The Joycare

About

The Joycare is a single player action game with a horror theme. It was developed by Deadlight Games and was released on June 21, 2025. It received negative reviews from players.

The Joycare is a chilling urban exploration horror game set in an abandoned daycare haunted by sinister forces. Players must navigate eerie halls, evade the monstrous mascot Jacky Joke and the relentless Misery Master, while uncovering dark secrets hidden beneath toys and murals. Survival depends on stealth, sound, and unraveling a disturbing past.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

25%

Audience ScoreBased on 24 reviews

graphics2 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game has decent graphics and sound that create an immersive environment.
It's a free game, which makes it a low-risk option for players looking for a quick experience.
Some players found it to be a fun, albeit short, time-waster with interesting mechanics.

The gameplay is repetitive and lacks depth, with puzzles that are too easy and poorly designed.
Many players experienced technical issues, including lag, glitches, and unclear mechanics.
The overall level design and atmosphere were criticized as boring and uninspired, failing to deliver a compelling horror experience.

gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The gameplay features visually appealing graphics but suffers from underwhelming mechanics, such as the ineffective grapple system and the use of leaning controls that add little value. While some players find the game enjoyable and quick to play, the overall execution leaves much to be desired, particularly in terms of innovation and a satisfying conclusion.
- “Fun quick game to play, interesting mechanics.”
- “Graphically, the game looks good, but the mechanics are lacking, and the ending feels half-hearted.”
- “In this game, Q and E are used for leaning, but it adds nothing to the gameplay.”
- “The grapple mechanic is present, but it doesn't offer anything interesting or engaging.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The music in the game is praised for its effectiveness in creating a sense of dread, particularly during the title screen and near the end. However, some players find the early onset of music in certain sections, like the yellow monster segment, to be predictable and detracting from the overall experience.
- “I love the title screen music and the track near the end; it starts early and adds a sense of dread.”
- “The entire yellow monster section is boring and predictable because the music starts before you even see the monster.”
- “The music lacks variety and fails to enhance the overall experience.”
- “I found the soundtrack to be repetitive and uninspired, which detracted from the gameplay.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious due to slow walking and running speeds, which can hinder overall enjoyment and progression.
- “Walking and running are slow, which makes it tedious to play.”
- “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, draining the fun out of the game.”
- “Leveling up takes far too long, making the experience feel like a chore.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's graphics are generally well-received, effectively immersing players in the environment, though some users feel that the overall mechanics and ending detract from the experience.
- “Graphics and sound do a good job of putting you in that environment.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game appears to suffer from optimization issues, as players have reported glitches, particularly white artifacts, indicating a need for further refinement.
- “I feel like the game might be poorly optimized; you might want to check that and those white glitches out.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users have reported concerns about the game's stability, citing potential optimization issues and the presence of visual glitches.
- “I feel like the game might be poorly optimized; you might want to check that and those white glitches out.”