Ten Bells
- August 30, 2024
- Hillfort Games
Get on Steam"Ten Bells" is a horror game set in a timeless English pub, where you must search for anomalies and uncover a hidden mystery. Progress through the game by backtracking when you find an anomaly and avoiding traps and inhabitants. With its unique concept and immersive atmosphere, "Ten Bells" promises to be a standout in the anomaly horror genre.
Reviews
- The game features a beautifully crafted atmosphere set in a Victorian pub, enhancing the horror experience with stunning visuals and sound design.
- Ten Bells offers a unique blend of storytelling and gameplay, with a coherent narrative that unfolds as players discover various anomalies, keeping them engaged throughout.
- The jump scares and anomalies are well-executed, providing a mix of obvious and subtle changes that create a thrilling challenge for players, making it one of the best anomaly games in the genre.
- Some anomalies can be very subtle, making them difficult to spot, which may frustrate players who prefer a more straightforward experience.
- The game is relatively short, with some players feeling that the price point may not justify the playtime, especially if they complete it quickly.
- There are occasional bugs and animation issues that detract from the overall polish of the game, which could impact the immersion for some players.
- story46 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its engaging environmental storytelling and atmospheric depth, with players appreciating the clever integration of anomalies that enhance the narrative. While the plot is described as simple, it features a compelling murder mystery with a twist ending, and players can unlock more of the story as they progress. Overall, the storytelling is considered a standout aspect, contributing to a memorable horror experience.
“In terms of plot, there's an underlying story for you to unravel as you go along, and there are two possible endings for you to find.”
“The atmosphere is perfect... and the story being told within the game is beautifully dark and twisted.”
“The anomalies you discover feel genuinely creepy, adding layers to the story that keep you engaged long after you've 'escaped.'”
“Because I didn't see the entertainment value in a game where you're just doing a seek and find for what's different... but if it's also telling a story behind the mechanic, it's going to pique my interest even more.”
“It does feel a little short, but I'm not really sure how you'd get around adding more because it really is story-based.”
“Not only must you look out for anomalies, but the game also tells you a story as you progress through.”
- atmosphere21 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in *Ten Bell* is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively blending environmental storytelling with a chilling narrative. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create tension through its design, sound, and the presence of anomalies, making it a standout experience for fans of atmospheric horror. Overall, the game's rich atmosphere enhances the gameplay, contributing to a sense of dread and engagement throughout.
“The atmosphere is perfect... and the story being told within the game is beautifully dark and twisted.”
“Unravel a chilling tale by discovering anomalies while trying to escape; that’s the premise of *ten bell*, but it doesn’t quite prepare you for the intense, atmospheric horror that follows.”
“The atmosphere fit the story theme well, and the sound design was immersive to a pub.”
“Had a blast running it on stream with my community who said they could smell the atmosphere.”
“The game delivered in the atmosphere and graphics department.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their stunning visuals, smooth frame rates, and immersive art style, contributing significantly to the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Players noted that the game runs exceptionally well even at maximum settings, enhancing the enjoyment of its horror elements and storytelling. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, elevating the game's appeal.
“The visuals are stunning, and I was impressed by the pretty consistent, smooth frame rate.”
“Overall really good, great art style and graphics, ran super smooth.”
“Graphics are gorgeous.”
“The graphics are outdated and lack the detail expected from modern games.”
“The character models look flat and lifeless, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“The environments feel bland and uninspired, making exploration less enjoyable.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as smooth, fun, and effective, with a simple yet engaging loop that enhances the overall experience. While some players find the seek-and-find mechanics less entertaining, the integration of storytelling elements adds depth and interest. Overall, the gameplay is well-received, with many enjoying its straightforward approach.
“Just finished playing this over on my YouTube channel, and absolutely enjoyed it.”
“And overall just really smooth and fun gameplay.”
“I'm actually really blown away by the simple, yet very effective gameplay loop.”
“The experience is little helped on its way to becoming even a 'game' by some thug force feeding the aforementioned 'tech-demo' the novelty of WASD controls, while taking a 'yes, and...' policy approach on 'gameplay feature' or 'jarring nonsense made by mistake, we leave in the finished product for content.'”
“I didn't see the entertainment value in a game where you're just doing a seek and find for what's different... but if it's also telling a story behind the mechanic, it's going to pique my interest even more.”
“Gameplay is simple.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The addition of nightmare difficulty has significantly enhanced the replayability of *Ten Bell*, making it one of the game's strongest features. Players appreciate the atmospheric dread and the intriguing story that unfolds with each playthrough, contributing to its high replay value, especially for genre enthusiasts.
“With the new addition of nightmare difficulty, this game's replay value has increased significantly.”
“For fans of the genre, Ten Bell offers a great blend of atmospheric dread and replay value.”
“With the new addition of nightmare difficulty, this game's replay value went up as well.”
“Replayability is one of Ten Bell's biggest strengths.”
“Probably the anomaly game that has the most replayability factor due to the very interesting story that slowly gets revealed the more you play!”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music in the game is noted for its eerie quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere without being intrusive, effectively contributing to the overall suspense and immersion.
“Oh, also - the music was good, and by that I mean it was non-intrusive.”
“The eerie music, the lighting, the suspense.”
“The soundtrack feels repetitive and lacks variety.”
“The music doesn't match the game's atmosphere, making it feel disjointed.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its impressive graphics and improved performance, contributing to an engaging murder mystery narrative, alongside intriguing anomalies that enhance the overall experience.
“The graphics are stunning, and the performance is optimized to ensure smooth gameplay, making the murder mystery story even more engaging.”
“I appreciate how well the game runs; the optimization really enhances the overall experience.”
“The balance between great visuals and performance optimization is impressive, allowing for an immersive experience without lag.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game suffers from significant stability issues, with many users reporting it as buggy and unplayable.
“I bought this game with my own money, but it's so buggy and unplayable that I feel like I'm just trolling them by talking about it.”
“The game crashes constantly, making it impossible to enjoy any of the content.”
“I've experienced numerous glitches that completely ruin the gameplay experience.”
