The Pony Factory

About

"The Pony Factory" is a dark, black-and-white FPS game inspired by 1950's sci-fi films. You'll face agile enemies in meaty combat, using muzzle flashes and environmental clues to track them in the darkness. The game offers a short, minimalist campaign with improved features and new content from the original release, all set in a town where humans are transformed into magical ponies. Completion can be achieved in around 30 minutes.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,040 reviews

story22 positive mentions

replayability4 negative mentions

The game features a unique flashlight and gun mechanic that enhances the horror experience, forcing players to choose between visibility and firepower.
The atmosphere is well-crafted with a dark, monochromatic aesthetic that effectively builds tension and suspense throughout the gameplay.
The humor in the story and notes scattered throughout the game adds a refreshing comedic element to the otherwise spooky experience.

The game is very short, typically taking around 30-40 minutes to complete, which some players feel does not justify the price.
Enemy AI can be janky, leading to frustrating encounters where enemies get stuck or behave unpredictably.
The final boss fight is considered poorly designed, lacking clear visual cues for attacks and making it difficult to engage effectively.

story
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
72%
4%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying its humorous and absurd elements conveyed through scattered notes, while others criticize it for being shallow and lacking depth. Many appreciate the comedic twist and the atmosphere it creates, though some feel it falls flat or is underdeveloped. Overall, the narrative adds a unique flavor to the gameplay, but opinions vary widely on its execution and impact.
- “The game's highlight is easily the story; the little notes you get have a mix of humor and a colorful story that is enjoyable and gives the game its substance.”
- “As you explore the black and white world that gets splashes of red here and there, you will find papers that tell you the story of the game.”
- “The game features a gripping story, fast-paced action reminiscent of even triple-A titles, wonderful and well-paced comedy that adds to the horror atmosphere rather than detracting from it, gorgeous creature design, inspired level design, and nigh infinite replayability with its challenge modes.”
- “There is a story to this game, but it's a rather half-funny, half-asinine type of story with a poor twist at the end.”
- “I love Szymanski, but there is pretty much zero story and zero build-up or variety.”
- “The story was not good enough to make up for such unfun gameplay.”
gameplay
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
55%
11%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the flashlight and weapon swap mechanic reminiscent of Doom 3, which adds a layer of tension to the horror experience. However, criticisms highlight issues such as limited visibility, basic mechanics, and a lack of depth, leading to a perception of the game as bland and unoriginal. Overall, while some find the atmosphere and art style engaging, others feel the gameplay falls short of expectations, resulting in a range of scores from 4/10 to 6/10.
- “The gameplay is intense and dramatic thanks to the hard-hitting enemies and the flashlight mechanic.”
- “I love the use of darkness, plus the shoot/flashlight switching mechanic.”
- “The pistol shoots faster the longer you hold the trigger, which is a satisfying mechanic that I can't recall seeing in any other games.”
- “It took the flashlight/weapon swap mechanic from Doom 3, but you can't illuminate anything further than 10 feet away and the enemy AI responds to most pathing situations by running back and forth while getting caught on corners, so you don't know where enemies are when the room is bigger than a closet if there are no other light sources.”
- “Normally I don't judge games right off the bat, but after playing only a few minutes of this game and then seeing what the rest of the gameplay is like, I feel like this is the one and only game that has disappointed me.”
- “It has no idea, no interesting gameplay (excluding black-and-white darkness & flashlight/weapon modes combo), or exciting game design.”
atmosphere
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
36%
9%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its ability to blend horror with a quirky, cartoonish absurdity, creating a memorable and immersive experience. Players appreciate the effective sound design, level design, and visual elements that contribute to a creepy yet engaging vibe, despite the game's short length and basic mechanics. While some elements may detract from the overall experience, the atmosphere remains a standout feature that captivates players throughout the gameplay.
- “It is a masterful work that shows that even if your central premise is kind of dumb, you can still create a terrifying experience through visuals, sound design, and atmosphere alone, all things that I absolutely expect from David Szymanski.”
- “Although probably not for everyone, the pony factory has an amazing atmosphere and a genuine art style that feels thought through instead of an interactive meme.”
- “While it lacks the atmosphere or dread of Szymanski's other projects (Music Machine, Wolf in Autumn, Fingerbones), or Dusk's expansive combat, it still holds its own as a relatively short horror shooter.”
- “Despite a sardonic spin on the horror genre, the game efficiently establishes an oppressive atmosphere, once the tormented wailing of a pony begins to echo throughout the narrow corridors.”
- “It's atmosphere is well done, balancing bleak and gritty horror with cartoonish absurdity.”
humor
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its unique blend of humor and horror, featuring dark comedic elements that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the absurdity of the storyline and the funny notes scattered throughout, which contribute to both the tension and entertainment. While some found the ending challenging, the humor consistently elicited laughter, making it a memorable and engaging playthrough.
- “One of the strongest aspects of the game is that it has a great sense of humor, and I found the overall silly premise to fit really well with the horror aesthetic.”
- “The sense of absurd dark humor in the lore notes, and even in the overarching premise, is pretty great, exactly what I would expect from the guy that made Iron Lung, Chop Goblins, Squirrel Stapler, and Dusk.”
