The Church In The Darkness

“The Church in the Darkness” takes the unsettling approach of realism. It’s convincing as a story of a 1970s cult, and Freedom Town is a chilling look inside an isolated cult in the middle of the jungles of South America.

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The Church in the Darkness is a top-down stealth game where you infiltrate a cult in a South American village. As a former law enforcement officer, you investigate the cult leaders' activities and decide the fates of its followers. The game features dynamic narrative elements, procedurally generated village layouts, and multiple outcomes, providing a fresh experience in each playthrough.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

57%

Audience ScoreBased on 67 reviews

gameplay8 positive mentions

The game features an intriguing premise centered around cult infiltration, with multiple endings and a unique narrative that draws from real-life events.
The voice acting and art style are well-executed, contributing to an atmospheric experience that enhances the game's setting.
There is a degree of replayability due to procedural generation and different character interactions, allowing players to explore various approaches to gameplay.

The gameplay mechanics are simplistic and often frustrating, with clunky controls and a lack of depth in stealth mechanics that detracts from the overall experience.
The AI of the cultists is rudimentary, leading to repetitive encounters and a lack of challenge, which can make the game feel unengaging.
Many players found the game to be unpolished, with issues such as a poor save system, limited interaction with NPCs, and a lack of meaningful choices that impact the gameplay.

