The Cursed Tape

About

The Cursed Tape is a single player survival simulation game with a horror theme. It was developed by JustTomcuk and was released on May 7, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

"The Cursed Tape" is a 30-40 minute horror walking simulator that places you in front of a mysterious videotape. With a chilling VHS effect, realistic graphics, and natural sound design, the game aims to deliver a frightening experience. There are no menus or settings, and the only way to exit is by pressing Alt+F4 or going through the door in the main room, adding to the immersive atmosphere.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 26 reviews

atmosphere3 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The sound design is incredible, creating a creepy atmosphere that enhances the horror experience.
The game features well-timed scares that keep players on edge throughout the experience.
Overall, it's a solid short horror game that offers a unique and immersive experience for fans of the genre.

The lack of a menu or settings options can be frustrating, as players must rely on in-game mechanics to quit.
Some players found the math puzzles to be overly complicated and disruptive to the flow of the game.
Movement speed is slow, which can lead to frustration during gameplay.

atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, characterized by exceptional sound design and a dark, creepy ambiance that enhances the found footage style. Reviewers note the constant tension and eerie vibes, which contribute to an immersive experience, making it a standout feature of the game despite its short length.
- “The atmosphere is amazing; the sound design is incredible!”
- “Dark and creepy atmosphere in a game where a tape leads you to unsettling places.”
- “Constant tension, the atmosphere, scares, eerie vibes, graphics, sounds—all of that came together for me to enjoy a solid short experimental game at such a low price.”
- “Dark and creepy atmosphere game, where a tape leads you to unsettling places.”
- “Constant tension; the atmosphere, scares, eerie vibes, graphics, and sounds all came together for me to enjoy a solid short experimental game at such a low price.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story of the game has been criticized for being unclear and lacking direction, leaving players confused about its narrative. While the visuals are praised, the inclusion of math problems is seen as disruptive and detracting from the overall storytelling experience.
- “Respectfully, I'm so sorry to say this, but this game was so bad. It wasn't good. Give us some direction, and let's fix the brightness. What is the story? I don't understand. This game was respectfully a -10/10.”
- “The equation part felt out of place and didn’t add to the story.”
- “Visually fantastic, but I feel like math problems really throw off the otherwise smooth unfolding of the story.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The graphics are generally considered acceptable, contributing to the game's eerie atmosphere and overall experience. However, some players have reported discomfort due to camera movement, which affects their ability to engage with the game for extended periods.
- “Constant tension, the atmosphere, scares, eerie vibes, graphics, sounds, all of that came together for me to enjoy a solid short experimental game at such a low price.”
- “Graphics look okay (assets), sound seems okay, gameplay I think is mostly a walking sim. I say that as I cannot play longer than about 30 seconds to 1 minute as the head bobbing/camera sway makes me feel sick and dizzy.”
- “The graphics are underwhelming and feel outdated, which detracts from the overall experience of the game.”
- “While the game has potential, the graphics are lackluster and fail to immerse me in the environment.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The gameplay is primarily characterized as a walking simulator, which some players find engaging, while others experience discomfort due to head bobbing and camera sway. Overall, the core mechanics are considered solid and enjoyable by those who can play without discomfort.
- “The actual core gameplay is very solid to me and I really enjoyed it.”
- “The graphics look okay, and the sound seems fine, but the gameplay feels mostly like a walking simulator. I can only play for about 30 seconds to 1 minute before the head bobbing and camera sway make me feel sick and dizzy.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive and lacks depth, making it hard to stay engaged for long periods.”
- “I found the controls to be clunky and unresponsive, which really detracted from the overall experience.”