Sound of Drop: Fall into Poison

About

"Sound of Drop: Fall into Poison" is a first-person horror adventure game. Players explore the Aya Institute, solving puzzles and uncovering its mysterious past. The game features a unique narrative system where choices impact the story and multiple endings. Atmospheric settings and sound design create a chilling experience as players delve deeper into the institute's secrets.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Sound of Drop: Fall into Poison screenshot

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 286 reviews

story109 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful artwork and an amazing soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere.
The story is engaging with multiple endings, allowing for replayability and exploration of different character arcs.
The horror elements are well-executed, creating a genuinely unsettling experience that keeps players on edge.

The pacing can be slow at times, with some sections feeling drawn out and repetitive.
The translation has some awkward phrasing and grammatical errors that can disrupt immersion.
Many choices lead to bad endings that can feel arbitrary, making the decision-making process frustrating.

story
410 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
65%
8%
The story of the visual novel is a complex blend of horror and mystery, centered around two schoolgirls investigating urban legends at a haunted aquarium. While the premise is intriguing and features a variety of endings, many players find the execution lacking due to convoluted plotlines, pacing issues, and inconsistent character development. Despite its flaws, the game offers a captivating atmosphere and emotional depth, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre who appreciate intricate narratives and replayability.
- “The art, the soundtrack, the dialogue - they just combine in a way that few visual novels (or horror games in general) manage to pull off to immerse you in the story.”
- “Beautiful artwork especially in the CGs and an excellent story across four routes.”
- “The story is exceptionally well-crafted; you genuinely care about each character (and you must care).”
- “The story doesn't have a very long run, being around 5-6 hours long excluding the bad ends, but I'd say around 3-4 hours of that is just the game basically spoon-feeding you the entire plot.”
- “Cutting to the chase here, the visual novel has absolutely terrible pacing in my opinion, putting a very large focus on info dumps instead of developing characters or actually building tension, which is what you'd normally expect from a horror story.”
- “Unfortunately, the story is drawn out to agonizing length and is awkwardly written, making everything else difficult to bear.”
music
167 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
43%
4%
The music in "Sound of Drop - Fall into Poison" has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, effectively conveying emotions ranging from dread to nostalgia. Many reviewers highlighted the soundtrack as a standout feature, with specific praise for its haunting melodies and fitting compositions that complement the visual storytelling. While some tracks were noted as repetitive or generic, the overall quality of the music significantly contributes to the immersive experience of the visual novel.
- “The soundtrack is fantastic, like the title track 'Sound of Drop' with its piano and light choir, which conveys the despair when Mayumi lost Mari, but then when the little chimes similar to a music box show up, it's like a somber reunion.”
- “Every song was perfect for each scene, delivering the exact emotion needed to make the scenes memorable and impactful.”
- “The music and sound effects are very well achieved, contributing to the general feeling of fear, although unfortunately there is no voice acting.”
- “The music score is mediocre and loops relatively quickly.”
- “The soundtrack was pretty neat for the most part, except on the calm/slice of life scenes, where it was pretty much generic, the kind of soundtrack you hear in many slice of life Japanese VNs.”
- “Even though the music is very well done, a few of the songs are a little repetitive and can get a little tiring to listen to.”
graphics
71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
42%
4%
The graphics in "Sound of Drop – Fall into Poison" are widely praised for their stunning quality, featuring beautiful artwork, detailed backgrounds, and well-designed character sprites that enhance the overall atmosphere of the game. Many reviewers highlight the unique art style and vibrant visuals, which effectively complement the engaging storyline and atmospheric soundtrack. However, some caution that the game includes graphic scenes and unsettling imagery, making it less suitable for sensitive players.
- “The visuals speak for themselves—aren’t they stunning?”
- “Beautiful artwork, especially in the CGs, and an excellent story across 4 routes.”
- “The artwork is surreal and vibrant, the backgrounds are sublime to look at (especially in the various aquarium booths), and character design is always colorful and not an eyesore.”
- “Considering it was the first work of the dev's, I wouldn't be surprised by the lacking aspect of art style and writing compared to their recent works, which is 'Fatal Twelve'.”
- “There are some gory images as well as some rather graphic and unsettling text descriptions, especially for some of the bad endings, so it certainly isn't for the faint of heart.”
- “While it doesn't carry the level of extreme graphic violent detail as 'Corpse Party', it's still something a fan can appreciate.”
atmosphere
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
51%
5%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unsettling and immersive qualities, effectively combining haunting music, detailed visuals, and a well-crafted environment to evoke feelings of dread and tension. While some players noted that the character development could be lacking, the overall aesthetic and sound design contribute significantly to a unique and creepy experience that resonates with horror enthusiasts. The game's ability to shift from eerie calmness to intense horror moments enhances its atmospheric depth, making it a compelling entry in the psychological horror genre.
- “As a horror enthusiast, not a lot unsettles me, but the atmosphere here is just genuinely unnerving.”
- “The music has been used as an atmosphere-building tool to great effect and amplify feelings of dread, sadness, and happiness alike.”
- “The details of the rooms, from the disposition of furniture and fish tanks to the dominant environment color, amplify the atmosphere's power very well.”
- “Overall, this visual novel just really doesn't give you enough time to build relationships with the cast or establish its own atmosphere, which is a very big no-no when it comes to horror.”
- “The art of the characters is something simple and not very consistent with the theme of the game; however, the art of the backgrounds and the CGI are of high quality and help a lot to achieve an adequate atmosphere.”
- “Given the nature of Manten Aquarium, the atmosphere can change from slightly unsettling to downright scary (ah, the damn red water...) in a few seconds.”
emotional
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
94%
6%
The emotional aspect of the game is described as a complex blend of heartwarming moments and deeper themes, often juxtaposed with horror elements. While some players found the emotional depth compelling and impactful, others felt it fell short, creating an illusion of richness without fully delivering on emotional resonance. Overall, the narrative successfully evokes a range of feelings, from joy to sorrow, making it a memorable experience for fans of emotional storytelling in visual novels.
