some environmental murder device (be it the woodchipper, rollercoaster, bandsaw, etc.).”
“The gameplay itself, however, is easy to understand and very challenging to master.”
“However, the game doesn't explain very well how some of the mechanics work or affect other mechanics, like how lights affect the cops or telephones affect cats.”
“You will almost always die several times learning how the mechanics work before completing the puzzle.”
- humor139 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in "Slayaway Camp" is a standout feature, blending dark comedy with a playful homage to 80s slasher films. Players appreciate the game's clever puns, absurd kill animations, and campy references, which create a lighthearted atmosphere despite its gruesome content. Overall, the humor is described as both entertaining and engaging, making it a delightful experience for fans of horror and puzzle games alike.
“With its unique blend of horror and humor, Slayaway Camp offers a fresh and entertaining take on the puzzle genre that will keep players captivated from start to finish.”
“Despite its gruesome subject matter, Slayaway Camp doesn't take itself too seriously, injecting plenty of dark humor and campy references throughout the game.”
“The humor of this game is spot on with the cheesiness of 80's slashers, and almost everything is a comedic homage to them or other well-known horror movies.”
“In a world of indie games with lame, cringey humor, Slayaway Camp is actually as funny as it thinks it is.”
- graphics97 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming voxel art style that blends retro aesthetics with dark humor, reminiscent of classic horror films. While the pixelated visuals and cute, blocky design may initially seem simplistic, they effectively enhance the game's campy atmosphere and gory themes, making the brutal content feel more playful. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's unique identity, combining humor and horror in a visually engaging way.
“The game's retro-inspired graphics pay homage to classic horror films, with pixelated blood and gore that add to the game's dark and twisted atmosphere.”
“The campy, 80s horror theme coupled with the blocky, Minecraft aesthetic makes the over-the-top gore as cute as it is amusing.”
“The art style is gorgeous and the gameplay is absolutely addictive.”
“The graphics are simple, yes, but I adore them.”
“I don't like the theme, I don't like the ugly Minecraft-esque graphics, I don't like the music; there's nothing that would keep me hooked to this, it's just a million variations of the same stuff.”
“The kill animations lack any sort of substance or impact due to the graphics or how zoomed in the camera is.”
- music67 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its catchy theme song and retro 80s horror vibe, which enhances the overall atmosphere and enjoyment. While some players find the soundtrack memorable and worth purchasing, others describe parts of it as forgettable or repetitive, suggesting that it may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the music is generally seen as a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to the experience, despite some criticisms.
“The music gives you that old-school horror movie vibe and all the sound effects are rather amusing as well.”
“I absolutely love the retro 80's horror soundtrack to this game!”
“The soundtrack is also superb!”
“Most of the music is fairly forgettable, and the sound effects repeat enough to recommend turning the audio off.”
“I don't like the theme, I don't like the ugly Minecraft-esque graphics, I don't like the music; there's nothing that would keep me hooked to this, it's just a million variations of the same thing.”
“The only downside that comes to mind is the soundtrack isn't the best, but of course there's always the option to mute the music and play something else from iTunes or something.”
- grinding24 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game is often viewed as tedious and repetitive, particularly when it comes to collecting coins for unlockables and achievements. While some players appreciate the puzzle mechanics and art style, many feel that the grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment, leading to a frustrating experience as they are forced to replay levels or engage in monotonous minigames to progress. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a significant drawback that can overshadow the game's more engaging elements.
“The puzzles start off simple enough, but as the levels go on they add new and unique mechanics which make you really have to think. Earning coins to buy the extras is simple enough and not tedious at all.”
“It's a good puzzle game, but the coin grinding for the mystery boxes and gore packs was a bit too much.”
“It was pretty miserable to finally finish all the puzzles in the game only to realize it didn't give me enough coins to buy everything, leaving me to either replay levels or grind an incredibly tedious minigame to collect the rest of the necessary cash.”
“Very interesting concept and enjoyable art style, but it gets super tedious super fast, and feels like it very rarely lets you think outside the box; most puzzles seem to only have one solution, and it drags on for far too long.”
- story17 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's story is a humorous spoof of 1980s horror slasher films, featuring a deranged groundskeeper and a quest filled with bloody puzzles. While some players note the lack of a deep narrative, many find the lighthearted approach and engaging gameplay enjoyable, especially for fans of the genre. Overall, the story serves as a fun backdrop that enhances the puzzle-solving experience, with additional content unlocked as players progress.