- “I like that you're not a badass killing machine; I love that the game has a really fun sense of humor, and that the premise is silly while still being spooky. There's a great mix of all these elements, and David just knows how to make it all blend seamlessly.”
music
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
52%
7%
The music in the game is generally praised for its ability to create a creepy atmosphere, with a mix of eerie theremin sounds and a cheesy horror vibe that enhances the tension. While some tracks may feel goofy or less effective, the overall soundtrack is considered enjoyable and fitting for a horror experience, making it a good choice for Halloween gameplay. However, there are minor critiques regarding audio mixing and certain sound cues being buried beneath the music.
- “It's 30 minutes of fun with a great atmosphere, vibe, and soundtrack.”
- “The combat is enjoyable, the soundtrack absolutely slaps, and it is so scary my fight or flight has never been as active as while playing this.”
- “You have never felt more fear than seeing a skinless unicorn barreling around a corner in a dilapidated factory while theremin music wails in your ears like a pent-up banshee.”
- “Story was going for silly and it fell flat; music was nothing but a theremin making alien noises; enemy variety was lacking; and the gameplay was walking down a hallway and then back again.”
- “Only thing I find that kills the vibe is the UFO alien music that plays every now and then.”
- “There's a sound cue, but it's buried underneath the music and there's no audio mixing in the options.”
graphics
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
38%
7%
The game's graphics are characterized by a unique gritty art style, often described as awesome and fitting for its horror aesthetic, with a strong emphasis on monochromatic and retro visuals. While many players appreciate the atmosphere and artistic choices, some criticize the technical simplicity and lack of polish, suggesting that the charm lies in its imperfections rather than high-end graphics. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's identity, blending humor and horror effectively.
- “Incredible game with a terrifying aesthetic.”
- “Loved the (mostly) b&w art style with high contrast and the mechanic of switching between the gun and light source.”
- “Although probably not for everyone, the pony factory has an amazing atmosphere and genuine art style that feels thought through instead of an interactive meme.”
- “Don't expect the graphics to be anything to rave about; the charm lies in how terrible everything looks.”
- “I should not need a graphics card to play a game that looks as technically simple as this.”
- “It doesn't need AAA Unreal 5.2 graphics.”
replayability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
65%
20%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the additional modes and challenges that offer a reason to revisit the game, many feel that the linear design and short playtime limit the incentive for multiple playthroughs. Although there are options for increased difficulty and alternate modes, the consensus is that once the main experience is completed, the desire to replay is minimal. Players suggest that while the game has potential for replay value, it may only appeal to a niche audience looking for specific challenges.
- “Great game, 1st playthrough lasted about 45 mins but has a lot of replay value for only 3 bucks.”
- “The game features a gripping story, fast-paced action reminiscent of even triple-A titles, wonderful and well-paced comedy that adds to the horror atmosphere rather than detracting from it, gorgeous creature design, inspired level design, and nigh infinite replayability with its challenge modes.”
- “As said on the store page, it's short but there are bonus modes if you're looking for some replay value, an extra challenge or two, or just simply want to get the most of what the improvements offer.”
- “I like the aesthetic, but because there's so little to this 20-minute game and no replayability, it feels wholly pointless even for an indie FPS game.”
- “Scary; however, after you beat the game, there's no replayability. There is a veteran mode and a no lights mode, but after the first run, you won't feel like doing it.”
- “There are also a few modes to help with replayability, though I think you'd have to be a specific type to run through the game multiple times as it's very linear.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a deeply emotional experience, blending horror and fun, with unsettling elements that evoke discomfort without overwhelming fear. The narrative critiques corporate greed, transforming innocent themes into a nightmarish reality, leaving a lasting impact on players. Overall, the game successfully elicits strong emotional responses through its unique storytelling and atmosphere.
- “This has caused me more emotional trauma than anything I've ever experienced.”
- “A brilliant and striking narrative about how corporate greed will twist and rend any wholesome dream into a hellish nightmare... I think...”
- “It was a good mix of horror and fun, some good jumpscares and places that made me feel uncomfortable, but not so much that I just quit out of fear like I normally do.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
38%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues, particularly during shooting sequences where frame drops occur due to muzzle flashes. While the gameplay can be enjoyable, these technical problems detract from the overall experience, making it difficult for many to recommend the game.
- “The performance of the game is completely whack.”
- “The performance is made even worse when attempting to shoot because the muzzle flash seems to be dropping frames as well.”
- “It was enjoyable to play for the most part, but between the performance issues and the final boss, it's hard to truly 'recommend' the game because it has its share of issues.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits some stability issues, including bugs and glitches that can cause players to get stuck on objects, necessitating a restart. However, these problems are generally considered minor, especially given the game's short length and the fact that it was developed by a small team for a game jam.
- “I know the game just released a couple of weeks ago, but it is a bit buggy. I've gotten stuck on certain objects and have needed to quit out of the game and go back into it, but this isn't really much of a problem.”
- “I understand that all of the jank and glitches I experienced are due to this being a 10-20 minute long micro-game made by two people for a game jam.”

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The Pony Factory
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