The Letter

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"The Letter" is a horror/drama visual novel inspired by Asian horror films like "The Grudge" and "The Ring." Players encounter mature and disturbing themes, offensive language, and violence through the perspective of seven characters, with branching narratives and multiple endings. The game contains strong trigger warnings, advising players to exercise discretion.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 810 reviews

story279 positive mentions

grinding18 negative mentions

The game features a compelling story with well-developed characters that players can bond with.
The art style and voice acting are top-notch, enhancing the overall immersive experience.
Choices made throughout the game significantly impact the narrative and character relationships, providing high replayability.

The pacing can be slow at times, with excessive inner monologues and dialogue that may feel repetitive.
Some horror elements rely heavily on jump scares, which may not appeal to all players.
There are minor grammatical errors and missing voice lines that detract from the overall polish of the game.

story
946 mentions
29 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of "The Letter" is a complex and branching narrative that unfolds through the perspectives of seven characters, each revealing different facets of a shared horror experience tied to a cursed letter and an ancient mansion. While the game is praised for its engaging character development and the significant impact of player choices on the storyline, some reviewers noted issues with pacing, repetitive dialogue, and a lack of depth in certain plot elements. Overall, the game offers a rich, immersive experience that encourages multiple playthroughs to fully appreciate its intricacies and variations.
- “The branching story and character arcs are substantial.”
- “The story goes between different characters who end up getting involved in this ancient mansion that holds a dark and deadly secret!”
- “The story is honestly really well written and engaging; I was hooked throughout the story, and the voice acting was also pretty damn good.”
- “You have to replay the same story seven different times through the POV of different characters (this is for a single playthrough, not multiple).”
- “The characters stopped being characters and just became ways to keep the plot moving... all for nothing, as I've said a million times.”
- “The story sets up a lot of ideas but never fleshes anything out.”
music
204 mentions
53 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth of the narrative. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack is diverse, beautifully composed, and effectively complements various scenes, from eerie moments to heartwarming interactions. While some tracks may be repetitive, the overall quality and impact of the music contribute significantly to the immersive experience of the visual novel.
- “The soundtrack sets the mood for each scene perfectly, from nice cheerful music during a pleasant happy scene to haunting music when things are not quite right.”
- “The music is very diversified and even though you'll hear every track countless times throughout your playthrough, they never really start to annoy you, which is quite nice.”
- “The music really helps set the mood for the scenes, and the sprites are one of the most beautiful I've ever seen in a game.”
- “Some of the dialogues, music, and voice acting ended up getting on my nerves pretty fast.”
- “The editing of the audio also lacks polishing considering the fact that certain sounds, effects, and music drastically cut from time to time while switching scenes.”
- “The soundtrack sets the mood competently even if it may not be very memorable.”
graphics
195 mentions
56 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning artwork, detailed character designs, and immersive animated backgrounds, which effectively enhance the horror atmosphere. Many reviewers noted the art style's ability to transition from beautiful to grotesque, contributing to the game's emotional depth and engagement. While some inconsistencies in character proportions and voice acting were mentioned, the overall visual presentation is considered a highlight, making it a standout in the visual novel genre.
- “The artwork is absolutely breathtaking; I really love the art style.”
- “The graphics are beautiful and the storyline was particularly detailed.”
- “The visuals, the soundtracks, the sound effects, and even the voice acting are top-notch, and the story is interesting too.”
- “Put simply, for a game that has advertised full English voice acting, I found the frequent grammatical and typographical errors to be very jarring.”
- “The artwork was definitely there and could have supported so much more trepidation in the reader, but in the end it was lacking.”
- “The artwork, voice acting, sound work, and general structure of the game are stellar considering it was made on a shoe-string budget.”
gameplay
67 mentions
10 % positive mentions
