The Frozen Garden

About

The Frozen Garden is a single player survival puzzle game with a horror theme. It was developed by Distorted Production and was released on July 24, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

The Frozen Garden is a third-person horror game inspired by classic survival horror that will immerse you in an intriguing and unsettling world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 17 reviews

atmosphere5 positive mentions

gameplay2 negative mentions

The game excels in creating a convincing horror atmosphere reminiscent of classic titles like Silent Hill.
The sound effects and creature designs contribute to a creepy and unsettling experience.
Despite its short playtime, the game offers a nostalgic feel and some interesting horror elements.

The game is very short, with a total playtime of around 30 to 45 minutes, leaving players wanting more content.
Gameplay mechanics, including camera controls and lack of puzzles, are considered dull and unbalanced.
The story lacks depth and context, making it feel incomplete and leaving players with unanswered questions.

story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The game's story is criticized for being short, bland, and lacking essential details, with many players feeling it could have been more engaging if developed further. While the atmosphere and visual storytelling are praised, the narrative often feels forgettable and underexplored, leaving players wanting more depth and character development. Overall, the story fails to provide a compelling experience, overshadowed by gameplay issues and a lack of meaningful puzzles.
- “Through the skill of the camera and audio, the game captures the emotions of the characters and uses few words to tell the story.”
- “The game excels in creating a fantastic old-school horror atmosphere in its environments, providing ample opportunities for character development and expanding the game's backstory.”
- “I actually kinda liked the game; it's a shame it was not developed further as I feel the story had more to offer, only about 45 minutes in total.”
- “While the atmosphere is good, the game is quite short—you can finish everything in 30 minutes—has no puzzles, and the story lacks important details.”
- “Story itself is bland and forgettable, gameplay is lacking and unbalanced (sometimes I died just as I stepped into a new location — screen goes black as I open the door and right after that there's a scene where I die).”
- “I would say try to focus on providing a bit more character when you inspect things, the game had some okay visual storytelling, but the actual text was very dry; the house could use more personality and detail, as well as just more unlocked rooms.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game successfully establishes a compelling horror atmosphere, characterized by its old-school aesthetic and immersive environments, which enhance character development and backstory. However, the overall experience is marred by its brevity, lack of puzzles, and insufficient narrative depth. Despite these shortcomings, players find moments of visceral unease that contribute positively to the game's ambiance.
- “The game excels in creating a fantastic old-school horror atmosphere in its environments, providing ample opportunities for character development and expanding the game's backstory.”
- “Great atmosphere, and there's a point near the last third that delivers something viscerally unnerving.”
- “I enjoyed the atmosphere and the vibe that the game is going for.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The gameplay is characterized by a lack of dialogue and simplistic puzzles, with janky visuals that evoke a nostalgic Silent Hill feel through its walking mechanics and locked camera angles. However, it suffers from mechanical shortcomings, including unbalanced difficulty that can lead to frustrating deaths upon entering new areas, resulting in an overall bland and forgettable experience.
- “There's no dialogue, the visuals, although refreshingly stylized, are janky, the puzzles are simple, and the whole thing is just mechanically lackluster overall.”
- “It definitely has that nostalgic Silent Hill feel to it, especially with the walking mechanics and the locked camera angles.”
graphics
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The graphics are characterized by a refreshingly stylized aesthetic, but they are also described as janky, contributing to an overall mechanically lackluster experience.
- “The visuals, while refreshingly stylized, are janky and detract from the overall experience.”
- “The graphics are underwhelming and fail to impress, making the game feel outdated.”
- “The art style is inconsistent, leading to a disjointed visual experience that doesn't engage the player.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively fosters character development by immersing players in a rich old-school horror atmosphere, which enhances the exploration of characters and their backstories.
- “The game excels in creating a fantastic old-school horror atmosphere in its environments, providing ample opportunities for character development and expanding the game's backstory.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The music in the game has received high praise, with one user giving it a perfect score of 10/10, indicating a strong positive reception overall.
- “I absolutely loved the music! 10/10.”
- “The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “Each track is beautifully composed, making every moment in the game feel immersive.”