The Consuming Shadow

About

"The Consuming Shadow" is a survival horror game with roguelike elements. You play as a paranormal investigator, trying to stop an ancient evil from consuming the world. Battle cultists, monsters, and sanity-draining shadows in this challenging and intense game. With procedurally generated levels and tons of items to find, each playthrough is different and full of replayability.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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96%

Audience ScoreBased on 363 reviews

gameplay36 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game has a fantastic atmosphere that effectively captures the essence of Lovecraftian horror.
Gameplay combines detective work with survival elements, making each playthrough engaging and unique.
The writing is well-crafted, providing a compelling narrative that enhances the overall experience.

Graphics are simplistic and may deter some players, resembling an old flash game.
Combat can feel clunky and unresponsive at times, which may frustrate players.
The random nature of events can lead to frustrating experiences, making some runs feel unfair.

gameplay
129 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
67%
5%
The gameplay of "The Consuming Shadow" is characterized by its unique blend of roguelike mechanics, investigative elements, and a strong emphasis on atmosphere, drawing players into a tense and unsettling world. While some mechanics, such as combat and procedural generation, can feel clunky or repetitive, the game offers an engaging experience through its sanity system and resource management, making each playthrough feel distinct. Overall, players appreciate the innovative gameplay loop and the challenge it presents, despite some critiques regarding balance and polish.
- “The game’s atmosphere is tense and unsettling, and the gameplay, while basic, really keeps you engaged as you try to survive in a world full of strange horrors.”
- “Great atmosphere, great gameplay, highly recommended if you like roguelites or lovecraftian horror.”
- “The gameplay is surprisingly engaging.”
- “Gameplay is a bit of a pain in the ass, especially just as you start out or switch to a higher level, but the 'procedurally-generated investigation on a time-crunch' aspect is surprisingly addictive, with an excellent setting and decent atmosphere.”
- “I wouldn't recommend it for free, let alone any price, because the gameplay is very poorly implemented and actively punishes you for trying to use the mechanics that are established in the game.”
- “The main gameplay is the dungeons which you are in so often that you would not be initially forgiven for thinking these would get repetitive, but the constant threat of death or insanity, using the excellently implemented insanity mechanic, keeps the stakes up and stops any dungeon sequence from being boring.”
atmosphere
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
39%
3%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its ability to create a tense and unsettling experience, drawing strong influences from Lovecraftian horror and survival themes. Despite its simplistic graphics, players appreciate the effective sound design, writing, and overall ambiance that contribute to a foreboding and immersive environment. Many reviewers recommend the game for those who value atmosphere over visual fidelity, highlighting its capacity to evoke genuine fear and anxiety through its gameplay and narrative elements.
- “The game’s atmosphere is tense and unsettling, and the gameplay, while basic, really keeps you engaged as you try to survive in a world full of strange horrors.”
- “The atmosphere and the writing in this game are top-notch.”
- “The screenshots absolutely betray the game's atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is thick and heavy, the substance is paper thin.”
- “The oppressive atmosphere makes these moments all the more joyous, a glimpse of hope in the relentless darkness.”
graphics
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
76%
9%
The graphics of the game are generally described as simplistic and rough, often reminiscent of early flash games, which may deter some players. However, many reviewers appreciate how the minimalist art style effectively contributes to the game's tense and atmospheric experience, particularly in creating a sense of dread and horror. While the visuals may not be polished, they are seen as fitting for the game's themes, and players are encouraged to look beyond the graphics to enjoy the deeper gameplay and narrative.
- “Don't let the art style put you off; behind the amateurish graphics lies a delightfully tense and atmospheric rogue-lite.”
- “The graphics are minimal, but they suit the atmosphere of the game very well.”
- “While some may dislike the art style, I think the silhouette-backlight design actually works in the game's favor, as it leaves more to the imagination and emphasizes the (very effective) sound direction as well.”
- “My only complaint obviously is that visually it's a bit ropey; the art style compensates for very rough looking art, so it didn't bother me once I actually started playing it.”
- “If this game was remade with better graphics and more polished in terms of gameplay and how stuff works, it would probably be a 10/10.”
- “The graphics are not stellar, but considering one guy made everything, the graphics work with the atmosphere being created.”
story
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
77%
6%
The game's story is a compelling blend of Lovecraftian themes and roguelite mechanics, offering players a detailed narrative that evolves with each playthrough. While some reviewers appreciate the depth and engaging writing, others criticize the story for being thin or lacking in detail, suggesting that it relies on players to fill in gaps. Overall, the narrative is praised for its integration with gameplay, providing a sense of impending doom and a rich backdrop for exploration and survival.
- “This game's strongest element is its writing, which takes the sense of impending doom that many roguelikes carry and turns it into an integral part of the plot and theme.”
- “The story is fantastic and engaging; just be sure to collect all the diary pages, because the diary fills in a lot of the blanks.”
- “The consuming shadow is a well-made Lovecraftian 'whodunnit' storytelling medium that, if you're willing to look past the garish display, will provide you with a lot of entertainment.”
- “The story could have used a lot more fleshing out.”
- “I find it to be on par with 'multi-universe story' (as in, an allowance for lazy writing) why write a compelling story with juicy details when you can just say 'ehhh.'”
- “Very vague storyline, and wasn't clear on what the player was supposed to do.”
replayability
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
54%
9%
