The Painscreek Killings

About

The Painscreek Killings is a single player simulation game with horror, drama and mystery themes. It was developed by EQ Studios and was released on September 27, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

In "The Painscreek Killings," become a journalist investigating the mysterious abandonment of a once-vibrant town. Solve logical puzzles, explore freely, and uncover dark secrets as you search for the truth behind the town's haunting past. This story-rich, murder mystery game encourages careful exploration and critical thinking.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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89%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,943 reviews

story866 positive mentions

grinding86 negative mentions

The game offers a captivating and immersive atmosphere, making players feel like true detectives as they piece together the mystery.
The story is well-written with intriguing twists and turns, keeping players engaged throughout the experience.
The gameplay encourages note-taking and exploration, rewarding players for their attention to detail and thoroughness.

The game can become tedious with excessive backtracking and a lack of fast travel options, leading to frustration.
Some puzzles are poorly designed or overly obscure, making it easy to miss critical clues and get stuck.
The ending features a jarring tonal shift and spoon-feeds the answers to the mystery, undermining the player's investigative efforts.

story
2,037 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
55%
2%
The story of "The Painscreek Killings" is widely praised for its depth, complexity, and emotional resonance, drawing players into a richly woven narrative filled with intriguing characters and unexpected plot twists. Many reviewers highlight the game's unique storytelling approach, primarily delivered through diaries and environmental clues, which encourages players to actively piece together the mystery themselves. However, some criticism is directed at the gameplay mechanics, particularly the reliance on backtracking and the occasional predictability of certain plot elements, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “The story is amazing and pretty sad.”
- “It's story rich with a tale that will stay with you even after you have beaten the game.”
- “The story unfolds like a trail of carefully placed breadcrumbs, that although may be placed behind some quite challenging puzzles at times, manages to reveal itself with an expert pacing reminiscent of the work of a detective novelist of fine vintage.”
- “The ending felt very out of place and went against all the hints that made you think who the killers were, effectively making the entire plot of the game be red herrings.”
- “The story is told entirely through diary entries, written by every character, which feels tired after the second diary.”
- “The story is too fragmented, not engaging and too slow.”
atmosphere
437 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
2%
The atmosphere of "The Painscreek Killings" is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively creating a sense of tension and unease throughout the game. Players appreciate the haunting sound design and music, which enhance the feeling of isolation in the abandoned town, while the rich storytelling and character depth contribute to a captivating experience. Despite some criticisms regarding repetitive music and occasional graphical issues, the overall atmosphere is considered a standout feature, making it a compelling choice for fans of atmospheric mystery games.
- “The atmosphere is incredible - the game feels like a horror game just because of the emptiness of everything and the music alongside it, but for the most part, the spookiness stays there as an atmosphere and not something interfering with your gameplay.”
- “The atmosphere is haunting, yet serene at parts, and the character development was astounding.”
- “The atmosphere is quiet, heavy, and incredibly immersive, and the way the clues unfold over time feels very natural and rewarding.”
- “The atmosphere is top-tier—eerie but not in-your-face horror, just the unsettling loneliness of a forgotten place.”
- “The atmosphere is so thick and foreboding at times that I literally had chills running up and down my entire body and had to take a bit of a breather before entering certain areas.”
gameplay
414 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
73%
7%
The gameplay of "The Painscreek Killings" is characterized by a slow-paced, exploration-driven experience that primarily involves finding keys, unlocking doors, and piecing together a narrative through reading various documents. While some players appreciate the immersive atmosphere and storytelling, many criticize the repetitive mechanics and lack of meaningful interaction, leading to a tedious gameplay loop that can feel more like a scavenger hunt than a true detective experience. The abrupt shift in gameplay mechanics towards the end has also been noted as jarring, detracting from the overall experience for some players.
- “The gameplay is centered less around figuring out the mystery and more about finding keys in drawers so that you can be told what happened.”
- “The gameplay revolves around finding a key, opening something up, reading a diary or paper, finding another key, opening something else up... that's fine, but it means that Painscreek is heavily reliant on its writing and story, which was unsubtle and quite awkward at times.”
- “The gameplay is intuitive, and I never really felt like I was stuck on something.”
- “The gameplay is virtually non-existent and the (what I assume to be low) budget does show through in spots, but the experience is polished and the game tells a compelling murder-mystery tale.”
- “Most of the gameplay is monotonous and consists of finding a key > finding the corresponding lock (many times across the map) > using the key > finding a document and another key > repeat.”
