Spooky Bonus
- October 15, 2015
- Grey Alien Games
In Spooky Bonus, players uncover dark forces in a horror-themed puzzle game, matching shapes to stamp out evil and advance through Old Town. The match-3 gameplay features 13 bonus items and 6 powerup items, while players can decorate their house and yard with spooky ornaments. With 100 unique levels and a variety of game modes, Spooky Bonus offers a creepy-fun gaming experience. Please note that this game is not a mobile port and was built exclusively for PC.
Reviews
- Spooky Bonus offers a relaxing and enjoyable match-3 experience with a charming Halloween theme.
- The game features 100 levels with increasing difficulty, providing a good challenge while remaining accessible.
- Players can choose between relaxed and timed modes, allowing for a casual or more strategic gameplay experience.
- Some players found the music repetitive and lacking variety, which could detract from the overall experience.
- The game may feel too easy for experienced match-3 players, as it lacks significant challenges in many levels.
- There are complaints about the lack of depth in the house decoration feature, making it feel somewhat tacked on.
- music42 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its ability to create a fitting Halloween atmosphere and enhance the overall experience. However, several reviews note that the soundtrack is limited and can become repetitive over time, with some tracks being perceived as low-effort or overly intense for background music. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, a greater variety of tracks would improve the experience.
“The music is reminiscent of 80's horror and gives much spoopy atmosphere.”
“The music sets the tone that gives that spooky feel.”
“I liked the in-game music and it kept playing in my head when I was not playing the game, as if the game was subconsciously tempting me to keep coming back and play it again.”
“There are not enough music tracks, and one of the main songs sounds like a low-effort Star Wars rip-off.”
“The soundtrack is repetitive, limited, and seems like a handful of free/cheap stock assets cobbled together under a Halloween theme.”
“I got a bit tired of the music after some time, because it calls for attention as when a movie reaches a climax. For background music that repeats itself, this is too intense and I would have preferred something more subtle.”
- graphics34 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their vibrant and thematic design, particularly the Halloween aesthetic, which enhances the overall atmosphere. Players appreciate the clean, colorful visuals and the professional quality of the artwork, although some note that the graphics are not particularly groundbreaking for the genre. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, contributing positively to the gameplay experience.
“The graphics are very good for a match-3, and I found the music to be very enjoyable throughout the game.”
“Beautiful graphics, it's challenging but doable, has great stopping points, and a great story.”
“The gameplay is perfect and the theme and artwork help to immerse you in the style which revolves around the traditional old gothic mood and look.”
“The graphics, while alright in and of themselves, are extremely limited even for a puzzle game.”
“This game wanted to be a fast-paced matching game, but it would have needed clearer graphics, a less cluttered puzzle interface, and better powerup mechanics to follow through.”
“The graphics are quaint and cute, but they lack the detail needed to enhance the gameplay experience.”
- gameplay32 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a standard match-3 format enhanced with various obstacles and power-ups, providing a mix of challenge and strategy. While it lacks depth and can become repetitive over its 100 levels, the introduction of new mechanics and collectibles keeps the experience engaging for several hours. The charming spooky theme and smooth mechanics contribute to an enjoyable, albeit familiar, gameplay experience.
“Super cute, spooky-style match 3 with addictive gameplay for a great price.”
“The game implements the usual props to make the gameplay more interesting: rock tiles that have to be shattered by matching items next to them, web tiles that block movement for the items on them, various bombs that clear an entire area in various patterns, etc. New features and powers are introduced gradually.”
“Spooky bonus brings in different mechanics and puzzle pieces that keep the gameplay fresh and interesting, increasing the challenge as you progress.”
“The game doesn't have much depth, but there are at least a few hours of gameplay.”
“The mechanics themselves are simple and not overtly challenging.”
“This game wanted to be a fast-paced matching game, but it would have needed clearer graphics, a less cluttered puzzle interface, and better power-up mechanics to follow through.”
