Summer Nightmare

About

If one’s imagined world of nightmare and the real world unite…. The hide-and-seek game of death in the world of nightmare begins. Discover hints and save yourself from the nightmare!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

50%

Audience ScoreBased on 317 reviews

story55 positive mentions

character development7 negative mentions

The artwork is well done, with a good variety of CGs that enhance the visual experience.
The game has an interesting concept that could have been developed further.
It's a short game, making it easy to play through quickly, especially for those looking for easy achievements.

The story feels rushed and lacks depth, with many plot holes and underdeveloped characters.
The English translation is poor, filled with grammatical errors that detract from the overall experience.
Choices often feel meaningless, as many lead to similar outcomes or are overridden by the game's direction.

story
279 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
64%
16%
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it rushed, poorly constructed, and filled with plot holes. While some appreciated the engaging premise and artwork, they criticized the lack of character development and coherence, often feeling confused by the narrative's abrupt transitions and weak translation. Overall, the story seems to lack depth and clarity, leaving players disappointed despite some intriguing elements.
- “The story is interesting and I'm not sure if it's just a translation error or something, but it didn't make sense.”
- “The art is very good, but the story, I don't know if it was the translation or just the concept by itself, but it was very rushed.”
- “I love this game; good story wanting you to come back for more good characters and challenging achievements.”
- “The game's art is very good, I'm even surprised to have so many CGs, the backgrounds are also well done, but the problem is the story that doesn't explain anything that's happening; it feels like everything was just thrown in.”
- “The storyline and narrative look like they keep getting cut every time because it seems like they're trying to skip some of the plot. I don't know whether it's intentional or if they should just consider rewriting the whole thing. There also appear to be some grammar issues, and the endings seem rather too bitter, especially when they're the good ones instead of the death endings.”
- “The story is unclear and the English translation is pretty bad.”
graphics
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
40%
11%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the high-quality artwork and detailed character designs, particularly in gory scenes. While the visuals are often described as beautiful and well-executed, some players feel that the overall graphic quality is undermined by a lackluster story and occasional reliance on stock assets. Overall, the artwork stands out as a highlight, even if the game itself is seen as average.
- “There are a lot of CGs and the backgrounds matched the art style very well, which is quite impressive for a free game especially.”
- “I really, really love all of the art in this game, especially when it came to the more graphic scenes; the details were really excellent.”
- “The artwork is good and there has been a lot of effort put in there, but the story is quite generic.”
- “It is honestly a shame that all this artwork is lost in such a poorly executed story, which is entirely forgettable.”
- “The story feels forced, the only visual artwork that seems to be original is the characters and the background was from someone else.”
- “The graphics aren't great, but they are good enough that I could have gotten past that.”
music
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
49%
7%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its immersive and atmospheric qualities that enhance the horror experience, while others criticize it for being generic and lacking variety. Many players appreciate the chilling soundtrack and sound effects, which contribute positively to the overall ambiance, though some feel that the absence of sound effects detracts from immersion. Overall, while the music is often described as decent or good, there are calls for more variety and improvement in sound design.
- “The chilling music and sound effects perfectly complement the horror theme, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “The music in the game is actually quite good in my opinion, as it fits the atmosphere of the events they appear for well.”
- “The art style and music in this game are good; nothing to complain about there.”
- “I think the game's sound needs to be improved; normally only the game's music is playing, but there are barely any sound effects, which takes away from the game's immersion.”
- “This game honestly sucks; the music is boring, the characters stick out poorly and emote poorly.”
- “Really short, overdramatic, and sometimes the music takes away from the atmosphere.”
character development
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
47%
41%
The reviews overwhelmingly highlight a significant lack of character development in the game, with many players expressing disappointment over the absence of meaningful character arcs, customization options, and emotional connections. Critics note that the story feels rushed and underdeveloped, leading to a lack of investment in the characters, which detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the character designs, they feel that the writing and character progression are severely lacking.
- “While the art was nice, I feel like the story could have been somehow longer and there could have been better character development.”
- “With that in mind, I did like the game and I do recommend it for people to play this visual novel. I really liked the character design and the progression through the game. After a few updates to correct the grammar, I can see this game being wonderful.”
