The Bogtavern

About

"The Bogtavern" is a top-down, mouse and keyboard-controlled game set in a Lovecraftian-inspired swamp in North-East Germany. The story follows a professor and captain as they explore the ominous waters, with their psyche affected the longer they stay. Gather collectibles to learn more about the unique lore and experience a dynamic, condensed narrative, all without jumpscares or graphical violence.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 30 reviews

story8 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features an amazing setting and story, creating a captivating dark atmosphere.
The unique method of handling the text-based story and the consistent, well-themed visuals enhance the overall experience.
The sound design and music contribute significantly to the game's immersive and eerie ambiance.

The gameplay is repetitive, with only 6 maps leading to a lack of variety and exploration.
Boat controls are slow and unresponsive, which can become frustrating over time.
There is no effective way to track branching storylines, making it difficult to follow the narrative progression.

story
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
58%
12%
The game's story is praised for its intriguing setting and character development, with a unique text-based narrative that enhances immersion. However, while some parts are engaging, others fall flat, and the lack of a tracking system for branching events can be frustrating. Overall, it offers a captivating yet mixed storytelling experience that encourages exploration and evokes a chilling atmosphere.
- “The navigation mechanics retain mystery throughout and story snippets build up the setting and characters in an interesting way.”
- “The story holds many mysteries, which encourages further exploration of the swamp and uncovering those.”
- “What really impressed me is that when you get into a game, it gets this hold over you, making it easy to immerse into the story and the dread of being lost in the foggy swamp.”
- “There are events that can branch the story but no real means of tracking these storyline points.”
- “The story is a bit of a mixed bag: some parts are interesting, others are not.”
- “The navigation mechanics retain mystery throughout, and story snippets build up the setting and characters in an interesting way.”
atmosphere
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
25%
15%
The game is praised for its successful dark and horror atmosphere, effectively utilizing minimalism to create a sense of mystery and creepiness. Reviewers highlight the impressive sound design and the emotional depth conveyed through the narrative, which enhances the overall gloomy and unsettling ambiance. Overall, the atmosphere is described as beautifully crafted, engaging, and evocative, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “This game has a beautiful, gloomy atmosphere and a really interesting, mysterious setting.”
- “A nice little atmospheric game that plays with the emotion of uncertainty and spreads increasingly a feeling of creepiness throughout the narrative progression.”
- “The text is good, the story is interesting and as minimalist as the graphics and gameplay are, they really create a good dark but also chilled atmosphere.”
- “Very successful dark/horror atmosphere.”
- “Small, interesting game with a mysterious and creepy atmosphere.”
- “But as I said, I love this sort of authorial experiment with atmosphere and as someone who would love to try making one someday, it's a lesson in keeping things cryptic and minimal.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The graphics are consistently well-themed, featuring low-poly visuals that effectively create an immersive Lovecraftian atmosphere. Players appreciate the crispness of the visuals, which, despite their minimalist design, contribute to a dark yet relaxed ambiance that complements the game's narrative. Overall, the graphics enhance the chilling mystery experience.
- “Immaculate vibes thanks to ambient, low-poly visuals and distorted bass tracks.”
- “A nice lil Lovecraftian mood-piece with cool graphics and ambiance.”
- “Chill mini mystery story game - very crisp graphics.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
38%
38%
The gameplay is criticized for being lacking despite a strong core concept, with navigation mechanics that maintain an air of mystery. While the story snippets and writing are engaging, the abrupt transitions between scenes can feel disjointed, leaving characters unresponsive to significant events. Overall, the minimalist approach contributes to a unique dark atmosphere, but the gameplay loop may leave players wanting more depth.
- “The navigation mechanics retain mystery throughout, and story snippets build up the setting and characters in an interesting way.”
- “The text is good, the story is interesting, and as minimalist as the graphics and gameplay are, they really create a good dark but also chilled atmosphere.”
- “The core concept is really good, but the gameplay is lacking at best.”
- “Some of it is quite well written, but sometimes it's a little weird: something happens, cut, next scene... and the gameplay loop continues and the protagonists don't even talk about what they just witnessed.”
- “The core concept is really good, but the gameplay is lacking at best.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
63%
13%
The music in the game is highly praised for its ability to enhance the storytelling and overall atmosphere, with a gloomy soundtrack that effectively captures the game's aesthetic. Reviewers note its eldritch horror elements, which contribute to a sense of fear and the unknown, further elevated by the excellent sound design.
- “I also really liked the music and sound design.”
- “It has a sort of eldritch horror element to it, the fear of the unknown, which is even further perpetuated via the excellent music.”
- “Gloomy soundtrack that captures the look and feel of the game very well!”