gameplay
36 mentions
22 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been widely criticized for its simplistic and repetitive nature, heavily relying on basic stealth mechanics that feel poorly executed and uninspired. While the game offers an intriguing premise with multiple endings and randomized objectives, the core mechanics are seen as dull and frustrating, leading to a lack of engagement. Overall, many players feel that the gameplay is not only lacking depth but also in need of significant improvements to be enjoyable.
- “I recommend it - such a thoughtful game and compelling gameplay!”
- “For the gameplay, it's simple, okay, but I like searching everything to try to find some of the more unique equipment, like the alarm or the tranquilizer gun I got in the alpha - I think I have to replay to unlock it in this version.”
- “If you like randomized objective locations and randomized objectives, you might extend the gameplay time more by replaying the game.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay is limited to a basic hide and seek or slaughter everyone game with very little interaction.”
- “The biggest issue is the developers' decision to make this an entirely stealth-based game and then employ the most basic and lazy stealth mechanics ever.”
- “Playing it again is not different; it's the same identical boring gameplay, and because of that, this game isn't worth its price tag at all, not even close to it.”
story
31 mentions
26 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The game's story, while intriguing and inspired by real-life events like the Jonestown tragedy, suffers from a lack of depth and engaging moments, leading to a mixed reception. Players appreciate the variety of endings and the compelling setting, but many find the gameplay mechanics detract from the narrative experience, with some quests feeling repetitive. Overall, it offers a unique story-driven experience for those interested in cult infiltration themes, despite its flaws in execution.
- “The playing time is not very long, but the story and the many different endings you can get from this game are absolutely ingenious.”
- “Richard Rouse III is a master storyteller and game designer!”
- “The story is told with voices and all the notes and documents you can find - you should always search the desks or you're missing out on some interesting reads.”
- “You have no real backstory and minimal setup for the adventure to come.”
- “It doesn't hold up as a story game, nor does it hold up as anything else.”
- “I haven't even unlocked many of the different story events in the game - I wish those were a little clearer, most of the quests end up being fetch quests.”
graphics
13 mentions
38 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as average but visually appealing, featuring a well-crafted art style and well-designed characters. While some reviews note a simplistic aesthetic and occasional roughness, the overall artwork and atmosphere contribute positively to the gaming experience, with many appreciating the retro influences and attention to detail. The modest graphics are seen as fitting for a game developed by a small team, enhancing its charm rather than detracting from it.
- “The art is well made with a really nice art style and well-designed characters.”
- “Beautiful artwork throughout the game.”
- “The graphics are pleasing to look at, and the top-down view is a favorite of mine.”
- “The graphics are pretty average but it still looks really pretty.”
- “Exploitive cult simulator with sweet PS2 retro graphics.”
- “The modest art style doesn't bother me, as the game was made by a small team on a tight budget.”
music
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality, with a standout soundtrack that enhances tension, particularly through the use of electric guitar. Voice acting is noted as a strong point, contributing to the immersive experience, while the overall sound design effectively reinforces the game's psychological horror elements. However, some users feel the soundtrack is infrequent and question its standalone appeal outside the game context.
- “The OST is pretty goddamn good, the voice acting is really good for the leaders and for the rest of the people it's pretty alright.”
- “I love the church steeple against the hazy sunset on the title page, the rich, lush greens of the jungle and the maze of paths that spiderweb their way across the encampment, the ominous, atmospheric musical score that intensifies as danger approaches, usually in the form of armed cultists, the voices over loudspeakers that reinforce the highly controlled environment and contribute to the paranoia that pervades this game world, and the voice overs that do not sound nearly so wooden as in other games.”
- “On a more positive note: the art style, music, and voice acting are my favorite parts of the game and offer some great alternatives.”
- “The ominous, atmospheric musical score intensifies as danger approaches, usually in the form of armed cultists, contributing to the paranoia that pervades this game world.”
- “The soundtrack is relatively rare but gives a tense feel with an emphasis on the electric guitar.”
- “The soundtrack is relatively rare but gives a tense feel with an emphasis on the electric guitar.”
replayability
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through multiple endings and varying side missions, as well as changing cult leader personalities and different NPC interactions in each playthrough. However, some players note that the experience can become repetitive over time. Overall, while there are incentives to replay, the enjoyment may diminish with repeated sessions.
- “Replayability is enhanced by offering different side missions that allow you to achieve various endings.”
- “The cult leaders' personalities change with each playthrough, and different NPCs appear in each session, providing a good degree of replayability.”
- “There are multiple ways to reach the end, which adds a lot of replayability, although it can become repetitive quickly.”
- “There are multiple ways to end it, so there is a lot of replayability, but at the same time, it becomes quickly repetitive.”
- “Replayability is achieved by throwing different side missions at you that will allow you to get different endings.”
- “Perhaps I'll revisit this in a year or so and find a more enjoyable game than what I've just experienced.”
atmosphere
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a mixed bag; while it features some visually appealing scenery and an effective musical score that enhances tension, many players feel it lacks depth and immersion, often describing it as mediocre. The environment does evoke a sense of dread and paranoia, particularly through sound design and subtle variations in playthroughs, but overall, it fails to create a consistently engaging atmosphere.
- “I love the church steeple against the hazy sunset on the title page, the rich, lush greens of the jungle and the maze of paths that spiderweb their way across the encampment, the ominous, atmospheric musical score that intensifies as danger approaches, usually in the form of armed cultists, the voices over loudspeakers that reinforce the highly controlled environment and contribute to the paranoia that pervades this game world, and the voice overs that do not sound nearly so wooden as in other games.”
- “While in the world, the score contributes well to the atmosphere.”
- “The artwork is nice, the atmosphere of different playthroughs is subtle, yet you do get a sense of dread for some starts.”
- “The problem with this game is that beyond the premise, some nice (if largely repetitive) scenery, and the odd enigmatic bit of dialogue or found note, it's really just a mediocre stealth game with almost no atmosphere.”
emotional
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game resonates deeply with players, as it tackles contemporary issues such as capitalism, racism, and economic hardship through heartfelt messages shared among characters. This thematic exploration fosters a sense of unity and highlights the struggles of individuals caught in divisive societal narratives, making it both topical and impactful.
- “The heartfelt messages broadcast around the camp resonate deeply, addressing how capitalism fails many, the need for self-defense, and the disillusionment with the American Dream. These themes are incredibly topical, highlighting the struggles of economic suffering, racism, and the dangers of cult mentalities, reminding us that 'we're all in this together.'”
- “The emotional depth of the game is striking, as it tackles complex issues like economic inequality and societal division, making players reflect on the 'us vs. them' mentality that can ensnare individuals.”
- “The game effectively conveys powerful messages about the human experience, touching on themes of community, struggle, and the harsh realities of life, which makes for a profoundly emotional experience.”