- “The lack of customization options and limited character development are also worth noting.”
- “There is absolutely no character development at all and no opportunity for the player to get to know anyone or root for anyone.”
- “However, the character development in the game was very poor; there are a few characters who were made just to get killed, rather than being added for the actual story.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
21%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its absurd and nonsensical story, with many players finding the poor grammar and illogical plot points to be laugh-out-loud funny rather than frightening. While some aspects intended to be scary fall flat, they instead contribute to the overall comedic experience, making the game enjoyable for those who appreciate its flaws. Overall, players seem to agree that the humor, albeit unintentional, enhances the game's appeal despite its shortcomings.
- “I can't count the amount of times I said 'what' to what was going on, and I was practically in tears from laughing so hard at the absurdity of it all.”
- “The fact that it has so many flaws in the writing just makes the game hilarious and a lot more fun to play.”
- “Heck, I still find it hilarious that in the best ending (which has no achievement for such a reward), everybody goes back to the same school where there was a monster lurking and where the whole place was littered with corpses and formerly dead students that only died again... shouldn't it have been closed off as a crime scene?”
- “It's not funny at all.”
- “The humor falls flat and feels forced.”
- “I expected more laughs, but it just wasn't amusing.”
gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
The gameplay is characterized by challenging puzzles that enhance the experience, complemented by smooth controls and an immersive soundtrack. However, some players have reported occasional bugs that can disrupt the flow, and there are mixed feelings about the limited choices available in gameplay scenarios. Overall, while the mechanics are easy to grasp, the experience may feel short for some players.
- “The immersive soundtrack and challenging puzzles add depth to the experience, while the smooth controls ensure seamless gameplay.”
- “The challenging puzzles add a satisfying layer of gameplay.”
- “It is short and easy to understand the mechanics.”
- “Personally, I've encountered occasional bugs that can disrupt the gameplay.”
- “If you want to do a two-hour gameplay and have some suffering, I'd recommend this game; otherwise, not!”
- “I wish there were more choices in the gameplay instead of just traveling to the library or cafeteria.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
The atmosphere in "Summer Nightmare" is generally praised for its gripping horror elements, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack that complements the game's events. However, some players feel that the overall experience lacks depth and scares, suggesting that more varied outcomes could improve the game's atmosphere and replayability.
- “Summer Nightmare excels in creating a gripping horror atmosphere.”
- “Summer Nightmare is an excellent horror game that delivers a gripping atmosphere and an engaging storyline.”
- “The music and atmosphere are kind of chilling, and the artwork is pretty good.”
- “It wasn't scary, because there was little to no atmosphere to begin with.”
- “Really short, overdramatic, and sometimes the music takes away from the atmosphere.”
- “Adding more outcomes than the few instant game overs would add a lot to the atmosphere of the game, as well as its credibility and replayability.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
43%
43%
Overall, the game is criticized for its limited replayability, with many players feeling that the short length and lack of diverse outcomes diminish the incentive to play again. While some may attempt to achieve all achievements, the general consensus is that the game offers little value for repeated playthroughs. Enhancing the variety of outcomes could significantly improve its replayability.
- “Adding more outcomes than the few instant game overs would add a lot to the atmosphere of the game, as well as its credibility and replayability.”
- “The short length and limited replayability might leave some players wanting more, and occasional bugs can be a bit frustrating.”
- “There is really no replay value of this other than maybe trying to get all 5 achievements for the last few scenes.”
- “It has little to no replay value, but is an okay way to spend an hour or so.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The emotional impact of the game is diminished by a lackluster story and underdeveloped characters, leading to a boring experience for players who prefer deeper narratives. While some may appreciate its brevity, those seeking a more engaging and longer storyline are likely to be disappointed. Overall, the game's potential is undermined by its failure to evoke strong emotions.
- “The boring story and characters, along with the lack of character development, are what's bringing it down.”
- “This game has a short and really boring story. In my opinion, if you like short stories that are about 30 minutes, then this game is for you. However, if you prefer longer stories like I do, then you might not enjoy this game.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant effort to progress. It is suggested that this gameplay style may appeal to those looking for a low-stakes, repetitive experience.
- “Grinding in this game is rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is challenging but ultimately satisfying.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “My dear friend, just keep playing this if you are feeling really tedious and have nothing better to do in life.”