85 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this visual novel primarily revolves around a branching narrative with meaningful choices that significantly impact the story and character relationships. While it features some quick-time events (QTEs) to enhance tension, many players find the gameplay to be minimal, often consisting of listening to dialogues and making decisions rather than engaging in traditional gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game is praised for its intricate storytelling and character development, though some players feel that the gameplay elements could be more substantial.
- “The art style is pleasant, the branching narrative explores different character perspectives, and the interactive quick time events added some excitement to the gameplay.”
- “The gameplay also has quick-time events that can help ramp up the tension and horror, but be warned, I recommend starting on the easy level as normal difficulty can be tough if you don’t have good reflexes!”
- “I get that it is a novel, but in 3 hours of gameplay, barely anything happened.”
- “There is no real gameplay (only QTEs, and they can be skipped without any kind of story consequences - you just press tab, and the game considers it as a won QTE).”
- “Gameplay-wise, it's mostly just a visual novel with some optional QTE-style minigames, but the writers did a lot to make sure you were never bored because you have many opportunities to make meaningful choices and enjoy the cast of colorful but sympathetic characters doing their thing.”
replayability
62 mentions
42 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game boasts impressive replayability, largely due to its extensive branching paths and multiple endings that are influenced by player choices. Many reviewers highlight the depth of the story and the significant impact of decisions, encouraging players to revisit the game to explore different outcomes and unlock achievements. Overall, the combination of engaging narrative, character relationships, and the ability to skip dialogue enhances the replay value, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of visual novels.
- “The amount of choices that actually affect the story is incredibly impressive and gives the game so much replay value.”
- “With so many different endings and scenes, there is a lot of replay value as there is so much to experience.”
- “The game has a high replayability factor; since my initial blind playthrough I've been going back and choosing different outcomes to see the alternate endings (including the 'true ending'), and it's good fun to try and unlock all the game's many achievements in the process.”
- “At first glance, I thought it'd be a piece of cake, but after delving in further, I realize that there is so much replay value here.”
- “The depth of gameplay and replayability is mind-boggling and reminded me of the Cinderella phenomenon.”
- “But it was quite short and I couldn't see a lot of replay value that wouldn't involve re-reading almost everything.”
atmosphere
58 mentions
40 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its effective combination of sound design, music, and visual aesthetics, creating a chilling and immersive experience. While some players noted a lack of variety in sound effects during horror sequences, the overall ambiance successfully evokes tension and suspense, enhancing character engagement and story development. The game's ability to maintain a creepy atmosphere, complemented by strong voice acting and art, makes it a standout in the horror visual novel genre.
- “The atmosphere, the art, the voice acting is very good.”
- “A combination of the artwork, sound design and music, your love of the characters all blend perfectly together creating an atmosphere that will leave your heart racing and emotions soaring.”
- “The music is great, it always fits the atmosphere of the scenes, and sounds, no matter if we talk about frightening screams or gentle laughs, or some stuff going in the background, make this game an incredibly immersive experience.”
- “The atmosphere and sound also gives chilling vibes that I got run up my spine and along my arms when playing this.”
- “The game carries a creepy atmosphere throughout the game covered with a dose of mystery.”
- “This tense atmosphere persisted for many hours, but somewhere along the way, about halfway through the story it began to loosen the tight grip in which it entangled me thus far.”
emotional
42 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with many players praising its ability to evoke strong feelings, including tears and laughter, through heartfelt character development and impactful storytelling. While some found the dialogue overly dramatic and occasionally tedious, the overall experience is described as a powerful emotional journey that balances horror with touching moments, making it a compelling choice for fans of narrative-driven games. The music and voice acting further enhance the emotional depth, contributing to a memorable and engaging experience.
- “All of that isn't even touching the surface of how hard the letter goes, and the gentle moments hit just as well.”
- “I haven't even finished my first run, but I will say that this is the first game to make me want to cry.”
- “The story is beautiful, made me cry a few times.”
character development
30 mentions
