Slender: The Arrival

Slender: The Arrival is far from the greatest horror game on Nintendo Switch. With the likes of Outlast 2, Layers of Fear, and Resident Evil to compete against, this bland and bare horror title shows its true colours separated from the hype of 2013. Unlike the mystical powers of the Slenderman, there’s nothing compelling here in the slightest, unless you like looking at poorly rendered forestry.

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"Slender: The Arrival" is a haunting game based on the Slender Man phenomenon, featuring a stalking Slender Creeper and a dark, foreboding atmosphere. It offers added leaderboards, mobile achievements, and controller support for iOS devices. Critics have praised its robust narrative and high terror factor, with GameSpot calling it 'one of the most terrifying games in recent memory.'

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,663 reviews

story390 positive mentions

stability50 negative mentions

story
1,252 mentions
31 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The story of "Slender: The Arrival" is a mix of intrigue and confusion, primarily conveyed through collectible notes and environmental storytelling. Players follow Lauren as she searches for her missing friend Kate, uncovering a chilling narrative tied to the Slender Man mythos, though many find the plot to be shallow and the gameplay repetitive. While the atmosphere and graphics are praised, the overall execution of the story leaves some players wanting more depth and coherence.
- “What I didn't expect was a game that not only incorporates the original game but expands upon it to create a game that is rich in storytelling, ripe with jump scares, and expands upon the lore of Slenderman perfectly.”
- “The game expands on the original Slender: The Eight Pages, introducing a larger world, improved visuals, and an engaging storyline.”
- “I found myself enamored with this game – the gripping storyline, the heart-pounding scares – and I highly recommend taking it for a spin.”
- “The art is okay but the story meanders and Slenderman himself is brought out early and often to the point of being an in-your-face nuisance more than an unstoppable corrupting evil.”
- “If you realize how you just have to follow the half-open doors and ignore everything because there is nothing else to it, you can finish the game in under 1 hour and you experienced all the shallow story, running for 50 minutes straight and 5 minutes of spooky flickering on screen.”
- “The plot of this game made absolutely zero sense to me and did not interest me enough to bother looking into it.”
graphics
693 mentions
50 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Slender: The Arrival" have received significant praise following the 10th anniversary update, showcasing stunning visuals and improved atmospheric details thanks to the transition to Unreal Engine 5. However, many players have reported performance issues, with frame rates dropping significantly on lower-end systems, leading to a mixed reception regarding optimization. Overall, while the graphics are considered beautiful and immersive, the game's performance can hinder the experience for some players.
- “This game looks like a massive improvement from the Unity version; the graphics look beautiful and the atmosphere is really creepy. I've been scared a few times as well.”
- “The graphics are phenomenal, the voice acting is perfect, the atmosphere is creepy and terrifying.”
- “The graphics are amazing, the story is unsettling, and the levels are terrifying.”
- “Absolutely terrible performance and shit graphics that make my eyes bleed (doesn't matter what settings I try), cheap jump scares and half the game is spent running laps collecting pages or switching on generators while getting chased by Slender Man or a dead kid and when you're not doing that, you're wandering aimlessly waiting for the next jump scare and wondering what you're doing with your life playing shit tier games like this.”
- “The graphics are so bad that they hurt your eyes and make you feel woozy.”
- “I was hoping for a really scary game with rich lore and lots of exploration, but what I got was a boring, short, walking simulator with a lot of jump scares, bad graphics, non-existent story which was way too easy on normal and way too frustrating and rage-inducing on hardcore.”
gameplay
541 mentions
16 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Slender: The Arrival" is characterized by its repetitive mechanics, primarily revolving around collecting items while being pursued by the titular Slender Man. While the atmospheric design and horror elements are praised, many players find the gameplay lacks depth and variety, leading to frustration with unclear mechanics, particularly the stamina system. Overall, the game offers a tense experience but suffers from a short duration and limited replay value, making it feel more like a nostalgic trip than a fully realized horror game.
- “The gameplay is great and the graphics are quite stunning.”
- “It's also really good at immersing you into the gameplay and gripping your spine with that creeping dread that you should feel when playing a horror game.”
- “While mechanically flawed (the AI in particular) and a tad underwhelming, Slender: The Arrival still remains the best Slender media available today.”
