The Fridge is Red
- September 27, 2022
- 5WORD Team
Get on Steam"The Fridge is Red" is a first-person horror anthology game featuring six distinct stories, each with unique themes and gameplay. Players must keep their eyes on the red fridge as they navigate liminal spaces, surreal encounters, and uncanny strangers. Inspired by PSX-era retro horrors, the game offers an immersive analogue post-process and FPS lock, with save slots requiring a memory card. The game encourages players to uncover the red fridge's biggest secret.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a unique and interesting concept that resonates with themes of guilt and psychological horror.
- The atmosphere and sound design are effective, creating a haunting experience that some players found genuinely chilling.
- Certain levels and puzzles offer rewarding moments, and the overarching narrative connects the stories in a compelling way.
- The game is plagued with bugs and glitches that can prevent progress, leading to frustration and the need to restart levels.
- Many players found the gameplay tedious and lacking in clear guidance, making it easy to get stuck or lost.
- Despite its horror elements, the game fails to deliver consistent scares, leaving some players disappointed with the overall experience.
- story17 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as intriguing and atmospheric, with a strong overarching narrative that evokes comparisons to Silent Hill, featuring unexpected twists and connections across its multiple scenarios. However, many players find that the storytelling is undermined by numerous bugs and gameplay issues, leading to frustration and interruptions that detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the potential of the story within the horror genre, the execution is often marred by technical problems, leaving a mixed impression.
“The overarching story packs a punch and reminded me a bit of Silent Hill as you start putting things together.”
“On the one hand, the story is mostly straightforward (with an unexpected twist), but on the other hand, it's filtered through a horror lens where everything melds, stretches, and warps constantly.”
“The game is fun, the story is interesting, and it continues in an appropriate way.”
“However, the storytelling falls short as the game is riddled with bugs, bugs, bugs.”
“The third story had me restart three times and push four hours trying to find ICU ward 7, and the fifth story had me leave the cafe to drive into an invisible wall to get stuck, then restart the checkpoint and drive a good five minutes away from the cafe (no turns in the road, just a straight path laid out in front of me) only to come back to the cafe.”
“This has potential in the analog horror gaming sphere, but the glitches, bad controls, constantly getting physically stuck and restarting a story from scratch, and all the frustration that comes with all its faults make this one of the most infuriating (albeit still playable) first-person horror games I've experienced on this platform.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the effective and eerie artwork that enhances the atmosphere, while others criticize the low-resolution textures and various graphical glitches that detract from the experience. Overall, the aesthetic is appreciated by some for its unique style, but it can also hinder gameplay due to its darkness and visual issues.
“The artwork of tfir is exceptionally effective, and to be commended for walking a fine line with a task that is more demanding than in a more traditional horror game.”
“The visuals and audio are wonderful and eerie.”
“I adore the graphics and aesthetic.”
“The aesthetic is just horrendously ugly.”
“I encountered various bugs from graphical glitches to softlocks and even a couple of hardlocks.”
“PSX aesthetic, check.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the mechanics and random elements, while others criticize it for being sluggish, unfocused, and tedious. Despite a promising start, many feel that the gameplay lacks originality and fails to maintain engagement throughout the game. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a significant drawback, overshadowing the otherwise decent story and visual style.
“Nice mechanics to it as well as RNG spawn locations for the letters, which was nice.”
“The overall story of this game isn't bad, but the gameplay is just as important to a game like this.”
“It's visual style and atmosphere are top notch, but the gameplay is so sluggish and unfocused, I find it hard to recommend.”
“Got plans to conquer, but I'm stuck in bad gameplay.”
“After a strong start in 'For Daddy to Work', it quickly descends into a melting pot of tedium, mundane half-executed ideas, with none of the originality shown in the initial gameplay segment making it through to the rest of the game.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its creepy, lo-fi aesthetic and strong narrative elements, effectively creating a chilling experience that resonates with fans of indie horror. However, some players note that the atmospheric design can occasionally hinder gameplay due to low visibility and resolution issues, leading to a mixed reception regarding its overall execution. Despite these criticisms, many appreciate the effort put into crafting a unique and immersive environment.
“For daddy to work: a fun and well-built level, it keeps the atmosphere creepy all the way through the level, probably the best one in the game.”
“I'm giving it a thumbs up anyway because I appreciate what they were trying to do with this, and that sense of atmosphere really is well done.”
“Don't take the negative reviews for this game too seriously if you're someone who enjoys indie walking sim horror with a strong emphasis on fever-dream passages and chilling lo-fi atmosphere.”
“Creepy atmosphere, a neat little encounter, if a bit silly.”
“I'm giving it a thumbs up anyway because I appreciate what they were trying to do with this, and that sense of atmosphere really is well done, but be aware that this game is a chore to play at times.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from numerous stability issues, including frequent bugs, glitches, and control problems, leading to frustrating experiences such as softlocks and hardlocks. While it shows potential in the analog horror genre, these technical shortcomings significantly detract from the overall gameplay experience.
“This has potential in the analog horror gaming sphere, but the glitches, bad controls, constantly getting physically stuck and restarting a story from scratch, and all the frustration that comes with all its faults make this one of the most infuriating (albeit still playable) first-person horror games I've experienced on this platform.”
“I encountered various bugs from graphical glitches to softlocks and even a couple hardlocks.”
“A buggy mess with little to no explanation of how half the things work.”
- music2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music and audio design in the game is generally solid, though there are some exceptions that detract from the overall experience.
“The music and audio design is solid throughout, creating an immersive experience.”
“The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, enhancing the overall atmosphere.”
“Each track is thoughtfully composed, making every moment in the game feel more engaging.”
“The music and audio design is solid throughout with the exception of some repetitive tracks that become tiresome over time.”
“The soundtrack lacks variety, making it feel monotonous and uninspired.”
“While the sound effects are decent, the overall music experience fails to leave a lasting impression.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be frustrating and unintuitive, often leading to tedious experiences with minimal guidance. Many have reported getting stuck in repetitive sections, particularly noting issues with bugs that exacerbate the grind.
“Not great, not intuitive enough for the fact it gives little to no guidance in some sections, making it easy to get stuck in tedious areas.”
“The grinding is tedious and full of bugs.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Users highlight that the game offers infinite replayability, suggesting that players can enjoy it repeatedly without losing interest.
“The game is infinitely replayable, offering new experiences with each playthrough.”
“Every run feels fresh and exciting, making me want to dive back in again and again.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes ensures that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back. The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying feel pointless.”
“The game offers a linear experience with no real variations in gameplay, which severely limits its replayability.”
“After finishing the main story, I found myself with no desire to replay it. The side quests are repetitive and don't add much value.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its interconnected scenarios that culminate in a profoundly tragic narrative, reflecting the character's real-life struggles and heartbreak. Players find the story to be deeply impactful, evoking a sense of permanence in its emotional weight.
“While all six scenarios are shown in time to be connected (if only seemingly peripherally), when the game is completed, the story told is a truly horrible one from the character’s life, as heartbreakingly permanent as any story imaginable could create.”
“The emotional depth of the characters is astounding; their struggles resonate with real-life experiences, making every moment feel impactful and genuine.”
“I found myself deeply moved by the narrative; it explores themes of loss and redemption in a way that lingers long after the game is over.”