37 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a standout feature, with many players praising its depth, branching paths, and the impact of player choices on character relationships and story progression. While some found the writing to be text-heavy and occasionally slow, the overall consensus is that the character designs and voice acting enhance the immersive experience. The game is particularly recommended for those who appreciate well-defined characters and intricate storytelling.
- “Great character development, a good relationship system, and multiple branching paths and endings: if you are looking for a riveting story to dive into for about 20 hours, this is the game for you!”
- “What really makes this game immersive is the character development and how characters relate to each other as a whole.”
- “The visual novel focuses on character development, and the actions you take with one character will have huge impacts on the story as it goes on.”
- “- character development non-existent”
- “Character development is one thing, but reading about instant noodles for what seemed like an eternity just felt out of place.”
- “There is obviously character development going along during the game, but I believe the greatest character development the game offers is for us: the player.”
grinding
18 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is often perceived as tedious and repetitive, with many players feeling overwhelmed by the need to achieve 100% completion. While some appreciate the narrative depth and character exploration, others find the excessive dialogue and mini-games detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration and a diminished sense of horror. Overall, the grind can feel unnecessary and long-winded, impacting enjoyment for a significant portion of the player base.
- “You don't need to get every achievement to enjoy the game, so if that overwhelms you, you should either go in knowing you won't get them all or accept it's gonna be a tedious grind.”
- “For me, it wasn't, and while I tried to 100% the game, I soon gave up as I found it to be tedious, and the payoff to not be worth it.”
- “The dialogues grew tedious, the looming horror started to lose its thrill, the occasional jump scare still managed to make my heart skip a beat, but they felt more and more familiar, too similar to their predecessors.”
humor
18 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of entertaining and tedious, with some characters delivering hilarious moments while others fall flat. The dialogue often veers into absurdity, eliciting laughter even in tense situations, though the humor can sometimes feel abrupt or overwhelming. Overall, the game successfully balances humor with horror, providing moments of levity amidst its darker themes, though reactions to the humor may vary widely among players.
- “The story goes that there is a mansion, the hilariously named Ermergard Mansion, which is cursed and seems to have a bad habit of killing people associated with it.”
- “The letter is a horror visual novel with atmospheric music, amazing character art, a well-written script, and talented voice acting - Luke's voice actor had me laughing out loud numerous times during my plays of the game.”
- “Some of the characters are hilarious, and the voice acting is very good.”
optimization
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is praised for its smooth performance, with no significant bugs or glitches reported, allowing for an immersive experience. Players appreciate the high-quality voice acting and character animations, which enhance the storytelling, although some dialogue may repeat. Overall, the game runs well and offers a lengthy, engaging experience.
- “Multiple endings, no bugs, no glitches, no missing text (though some dialogues would repeat themselves), no major breaking game issues, good performance, and a long game length.”
- “I was absolutely blown away by how much emotion and authenticity was put into each performance, even those I was worried about being flat.”
- “Aside from amazing characters and an interesting story, the game also offers animated character sprites, animated CGs, and extremely good voice acting. I genuinely fell in love with some of the voice actors' performances, especially Luke Wright's.”
stability
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with users reporting frequent screen freezes and minor glitches, particularly in audio and text. While some players experienced significant disruptions, others noted that these issues were infrequent and did not detract significantly from the overall experience, suggesting that future updates may address these bugs.
- “It works fine for ten minutes and then suddenly the screen just freezes and I can't do anything.”
- “I'm so disappointed as I was really getting into the game before the freezes. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling, restarting the game completely, but nothing works.”
- “- The game is pretty buggy in places, especially once the player hits Rebecca's chapter.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for being misleading, with users pointing out that the advertising does not accurately reflect the game's content and experience.
- “This game's advertising and many reviews are misleading.”
- “The monetization system feels exploitative and takes away from the overall experience.”
- “I feel pressured to spend money to enjoy the game fully, which is frustrating.”