The game boasts high replayability due to its random event generation, multiple unlockable characters, and various game modes, ensuring that each playthrough offers a unique experience. Players appreciate the depth and atmosphere, with many noting that the game remains engaging even after numerous runs. Overall, the combination of procedural elements and character progression contributes to its lasting appeal and replay value.
- “Every playthrough has a new mystery to solve, which makes this game a rare replayable puzzle game.”
- “Each game takes about an hour to complete, and there's a lot of replay value, with additional perks, characters, and game modes opening up each time you die...and you will die a lot, to begin with.”
- “The random nature of the mystery gives it replayability, as you can never know which elder god you're facing without knowing most of the clues and taking educated guesses.”
- “I am glad I own it; however, under the rather simplistic graphics lies a very well-made roguelike game that offers a whole lot of replay value. Unfortunately, as it often is with many roguelikes, it's a game that can have trouble justifying its price. Other games can justify it by giving you a rough estimation of the time it'll take you to finish it, but roguelikes have to ask you how long you think you'll be playing it, and you can't really answer that before giving it a try.”
- “Although the graphics are a bit basic, the overall atmosphere is fantastic, and with three unlockable characters, the replayability is nearly infinite.”
- “It also has a lot of replayability as there are four different characters to unlock, all with their own set of strengths and weaknesses, as well as multiple challenge modes and a daily challenge mode, so you will always be kept coming back for more, and that is why I love it.”
music
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
19%
14%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, creating a sense of impending doom and a Lovecraftian feel that immerses players in the experience. While some reviewers noted a lack of variety, the soundtrack is described as beautiful and effective, contributing significantly to the game's eerie ambiance and overall tension. Overall, the sound design and music are considered standout elements that elevate the game's minimalist graphics and storytelling.
- “The atmosphere, ambiance, music, and gameplay are quite fun and feel very Lovecraftian.”
- “Special kudos for the soundtrack as well, as it leaves you feeling tense the whole way through.”
- “Fantastic, eerie writing along with minimalist design and brilliant music creates an atmosphere of horror so enthralling and exciting.”
- “The music and sound effects, though lacking in variety, never got on my nerves because of just how good the atmosphere was.”
- “The music is creepy enough to create goosebumps in the right moments.”
- “I felt immersed, like I was sitting in my car, checking off a list, sleepily driving towards another cursed township (the otherworldly soundtrack helps a bunch in the ambiance department).”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by clever and absurd situations, such as characters becoming unexpectedly wealthy due to a lack of ammunition. Players appreciate the witty commentary reminiscent of Yahtzee's Zero Punctuation reviews, as well as the amusing achievements and character progression elements. Overall, the game balances thrilling moments with comedic outcomes, often leading to hilariously unexpected results.
- “A funny thing is that he usually ends up rich because there are no bullets to buy or find in dungeons.”
- “Some very interesting and funny things to find there.”
- “Once you have (or think you have) enough information, you can brave Stonehenge itself for either a thrilling conclusion, a hilariously colossal cockup, or something in between.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Players note that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, often requiring extensive time investment to achieve all accomplishments and endings. While the repetitive nature of grinding can be frustrating, many find the experience rewarding and worth the effort, especially given the game's engaging mechanics and storyline.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I bought this game the day it released on Humble and poured countless hours into death after death after aggravating, last-nerve-grinding death, and I've done it all again in the Steam version with absolutely no regrets.”
- “You get texts and drive around in your car from town to town investigating events and essentially leveling (re: grinding) while finding the runes you need to successfully cast a banishment ritual at Stonehenge to end all the evil chicanery.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is marked by frequent glitches, particularly with player animations and unreliable enemy hitboxes, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences. While the graphics create an engaging atmosphere, the overall execution is described as rough around the edges, making the game feel buggy at times. Despite these issues, it remains a playable option for a few hours of entertainment.
- “Other problems include the graphics, which, while fairly simplistic, are stylized decently enough to create a foreboding and tense atmosphere. However, it occasionally glitches out with player animations getting stuck, enemy hitboxes being unreliable when trying to melee them (I swear two enemies in particular are more dangerous than they should be because of this issue), and the HUD in the car not being the easiest thing to navigate, alongside RNG playing too heavily into the success or failure of a playthrough.”
- “As it is, The Consuming Shadow is an okay way to sink a few hours, but it has lots of glitches and is rough around the edges, making it only perfectly serviceable.”
- “It can be buggy at times.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is generally basic in terms of raw gameplay mechanics, but it effectively enhances the atmosphere through features like the Lovecraftian-style sanity meter, which significantly influences character performance in both combat and exploration.
- “I love how the spells and the tie to sanity influence the game's ending, which is determined by your performance throughout.”
- “The gameplay may seem basic at first, but it offers a rich atmosphere. The Lovecraftian-style sanity meter significantly impacts your character's performance both in and out of combat.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional experience of the game to be intense, particularly in the dungeons, which evoke feelings of tension and unease as they navigate through them.
- “The dungeons still managed to be tense and made me feel uneasy as I traversed them.”

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55%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews

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60h Median play time

38h Average play time

20-60h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

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