Terror At Oakheart

About

In Terror at Oakheart, a side-scroll pixel-based game inspired by 80s horror films, you'll play various characters stalked and killed by the masked serial killer Teddy, who is controlled by a Lovecraftian beast. As you explore various set pieces in the Town of Oakheart, such as Teddy's house and the police station, you'll uncover the truth and fight to survive. Wishlist Massacre At The Mirage and Suffer The Night, two other games in the series.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 156 reviews

story39 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Terror At Oakheart is a nostalgic homage to 80s and 90s slasher films, featuring great pixel art, an engaging story, and a killer soundtrack that enhances the horror experience.
The gameplay allows players to switch perspectives between the killer and the victims, creating a unique narrative experience that keeps players invested.
Despite some gameplay flaws, the game is fun and entertaining, with memorable death scenes and a campy atmosphere that horror fans will appreciate.

The combat mechanics can be clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating moments, especially during the final boss battles which feature a significant difficulty spike.
The game lacks replayability and can feel linear, with some players noting that the puzzles and objectives are simplistic and repetitive.
There are issues with checkpoint placement and the inability to skip cutscenes after dying, which can detract from the overall experience.

story
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
45%
4%
The game's story is a nostalgic homage to 80s slasher films, featuring a straightforward plot that allows players to experience perspectives from both the protagonist and antagonist. While the narrative is predictable and linear, it effectively captures the campy horror vibe with engaging characters and a captivating atmosphere, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre. Despite some critiques regarding its brevity and lack of depth, the storytelling is well-executed and complements the retro aesthetic and soundtrack.
- “Tainted Pact Games did a fantastic job bringing us an 80's slasher retro nightmare with a good storyline, captivating nostalgic graphics, and a killer soundtrack.”
- “What impressed me in this game is the way the story is told, and the fact that you play every character.”
- “The story is entertaining and interesting, the pacing is good, there's just enough room to explore and find goodies without it feeling tedious, the dialogue is light and fun but every character is distinct, and the combat is challenging but not overwhelming.”
- “The story is just that of a slasher, and doesn't really innovate too much.”
- “The story lacks creativity and the gameplay consists mostly of walking with your current character down their linear path, maybe pick up an item on your way, until teddy kills them.”
- “It has a short, predictable story that's inspired by a lot of 80's and 90's horror and tends to be a little on the nose about which.”
gameplay
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
62%
15%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the unique mechanics of controlling different characters and the blend of action and light puzzle-solving, while others criticize it for being simplistic, clunky, and lacking depth. Many noted issues with combat mechanics, such as awkward reloading and unpredictable hitboxes, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite its charming aesthetics and engaging story, the gameplay often feels linear and underdeveloped, leading to a lack of player engagement over time.
- “Nice gameplay, interesting story; it takes 2 hours to complete, which is a great length for games like this.”
- “The gameplay is very good; it's a combination of action, light puzzle solving, killing certain characters, and doing a bit of a fetch quest. I also really like the aspect of getting to play the killer but also getting to play the victim—that's a neat concept.”
- “I loved the pixel graphics, 80’s slasher vibe, and very exciting gameplay!”
- “While the game has some charming pixel art and a rather fitting soundtrack, the gameplay was sadly nothing to write home about.”
- “Sadly, how the gameplay was chosen to be varied via your taking control of the sheriff character and engaging in some of the jankiest combat ever.”
- “Not much gameplay, not much puzzles, not much combat, not much dialogue, no much story, not much music, not much playtime, not much content.”
music
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
29%
7%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its dark synth soundtrack, which effectively captures the 80s slasher vibe and enhances the overall atmosphere. While many reviewers enjoyed the nostalgic and eerie tracks, some noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's aesthetic and storytelling.
- “Tainted Pact games did a fantastic job bringing us an 80's slasher retro nightmare with a good storyline, captivating nostalgic graphics, and a killer soundtrack.”
- “The music was on point and really helped to give it that perfect horror atmosphere.”
- “Amazing art style with a pumping 80s synth soundtrack.”
- “Because of this, the short soundtrack becomes repetitive quickly.”
- “The music gets a little bit repetitive for my taste though, and there's a significant difficulty spike by the final chapter.”
- “This would have been a great 2D survival horror, if at least half of the care would have been invested in the gameplay, compared to what the devs spent on pixel art and atmosphere related stuff (writing, music, animations, etc).”
graphics
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
26%
8%
