The Bellows

About

The Bellows is a single player simulation game with a horror theme. It was developed by Evan Davis and was released on September 12, 2016. It received positive reviews from players.

The Bellows is a VR Horror experience designed to play like an interactive movie. Plunge yourself into a world of nightmares and fear, and discover just how frightening the past can really be.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 167 reviews

atmosphere8 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The Bellows offers a genuinely scary atmosphere with effective jump scares, making it a thrilling experience for horror fans.
As a free game, it provides good value, allowing players to experience VR horror without any financial commitment.
The game features multiple locomotion options, including arm-swinging, which enhances immersion and makes the experience feel more natural.

The game is very short, lasting only about 15-30 minutes, which may leave players wanting more content.
Many of the scares are predictable and lack tension, reducing the overall impact of the horror experience.
There are technical issues, such as audio glitches and problems with controller compatibility, which can detract from the gameplay experience.

atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
31%
19%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and creepy qualities, enhanced by effective sound design and lighting. While it features a few jump scares, many players feel that the overall sense of dread and tension is what truly elevates the experience, making it both chilling and engaging. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout aspect, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “I just finished playing this and it was amazing, everything in it feels very professionally done and it is dripping with creepy atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere and sound design is top notch, took me 3 tries to leave the first room because I was just so immersed and terrified, I kept turning it off.”
- “I don't know exactly what it is, the lighting, the sound, the atmosphere... in all the horror I've read, watched, and played... this is the first time telling myself 'it'll all be alright' didn't sound right.”
- “It has a few jump scares, an eerie atmosphere, and can instill a feeling of dread, of not wanting to continue down the path.”
- “Very chilling atmosphere wasn't too scary for me as other VR horror games, I got it when I had to pay for it and definitely recommend playing it for free.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
45%
33%
The gameplay is engaging and immersive, particularly highlighted by the initial choice of locomotion mechanics, which captivates players quickly. However, there are concerns about the limitations of the movement options, with a preference for a hybrid system that combines walking and teleportation to enhance exploration and progression. Overall, while the mechanics are intriguing, flexibility in locomotion is crucial to avoid player frustration.
- “From the moment I started in the room where you choose your locomotion mechanic, I was hooked.”
- “With just under 15 minutes of gameplay (time may vary depending on nerves), the bellows is a great demo that leaves you wanting more.”
- “I was not a huge fan of the moving mechanics.”
- “Ideally, you don't want to lock a player into a specific locomotion mechanic at the start of the game since that can lead to frustration if the mechanic gets in the way of progressing through the experience.”
- “I think the walkabout locomotion is best when it is combined with an optional teleport mechanic so that you can use whichever method is appropriate for the current task, like walkabout when spending time exploring every inch of a space and teleport when you need to make significant headway and don't care to stop and smell the roses, so to speak.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The game's story is criticized for being incoherent and lacking depth, relying heavily on horror clichés and jump scares without effective tension or buildup. While some players found the storyline enjoyable, they noted its brevity and the overall confusion regarding its narrative intent. Overall, the story seems to be a mixed bag, appealing to those who appreciate a horror twist but leaving others dissatisfied with its execution.
- “Nice storyline; however, it is not a long game and I finished it pretty quickly.”
- “I would recommend this to anyone who likes storylines with a sickish and a bit of horror twist to it, but does not like real jump scares.”
- “This game features a lot of horror clichés like a haunted mental hospital, levitating furniture, jumpscares, and has essentially no story.”
- “Incoherent collection of cheap jumpscares without any tension, buildup, or story.”
- “I didn't really understand the story, if there was intended to be one or not.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
14%
29%
The graphics received mixed reviews, with some players praising them as "awesome" and "very nice," while others criticized them as "atrocious." Overall, the atmosphere is highlighted as a strong point, suggesting that while the visuals may vary in quality, they contribute to the game's effective horror experience.
- “Pretty awesome and brutal; loved the graphics, definitely worth the play.”
- “The atmosphere is great and the graphics are quite decent.”
- “I think the graphics look very nice and I like the way it's been done.”
- “The graphics are atrocious.”
- “Better graphics, better sound design.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some users noting that the scary music effectively enhances the VR experience, while others criticize the overall quality as cheap, including sound effects and the use of unoriginal ending music. Additionally, the ambient looping music featuring vocals has been mentioned, but its reception is unclear.
- “The ambient looping music with the singer adds a unique touch to the experience.”
- “Playing scary music in VR creates an intense atmosphere that heightens the fear factor.”
- “Other than that, everything was cheap, including the sound effects, and the ending music was stolen too.”
- “Next, your ambient looping music with the guy singing.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The humor in this game is largely overshadowed by its intense horror elements, particularly in VR, where the immersive experience elicits genuine fear rather than laughter. While the reviewer typically finds horror amusing, the VR format elevates the scare factor to a level that provokes a strong emotional response, leaving little room for humor.
- “The humor in this game is brilliantly dark, making even the scariest moments feel lighthearted.”
- “I found myself laughing out loud at the clever jokes and unexpected twists throughout the game.”
- “The witty dialogue and absurd situations had me chuckling even during the most intense scenes.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or additional lives to progress effectively.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers limited replayability, though it is still considered enjoyable by players.
- “Not much replayability, but it is still good.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Overall, users report minor sound glitches that do not significantly detract from the overall gaming experience, indicating a generally stable performance.
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the immersion.”
- “There are numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay and hinder progress.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users emphasize that monetization in VR is crucial, as the actual experience can significantly differ from what is portrayed in advertisements or gameplay previews.