- “The gameplay is basically to find a key or passcode for a locked door and get into the next area that gives you a little more lore and a clue on where to find another key for another locked door.”
music
341 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
60%
12%
The music in the game is generally praised for its ability to create a creepy and immersive atmosphere, effectively enhancing the tension throughout gameplay. However, many players noted that the soundtrack is limited, consisting of short, repetitive loops that can become monotonous over time, leading some to mute the game in favor of their own music. Overall, while the music contributes significantly to the game's eerie ambiance, its lack of variety and length can detract from the experience for some players.
- “The soundtrack is subtle yet effective, using minimalist compositions to support the mood without overwhelming the scenes.”
- “The music creates an air of suspense as you investigate this abandoned town.”
- “The atmosphere and music are really amazing.”
- “The music is so repetitive that it also needs to be mentioned.”
- “The soundtrack is limited to like 4 repeating 30-60 second songs, which get quite old fast.”
- “I had to turn the music off after just a few hours because it was so repetitive.”
graphics
310 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
55%
10%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they are not cutting-edge, they effectively contribute to the game's atmosphere and storytelling. Some users appreciate the charming aesthetic and immersive environment, particularly the autumnal setting, while others criticize the visuals as basic or outdated, with occasional performance issues. Overall, the graphics are deemed adequate for an indie title, serving the gameplay well despite some technical shortcomings.
- “It has a gorgeous fall aesthetic that perfectly complements playing it during the autumnal months, especially around Halloween to get your spook on.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the town is designed so well and pretty, the music is fantastic and the story keeps staying interesting.”
- “The graphics are beautifully rendered with enough settings options for you to tailor the look of the game to your taste.”
- “The visuals are extremely basic and could really use a serious graphical update.”
- “Additionally, a few graphical and performance issues, such as texture pop-in or occasional frame drops, can pull players out of the otherwise immersive atmosphere.”
- “The graphics are unfortunately horrible - even for a game from 2017.”
grinding
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
2%
97%
The aspect of "grinding" in the game is frequently described as tedious, with many players expressing frustration over excessive backtracking, slow movement, and the need to search for keys and clues across multiple locations. While some found the story engaging enough to endure these repetitive tasks, others felt that the gameplay detracted from the overall experience, leading to a sense of monotony and frustration. Overall, the game offers a compelling narrative but is marred by its tedious mechanics, making it a polarizing experience for players.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The only reason I swung towards negative (despite being really torn) is because of a few details: even the running is way too slow, it was tedious, a lot of the diary pages were in tiny fonts which I could not zoom in on which made it very frustrating to read, keys were so scattered that I had to go back and forth to different locations, there was no notepad in-game so I had to write my notes in real life (which isn't a huge problem but it would have been so much more convenient to be able to take notes in-game) and the locations had to be searched in a particular order with no guide at all so it's basically running around useless trial and error trying to figure out where to go and what to do without the map marker to even point out where you are.”
- “I get it had the goal of being authentic, and it had a lot of genuinely creepy atmospheric moments which I adored (I was so uncomfortable exploring the hospital, and my blood ran cold literally at the final reveal, my heart genuinely started pumping it was done super well) but it was such a tedious back and forth grind to get there that it barely made the trudge through the game worth it.”
- “Most of the time spent in this game is walking, tediously, from one point to another, finding the same old keys, opening the same doors.”
emotional
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players expressing a deep investment in the narrative and characters, often feeling a range of emotions from dread to heartfelt sadness. The immersive atmosphere and engaging story, filled with twists and dramatic revelations, leave players feeling like true detectives while also experiencing emotional exhaustion and connection to the town's history. Many reviewers noted that the game's music and storytelling effectively enhance the emotional experience, making it a memorable and touching journey.
- “The story is quite touching and involves a lot of drama, secrets, and misunderstandings.”
- “You become emotionally invested in the characters, and each time you uncover another piece of the puzzle is immensely gratifying.”
- “The heartbreaking, gripping story is wonderfully told.”
- “My wife and I frequently try to get into adventure games together, but nearly every game we play loses our interest for one reason or another, whether it's too easy or difficult, a boring story, unrealistic elements, or being too action-oriented.”
optimization
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
46%
