The Chant

An engrossing cult horror with a few striking flaws.

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"The Chant" is a third-person horror action-adventure game set on a remote island spiritual retreat. After a group chant unleashes the psychedelic terror of The Gloom, players must survive against dangerous creatures and cultists while uncovering the island's dark history. Fight or flee decisions must be made as players interact with a cast of characters slowly consumed by their own negative energy. The goal is to reverse the ritual and escape the island.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 633 reviews

story193 positive mentions

stability14 negative mentions

The game features a unique blend of cosmic horror and cult themes, creating an intriguing narrative that keeps players engaged.
Visually stunning with great enemy designs and atmospheric sound, enhancing the overall horror experience.
The combat mechanics, while simple, are enjoyable and allow for strategic resource management, adding tension to encounters.

The story feels rushed and lacks depth, with character development being minimal and some plot points being predictable.
Combat can be clunky and repetitive, with some players finding the mechanics frustrating and lacking variety.
The game is relatively short, with some players feeling that the multiple endings do not provide enough incentive for replayability.

story
523 mentions
37 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, often described as a blend of B-movie tropes and cult themes, with some players finding it engaging while others criticize it for being predictable and lacking depth. Many reviews highlight the intriguing lore and atmosphere, but also point out issues such as disjointed character development and a rushed narrative that fails to fully capitalize on its potential. Overall, while the story has its moments, it often feels formulaic and underdeveloped, leaving players wanting more depth and coherence.
- “The main story and the gloom DLC present interesting lore, explaining the purpose and existence.”
- “The story and atmosphere are really great, the highlights of the game for sure.”
- “An engaging storyline paired with striking visuals, commendable art design, and atmospheric music truly elevates the experience.”
- “Lack of care for the characters, disjointed and nonsensical story, no real depth and a feeling of it being very rushed by the end.”
- “The plot is just predictable from the first 10 minutes, the development is ridiculous, acting is silly.”
- “The story deals with heavy themes like grief and guilt but lacks focus and never comes to any meaningful conclusion for its characters.”
gameplay
221 mentions
30 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "The Chant" is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics and notable flaws, with many players finding the combat clunky and repetitive, despite some unique elements like the panic attack mechanic. While the game offers a decent atmosphere and interesting story, the overall execution suffers from janky controls and a lack of depth in combat and progression systems. Players appreciate the game's potential but often feel that it falls short due to its inconsistent mechanics and pacing.
- “The pros: great action, interesting story, creepy atmosphere, deep game mechanics.”
- “The gameplay mechanics in-game are good with a straightforward skill tree to level up healing and weapons.”
- “The combat mechanics remain fresh compared to other survival titles.”
- “I could tolerate how clunky and repetitive the battle mechanics were; even on the hardest mode, it doesn't really get fun aside from having to switch weapons. Just really clunky melee work and dodging that doesn't have good response time and even glitches often.”
- “A cool story and setting can't save this game from frustrating gameplay.”
- “The progression system is neat, but the combat mechanics are clunky and seem pointless.”
graphics
129 mentions
60 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the unique art direction, psychedelic visuals, and creature designs, which contribute to an engaging atmosphere. However, some players note issues with optimization, dated elements, and inconsistent quality in character models. Overall, while the visuals are generally considered good and immersive, they may not reach the highest standards seen in more recent titles.
- “The graphics are stunning.”
- “An engaging storyline paired with striking visuals, commendable art design, and atmospheric music truly elevates the experience.”
- “The visuals during the gloom are stunning!”
- “While the graphics are okay, it's not the visual quality that's the problem: the environments, monsters, and fundamental visual design are just all completely boring.”
- “Dated graphics and some subpar writing are matched by a pulpy and enjoyable plot that moves at brisk and thrilling pace combined with some truly unique and grotesque enemy designs.”
- “Despite its dated visuals, oversized linear world, and simplistic AI, you can find a nice survival horror romp in the chant if you let yourself be taken by it.”
atmosphere
76 mentions
59 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its creepiness and immersive qualities, enhanced by strong visuals, engaging soundtracks, and effective use of gloom effects. Many players appreciate the balance of jump scares and the overall mood, although some feel that the combat can detract from the atmospheric experience. While the setting and lore contribute to a compelling ambiance, critiques often point to a lackluster story and character development that can undermine the overall impact.
- “The story and atmosphere are really great, the highlights of the game for sure.”
- “Play it alone, in a quiet place, in the dark... this game does more to play upon atmospheric horror than most of the other horror games I've played combined.”
- “I think it's a fun indie horror game that really nailed the horror atmosphere with awesome cool/gross visuals and creepy sounds throughout.”
- “In my opinion, the game would've been greater if there was less combat and more focus on the atmosphere.”
- “The problem is with the lackluster story, characters, and the lack of any good horror atmosphere or real scares.”
- “That is worsened by the fact that facial animations, on the contrary, overplay the emotions, which sometimes ruins the atmosphere entirely: so much that even a really good soundtrack did not help in those moments.”
music
42 mentions