- story23 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as simple and somewhat generic, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a focal point. While it features a spooky Halloween theme and some humorous elements, the narrative lacks depth compared to more complex titles in the genre. Overall, players appreciate the charming ambiance and collectibles, but do not expect a compelling storyline.
“I love that it has the whole spooky Halloween theme and story to go with it.”
“Good storyline, and a fun way to work your way through the game.”
“This is another really nice, very relaxing and easy match 3+ puzzle game, with a Halloween theme and story to go.”
“Technically there is a story, but it's really just a very generic backdrop that is referenced in a few dialog lines from the shopkeeper.”
“There is a little bit of text but no real story.”
“There is visual variety compared to your average jewels clone, there are interesting power-ups and upgrades, there is even a story, albeit not award material.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers a mix of opinions on replayability; while many users praise it for its high replay value and enjoyable Halloween-themed fun, some criticize it for lacking incentives and variety, resulting in minimal replay potential.
“Tons of replayability and just a heck of a lot of clean, good-humored Halloween fun!”
“Great replay value.”
“Very replayable.”
“Sadly, there is no replay value at all; there's no score list, no records to beat, just the two game modes and no rewards for replaying a level.”
“Replayability: 1/10”
“There is absolutely no incentive to replay the game.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a lighthearted Halloween theme with humorous descriptions and colorful elements that enhance the overall experience. While it offers plenty of clean, good-natured fun, some dark humor may not be suitable for younger players. Overall, the humor is well-integrated into the gameplay, contributing to its replayability and enjoyment.
“Although it is Halloween themed, it has funny sayings written everywhere (by that I mean little descriptions).”
“Tons of replayability and just a heck of a lot of clean, good-humored Halloween fun!”
“It's an old-fashioned match-three game with a very funny Halloween theme!”
- monetization6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions and ads, which enhances the nostalgic experience for players. However, some reviewers express skepticism about its overall intent, suggesting it may feel like a cash grab despite its enjoyable gameplay. Overall, the monetization aspect is seen as a positive feature, distinguishing it from typical match-three games.
“An awesome game, untarnished by the pitfalls of modern match-three games: microtransactions.”
“Halloween theme, no microtransactions, a decent challenge, although one achievement looks hard as nails!”
“No microtransactions.”
“An awesome game, untarnished by the chlamydia of modern match-three games: microtransactions.”
“Spooky bonus has decent backdrops behind the puzzle interface, but doesn’t have a unified 'feeling.' At times, the game seems like a cynical Halloween cash grab, hashing together random 'spooky' elements in place of lore.”
“It’s hard to say if Spooky Bonus was a well-meant game that failed on execution, or a cynical cash grab.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its engaging Halloween atmosphere, enhanced by 80's horror-inspired music and appealing artwork. Players appreciate the relaxing yet challenging gameplay that maintains interest throughout the levels, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.
“Very good puzzle game with a Halloween atmosphere.”
“Wonderful artwork, nice atmosphere, and the challenge increases as the levels progress, so you never feel bored.”
“The music is reminiscent of 80's horror and creates a spooky atmosphere.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, users report excellent stability for the game, noting that it runs smoothly without any bugs or glitches. The controls, including mouse interactions, are also praised for their responsiveness.
“A solid match-3 game that runs smoothly without any bugs.”
“The game is very stable, providing a seamless gaming experience.”
“I appreciate how well the game performs; it's reliable and free of glitches.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly in the later levels where excessive quantities of specific objects to collect can lead to frustration and failure due to time constraints.
“Some of the last levels of the game were tedious for me. I managed to break all of the tiles with some time to spare, but there was an excessive amount of a particular object to collect, such as 'xxx' amount of bats or cauldrons. I failed the odd level purely because I couldn't match the excessive amount of a particular object within the time limit.”
“The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive. I often find myself doing the same tasks over and over just to progress, which makes the experience feel more like a chore than fun.”
“I appreciate a challenge, but the amount of grinding required to level up is frustrating. It takes away from the enjoyment of the game and makes it feel like a job rather than a hobby.”