Squirrel Stapler

About

"Squirrel Stapler" is a horror hunting simulator with dark humor, originally from The Dread X Collection II. You play as a man seeking to staple squirrels to his corpse-wife to restore her beauty, while avoiding a sinister presence in the forest. Hunt squirrels, use a squirrel call, and be cautious of larger creatures in this absurdly terrifying game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,205 reviews

gameplay16 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game effectively blends horror and comedy, creating a unique and entertaining experience.
The atmosphere is eerie and immersive, with great sound design that enhances the gameplay.
Players appreciate the absurdity of the premise, finding it both funny and disturbing, leading to memorable moments.

The game is very short, typically taking less than two hours to complete, which some players feel does not justify the price.
Many players noted that the gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth after the initial novelty wears off.
Some reviews criticize the game for being a re-release with minimal new content compared to its previous version in the Dread X Collection.

gameplay
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
66%
9%
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its fun mechanics, clever sound design, and engaging hunting elements, while others criticize it for being dull, short, and overpriced. The unconventional premise, which includes morally ambiguous actions, adds depth to the experience, but the overall execution leaves some players wanting more content and variety. Despite its flaws, the game offers a unique blend of humor and horror that can be enjoyable, especially during sales.
- “With its short but spine-tingling gameplay, 'Squirrel Stapler' is a nail-biting adventure best experienced during a sale.”
- “The mechanics of hunting, tracking, and trapping squirrels are meticulously detailed, immersing players in the challenging world of wildlife hunting.”
- “It's hilarious, scary, and on top of it all has fun gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is dull, the story is poorly written, and it's overpriced too.”
- “Boring gameplay.”
- “Too much money for such a short game; too short on content too, there is nothing to do after 1 hour of gameplay.”
humor
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a unique blend of dark and absurd, striking a balance between being disturbingly funny and genuinely scary. Players appreciate the quirky, Szymanski-style humor, often finding themselves laughing at the bizarre scenarios, particularly involving squirrels. While the humor is well-received, some reviewers express concerns about the game's short length and high price relative to its content.
- “It strikes a balance between disturbing and laugh-out-loud funny pretty damn well.”
- “The Szymanski humor (if you have played any other games of David or his brothers, you know what I mean) is every bit as on point and weird as you could hope for, and the chuckles (and the occasional laugh) it gives you is very welcome in a game that is actually a rather brilliant horror game.”
- “Everything that happens in the 60 minutes this game will take you to complete is funny and disturbing at the same time.”
story
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
79%
7%
The story of "Squirrel Stapler" revolves around a disturbing premise where the player, as a huntsman, staples dead squirrels to the corpse of his deceased wife, creating an eerie and unsettling atmosphere. While some players appreciate the haunting and post-modern narrative that invites personal interpretation, others criticize it as poorly written and shallow. Overall, the game's bizarre plot and strange occurrences captivate some players, leaving them intrigued and bewildered by the experience.
- “The story pulls you in, the strange happenings keep you there and you feel compelled to finish it out... and when you do, you sit there blinking, wondering what just happened.”
- “As the huntsman on a chilling quest, you wake up every morning with your mission to hunt down a set amount of squirrels, collect their carcass, and staple them to a skinned corpse residing in your home, that you call dearly as your 'wife'.”
- “Squirrel stapler is a post-modern story, and (as such) leaves many holes for the gamer to fill with his or her personal explanations.”
- “The gameplay is dull, the story is poorly written, and it's overpriced too.”
- “A shallow story with the illusion of depth.”
- “You know the story, you know the gist, there's nothing you need to know that isn't explained by the title and the first five seconds of the game.”
atmosphere
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
22%
9%
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively creating a sense of dread and tension that keeps players on edge. Reviewers highlight the unsettling sound design and bizarre lore, which enhance the overall spooky experience, while the unique visual style adds to its charm. Despite some criticisms regarding the game's length and pacing, the atmospheric elements are regarded as a standout feature that contributes significantly to the horror experience.
- “I love the polygon-heavy style and the beautiful atmosphere.”
- “Creates a beautiful immersive woodland atmosphere and even provides convenient places to commit sins and drink beverages.”
- “The atmosphere is thick with dread as you constantly scan your surroundings for lurking terrors, while uncovering unsettling letters that hint something isn't all right in this forest.”
- “No one creates an uncomfortable atmosphere like Szymanski.”