“The difficulty is a bit challenging but not frustrating (with hints and answers if you are too stuck with it) and the whole puzzle is so awesome to play because it has a story.”
“I personally believe that if it wasn't for the spoofing of the 80's horror genre that most people would lose interest in these types of puzzles; however, the need to see where the story goes as well as unlocking all of the villains and gore packs keeps you playing.”
“Swapping out Jason for Skullface - a deranged groundskeeper with a face only a mother could love - your mission is much the same as in the previous title.”
“I wouldn't recommend it, but if you are into puzzles, endless puzzles without any kind of story around them, go for it.”
“The theme/story of the game is spoofing 1980s horror slasher films.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is heavily influenced by retro horror films, featuring pixelated graphics and a dark, twisted aesthetic that immerses players in an eerie experience reminiscent of 80s horror. The combination of challenging puzzles, effective music, and stylish presentation enhances the overall ambiance, making it a standout feature, though its unsettling nature may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the atmosphere is widely praised for its authenticity and engaging design.
“It has a great atmosphere like you are really in one of these cheap horror movies from the eighties.”
“The overall atmosphere of the game is eerie, so most probably it won't be for everyone.”
“Very stylish too, all the quick camera cuts between scenes and kills add to the atmosphere.”
“The game's retro-inspired graphics pay homage to classic horror films, with pixelated blood and gore that add to the game's dark and twisted atmosphere.”
- replayability9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Slayaway Camp offers significant replayability due to its extensive content, including hundreds of levels and unlockable characters, which provide hours of engaging gameplay. While some players may find the puzzle aspect less appealing for repeated playthroughs, the variety of challenges, achievements, and the option to replay levels at increased difficulty contribute to its high replay value. Overall, the game is praised for its content richness, especially considering its affordable price.
“With that out of the way, Slayaway Camp offers a lot of replay value.”
“Not a ton of replay value unless you really love puzzles, but plenty of challenging content for the price along with neat achievements.”
“Even after you beat a single movie, all the levels are replayable, and if you beat all of them, a harder version will open up!”
“You can also spend the coins you earn to purchase gory executions and new killers to play as, which adds more replay value to the game.”
- stability6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its stability, with many users noting a lack of significant bugs or glitches, making it one of the most polished experiences they've encountered. However, some minor UI issues and occasional small glitches were reported, but these do not detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“Slayaway Camp is an enjoyable puzzle game that runs great and is well polished.”
“I found some minor UI glitches mainly in the options screen (tooltips cover the slider text, and there was a bug after the first scene where it wouldn't let me buy the baseball bat pack).”
“In a Steam universe full of buggy, broken AAA titles, abandoned early access games, and developers selling DLC for games they haven't even finished, it's so refreshing to see a game that does what it sets out to do almost perfectly.”
“Sometimes I have tiny glitches, but I'm just nitpicking.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the monetization model in Slayaway Camp, highlighting the abundance of unlockable cosmetics earned through gameplay rather than relying on microtransactions, which appeals to players nostalgic for traditional game rewards.
“Those of you who miss when games had cosmetics you earned through gameplay instead of microtransactions will be quite pleased to hear that there's plenty of such unlockables in Slayaway Camp.”
“The monetization in this game feels excessive, with too many paywalls that hinder the overall experience.”
“I can't believe how many items are locked behind a paywall; it really ruins the enjoyment of the game.”
“The constant push for microtransactions makes it feel like the developers care more about profit than player experience.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users reporting smooth performance and efficient resource usage, while others have experienced significant lag and technical issues. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary widely depending on individual system configurations.
Critic Reviews
Slayaway Camp Review
With the upcoming Friday the 13th: The Game and Dead by Daylight, slasher flicks are getting more attention than they usually do in games. In steps Blue Wizard Digital’s Slayaway Camp – a different, more blocky slasher game.
80%Slayaway Camp Review - PS4
I had a blast playing through Slayaway Camp. A simple puzzle game that lets me play through some of my favorite horror movies and franchises. The blocky graphics have a great charm to them even though it sometimes gets in the way of the kill animations.
90%Slayaway Camp Review
There's something truly special about Slayaway Camp. What could have been a one-note gag instead manages to be a hilarious, charming, and ingenious puzzle game. Actually stopping to write this review was incredibly difficult; the game is just that addicting. There's something new around each corner, with numerous unlockables and dozens of levels. Plus, new content is still being added, with the developers demonstrating some true passion for the project. It may be one-way only, but a trip to Slayaway Camp should not be missed.
90%
