Terror At Oakheart

About

Terror At Oakheart is a single player survival role playing game with a horror theme. It was developed by TaintedPact Games and was released on February 27, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

In "Terror at Oakheart," a horror game inspired by 80s slasher films, players uncover the truth while evading Teddy, a masked serial killer under the influence of a Lovecraftian beast. With pixel-based graphics, players navigate through various locations in the Town of Oakheart, taking control of the cast of characters in this gruesome, fear-filled adventure. Your mission is to survive and reveal the sinister secrets hidden in Oakheart.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 282 reviews

story58 positive mentions

grinding9 negative mentions

Captures the feel of classic 80s slasher films with a compelling story and engaging gameplay.
Beautiful pixel art and a nostalgic synth soundtrack enhance the horror experience.
Offers a mix of character perspectives, allowing players to experience both the killer and the victims.

Final chapter features frustrating combat mechanics and a significant difficulty spike that detracts from the overall experience.
Lacks a save feature, forcing players to replay entire chapters if they exit the game.
Some gameplay elements feel repetitive and linear, with limited decision-making opportunities.

story
136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
53%
4%
The story of "Terror at Oakheart" is a nostalgic homage to 80s slasher films, featuring a predictable yet entertaining plot that unfolds through various character perspectives, including both victims and the killer. While some players appreciate its campy charm and engaging presentation, others criticize its linearity and lack of depth, noting that the gameplay often feels more like a walking simulator than a fully interactive experience. Overall, the narrative is described as fun and fitting for horror fans, despite its reliance on familiar tropes and clichés.
- “Terror at Oakheart is a tight, fun experience that doesn’t overstay its welcome, offering a compelling story you can finish in a single session.”
- “Set in the seemingly quiet town of Oakheart, the story unfolds as a masked serial killer named Teddy begins a brutal killing spree under the influence of a cosmic entity that manipulates him like a puppet.”
- “The pixel art, haunting music, and unpredictable storytelling come together to create something that feels at once nostalgic and fresh.”
- “It's a very cliché and predictable horror story.”
- “The story is the most predictable slasher movie you've ever seen.”
- “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.”
gameplay
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
66%
14%
The gameplay of "Terror at Oakheart" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its simplicity and linearity, often likening it to a "walking simulator" with minimal combat and puzzle elements. While some appreciate the nostalgic pixel art and the horror movie aesthetic, others criticize the clunky mechanics, frustrating combat, and repetitive tasks that detract from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game manages to evoke tension and offers a unique take on the slasher genre, though players may find themselves wanting more depth and challenge.
- “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.”
- “Terror at Oakheart prioritizes a horror movie-like presentation of story and gameplay, which is fantastic for horror movie fans.”
- “The gameplay was fun, especially when playing as the killer.”
- “The gameplay is very simple - it's just like you're watching a horror movie.”
- “Great game ruined by obnoxious game mechanics, bullets not being able to hit more than one enemy and completely destroying a run as it likes to pick and choose, enemies immune to bullets after animations, I shoot 2 bullets and reload 6 and the end game is just boring and repetitive.”
- “For the vast majority of the game, the gameplay is just your character saying 'I need to do x' and then you holding A or D, going through a door or two and picking it up.”
music
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
32%
5%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its nostalgic 80s synthwave style, effectively setting a haunting atmosphere that complements the retro horror theme. While many reviewers praised the soundtrack as fantastic and fitting for the game's aesthetic, some noted that it could become repetitive over time. Overall, the combination of impressive pixel art and a captivating score enhances the game's immersive experience.
- “The music is haunting and synth-heavy, reminiscent of John Carpenter’s iconic horror scores, while ambient effects—footsteps, creaking floors, the faint rustle of something unseen—heighten the sense of dread.”
- “The vibe of this game is amazing, bringing that 80s and 90s retro horror feel with a groovy 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.”
- “The audio's great, but they could have switched up certain parts of the soundtrack to match the current ambience rather than the persistent creepy tone.”
- “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.”
graphics
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
31%
5%
The graphics of the game are predominantly praised for their charming pixel art style, which effectively captures the nostalgic essence of 80s and 90s horror films. Many reviewers highlight the detailed character designs, vibrant color use, and atmospheric visuals that enhance the overall experience, despite some noting that the gameplay may not live up to the graphical quality. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and immersive horror vibe.