The graphics of "Terror at Oakheart" have been widely praised for their detailed pixel art style, which effectively captures the aesthetic of 80s and 90s slasher films. Reviewers highlight the vibrant use of color, particularly red, and the atmospheric visuals that enhance the horror experience, making it a nostalgic homage to classic horror. While some mention gameplay issues, the overall artistic presentation and sound design contribute significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
- “The pixel graphics art style is really good, very detailed with character designs, scenery and animation, also a good use of colors, especially the color red as it really pops out and the kill animations by Teddy are just fantastic.”
- “The best thing about this game is the graphics and atmosphere that evokes the 1980's slasher movie feeling.”
- “Tainted Pact Games did a fantastic job bringing us an 80's slasher retro nightmare with a good storyline, captivating nostalgic graphics, and a killer soundtrack.”
- “4/10 short pixel graphics slasher homage, with excellent atmosphere but the gameplay is just too damned clunky for it to be that fun.”
- “Despite its pixel graphics, the game effectively creates creepy and frightening scenes.”
- “Graphics, sound, gameplay, controls...all of it has the retro vibe.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
19%
19%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively capturing the essence of 1980s slasher films through its engaging story, haunting soundtrack, and pixel art. Reviewers highlight the strong visual and sound design, which contribute to a thrilling and chilling experience, although some note that gameplay mechanics could use improvement. Overall, the atmosphere is considered the standout feature, making it a compelling choice for fans of retro horror aesthetics.
- “The atmosphere is great and it does evoke memories of the slasher films that inspired it.”
- “The best thing about this game is the graphics and atmosphere that evokes the 1980's slasher movie feeling.”
- “I haven't completed the game yet, but I can confirm that the atmosphere is completely engrossing and will leave players thrilled & chilled during and between scary events.”
- “This would have been a great 2D survival horror if at least half of the care had been invested in the gameplay compared to what the devs spent on pixel art and atmosphere-related elements (writing, music, animations, etc).”
- “I haven't completed the game yet, but I can confirm that the atmosphere is completely engrossing and will leave players thrilled and chilled during and between scary events.”
- “I think the price point is just right, given that the experience is well crafted, engaging, and oozing with the appropriate atmosphere.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and sometimes unreliable, particularly during end-game boss encounters where repetitive dialogue can be frustrating. While the overall gameplay is enjoyable and the story engaging, the combat mechanics are often described as cumbersome, detracting from the experience.
- “Not only did this become tedious, but also unreliable.”
- “Also at the end-game bosses, you have to tediously repeat the dialog before every attempt.”
- “Combat is tedious and cumbersome and becomes annoying really quickly.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The replayability of "Terror at Oakheart" is generally considered low due to its short duration and singular storyline, taking approximately 2.5 hours to complete. While players can revisit the game to collect missed items or engage in an unlockable minigame, the overall experience does not encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “The replayability is high in this one.”
- “Took me about 2 hours and 30 minutes to go through the whole thing; there isn't much replayability outside of finding any collectibles you might have missed or playing an unlockable minigame after finishing the game.”
- “As the game is quite short and has one storyline, Terror at Oakheart doesn't offer much replayability, but it is really worth playing.”
- “Took me about 2 hours and 30 minutes to go through the whole thing; there's not much replayability outside of finding any collectibles you might have missed or playing an unlockable minigame after finishing the game.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of laughter and discomfort, effectively capturing the essence of 80s slasher films through its over-the-top death scenes and retro aesthetic. Players appreciate the combination of a compelling story with a comedic twist, enhanced by engaging music.
- “Had me laughing and also disturbed at some parts! Haha, great slasher horror game.”
- “A great story you would expect out of a game inspired by 80s films, with hilariously over-the-top death scenes, retro art, and amazing music.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players appreciate the game's ability to foster deep emotional connections through direct engagement with characters, which enhances understanding of their motivations and enriches the overall narrative experience.
- “Being able to engage with each character in such a direct way really does a good job of explaining character motivations and creates a better emotional connection with the narrative.”
- “The emotional depth of the story left me reflecting on my own experiences long after I finished playing.”
- “I felt a profound connection to the characters, as their struggles and triumphs resonated deeply with my own life.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the pixel graphics and detailed character designs are praised for their vibrant colors and animations, the reviews do not specifically address character development in terms of narrative or growth. Instead, the focus is primarily on the visual aspects of the characters and their animations.