The Caregiver

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 203 reviews
  • story
  • atmosphere
  • graphics
The Caregiver Game Cover
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"The Caregiver" is a psychological horror adventure game set in Japan, where you play as a caregiver. The game features an immersive, photo-realistic graphical style and a VHS film aesthetic that enhances the horror experience. Key features include a gripping story, atmospheric setting, and puzzles to solve. Note: This summary is based on the information provided and my understanding of the game. It is not an official description.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 203 reviews
story26 positive mentions
stability10 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and creepy atmosphere, effectively building tension and unease throughout the experience.
  • The incorporation of Japanese folklore, particularly the tengu yokai, adds an interesting twist to the horror narrative.
  • Gameplay includes engaging puzzles and a collect-a-thon element with supporter cards, enhancing exploration and immersion.
  • The game suffers from various bugs and glitches, including issues with navigation and save points that can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
  • The pacing can feel slow, with tedious fetch quests and a lack of clear objectives leading to frustration.
  • The final sequences, particularly the chase mechanics, are often criticized for being confusing and frustrating, detracting from the overall experience.
  • story59 mentions

    The story in this game is generally well-received, with many players finding it engaging and atmospheric, particularly appreciating its dark themes and character development. While some reviews note that the narrative can feel straightforward or simple, others highlight its compelling twists and effective pacing that build tension without relying heavily on jump scares. Overall, the story is seen as a strong aspect of the game, contributing to an immersive experience despite some critiques regarding its length and complexity.

    • “The story is pretty dark and the game does a good job of slowly ramping up the tension without relying too much on jump scares.”
    • “Super fun and immersive horror game with a captivating story and interesting characters.”
    • “The narrative, despite not being verbose or overly elaborate, really paints a compelling picture of a possible haunt of demon possession, showing a lot of restraint and letting the tension build up naturally.”
    • “However, this story didn't draw me in as much.”
    • “The environment is definitely creepy but the scares are virtually non-existent and the story underwhelming.”
    • “The story isn't as good as previous ones from Chilla.”
  • atmosphere45 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its genuinely creepy and immersive qualities, effectively building suspense and evoking a sense of dread throughout. While many reviewers appreciate the well-designed environments and chilling soundscapes, some note inconsistencies in execution, particularly towards the end, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully captures the eerie essence typical of Chilla's Art, making it a compelling choice for horror enthusiasts.

    • “It's has a genuinely creepy atmosphere, especially once you get inside the house... actually, this one creeped me out even after I finished it.”
    • “A horror game with realistic environments centered around the job of two women who tend to elderly people is an almost perfect premise for a highly immersive experience filled with eerie, uncanny atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is dark, the gameplay is simple but story-driven, and the art style is really unique.”
    • “I did genuinely enjoy its beginning but it completely fails to deliver on the atmosphere it created, making it one of their least scary games.”
    • “The environments are certainly creepy, but the sound design - arguably the most crucial element in a horror game - is extremely underwhelming, hardly ever providing the right atmosphere.”
    • “Many of their earlier games have just felt like wandering about in some spooky locale until something happens, while others had some actual gameplay focus but didn't really have much of a creepy atmosphere beyond just 'being a Chilla's Art game.'”
  • graphics27 mentions

    The graphics of the game are a mix of nostalgic retro styles, featuring grainy VHS aesthetics and PS1-like visuals that evoke a unique atmosphere, particularly suited for horror fans. While many appreciate the moody and well-designed environments, some criticize the inconsistent quality, with certain areas displaying poor textures and a lack of polish. Overall, the visuals are divisive, with some praising their charm and others finding them inadequate, but they effectively contribute to the game's eerie ambiance.

