The Fall of Lazarus

About

"The Fall of Lazarus" is a story-driven, turn-based strategy game set in a dystopian future. Assemble a team of specialists and lead them through a series of missions, using tactical decisions and character interactions to reveal a deeper story. With challenging gameplay and rich lore, players must navigate the complex politics of a crumbling society and make difficult choices in pursuit of their objectives.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

49%

Audience ScoreBased on 49 reviews

story16 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game offers an interesting narrative with a unique sci-fi premise that explores psychological themes.
The atmosphere and graphics are well-designed, creating an immersive experience.
It's free to play now, making it a worthwhile option for fans of the genre despite its flaws.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, including UI issues and game-breaking scenarios.
Puzzles are often poorly designed and lack clear instructions, leading to frustration and confusion.
The story is convoluted and leaves many questions unanswered, which may disappoint players seeking resolution.

story
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
67%
9%
The story of "The Fall of Lazarus" is described as intriguing yet flawed, with many players finding it confusing and lacking in clarity. While some appreciate its psychological and surreal elements, others criticize the delivery and coherence, noting that essential plot points are often left ambiguous or poorly executed. Overall, the narrative has potential but suffers from execution issues, leaving players divided on its effectiveness and engagement.
- “A fun game with an interesting story and some puzzles.”
- “The game story is so good that you want to know what will happen next.”
- “It's a sweet sad story that I personally enjoyed, particularly the flashbacks.”
- “The story has no ending; the entire thing feels pointless.”
- “Unfortunately, that also left the story full of gaps and ambiguities.”
- “The story wasn't engaging; there wasn't any gradual reveal of information to keep me intrigued or interested, and the puzzles were frustrating and completely unnecessary.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The graphics in the game are generally well-received, featuring strong aesthetic visuals that evoke a Lovecraftian "geometric horror" atmosphere, enhancing the storytelling experience. While not on par with high-budget titles like Battlefield, the visuals are pleasing and contribute to a climactic ambiance, making the game visually engaging without overwhelming the player. Overall, the graphics are described as decent, with a unique artistic style that may not appeal to everyone, particularly those who prefer more conventional horror elements.
- “The graphics are nice.”
- “There are some strong aesthetic visuals and vistas in this game that are most of all the descendants of Lovecraftian 'geometric horror' rather than anything else.”
- “The graphics are not Battlefield, but your eyes won't hurt, and it creates a climactic atmosphere with the story.”
- “There are some strong aesthetic visuals and vistas in this game that are more of a descendant of Lovecraftian 'geometric horror' than anything else, so if your favorite monster is a dumb zombie - an epitome of shallow symbolism of modern pop culture - 'tfol' is probably not going to cater to you.”
- “Graphics are decent.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
Gameplay is generally short, averaging around 2-4 hours, but is marred by repetitiveness and complexity that some players find frustrating. While certain puzzles are well-integrated into the story, the controls and mechanics can be unintuitive, leading to a disjointed experience. Overall, the gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players expressing dissatisfaction with the execution and narrative coherence.
- “Expect 3-4 hours of gameplay, unless you go for an extended-play achievement.”
- “Some of the puzzles are really good, and most are integrated into the story; however, the weakest part here are the puzzle-related controls and some game mechanics. Many of them have to be explored by the player; most are easy to understand, but a few of them are quite awkward.”
- “Gameplay is only about 2-3 hours tops -- my playtime is a combination of starting more than once and a certain achievement.”
- “The story is okay, but the gameplay is repetitive.”
- “Otherwise, the gameplay feels too complex and the storyline boring.”
- “Any one who has played Tacoma and enjoyed it, beware. I thought the super cheap price tag was worth it, but my god, the unintuitive gameplay and horrific English make it unplayable.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the humor in the game is hit-or-miss, with some finding the attempts at wit to be forced and detracting from the overall story. While there are moments that reference pop culture, such as a Matrix nod, many feel that the narrative would benefit from a more serious approach without the comedic elements.
- “Is the poster of the woman in a red dress a clue, or just a funny Matrix reference?”
- “The writers tried to be witty and insert some humor.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke strong feelings, reminiscent of childhood triumphs, while also lacking a deeper emotional connection for some players. Reviewers express that the game elicits a range of personal stories and experiences, showcasing its profound impact, with many finding the narrative both challenging and deeply moving.
- “I don't write many reviews, and this was probably the longest and most emotional one I have ever written just to give this game its due credit - or one of many due credits, including those harsh ones perhaps, too; everyone can have their own story with this game, and that is its true and measurable greatness.”
- “Very difficult and touching story.”
- “It truly made me feel invigorated, like when you're 12 and you beat Portal 2.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The music in the game is well-received, enhancing the overall experience with a fitting soundtrack that complements the on-screen action. Players particularly enjoyed the music puzzle, and the soundtrack is noted for being engaging rather than repetitive or annoying. However, the £5 DLC primarily offers a note from the developers along with the soundtrack.
- “The soundtrack adds to this.”
- “The only thing I really enjoyed was the music puzzle.”
- “The music matches what is happening on the screen and is not repetitive or annoying.”
- “The £5 DLC is just a note from the developers and a soundtrack.”
- “The music is matching what is happening on the screen and is not repetitive or annoying.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game's stability is marked by several minor issues, including UI glitches and occasional bugs that can disrupt gameplay, such as falling through the floor. While these problems are not game-breaking, they can be annoying, and there are concerns about the developer's commitment to addressing them. Overall, the game runs smoothly in terms of performance, with beautifully designed environments.
- “The environment is beautifully designed with great detail, and the game runs smoothly with no glitches that I noticed.”
- “Great voice acting from the protagonist, and the clever use of a personal electronic tablet enhances navigation and interaction.”
- “The game offers a good story and a seamless experience, showcasing impressive stability throughout.”
- “During this playthrough, I encountered several UI glitches, and I fell through the floor in a scene. I had to quit and reload, which bypassed the whole scene, causing me to miss out on its plot points. It's not game-breaking, but it's minorly annoying.”
- “The game is incredibly buggy, and it seems the developers have no intention of fixing these issues.”
- “I frequently experience crashes and performance drops, making it hard to enjoy the game.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its engaging presentation and effective use of stylistic elements, creating a climactic and suspenseful experience. While the graphics may not be top-tier, they contribute positively to the overall ambiance, enhancing the storytelling and tension from the outset.
- “The graphics may not be top-tier, but they create a climactic atmosphere that enhances the story.”
- “This stand-alone mini game serves as an excellent introductory chapter, effectively building atmosphere, suspense, and tension right from the start.”
- “Good game with a cool atmosphere, impressive presentation, and an okay story.”
- “The graphics are not top-tier, but they won't hurt your eyes, and they create a climactic atmosphere that complements the story.”
- “The stand-alone mini-game as the introductory chapter is one of the best stylistic devices for building atmosphere, suspense, and tension, and it's all present when you start the game after that first chapter.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly without any noticeable glitches. Players appreciate the detailed environment design and the clever use of personal electronic devices for navigation and interaction, contributing to an overall positive experience.
- “Good story (not great), great voice acting from the protagonist (not so much the onboard computer but I think that's the point), clever use of a personal electronic tablet to scan maps/navigate, check current objectives, look up personnel details and info (and even hack) etc. The environment is beautifully designed with great detail, and it runs smoothly with no glitches that I saw.”
- “Well optimized”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players found the grinding aspect of the game to be manageable, with puzzles that were engaging without being overly tedious.