The Nameless City
- July 13, 2024
- Cyberleaf Studio
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"The Nameless City" is a first-person adventure game inspired by Lovecraft's short novel, featuring lo-fi 3D graphics and AI-generated images. The game offers a narrative-driven experience with a playtime of 40-50 minutes, and a demo that shares the same save file. Follow Paradnight Studio on Twitter or itch.io for updates, using only mouse controls to explore the mysteries of the nameless city.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
PlayStation
Reviews
- The game effectively captures Lovecraftian elements, creating a deeply atmospheric experience that resonates with fans of cosmic horror.
- The PSX graphical style and sound design contribute to a nostalgic and immersive environment, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
- The single puzzle in the game is well thought out, and the voice acting adds significant depth to the narrative.
- The game is very short, with a playtime of around 45 minutes to an hour, leaving some players wanting more content.
- The low resolution graphics may be off-putting for some, detracting from the overall visual experience.
- The price point is considered steep by some players given the short length and limited gameplay mechanics.
- story9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's story effectively captures the essence of H.P. Lovecraft's "The Nameless City," delivering a highly atmospheric experience with strong voice acting and environmental storytelling. While it remains faithful to the original narrative, players may benefit from familiarity with Lovecraft's themes to fully appreciate the creeping dread and unsettling ambiance. Overall, it offers a concise yet immersive journey into cosmic horror, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.
“Paradnight's The Nameless City is an exceptional take on Lovecraft's short story, with a hypnotic narrator and nostalgic gameplay through the city of Araby beneath the deathless sands.”
“The game is highly atmospheric, with great voice acting and incredible environmental storytelling.”
“Even though I was familiar with the story, I was left in great unease at several portions of the game; the visions and eerie chants that surround the runes were especially disconcerting.”
“As someone that read the short story, there were no surprises, but it was accurate and I never felt cheated out on.”
“This is a 45-minute walking simulator game in the atmosphere of H.P. Lovecraft's short story 'The Nameless City.'”
“It's a short game, about an hour or so, but the price seems fair for this short romp into Lovecraft's first Cthulhu myths story.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its eerie, Lovecraftian vibe, enhanced by beautiful retro art and strong voice acting. While the immersive environment and storytelling are highlights, many reviewers note that the short gameplay length of around 45 minutes to an hour may not justify the price. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature, creating a captivating experience despite its brevity.
“Short but sweet and incredibly atmospheric.”
“The game is highly atmospheric, with great voice acting and incredible environmental storytelling.”
“This is a 45-minute walking simulator game in the atmosphere of H.P. Lovecraft's short story 'The Nameless City.'”
“Really nice voice acting too, adds a lot to the atmosphere.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its atmospheric and nostalgic qualities, effectively capturing the essence of Lovecraftian themes, but many users feel that the experience is too brief, lasting only about 45 minutes to an hour, which diminishes its value. While the mechanics are intriguing, they require further development, leading some to view the game as more of a tech demo than a fully realized experience. Overall, the gameplay is enjoyable and unsettling, but its short length leaves players wanting more.
“Paradnight's The Nameless City is an exceptional take on Lovecraft's short story, with a hypnotic narrator and nostalgic gameplay through the city of Araby beneath the deathless sands.”
“The game is probably too short, can be completed in slightly more than an hour, but the atmosphere and gameplay are great.”
“I enjoyed the gameplay overall; it is unsettling and unnerving.”
“It was fun, atmospheric, and gave me the exact same vibe as classic Lovecraftian works, but its 45 minutes of gameplay was not worth the price.”
“The mechanics in the game need to be explored in greater detail.”
“It's a bit of a tech demo that doesn't really mechanically come into itself, but it's a neat bite-sized chunk of Lovecraftian walking sim.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a nostalgic PSX style that many players find beautiful and atmospheric, particularly in its retro pixel art. However, the extremely low resolution may be off-putting for some, though fans of the genre and aesthetic are likely to appreciate the eerie ambiance and artistic design.
“Overall an enjoyable experience, and the objectives are well signposted to keep it moving at a good pace. I loved the PSX graphical style.”
“In certain parts of the game, the retro art style is beautiful, and the atmosphere is constantly eerie.”
“I love short stories, and I love the pixel art style mixed with the retro video game vibe (kind of like Majora's Mask).”
“The extremely low resolution graphics can be off-putting for some.”
“The graphics lack detail and feel outdated, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“The art style feels inconsistent and doesn't match the game's theme.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for creating a perfect ambiance, with textures and a soundtrack that enhance the overall experience. Reviewers highlight how the dynamic shifts in the music, particularly the use of silence, effectively amplify emotional moments throughout the adventure.
“Perfect ambience, textures, and soundtrack accompany you through this adventure that makes you feel insignificant.”
“The rising and falling of the music at just the right times influenced and enhanced my experience, especially the silence that dominated when reaching the water-filled expanse.”