43 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality, with many reviewers highlighting the engaging retro and synth-inspired soundtracks that enhance the overall experience. While some found the music choices occasionally mismatched or lacking, the majority felt that it effectively complemented the game's tone and contributed to its immersive environment. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a significant asset, adding depth and intrigue to the gameplay.
- “Great retro horror soundtrack that really adds layers of depth.”
- “An engaging storyline paired with striking visuals, commendable art design, and atmospheric music truly elevates the experience.”
- “The music choice is great, both for melancholic moments and for tense fights, for intrigue and solitude, and most important of all, the seemingly ‘random’ clues and foreshadowing sounds that something dangerous may happen soon.”
- “The bad: the music was lacking and given the wild setting, some weird psychedelic rock would have been more fitting than the soundtrack.”
- “Music choices felt a bit too weird and out of place at times.”
- “That's a problem with the chant; while it has many good elements in place, it ultimately fails in putting all these elements together in a manner that doesn’t overwhelm the player.”
optimization
26 mentions
35 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback. While some players report good graphics and stable performance, others experience issues like frame drops and stuttering, particularly on PC. Many agree that the game could benefit from further updates to address these inconsistencies, but overall, it is still considered a solid experience in terms of visuals and gameplay.
- “Graphics look great too and performance is not an issue at all.”
- “On the plus side, I don't think I had any major bugs in the entirety of my playthrough, and performance was never an issue.”
- “I really like this game for its not bad story, good visuals, high textures, interesting creature design, not typical weapons, not bad optimization, and a battle system (not typical for games from this genre).”
- “On the plus side, pretty good graphics, but unfortunately poorly optimized.”
- “Additionally, due to poor optimizations, I started experiencing dropped frames even though my GPU is a 1080.”
- “It does need some updates for the PC version to fix some issues with stuttering and frame drops (my PC is as new as it gets).”
replayability
18 mentions
22 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited, primarily hinging on its three different endings and a few achievement challenges. While some players find enjoyment in exploring these endings and pursuing achievements, many feel that the lack of substantial replay value diminishes the incentive to revisit the game after completion.
- “Sort of hits that sweet spot where it doesn't overstay its welcome but it also doesn't make you upset you spent the money, plus the three endings should add to replayability.”
- “There's 3 endings based on which of the 3 main stats you work the most, and there's a speed run and 'don't kill humans' achievements, so I guess there's some replayability potential there.”
- “The only incentive towards replayability is the multiple endings available to the player.”
- “I don't mind short games, but it needs to at least have substantial replayability.”
- “Now based on those three things (mind, body, & spirit), there are three endings; however, no matter what ending you get, I would recommend just looking them up as there isn't really any replay value.”
stability
16 mentions
0 % positive mentions
13 % neutral mentions
88 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and system freezes that significantly hinder gameplay. Combat mechanics are described as clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating experiences such as getting stuck in enemies and experiencing micro freezes and frame rate drops. Overall, the game's stability issues detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “The game is buggy.”
- “It constantly freezes up my system every time!!”
- “However, some elements of the gameplay is how this game falls, I feel that some of the combat can be a little bit buggy and you can actually get yourself stuck inside of enemies, which is super annoying.”
grinding
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly during the main quest on harder difficulties, which can feel more like a chore than an engaging experience. However, some users report that the game becomes more enjoyable after acquiring upgrades, suggesting that the grind can lead to rewarding moments later on. Overall, while the combat and progression may initially frustrate, there is potential for increased enjoyment as players advance.
- “That's the reason traveling here can be tedious.”
- “Combat was tedious and brought to mind games with notorious jankiness.”
- “I did the main quest on hard difficulty because I got an achievement for it; it was more tedious than anything.”
humor
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as both endearing and consistently entertaining, with users finding joy in its absurdity, such as the use of sage and essential oils as weapons against inter-dimensional demons. The combination of a silly plot, low-budget production elements, and over-the-top themes contributes to a comedic experience that keeps players laughing from start to finish.
- “The concept of sage and essential oils being your main weapons against evil inter-dimensional demons is hilarious.”
- “This game is hilarious, white woman horror at its finest, chakras, crystals, beating spiritual monsters to death with a bundle of sage... I could not stop laughing from start to finish.”
- “Even the bad parts, like the silly plot and low-budget music, make the game kind of endearing and funny.”
character development
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a significant lack of character development, with most characters being unlikable and described as mentally unstable. While the main character is somewhat more favorable, the overall consensus is that the game does not prioritize story or character growth.
- “None of the characters are likable save for the main character, but the game is not about story or character development anyway.”
- “There is no character development as everyone is mental, and that's just it.”
- “Lack of character development at times.”
emotional
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "The Chant" is criticized for its lackluster storytelling and poorly developed characters, which fail to evoke genuine emotional responses during key moments. The repetitive combat further detracts from the overall emotional engagement, leaving players feeling disconnected from the narrative.