- “The atmosphere made me so tense I was ready to jump a foot in the air when I was just crawling around in bushes; I was relieved every time giant angry squirrels were trying to murder me.”
graphics
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
59%
9%
The graphics of the game evoke a strong sense of nostalgia, with many players appreciating the retro aesthetic reminiscent of the PS1 era, while others find the visuals to be low-quality or "bargain bin." Despite mixed opinions on the overall graphical fidelity, the unique art style and fever dream-like presentation contribute positively to the game's quirky atmosphere. Overall, the graphics are seen as a defining feature that enhances the gameplay experience, even if they may not meet modern standards.
- “Visuals do a good job of making you second guess certain things you see during your playtime, with the audio doing exactly the same.”
- “I love old school graphics, and Squirrel Stapler does a good job of imitating the PS1 era.”
- “Graphics are impeccable!”
- “Its fever dreamish story and bargain bin graphics really add to the strangeness of everything and leads to a very enjoyable experience.”
- “But with all due seriousness, as much as this game made me laugh, and as interesting as it was, it's pretty hard to justify spending $7 on a game that has such low graphics and only lasts for about 1 hour, in which most (if not all) of that hour is just you hunting 5 squirrels and 1 big squirrel.”
- “- graphics are mid”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players initially finding the soundtrack disappointing but later appreciating its quality and emotional impact. While one user described the menu music as sleep-inducing, others highlighted the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. Overall, the music is seen as a hidden gem that complements the game's visual style.
- “The only advantages here are the authentic visual style and excellent soundtrack.”
- “The song at the end really impacted me.”
- “The music machine is a hidden gem for anyone obsessed with art directions in games.”
- “As soon as I loaded in, I was hit with possibly the worst soundtrack to a game ever, but I looked past it and let me tell you it was the best decision I have ever made.”
- “The song at the end messed me up.”
- “Also, I fell asleep to the menu music and that's why I have 8 hours.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
44%
33%
The game offers mild to moderate replayability, primarily appealing to players who enjoy its absurdist horror theme and shooting mechanics. While it is relatively short (around 2 hours) and not specifically designed for extensive replay, some players may find enjoyment in revisiting it, especially for achievement hunting or niche gameplay elements. Overall, replayability is limited but not a significant drawback.
- “The game itself is a short, first-person shooter, with plenty of replay value.”
- “I do think Chop Goblins has a bit more replayability, but this is nonetheless an amazing game.”
- “Overall, an enjoyable absurdist horror game with mild replayability and an easy 100% achievements (~2 hours).”
- “There's not much replay value, but it's not designed with that in mind, and honestly it's no issue.”
- “Honestly, there's not a ton of replayability unless you're just really into blasting squirrels, but that's between you and the game.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The optimization of the game is generally regarded as decent, with users noting satisfactory performance enhancements related to various image and performance-enhancing drugs, including Melanotan and nootropics. Overall, the optimization appears to meet expectations without significant issues.
- “The optimization in this game is decent, allowing for smoother gameplay and better performance.”
- “I appreciate the focus on optimization, which enhances the overall experience and makes the game more enjoyable.”
- “The game runs efficiently thanks to its solid optimization, providing a seamless experience.”
- “The optimization in this game is lacking, making it feel sluggish and unresponsive.”
- “I encountered numerous performance issues that severely impacted my gameplay experience.”
- “The game runs poorly on my system, despite meeting the recommended specifications.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find "squirrel stapler" to be a deeply emotional experience, as the narrative intricately explores the protagonist's emotional and psychological turmoil throughout the game. The unfolding story effectively engages players, drawing them into the character's struggles and feelings.
- “As players progress through 'Squirrel Stapler,' the narrative unfolds, revealing the emotional and psychological turmoil of the protagonist.”
- “An emotional experience.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy is heavily criticized, with users suggesting that it primarily serves as a promotional tool for staple manufacturers rather than enhancing the gaming experience.
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly by the third day, with the repetitive gameplay loop diminishing their interest in exploring the entire map despite some entertaining writing.
- “The gameplay loop becomes tedious by day 3 of 5, and while some of the writing was entertaining, it didn't hold my interest enough for me to cover the entire map for all five days to read everything.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game demonstrates excellent stability, particularly on the Steam Deck, where users report smooth performance without significant issues.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck”