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SPOOKWARE

78%Game Brain Score
story, humor
stability, grinding
94% User Score Based on 609 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCSteam DeckSteam DeckWindowsWindows
Buy Nowfrom $2.71
Buy NowGet on Steam€4.99

About

"SPOOKWARE" is a single-player horror arcade game, featuring a masterful story about three skeleton brothers on a road trip in the cute world of the dead. Play through four episodes, each containing three chapters with unique mechanics, areas, and microgames centered around horror tropes. With over a hundred microgames and quirky humor, SPOOKWARE promises to both frighten and entertain, making it a memorable horror experience. Try it for free at .

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
SPOOKWARE screenshot
SPOOKWARE screenshot
SPOOKWARE screenshot
SPOOKWARE screenshot
SPOOKWARE screenshot
SPOOKWARE screenshot
SPOOKWARE screenshot
SPOOKWARE screenshot
SPOOKWARE screenshot
SPOOKWARE screenshot
SPOOKWARE screenshot
+15

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 609 reviews
story55 positive mentions
stability11 negative mentions
  • Charming and unique art style with a fun mix of horror and humor.
  • Engaging microgames that are reminiscent of WarioWare, providing a variety of gameplay experiences.
  • Well-written dialogue and lovable characters that enhance the overall experience.
  • The game is unfinished, with only two chapters available and no clear indication of when or if more content will be released.
  • Some microgames can be frustratingly difficult or unclear, leading to trial and error gameplay.
  • The exploration segments can feel drawn out and detract from the fast-paced nature of the microgames.
  • story
    180 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Spookware" is described as charming and humorous, featuring three skeleton brothers on a quirky adventure filled with various themes and settings. While many players appreciate the engaging narrative and character development, there is a consensus that the game feels unfinished, ending on a cliffhanger with no clear indication of when or if future episodes will be released. Overall, the blend of story and microgames is well-received, though some players find the pacing uneven and the exploration segments overly lengthy.

    • “The story is currently unfinished (waiting for that third episode!), but what is there is already very solid and fair in game length considering the cheap price!”
    • “Spookware is a wonderful game with a lot of heart, and an interesting approach to micro-games, serving as a sort of skill check to progress the story, said micro-games have a lot of variety in control scheme and aesthetic, ensuring that they don't get old.”
    • “The mix between microgames and story/adventure worked really well for me with lovable characters and lots of funny moments and games - really looking forward to another chapter :)”
    • “The story was cute, but having a 5-minute review at the end of each chapter was very annoying, as if I didn't spend the last 30 minutes playing the game.”
    • “While the game was fun, the story ends on a cliffhanger, was very buggy in the last chapter, and still has the audacity to say that episode 3 is 'coming soon' in the select menu.”
    • “This game is unfinished, and the developers do not intend on completing the story or delivering additional content.”
  • humor
    92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, charming characters, and a blend of dark and lighthearted elements reminiscent of titles like *Undertale* and *WarioWare*. Players appreciate the witty dialogue, amusing microgames, and the overall cozy yet spooky atmosphere, although some found the pacing and story execution lacking. Overall, the game's humor is a significant highlight, contributing to its engaging and entertaining experience.

    • “The writing is excellent, with humorous dialogue and comedic situations being rapid-fired at you.”
    • “Spookware is carried by a silly humor which is right up my alley.”
    • “The humor is great, there's plenty of bone puns and bone-related characters.”
    • “The first hour of the game lures you in with some decent microgames, then devolves into wandering around a boring, non-spooky environment reading pages of unfunny dialogue.”
    • “I just wanted spooky WarioWare, not the annoying, unfunny time sink it is.”
  • graphics
    73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and unique aesthetic, often compared to a blend of Paper Mario and retro horror influences. Reviewers appreciate the colorful, low-poly art style and the creative design of the microgames, which contribute to an engaging and enjoyable experience. The visuals, combined with a catchy soundtrack, enhance the overall atmosphere, making it a standout title among indie games.

    • “The art style is so cute, and I love the microgames/WarioWare gameplay.”
    • “The art style is reminiscent of Paper Mario, with a dark twist.”
    • “The visual aesthetic is super original, and the music supplements both story and microgames perfectly.”
    • “The environments are easy to get lost in due to the photo-realistic art style, but also the maps feel closed off and small.”
    • “Instructions and visuals can feel vague, such as the one where I am told to pick a lock, which took some trial and error to complete.”
    • “Good game, only problems with it are a couple miscellaneous things that could've been polished, and maybe a slight lack of art style variety in the microgames, but other than that it was really good and charming :)”
  • music
    65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its catchy, upbeat compositions that enhance the overall experience, with many players noting its ability to match the mood of various scenes effectively. While some reviews mention a limited number of tracks, the soundtrack is described as memorable and enjoyable, often leaving players humming the tunes long after playing. Overall, the combination of engaging music, charming visuals, and fun gameplay contributes to a delightful atmosphere that stands out in the indie game landscape.

