sun-rise.exe

About

"Sun-rise.exe" is a single-player Horror Platformer game with striking visuals, taking you on a disturbing journey through surreal levels inspired by classic creepypastas and biblical horror. Explore bizarre landscapes in a fever dream setting, reminiscent of games like godzilla.exe and 'the '. Immerse yourself in a nostalgic yet fresh horror experience that will leave you questioning reality. Word count: 174

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 41 reviews

graphics8 positive mentions

The game features beautiful and creepy artwork, with a unique aesthetic that enhances the emotional experience.
The heartfelt message at the end resonates deeply, providing a personal connection to the developer's struggles and experiences.
The music and writing are well-crafted, contributing to an engaging atmosphere that keeps players invested throughout the game.

The platforming mechanics are often criticized for being floaty and poorly designed, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Visibility issues in the game's art can make it difficult to discern platforms, resulting in numerous blind jumps that frustrate players.
The story can feel vague and nonsensical at times, leaving players confused about its meaning and connection to the gameplay.

story
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
76%
12%
The game's story is described as vague and nonsensical at first, but it gradually reveals deeper emotional themes, particularly related to the developer's personal struggles and experiences, which resonate with players. While some found the storytelling style verbose and cryptic, others appreciated the heartfelt message and the way the narrative intertwined with the gameplay, enhancing their overall experience. The story segments, presented after each level, are noted for their charm and depth, ultimately leaving a profound impact on players as they progress through the game.
- “Especially at the end when the developer spoke about their struggles in life, it kind of makes you think if the story we were reading was real or not.”
- “The heartfelt message at the end was unexpected and helped click the presentation and the story together.”
- “Though the story is not 'strong' in a traditional way, its intent is clearly not that and I commend the fact that it both talked about an extremely heavy subject matter affecting the developer in real life, and was used to help others who may be in a similar area mentally.”
- “The story of this game is so incredibly nonsensical that the word 'vague' doesn't do it justice.”
- “The story was too verbose for my zoomer brain to care.”
- “Though the story is not 'strong' in a traditional way, its intent is clearly not that, and I commend the fact that it both talked about an extremely heavy subject matter affecting the developer in real life and was used to help others who may be in a similar area mentally.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
45%
15%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique and unsettling aesthetic that effectively enhances the overall atmosphere, blending creepy visuals with a surreal art style reminiscent of dreamlike experiences. While the artwork is praised for its originality and beauty, some players find it challenging to navigate due to the confusing design that occasionally obscures gameplay elements. Overall, the visuals, combined with an atmospheric soundtrack, contribute significantly to the game's immersive and eerie experience.
- “Beautiful + creepy artwork, suitably eerie music, and (for me) fiendishly tricky play.”
- “The visuals are stellar and a great selling point alone.”
- “The imagery stands out immensely with an art style unique to itself, the soundtrack is an odd but interesting collection of varied and altered music, and the writing, already being extremely detailed and impressive before, becomes all the more impactful and important once the full context snaps into place.”
- “Weird, unsettling visuals.”
- “The visuals are bizarre and often it's incredibly difficult to discern between the platform you're supposed to be walking on and the background.”
- “The graphics in the last platforming segment make it hard to discern where you traverse, a bit too much, because of the way things melt, some small spaces end up being solid wall.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and unique qualities, effectively complementing the eerie visuals and storytelling. Reviewers describe the soundtrack as a blend of vaporwave and horror elements, enhancing the overall experience and contributing to the game's distinct aesthetic. While the music is noted as a standout feature, some players feel that gameplay mechanics could be improved.
- “Beautiful and creepy artwork, suitably eerie music, and (for me) fiendishly tricky gameplay.”
- “Sunrise EXE is a hard platformer game with an eerie art style, which, paired with atmospheric music, makes for a unique playing experience.”
- “The imagery stands out immensely with an art style unique to itself, the soundtrack is an odd but interesting collection of varied and altered music, and the writing, already being extremely detailed and impressive before, becomes all the more impactful and important once the full context snaps into place.”
- “The music was rather unique, though a lot stranger especially considering the lack of sound effects.”
- “Sun-rise exe is a hard platformer game with an eerie art style, which, paired with atmospheric music, makes for a unique playing experience.”
- “Honestly really loved the atmosphere and art/visuals, with the music completely fitting in this uncanny world.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The gameplay is generally described as basic and lacking in unique mechanics, though it features enjoyable elements like fun level introductions and well-placed checkpoints. While some players find the jumping mechanics and visual details engaging, others feel the overall experience is simplistic and could benefit from more variety and depth. Despite its limitations, the game is appreciated for its charming presentation and occasional standout moments.
- “Great visuals, writing, music, and gameplay.”
- “Each level introduces a fun mechanic after the initial tutorial (pushing blocks, hopping on enemies for a boosted jump, and on-rails platforms to name a few), and the checkpoints are at good locations to minimize frustration.”
- “The gameplay and levels are okay overall if basic, though with this game specifically I can gather it isn’t meant to be the central focus, which once again is perfectly fine.”
- “The controls are basic, with absolutely nothing in terms of uniqueness or mechanics that you'll have to play around.”
- “Try adding more elements in your next game, like mechanics, sound effects, enemy variety, and a better way to tell your story through cut-scenes, NPCs, or item descriptions.”
- “If you only read this area, given my admittedly long review, then the game may feel basic and simple in gameplay, but it completely has its charms everywhere else in the presentation.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is described as incredibly touching, with a surprising emotional depth that unfolds through its story and levels. Players appreciated the heartfelt message at the end, which resonated deeply and even brought some to tears, highlighting the game's impact on raising awareness about conditions like fibromyalgia. Overall, the emotional journey and atmosphere left a lasting impression, prompting players to seek more from the developer.
- “Incredibly touching game, I am going to keep an eye on more stuff this developer produces.”
- “I was expecting a trippy game that made me question why I'm playing, and I still did, but I got a surprisingly emotional one. It was really cool to see the story unfold after every level.”
- “The heartfelt message at the end was unexpected and helped connect the presentation and the story together.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a freaky, on-edge feeling complemented by an eerie art style and fitting music, creating a unique and immersive experience. Players appreciate the heartfelt ending message that adds depth to the unsettling environment. Overall, the combination of visuals and sound enhances the game's uncanny world.
- “Freaky, on-edge atmosphere and a heartfelt ending message.”
- “Honestly, I really loved the atmosphere and art/visuals, with the music completely fitting in this uncanny world.”
- “Sun-rise exe is a hard platformer game with an eerie art style, which, paired with atmospheric music, makes for a unique playing experience.”
- “The atmosphere feels disjointed and lacks cohesion, making it hard to immerse myself in the game.”
- “While the game attempts to create a tense atmosphere, it often falls flat and feels more tedious than thrilling.”
- “The environment is visually appealing, but the overall atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired.”