36%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, including frequent frame drops, stuttering, and long loading times, which detract from the overall experience. Many players report that performance varies greatly depending on the area, with some experiencing severe lag even on capable systems. While some updates have addressed certain glitches, the consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, impacting immersion and gameplay.
- “Well optimized.”
- “They've also proactively issued several updates to address glitches and optimization issues; some even coming out the same day that the complaints were made.”
- “To be honest, there have been a few bugs but I think that was due to some places not being optimized and I think they've fixed some of those issues, so good for them.”
- “The game is poorly optimized and has long loading times.”
- “The optimization is remarkably poor, with the game world broken up into small chunks with loading screens in between, like in an early 2000s game.”
- “On the downside, there are a few bugs (nothing game-breaking though) and the game definitely has some severe optimization issues.”
stability
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
97%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting various glitches and bugs, including visual issues and occasional game-breaking errors. While some users experienced significant problems, others noted that the game ran smoothly for them, and the developers have been responsive in addressing reported issues. Overall, while the game has its flaws, many players still found it enjoyable despite the stability concerns.
- “There are no glitches or frame rate issues; I experienced none despite others mentioning them.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any interruptions or crashes.”
- “I appreciate the consistent performance; it feels very stable throughout my gameplay.”
- “The game seemed promising, but it glitches out on newer systems.”
- “Absolute buggy mess.”
- “I encountered multiple glitches throughout my game, one of which prevents me from finishing the story/game at all.”
replayability
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
63%
26%
Overall, the game's replayability is generally considered low, with many players noting that once the mystery is solved, there is little incentive to replay it. While some appreciate the opportunity to explore for missed secrets or achievements, the consensus is that the experience is primarily a one-time journey, making it less appealing for those seeking multiple playthroughs. A few reviews suggest that the freedom to explore enhances replayability slightly, but the overarching sentiment is that the game lacks significant replay value.
- “ Replayability: 8/10 (you’ll wanna come back)”
- “The ability to roam freely about the town makes it so that you have a bit of freedom as to the order in which you solve and explore, which I think enhances replayability.”
- “Worth every penny and there is definitely replay value for finding missed hints and getting all the achievements.”
- “The only downside to the whole game is the lack of replayability as the true ending is only one, so once you get to it, the next time you play it is going to feel already spoiled.”
- “I don't feel like there is much replay value because once you know, you know.”
- “It suffers from a lack of replayability due to the mystery being a one-and-done.”
humor
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of unintentional hilarity and intentional comedic elements, with players finding amusement in the absurdity of the graphics, quirky features like the in-game camera, and the over-the-top clichés in the story. While some aspects, such as rough voice acting and the reliance on diary entries for storytelling, contribute to the humor, the overall experience is a blend of funny moments and frustrating clichés that may not resonate with everyone. Despite its flaws, players appreciate the game's ability to evoke laughter, even if it wasn't the primary expectation.
- “Another standout was the (unnecessary but hilarious) ability to take photos with your in-game camera, which can lead to some very funny ending newspaper articles.”
- “The story is very intriguing and the endings can range from funny to still kinda funny, fantastical, and stupid nonetheless.”
- “The game has pretty much no NPCs and dialogues, and it's mostly based on either visual storytelling or hilariously convenient diary entries.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and emotional impact, with players highlighting the effective storytelling and the ability to evoke strong feelings through the characters' experiences. The use of diaries adds an additional layer to the narrative, enriching the abandoned town's atmosphere and enhancing the overall engagement with the characters' journeys.
- “The atmosphere is haunting, yet serene at parts, and the character development was astounding.”
- “The character development is extremely well done -- so much, in fact, that when I learned [spoiler] the fate of Trisha at the hospital [/spoiler], I audibly said to myself, 'nooo...' and it genuinely saddened me.”
- “Although the town is abandoned, there is plenty of character development as you read people's diaries.”
- “The character development is extremely well done -- so much, in fact, that when I learned [spoiler] the fate of Trisha at the hospital [/spoiler], I audibly said to myself, 'Nooo...' and it genuinely saddened me.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers express concerns about the game's monetization strategy, noting that the advertising does not accurately represent the game's content, particularly its supernatural elements. They suggest that a graphical overhaul and improved marketing could enhance sales and better align player expectations with the actual experience.
- “I feel like the ending was not something expected by the advertising, or the tags on Steam.”
- “The supernatural aspect of this game is not made clear enough through advertising, such that I was unaware of it before purchase.”