The Exit 8

About

"The Exit 8" is a captivating 2D puzzle-platformer game set in a mysterious world. As the player, you control a character named Kotake, who must use her abilities to solve increasingly complex puzzles and overcome obstacles to uncover the truth about the enigmatic Exit 8. With its unique atmosphere and immersive storyline, this game offers a satisfying and challenging experience for fans of the genre.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,592 reviews

gameplay47 positive mentions

story8 negative mentions

gameplay
151 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
67%
2%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and focus on a "spot the difference" mechanic, making it accessible yet engaging for players. While many reviews highlight the game's innovative atmosphere and tension-building elements, there are mixed feelings about its short duration and repetitive nature, with some players wishing for more depth and content. Overall, the gameplay is enjoyable for its price, offering a unique experience despite its limitations.
- “Innovative gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is simple yet effective, challenging you to spot anomalies as you move through connected tunnels.”
- “Very clever horror game with a neat observation-based gameplay hook.”
- “Gameplay amounts to one looping hallway in which you have to recognize, sometimes very minuscule, anomalies during each walkthrough in order to reach the titular exit 8.”
- “If you expect a horror game, you'll be sorely deluded; the atmosphere is nice but too many anomalies are hard to spot and bring little to no spook factor.”
- “For the price though, I expected more than one hour of gameplay...”
atmosphere
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
35%
2%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively capturing the unsettling essence of liminal spaces and environments like Tokyo subway stations. Reviewers appreciate the absence of cheap jump scares, noting that the tension and psychological horror stem from the game's sound design and visual aesthetics, which create a uniquely creepy experience. While some mention the gameplay can become repetitive, the overall atmosphere remains a highlight, making it a compelling choice for fans of atmospheric horror and puzzle games.
- “The atmosphere is superb; I recommend playing this with a headset on.”
- “From its liminal space aesthetic to its subtly creepy vibes, the game left a lasting impression with its immersive atmosphere and attention to detail.”
- “The game showcases immersive and well-designed atmosphere yet remaining humble in what it offers.”
- “The game primarily focuses on psychological horror and an eerie atmosphere, with only a few light jumpscares added in.”
- “A series of walkways crawling with potential predators, doors that lead nowhere, signs smeared in blood and feces, and a general atmosphere that would make Silent Hill seem like a safe place to live.”
- “I managed to make it to the 8th corridor a couple of times early on, but the next hour or so consisted of me painstakingly examining every little object for the remaining, much harder to spot anomalies, and it ended up killing the entire atmosphere of the game and making it a chore.”
graphics
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
44%
3%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning quality and meticulous attention to detail, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. Many players noted the impressive visual fidelity, with some describing the graphics as "amazing" and "insane," while also highlighting the game's ability to evoke a unique aesthetic, particularly in its representation of a Japanese subway environment. However, some users experienced performance issues on lower-end hardware, indicating that while the visuals are a standout feature, they may demand significant system resources.
- “The graphics are stunning, with meticulous attention to detail that brings every scene to life.”
- “The graphics are awesome (thought it was real).”
- “The graphics and detail are flawless, and there's a real sense of horror because of the unknown.”
- “Ignoring the obvious graphical beauty and details, the overall content of e8 is very slim.”
- “The graphics are realistic but also very bright, plasticky, and sterile looking.”
- “The only thing that doesn't really stand out is its graphic style, since it seems almost 'pre-made' and it really does not have that much character.”
replayability
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
54%
19%
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting a significant drop in value after discovering all anomalies. While some enjoy replaying for fun or to challenge friends, most agree that once the anomalies are known, the game loses its challenge and excitement. A few players mention randomization and subtlety in anomalies as factors that can enhance replayability, but the consensus leans towards limited long-term engagement.
- “Super fun and easily replayable, such a simple but effective concept!”
- “Great replay value in the randomization of the anomalies plus the challenge of finding them all.”
- “A very short game, but with a ton of replayability.”
- “There is absolutely no replay value in my opinion, especially considering I found all the anomalies, which means there is nothing else to the game.”
- “First few playthroughs are fun and tense, but after you've seen all the anomalies, it loses all replayability.”
- “Unfortunately not very replayable, as you would start to remember each anomaly and know exactly what to look for - but a very fun experience on your first playthrough!”
story
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
63%
21%
The reviews indicate a general consensus that the game lacks a substantial story, with many players expressing disappointment over its absence or minimal depth. Some appreciate the atmospheric elements and the game's ability to engage without a complex narrative, while others feel that a more developed storyline could enhance the experience. Overall, the game's focus seems to be on gameplay mechanics rather than storytelling.
- “From the very start, the game captivated me with its intriguing storyline and beautifully crafted world.”
- “It offers a perfect balance of challenge and storytelling, keeping you engaged from start to finish.”
- “The story is deep and moving.”
- “Namely, it has no story to speak of; I found the story to be very dull and thus worse than not having one.”
- “Game lacks depth and is a mere visual puzzle game; do not buy into this game assuming you're going to get any sort of portal complexity in story or be able to move things.”