- “Each area immerses you in unease with every turn, but the core gameplay can feel repetitive, and the stamina mechanics lack clarity, which can be frustrating, especially in chase scenes where precision counts.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive and consists of the loop, walking simulator until you trigger the point where you have to activate or find a bunch of stuff while something is chasing you to advance to the next loop.”
- “The gameplay consists of walking, figuring out you don't know what you're doing or what you're supposed to do, walking in the same environments for the 20th time clicking on all the walls hoping you will pick something up or find some kind of trigger point to progress the story, fail, uninstall.”
atmosphere
521 mentions
54 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Slender: The Arrival" is widely praised as one of its strongest features, characterized by a chilling and immersive experience that effectively builds tension and dread. Players appreciate the game's sound design, graphics, and environmental storytelling, which contribute to a haunting ambiance that enhances the horror elements, making it a standout title for fans of atmospheric horror. However, some critiques mention that while the atmosphere is compelling, the gameplay can feel repetitive and the reliance on jump scares may detract from the overall experience.
- “The atmosphere and sound are this game’s biggest assets.”
- “It’s a masterclass in atmosphere and tension!”
- “The atmosphere in this game pulls you into the creepiness and horror that surrounds the mysterious slender man.”
- “The new 2023 remaster/engine port, despite graphically looking more pleasing, is lacking the atmosphere the original had.”
- “The horrifying atmosphere that Blue Isle manages to create is consistently squandered by dull mechanics and unfair difficulty spikes.”
- “Slender: the Arrival is an incredibly short game that, while capable of building an appropriate horror atmosphere, falls flat because of the fact that it relies almost exclusively on cheap, rule-based jumpscares to terrify its audience.”
music
207 mentions
49 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in "Slender: The Arrival" is widely praised for its ability to enhance the game's eerie atmosphere and heighten tension during gameplay. Composed by Mark J. Hadley, the soundtrack effectively captures feelings of unease and fear, making it a standout feature that many players find memorable and integral to their experience. While some critiques mention occasional mismatches in sound design, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's horror elements and immersive quality.
- “The soundtrack of this game, written by Mark J. Hadley (who also wrote music for Homestuck), is a wonderful example of how horror soundtracks should sound.”
- “The tension of being chased is still as nerve-wracking as ever, with the soundtrack and audio cues doing a masterful job of sending chills down your spine.”
- “The music is amazing, though the game mainly relies on ambiance and atmosphere.”
- “But in this sh*t, there is just annoying, boring, useless, mindless piece of music, and another non-aesthetic flashlight, and you just walk around, and if the game would deign to let you, maybe you can run.”
- “The 'soundtrack' consists of a handful of boring ambient tracks that try desperately to create a tense and oppressive atmosphere, but manage to fail at both, only serving to exacerbate just how boring the game actually is.”
- “The game was boring, pointless, and plain uninteresting; not even the fine graphics and okay soundtrack could help with that.”
replayability
78 mentions
21 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting that random generation of objects and enemy spawns provide a degree of replay value, while others criticize the repetitive gameplay and shallow mechanics that diminish the incentive to replay. Many agree that while there are achievements and collectibles to pursue, the short playtime and predictable scares limit the overall replay potential. Ultimately, it may appeal to those who enjoy exploring different outcomes or collecting items, but it lacks substantial replay value for most players.
- “And it is replayable, since most of the gameplay-related objects are randomly generated.”
- “It only takes about 2 hours to beat, but it has replayability since it has a lot of achievements, a lot of collectibles, hidden levels, a bonus level, and unlockable higher difficulties.”
- “New levels, more story, another antagonist, and so much replay value.”
- “The mechanics of the game are fairly shallow and it really has almost no replayability. Once you know the scares and story, but it is definitely worth the single ride.”
- “It does have some drawbacks as the price is too high for a game that's 2-3 hours worth of content and has no replay value.”
- “This game has no replay value; just play it at a friend's house and save yourself some money for a better game.”
humor
72 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a notable highlight, with players finding comedic moments amidst the horror, particularly during unexpected encounters with Slenderman and the reactions of friends. Many reviews mention the game's ability to elicit laughter through its mechanics and absurd situations, making it a fun experience for multiplayer sessions. However, some players feel that the humor can be hit-or-miss, with certain elements being more frustrating than funny at times.
- “It was hilarious to see their reactions as we explored the creepy woods and encountered the terrifying Slender Man.”
- “The game refuses to pause when Slenderman's chasing you and it's one of the most hilarious mechanics in any horror game.”