- “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.”
- “Its pixel graphics and numerous references to 80s and 90s slasher classics give the game a unique charm, making players feel as if they've traveled back in time.”
- “The best thing about this game is the graphics and atmosphere that evokes the 1980's slasher movie feeling.”
- “The story is so-so, the graphics are decent, the gameplay is terrible.”
- “I'd give this a 4/10 for the art style and the writing and say it's worth about 1-2 dollars at most, maybe 3 if you're into pixel art.”
- “4/10 short pixel graphics slasher homage, with excellent atmosphere but the gameplay is just too damned clunky for it to be that fun.”
atmosphere
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
29%
13%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively capturing the essence of 1980s slasher films with a Lovecraftian twist. Players appreciate the chilling environments, engaging soundtracks, and pixel art that enhance the horror experience, although some note that gameplay mechanics could be improved. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its standout feature, creating a thrilling and nostalgic experience for fans of the genre.
- “Every environment—be it a desolate cabin, a blood-soaked alley, or an abandoned police station—oozes atmosphere.”
- “The music was on point and really helped to give it that perfect horror atmosphere.”
- “That chapter robbed me of any horror/slasher atmosphere and left me frustrated.”
- “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).”
- “The atmosphere really sells it all.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly during end-game content and boss fights, where repetitive dialogue and cumbersome combat detract from the overall experience. While the game is enjoyable and features strong visuals and storytelling, the grinding elements can feel like unnecessary padding, leading to a less engaging gameplay experience.
- “I did quit the Mr. Tops Murder Mayhem mini-game though because it was just tedious.”
- “Unless you want to deal with awful combat and tedious bosses, then I wouldn't bother.”
- “Combat is tedious and cumbersome and becomes annoying really quickly.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it enjoyable and worth revisiting, particularly for collectibles and unlockable content, others feel that the limited storyline and gameplay mechanics diminish its long-term appeal. The short duration of the game, around 2.5 hours, contributes to a lack of substantial replay value beyond initial playthroughs.
- “The replayability is high in this one.”
- “Took me about 2 hours and 30 minutes to go through the whole thing; not too 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, not too much replayability outside of finding any collectibles you might have missed or playing an unlockable minigame after finishing the game.”
- “Would be better if a tad more playable (i.e., bosses actually die as expected, could heal, characters actually moved correctly). Fun to a point but pretty much giving up as it's not worth finishing.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
"Terror at Oakheart" is praised for its ability to foster emotional connections through direct character engagement, enhancing the narrative's depth. However, some players found the predictable character deaths and trope-heavy story detracted from the overall emotional impact, despite the game's appealing visuals and music.
- “Terror at Oakheart is a 2D narrative game that serves as a heartfelt homage to 1980s horror cinema.”
- “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.”
- “I don't like to tear into games, especially with some passion behind it, but I just hated this. It's a 2D side-scroller where each character predictably dies after some walking simulator nonsense, followed by really frustrating fights, especially the final boss(es). The story is heavily tropey and boring. The visuals and music are nice, but the audio mixing is really bad.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is highlighted by well-crafted dialogue and detailed pixel animations that effectively convey each character's identity. The unique character designs and vibrant use of color enhance the overall experience, making it easy for players to engage with a diverse cast. The effort put into the game's visuals and animations contributes significantly to its immersive storytelling.
- “The dialogue is well-crafted, the pixel animations are smooth, and the character designs along with the layout of every map feel detailed in unique ways. I really admire how much effort clearly went into making a game you can easily sink a few hours into.”
- “It’s very gory, well-lit, and the character designs are impressive in the sense that the developers were able to convey who is who very easily, despite the large number of characters. I am kind of blown away by it.”
- “The pixel art style is really good, with detailed character designs, scenery, and animation. There's also a great use of colors, especially the color red, which really pops out. The kill animations by Teddy are just fantastic.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a blend of dark comedy and nostalgia, featuring hilariously over-the-top death scenes that evoke 80s slasher films. Players appreciate the balance of laughter and discomfort, enhanced by retro art and a fitting soundtrack.
- “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.”