    • “The music and sound design is awesome and gave everything a snappy and cheerful tone that went through the whole game.”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing, even the small parts in every mini-game.”
    • “The visual aesthetic is super original and the music supplements both story and microgames perfectly.”
    • “The music in Spookware is a competent SNES-era JRPG-like set of compositions, but there aren't many songs.”
    • “I appreciate the visual style, the music, and the writing, but much of it prevents me from playing the aspect of the game I came for, the fast-paced microgames.”
    • “This game would be perfect if there was an option to download all the music.”
  • gameplay
    63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of *Spookware* is a blend of rapid-fire microgames reminiscent of the *WarioWare* series and straightforward adventure mechanics, offering a mix of fun and frustration. While many players appreciate the variety and charm in each chapter, some find the exploration segments tedious and the difficulty of certain mini-games overwhelming. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging mechanics and unique aesthetic, though opinions vary on its execution and balance between adventure and microgame elements.

    • “Everything from the art direction to the writing to the gameplay was honestly very well done.”
    • “Gameplay feels fresh with each new minigame and chapter bringing something new to the table.”
    • “An absolutely delightful RPG overflowing with charm, personality, style, and best of all a surprising amount of gameplay variety!”
    • “Spookware has two focuses: its microgames and its RPG mechanics, both of which it fails on.”
    • “Gone are the fun themed microgames that make up the game's core gameplay, replaced by stupidly difficult timed FPS/platforming.”
    • “Overall, a mix of mediocre RPG gameplay and frustrating/confusing WarioWare-like games that I cannot recommend to anyone, since I don't know what target group of players would enjoy that.”
  • stability
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience. Many players express disappointment over its unfinished state, noting that despite its charming art style, the game feels incomplete and lacks necessary fixes. Overall, the consensus is that the game is a buggy mess that has not seen adequate updates or support from the developers.

    • “While the game was fun, the story ends on a cliffhanger, was very buggy in the last chapter, and still has the audacity to say that episode 3 is 'coming soon' in the select menu.”
    • “You’ll get an incomplete, buggy mess of a game that will forever taunt you with an entire half that is no longer being made.”
    • “A buggy, unfinished game with a beautiful art style is the 'final product' in which DreadXP has given us, which in my opinion deeply disappoints me.”
  • emotional
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its depth of characters and heartwarming moments, creating a wholesome and comfy atmosphere. Players appreciate the blend of humor and touching experiences, particularly through the unique personalities of the "skelebros," which adds a quirky charm despite some darker themes. Overall, the game successfully balances fun and emotional engagement, making it a memorable experience.

    • “Main characters had depth, and there are some emotional moments that were really nice and adorable.”
    • “Incredibly fun, cute, and touching.”
    • “A touching WarioWare experience.”
  • atmosphere
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its stylish design and engaging sound effects, contributing significantly to the overall experience. While the music and microgames enhance the ambiance, some players feel that additional visual elements, like subtle background details, could further enrich the atmosphere.

    • “The atmosphere of the game is one of its strong points.”
    • “Music, atmosphere, and microgames are so well made!”
    • “Very stylish and fun, the music and atmosphere is great, and the microgames are enjoyable.”
    • “But seeing something in the background, like small red eyes glowing or a bush moving, would have really sealed the deal on the atmosphere of this two-second game.”
  • grinding
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, describing it as tedious and repetitive, primarily consisting of monotonous missions with minimal engaging content. The poorly designed platforming sections further detract from the experience, overshadowing the enjoyment that the game's microgames initially provided.

    • “I found it disappointing at the time: the microgames were great, but the actual game mostly consisted of tedious point-a-to-point-b missions with one or two microgames sprinkled in between, and the story's humor did not land with me personally.”
    • “And to make it worse, it is not only tedious to go through the awfully designed platforming section, but also killing any joy this game had brought to me since the beginning.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game can be completed in about two hours, which limits its overall replayability. However, it offers a high level of engagement similar to WarioWare, allowing players to quickly re-enter the experience and enjoy the variety of minigames.

    • “While it does suffer from the same criticisms I have with similar games (notably WarioWare), it has high replayability, and you can quickly get back into the swing of things if you ever mess up by not knowing how to play one of the new minigames.”
    • “You can beat this game in around 2 hours, and there's not much replayability to be had.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has been negatively impacted by limited funding, as only the first two episodes were financially supported, leading to a halt in the project due to poor sales performance during early access. This has resulted in overall impressions reflecting concerns about the game's performance and future development.

    • “Only the first two episodes had guaranteed funding from DreadXP, and after unfortunate sales performance in early access, both parties agreed that it didn't make financial sense to continue the project.”
    • “[h1]Overall impressions & performance[/h1]”
  • character development
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game relies heavily on distinctive clothing and accessories, such as glasses and hats, due to the absence of detailed features like hair and skin. This creative approach allows for unique character differentiation despite the limitations in visual design.

    • “The character development is impressive, as the artists creatively differentiate the designs through unique clothing, glasses, and hats, compensating for the lack of detailed features like hair and skin.”
    • “I love how the game focuses on character development, allowing players to express individuality through various outfits and accessories.”
    • “The depth of character development is remarkable, with each character's design reflecting their personality and backstory through thoughtful choices in attire and accessories.”
    • “With the lack of things like hair, skin, and facial features, the artists had to look elsewhere to differentiate the character designs, instead opting for things like clothes, glasses, and hats.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, making it hard to connect with any of the protagonists.”
    • “There is a noticeable absence of meaningful growth or change in the characters throughout the game, leaving them feeling static and one-dimensional.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization of the game is seen as reasonable, with a price point of $15 that some users find justifiable, especially for fans of the original game or those looking to explore new content. Overall, it appears to offer good value for those willing to invest.

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