- “There are times where the game is great and it works fine... but then there are times when I'm trying to casually stream, speedrun, or achievement hunt and the game throws a random curveball kill at you that ultimately ends in you pissing your pants in frustration but then laughing about it less than 5 seconds later.”
optimization
61 mentions
26 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance drops and issues regardless of their system specifications. While some users report that enabling DLSS can improve performance, others face severe lag, crashes, and inadequate frame rates even on lower settings. Overall, the stunning visuals are overshadowed by the game's inconsistent performance, leading to frustration among players.
- “So performance-wise, it's fine with DLSS on; I can run it as smoothly as possible. There are slight drops in performance, but they're minor and not noticeable unless you squint hard.”
- “The only good thing is the optimization; it ran completely fine on my old low-spec PC.”
- “This is like the original Slender, but with better optimization, more levels, and, as a result, more story.”
- “While the new visuals are undoubtedly stunning, showcasing high-detail textures, the performance drop can be significant on some systems.”
- “This game is very unoptimized. I have an AMD Radeon 5700XT and every time I play the game for 2 minutes it will shut down my computer. I've stress tested my rig for 30 minutes and it didn't shut down. I've tried other games and it didn't shut down; I replaced my cooler and everything.”
- “Absolutely terrible performance and graphics that make my eyes bleed. It doesn't matter what settings I try; cheap jump scares and half the game is spent running laps collecting pages or switching on generators while getting chased by Slender Man or a dead kid.”
stability
52 mentions
4 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The game suffers from numerous stability issues, including frequent bugs, crashes, and graphical glitches that detract from the overall experience. Many players report that these problems significantly impact gameplay, making it frustrating and less immersive. While some enjoy the atmosphere and sound design, the pervasive glitches and short story length lead to a consensus that the game may not be worth the price unless on sale.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck too, decided to scare myself with it.”
- “Not even scary and it’s filled with bugs and glitches.”
- “It was short, buggy, and didn't have much going on for its story.”
- “Can't even get inside the house before my screen blacks out and glitches.”
grinding
34 mentions
6 % positive mentions
18 % neutral mentions
76 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often detracting from the horror experience. Repetitive tasks, such as collecting items and farming achievements, lead to a loss of tension and excitement, transforming what should be a thrilling adventure into a monotonous chore. Many reviewers express that the grind can become so overwhelming that it diminishes their overall enjoyment of the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “At this point, the game lost all fear and horror it could've built up and instead became a tedious, repetitive, and boring experience.”
- “Dying instantly due to a shadowy figure snatching you from the aether and dragging you to parts unknown never to be seen again is terrifying. However, having it happen to you ad nauseam just makes the experience tedious since it translates what should be a frightening experience into something more akin to frustration. The forest fire level epitomizes this concept and was a point where I just gave up on the game for a while because of how annoying and tedious it was becoming.”
- “There's no way around it. Even for a hardcore horror game lover like myself, it's still a tedious, boring, trying waste of time.”
emotional
28 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional response to the game, describing feelings of anxiety, fear, and unease that linger long after gameplay. While some criticize the story for being unoriginal and lacking depth, many still find the experience deeply unsettling and emotionally impactful, especially when played in a dark setting. The game elicits intense reactions, including screaming and crying, highlighting its ability to disturb and engage players on an emotional level.
- “I screamed, I cried, I died.”
- “This game scared me so much, it made me feel sick to my stomach, and I had to break my playtime up in order to get through it.”
- “The mysteries in the game just give you the chills, like the mystery with the little boy. It just emotionally disturbs you, and you won't believe it. All of my friends are terrified of Slender because of this.”
monetization
12 mentions
17 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users appreciating the absence of microtransactions, while others criticize it as a cash grab, particularly in comparison to previous titles in the series. There are concerns about transparency in labeling the game and a call for better support for paying customers.
- “No microtransactions, thank you!”
- “The customer support solved my YouTube monetization problem in 30 minutes!”
- “If you played the other Slender games, it will feel like a cash grab because it's basically that, but the game isn't laggy and it doesn't crash every five seconds.”
- “Shame on you and your attempts at an Activision-style cash grab. Support your paying customers and label the game in the store correctly as supporting only the DK1.”
- “This is a total cash grab.”