The Holyburn Witches

About

The Holyburn Witches is a single player survival survival game with a horror theme. It was developed by MoolionGames and was released on March 22, 2024. It received neutral reviews from players.

A pure survival-horror experience, featuring real panoramic photographs that capture the fear and solitude of being alone in a haunted forest. The thick atmosphere will crawl under your skin, and every nerve-wracking moment will leave you desperate for escape. In the once tranquil village of Holyburn, Maine, a series of horrific incidents left scars that still linger. Unexplained sounds and s…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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57%

Audience ScoreBased on 14 reviews

music3 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features a unique aesthetic with panoramic, point-and-click horror elements that some players found appealing.
The graphics are visually striking, showcasing the developer's strengths in storytelling and atmosphere.
The game is free to play, making it accessible to a wider audience despite its shortcomings.

Gameplay is repetitive and lacks depth, primarily revolving around collecting firewood and mushrooms, which can become boring quickly.
The survival mechanics are overly punishing, making it difficult for players to progress and enjoy the narrative.
The game is unpolished and buggy, with issues such as inventory problems and unclear navigation that detract from the overall experience.

story
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The story in the game is criticized for being unpolished and lacking coherence, with many players feeling that the survival mechanics detract from the narrative experience. While the game's atmosphere and visuals are praised, the storytelling suffers due to a lack of early engagement and a clear progression, leaving players wanting a more structured narrative to enhance their connection to the game. Overall, the story aspect is seen as a missed opportunity, with a score of 2/10 reflecting the dissatisfaction.
- “Don't get me wrong, the game looks amazing, which for me is one of Moonlion's greatest strengths in storytelling... the look and the narrative.”
- “Moonlion are masters at storytelling.”
- “Unfortunately, it's unpolished and buggy; the story is more atmosphere than anything coherent, and the survival mechanics are a little too brutal, taking away too much from the narrative.”
- “Unfortunately, I just can't make it to much of the story because I can't survive many nights.”
- “We loved that there were added segments when we got into the third day that alluded to some larger story, but some sort of setup may help more players connect to the game and play for more than just 'how far can I get?'”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The gameplay is centered around a short survival adventure set in 360-degree panoramic environments, but it suffers from bugs and a lack of polish. Players find the survival mechanics overly punishing and the narrative lacking coherence, leading to a repetitive experience focused on mundane tasks like collecting firewood and mushrooms. Overall, the innovative concept is overshadowed by its execution, resulting in a mediocre gameplay experience rated at 5.83/10.
- “It's a short survival adventure game, and the gameplay takes place within a series of 360-degree panoramic shots.”
- “360 gameplay, very cool idea, but not scary.”
- “Gameplay: 5.83/10”
- “Unfortunately, it's unpolished and buggy; the story is more atmosphere than anything coherent, and the survival mechanics are a little too brutal, taking away too much from the narrative.”
- “There isn't really any gameplay to this game at all.”
- “The game is relatively good, but it becomes quite boring when the gameplay is just about collecting firewood and picking mushrooms to survive.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The graphics in the game are described as passable, with some reviewers noting that while they are decent, they fall short of top-tier standards. There is a consensus that impressive visuals alone are not enough to elevate the game, as a compelling narrative and gameplay are also essential. However, some players appreciate the unique aesthetic, particularly in the context of its panoramic, point-and-click horror style.
- “The graphics are also excellent.”
- “I think that's what's missing in 'The Holyburn Witches', which is what drew me to the other games: a strong and compelling narrative along with striking visuals.”
- “The graphics in this game are passable, but could be better.”
- “I think that's what's missing in 'The Holyburn Witches,' which is what drew me to the other games: a strong and compelling narrative along with striking visuals.”
- “We were drawn to this game for its unique aesthetic (panoramic, point and click, horror).”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music and background sound effects received a score of 7.5/10, indicating a generally positive reception. Reviewers appreciated the background music, suggesting it effectively enhances the gaming experience.
- “The background music really enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- “The sound effects complement the gameplay perfectly, creating an immersive experience.”
- “I love how the music sets the tone for each level, making every moment feel unique.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the game's story and character development are lacking, with many players feeling that the characters do not evolve meaningfully throughout the narrative. This has led to a sense of disconnection from the characters and a diminished emotional impact on the overall experience.
- “The story and character development feel incredibly shallow, leaving me disconnected from the characters.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful growth in the characters throughout the game.”
- “The character arcs are predictable and fail to engage me on any emotional level.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users generally express disappointment regarding the game's replayability, indicating that it lacks sufficient replay value to encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “The game lacks replay value, making it feel like a one-time experience.”
- “Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
- “The limited choices and outcomes mean that replaying the game feels redundant.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is noted for its strong survival-horror elements, creating an immersive experience despite being unpolished and buggy. While the narrative may lack coherence, it effectively contributes to the overall ambiance, appealing to fans of short-form atmospheric gameplay who enjoy exploring a haunting environment. However, the brutal survival mechanics can detract from the storytelling experience.
- “In its current state, we would recommend it to anybody who likes short-form atmospheric survival horror, plays on a single monitor, and doesn't mind getting a little lost in the woods.”
- “Unfortunately, it's unpolished and buggy. The story is more atmosphere than anything coherent, and the survival mechanics are a little too brutal, taking away too much from the narrative.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, being described as unpolished and buggy, which detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, the survival mechanics are perceived as overly harsh, further diminishing the coherence of the narrative.
- “Unfortunately, it's unpolished and buggy. The story is more atmosphere than anything coherent, and the survival mechanics are a little too brutal, taking away too much from the narrative.”