The Guard

About

The Guard is a single player simulation game. It was developed by STuNT and was released on February 28, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

In "The Guard" , you work the night shift at a mall and must find your missing partner while exploring darkened rooms and unlocking doors. Use WASD for movement, left mouse button to pick up items, and right mouse button to examine them. The game features pleasant graphics, simple controls, and intriguing gameplay with horror elements. Remember to find batteries for your flashlight as you search for your partner and discover the source of the mysterious noises.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

63%

Audience ScoreBased on 62 reviews

atmosphere9 positive mentions

story4 negative mentions

The Guard effectively creates a tense and immersive atmosphere, utilizing the eerie setting of a dimly lit shopping mall to instill a sense of dread.
The gameplay focuses on exploration and environmental storytelling, allowing players to engage with the environment and piece together the narrative at their own pace.
The minimalist design and reliance on subtle audio cues enhance the horror experience, making the player feel vulnerable and on edge throughout the game.

The game lacks clear objectives and guidance, leading to confusion about what players are supposed to do and how to progress.
Technical issues such as stiff animations, clipping problems, and a lack of variety in the mall's layout can detract from immersion and enjoyment.
Some players may find the gameplay too simplistic and repetitive, with a reliance on collecting keys that can become tedious over time.

atmosphere
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
37%
16%
The atmosphere of the game is consistently described as tense and unnerving, effectively creating a sense of vulnerability and dread, particularly in the eerie setting of a nighttime mall. While the subtle sounds and clever puzzles enhance the experience, some players note that the lack of variety and direction can diminish the overall immersion over time. Overall, it offers a compact yet chilling horror experience that prioritizes mood over extensive content.
- “The constant threat of being plunged into darkness enhances the atmosphere and creates a sense of vulnerability that persists throughout the experience.”
- “The experience becomes a blend of scavenger hunt and atmospheric descent, with the environment providing just enough clues to keep you moving while maintaining a steady undercurrent of dread.”
- “The eerie atmosphere, clever puzzles, and suspenseful exploration keep you on edge.”
- “The mall, while effective in atmosphere, lacks variety after prolonged exploration, and once the layout becomes familiar, the sense of danger can diminish.”
- “The atmosphere of a nighttime shopping mall, strange sounds, and a constant sense of unease make your heart race.”
- “There is literally no story... the atmosphere doesn't ever really immerse you... and the game itself is a bore to play.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The gameplay is characterized by a minimalist design that emphasizes exploration and environmental interaction, which some players may find too simplistic compared to more complex horror games. While the game features challenging levels and immersive mechanics, it also includes straightforward tasks like navigating a mall and avoiding enemies, leading to a mixed reception regarding its depth and engagement. Overall, the gameplay is described as intense yet simple, with a focus on mood and pacing rather than intricate mechanics.
- “The gameplay structure is intentionally simple, providing only the tools necessary for exploration and environmental interaction.”
- “This minimalism allows the focus to remain on mood and pacing rather than mechanical complexity.”
- “With its challenging levels and intense gameplay, you must protect key areas from waves of enemies.”
- “Some players may find the simplicity too restrictive, especially if they prefer horror games with deeper mechanics or more elaborate storytelling.”
- “An interesting horror with a plot and beautiful graphics, and although intense, the gameplay is simple.”
- “Gameplay: we need to walk around the mall and find the exit and our partner here by using flashlights and not being killed by those mysterious mannequins.”
story
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
46%
31%
The game's story is polarizing; while some players appreciate the environmental storytelling and character depth, others criticize its lack of a clear narrative and direction. The reliance on subtle cues and a simple plot about a missing partner may appeal to fans of slow-burn horror, but many feel it lacks sufficient content and context to engage players fully. Overall, the absence of a structured storyline and clear objectives leaves some players feeling disconnected and bored.
- “The reliance on environmental storytelling, subtle audio cues, and the vulnerability created by a limited flashlight makes it ideal for players who appreciate slow-burn horror.”
- “Searching for keys and unlocking new areas adds intrigue, while the story of a missing partner keeps you on edge until the very end.”
- “The characters are worked out to the smallest detail, and each of them has its own unique story.”
- “There is no story at the beginning, not even a simple text, nothing, you're just spawned into a quite uninspired office.”
- “There is literally no story... the atmosphere doesn't ever really immerse you... and the game itself is a bore to play.”
- “Unfortunately there is no storyline or explanation on how to use the game commands.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
31%
23%
Overall, the graphics are widely praised for their impressive quality and immersive design, effectively enhancing the game's eerie atmosphere and tension. However, some users note a lack of graphic settings and express concerns about the reliance on AI-generated assets in the current gaming landscape. While the visuals are generally considered stunning, a few reviews mention that they may not meet the highest standards for all players.
- “The graphics and sound design are top-notch, truly immersing you in this eerie environment.”
- “The graphics are impressive, and the sound design effectively heightens the tension.”
- “The graphics are phenomenal, and I loved the little things that the programmer added, like the magazines on the guard's desk.”
- “Sorry, but we're living in an era of AI-generated graphics and libraries full of assets for free.”
- “Lack of graphic settings; I want to lock 30 fps, but there's no such option.”
- “Graphics are not of high quality, but they are enough to express a sense of loneliness and confrontation against darkness and something unnatural in a massive mall.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Players find the game highly replayable, particularly due to the potential for randomized key positions, which adds variety to each playthrough and enhances the overall experience.
- “It truly is a very nice, simple horror game that can be easily replayed if key positions are randomized.”
- “It truly is a very nice simple horror game that could be easily replayable if key positions were randomized.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The music in the game is often described as distant and ethereal, evoking a sense of nostalgia for a past self. However, players feel that the soundtrack is sparse and could benefit from more frequent audio elements, such as footsteps, to enhance the overall experience.
- “The music, when it dares to appear, feels like it’s being played somewhere far away, for someone you used to be.”
- “The music (when it dares to appear) feels like it’s being played somewhere far away, for someone you used to be.”
- “Some sort of music or audio for footsteps is needed as well.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The film is praised for its sharp humor and strong performances, effectively blending comedy with crime elements, resulting in a uniquely entertaining experience. Reviewers consistently highlight its comedic appeal, describing it as "too funny."
- “The film is known for its sharp humor and strong performances, making it a unique blend of comedy and crime.”
- “Too funny.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from numerous glitches and stability issues, leading players to feel it is not fully developed despite being marketed as a complete product. Overall, there is a consensus that significant improvements are needed to enhance stability.
- “Full of glitches; the game is not fully developed and sold as complete!”
- “The game has a few glitches that could use some work.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews do not provide relevant information regarding the aspect of "optimization," as they focus on the film's humor and performances rather than technical or performance-related aspects.