- “What a deep, emotional, fabulous novel.”
- “Finally, the story is heartwarming; despite being a horror story, it's ultimately about pure human love.”
- “So emotional I was so close to crying at times and other times overflowed with joy. The story is great, the characters are great, and by looking at the credits, it was a three-person game, and that's amazing.”
- “After 8 hours of playing this game (which is mostly reading) just to finish the entire story (and most side ventures), I can easily say, without fabrication, this is definitely not a boring storyline.”
character development
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
50%
19%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the growth seen in certain routes while others criticize the lack of depth and cultivation in relationships. While the visuals and character designs are praised, many feel that the overall character development is either inconsistent or non-existent, leading to forgettable characters and a weak narrative. Despite some neat moments of growth, the execution often falls short, leaving players wanting more substantial development and world-building.
- “The plot within this game is also really intricate and layered, especially with all the endings you can get, but there is a lot of character development too which makes it so much better.”
- “I'd say the character development was pretty neat, since at the end of each route you could see the character's growth in most of them, though some routes develop some characters more than others.”
- “Compared to the more massive, 30+ hour visual novels, this game doesn't have such an amount of world building and character development, but it's quite well executed how Sound of Drop packs so much in 4~ hours (first playthrough).”
- “One, the theme of school-age kids tightly corners the story to be dredged in unappealing details of school life and school-age concerns when it should be focused on character development instead.”
- “But in this game, the characters are forgettable as the character development is non-existent and the relationships between characters aren't cultivated, likely due to weak plot progression and forced horror elements.”
- “When it comes to character development, it's full of holes and completely unconvincing, lacking basic research (or common sense, really).”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The gameplay is primarily narrative-driven, focusing on choice-based mechanics that guide players through a semi-linear story, reminiscent of classic literature. While the mechanics are easy to grasp and the production values are high, some players feel that the pacing issues and lack of character development for the main villain detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers about 10 hours of engaging content, particularly appealing to fans of visual novels and supernatural horror themes.
- “I only wish that the gameplay were a bit longer, because it’s so fantastic!”
- “The mechanic is easy to understand, and you rely on picking the choices given throughout the game if you want to jump into a particular route.”
- “Mechanically, it's a path-based visual novel, and I'm sure that's not going to be new for anyone, but the high production values, the original setting, and the quality writing all add up to a quality product.”
- “The main villain didn't even feel like a main villain, as you honestly spend more time listening to some random character monologue about the mechanics of the aquarium than building a relationship with the villain.”
- “As I mentioned above, the bad endings seem to come out of nowhere, but the game does finally present a why and how you've been dying once you learn the mechanics of the aquarium, which seemed like a pacing problem to me.”
- “The gameplay for these games basically is the story because the game has its own intuition and decides what actions are actually prudent via a semi-linear story (i.e., you second guess the game, not necessarily use real-life common sense or knowledge the game provides you with).”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, featuring 31 endings (including 27 bad and 4 true endings) that encourage players to explore different narrative paths. With a relatively short playtime and the ability to skip previously read content, players can easily revisit the game to uncover all possible outcomes and achievements, making it a favorite among those who enjoy multiple playthroughs. Overall, it has been rated highly for its replay value, often cited as a key strength.
- “But the replayability is amazing; it has 31 endings, 27 bad endings, and 4 true endings.”
- “The sheer amount of endings, with only four of them being good, gives it a lot of replay value, and there are enough save slots to ensure you will be able to see everything.”
- “There's some pretty big storyline branches that lead towards various ending options, which lend themselves well to replayability, with the nice touch that you can skip at near lightspeed over passages you don't feel like re-reading if you're simply playing to discover a new ending that time around.”
- “There is a replayability factor with the multiple true endings and achievements available.”
- “But this can easily be overlooked considering the relatively cheap price tag and replayability.”
- “+ a lot of replay value even after finishing the main story.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its convoluted explanations, which often lead to more confusion, while characters like Himeno bring a quirky and outgoing comedic flair that adds to the overall charm.
- “What's funny is that the more they explain things, the more convoluted it becomes.”
- “Himeno, on the other hand, is your outgoing, social butterfly, with a weird sense of humor.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game rewarding due to the engaging branching paths that encourage replayability, making multiple playthroughs enjoyable rather than tedious. However, the experience can vary significantly, with some players encountering sections that feel either overly repetitive or too rushed.
- “The grinding feels tedious and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
- “The experience of grinding can vary significantly, leading to long stretches of boredom interspersed with brief moments of excitement.”
- “Grinding often feels like a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game, detracting from the overall experience.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The optimization of the game is praised for its smooth performance, particularly for players who have experience with other visual novels, suggesting a familiar and seamless experience.
- “Everything runs smoothly and will be familiar if you've played other visual novels.”
- “The optimization is top-notch, ensuring a seamless experience without any lag.”
- “I appreciate how well the game performs on lower-end systems, making it accessible to a wider audience.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization strategy of the game is perceived as a cash grab, particularly timed around Halloween, suggesting a lack of genuine value or content from Sekai Project.
- “It's likely a Halloween cash grab by Sekai Project.”
- “The monetization feels exploitative and takes away from the overall experience.”
- “I feel pressured to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”

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9h Median play time

8h Average play time

8-10h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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