- “If you're looking for a horror game that you could pick up for a bit and play without having to commit yourself to an ongoing story or complex narrative, this is it!”
humor
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a blend of quirky and unsettling elements, with players noting that while some anomalies are genuinely funny, others evoke a sense of creepiness. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to balance humor with horror, creating a unique experience that can be both amusing and unnerving. Overall, the game is described as creatively funny, with moments that elicit laughter alongside jump scares, making it enjoyable for both solo play and streaming with friends.
- “The game is pretty creative, funny, and off-putting.”
- “Some of the anomalies were funny, but others thoroughly freaked me out lol.”
- “At first it's weird, then it's funny, then it's unnerving, and when you finally make it out, it's satisfying.”
music
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
70%
11%
The game's music aspect is characterized by a notable absence of a traditional soundtrack, which some players find enhances the unsettling atmosphere, allowing sound effects to take center stage. While the lack of music may deter some, others appreciate the minimalist approach, suggesting that it effectively contributes to the immersive experience, particularly in horror contexts. Overall, the sound design is praised for its quality, though many players express a desire for ambient music to further enrich the experience.
- “The sound design is top-notch, with an atmospheric soundtrack that perfectly complements the mood of the game.”
- “I loved the concept and thought the choice to have no music was bold, but it was really effective for the unsettling atmosphere.”
- “I played with some spooky music in my ears, and it made the experience very immersive.”
- “Half the experience of a horror game is arguably how it sounds, and exit 8 falls kind of flat; with stock sound effects, completely non-existent soundtrack, and a constant buzzing noise that is driving me crazy!!”
- “There isn't much to say about the soundtrack as there isn't really one, however I do quite enjoy the sound effects and find them to be well-made.”
- “You might be put off by the lack of a soundtrack, or voice acting, or any set pieces, but therein lies the appeal.”
emotional
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional impact of the game is significant, with players reporting feelings of anxiety, paranoia, and frustration as they navigate its challenges. Many describe a sense of unease and mental strain, often likening their experience to losing their sanity or feeling dizzy due to the game's design. Overall, it evokes a complex range of emotions, from pride in overcoming obstacles to a lingering sense of confusion and disorientation.
- “This game genuinely made me feel anxious.”
- “It's a great game, and it legitimately made me feel paranoid, which isn't a level of emotional impact you get out of a lot of games.”
- “I will never emotionally recover from this.”
grinding
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
28%
67%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some appreciate the initial intrigue and clever gameplay, many express frustration with the repetitive and tedious nature of searching for anomalies, especially as the game progresses. The lack of tracking for in-game progression exacerbates the grind, leading to feelings of annoyance and boredom.
- “Really fun and well-made observation game, with a good level of difficulty that was not tedious.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It's a nice concept, but once the novelty wears off, the game becomes one of the most tedious and almost downright Sisyphean games you'll ever play. A lot of the 'anomalies' are extremely subtle, to the point where I'd spend several minutes analyzing the hallway I'm in, think there's nothing wrong, and then find that I've been sent back to zero because the yellow tiles on the floor were different or there was a weird-looking stain on the ceiling.”
- “Extremely tedious, and the slightest mistake or miss-look can result in you having to start all over again. Had some fun creepy scenes, but overall I wouldn't say I enjoyed it.”
optimization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
Overall, the optimization of the game receives mixed reviews. While some players report flawless performance and a polished experience, others criticize it for being poorly optimized, resource-intensive, and visually lacking. The consensus suggests that while the game performs well in some aspects, there is significant room for improvement in optimization.
- “Great performance, great price, and exactly as advertised. The company also does a good job of being upfront with players about what to expect while playing.”
- “In terms of performance, I encountered no significant issues or bugs during my playthrough, which speaks to the developers' dedication to delivering a polished gaming experience.”
- “Really fun, well optimized, and a cool take on observation style games.”
- “The game isn't the best optimized as well.”
- “Horribly optimized, looks bad, takes tons of resources to run.”
- “The game is, however, terribly optimized.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with users reporting a bug-free experience, particularly on the Steam Deck. However, some mention occasional lighting and texture glitches, especially at higher field of view settings. Despite these minor issues, players find the game well-constructed and intuitive.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck!”
- “Runs great on my Steam Deck OLED too, which is an added bonus.”
- “A completed, bug-free game for a reasonable price is hard to come by nowadays...”
- “I think if they charged any more, they would really need to clean up some of the lighting and texture glitches that occasionally crop up - these seemed to be worse on a higher FOV.”
- “I did have one bug where my view was tilted up, but besides that I didn't have any bugs or glitches.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The monetization system relies heavily on the features offered by the video distribution platform, leading to concerns about intrusive advertisements, such as those for dentist offices, which can detract from the user experience.
- “Monetization is only possible when using the functions provided by the video distribution site.”
- “The constant barrage of ads makes me feel like I'm being sold to rather than enjoying the game.”
- “I feel pressured to spend money just to keep up with other players.”
- “The in-game purchases are so expensive that it ruins the overall experience.”