    • “Another short, spooky Chilla's Art j-horror game with great grainy VHS-style visuals and that usual unsettling uncanny valley feel with all the character models.”
    • “If you are a fan of horror games with PS1-type graphics, you'll enjoy this game.”
    • “The atmosphere is dark, the gameplay is simple but story-driven, and the art style is really unique.”
    • “Poor and distorted graphics.”
    • “Low budget game, with 80's VHS quality visuals.”
    • “The graphics are awful and Steam has refused a refund (because I have had the game for over two weeks).”
  • gameplay22 mentions

    The gameplay in this title is praised for its balance between atmosphere and clear objectives, marking a significant improvement over previous entries in the series. Players appreciate the streamlined mechanics, engaging story, and a tighter design that minimizes aimless wandering, while still incorporating elements of exploration and puzzle-solving. Although it is a relatively short experience, lasting around 1.5 to 2 hours, the combination of walking simulator elements and interactive gameplay has resonated well with users, making it a standout in Chilla's Art's portfolio.

    • “I think this is the game where Chilla's Art finally found the right balance between atmosphere and gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is much more streamlined, and I knew what I was supposed to do at all times.”
    • “Many of their earlier games have just felt like wandering about in some spooky locale until something happens, while others had some actual gameplay focus but didn't really have much of a creepy atmosphere beyond just 'being a Chilla's Art game.'”
    • “Gameplay-wise, it revolves around some small searching and assembling puzzles to move forward.”
    • “The atmosphere is dark, the gameplay is simple but story-driven, and the art style is really unique.”
  • stability10 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous glitches reported, such as getting stuck in objects and having to redo sections after dying. While some players find it enjoyable despite these bugs, the overall consensus is that the game's performance detracts from the experience, making it feel rough and unfinished.

    • “A lot of glitches; first time stuck at opening a box, then my towel would disappear when cleaning urine.”
    • “Horrible game; the last puzzle is difficult to solve, plus when you die it glitches, so you have to redo the whole day. On top of that, it glitched a few times earlier.”
    • “This one was really close to hitting the mark of being another fun horror experience; however, it's very buggy.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to the need to repeat tasks after dying, which disrupts the overall experience. The confusing environment and occasional bugs contribute to a sense of aimlessness, detracting from the game's otherwise strong atmosphere. While some appreciate the developers' ambition in trying new concepts, the repetitive nature of the gameplay remains a significant drawback.

    • “Which would be alright, but being that saves are at the start of the day, if you get taken out by grandma or the raven, you have to go back and do all that tedious fetching again, and that just really brings you out of an otherwise pretty creepy game.”
    • “The house's confusing and cluttered environment stressed me out at times (especially during the clock puzzle), and I found myself wandering around aimlessly at times, which was a bit tedious.”
    • “It's tedious, buggy, and not scary (though I admit it has one of the better atmospheres of the games I've played).”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting significant performance issues and game-breaking bugs that can disrupt playthroughs. Despite its appealing style, the overall gameplay experience is marred by poor stability and frequent glitches, leading to a generally unfavorable reception in this aspect.

    • “The caregiver is a prime example of that, with very awkward performance regardless of how good your PC is.”
    • “Chilla's Art's games are notorious first and foremost for their terrible optimization.”
    • “A fun little horror romp but very rough on performance and stability.”
    • “Love the style of the game but it can be quite bland in gameplay throughout the whole game and it does seem to also have some performance issues.”
  • music3 mentions

    The music in the game is described as intense and traditional, effectively enhancing the atmosphere during challenging moments, such as puzzles. However, some users feel that the overall soundtrack does not stand out significantly, and while sound effects are generally good, certain elements, like footsteps, can be overly pronounced.

    • “I don't know how I beat the Karasu Tengu's tricky room of fusuma sliding door puzzles, but the intense traditional music really helped me focus. I followed the light and was somehow freed from the crow demon's trickery.”
    • “The sound effects and music were quite good, though the footsteps felt a bit too loud and heavy, almost like the character was stomping around.”
    • “The music in the game really enhances the atmosphere and immerses you in the experience.”
    • “There was too much music, or it just didn't stand out to me.”
    • “The music felt repetitive and didn't enhance the gameplay experience.”
    • “The soundtrack was forgettable and lacked variety.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is effectively established early on, contributing to a sense of fear and dread; however, it diminishes towards the end as the "monster" becomes more comical and easy to evade, undermining the tension.

    • “It does a really good job setting up this sense of fear and dread from the beginning, even though it kind of falls flat near the end for a very obvious reason: the 'monster' is very easy to outrun and dodge (and looks funny walking).”
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