The Pony Factory

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"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

Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 464 reviews

story9 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The Pony Factory offers a unique blend of horror and humor, effectively using darkness and light mechanics to create tension and atmosphere.
The game is short but sweet, providing a fun experience that doesn't overstay its welcome, making it ideal for a quick playthrough.
David Szymanski's signature style shines through with engaging gameplay, responsive controls, and a quirky narrative that keeps players entertained.

The game is very short, with a playtime of around 30-40 minutes, which some players feel does not justify the price.
There are performance issues, with some players experiencing frame drops and difficulty seeing enemies due to the dark environments.
The enemy variety is limited, and the gameplay can become repetitive, especially during the backtracking segments.

story
39 mentions
23 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally perceived as short and simplistic, often conveyed through scattered notes, with a mix of humor and horror elements. While some players appreciate its absurdity and comedic twists, others find it lacking depth and variety, leading to mixed feelings about its overall impact. The atmosphere is praised, but the narrative's execution varies from engaging to underwhelming, depending on individual expectations.
- “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.”
- “The story littered throughout the world adds a refreshing comedic element.”
- “Overall, the pony factory doesn't try too hard to express a deeper meaning; it isn't a satire meant to be some indictment of a greater cause or something obnoxious and pretentious like that. It's just some dude having fun making a short, sweet body horror game that tells an equally short, sweet cruel story.”
- “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
35 mentions
34 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a unique flashlight and gun switching mechanic that enhances the horror experience, reminiscent of Doom 3. While some players appreciate the atmospheric design and simple mechanics, others criticize the overall execution, noting issues like clunky reload mechanics, limited enemy variety, and a lack of depth in gameplay. Overall, the game offers a mix of effective pacing and scares, but opinions vary on its fun factor and narrative strength.
- “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's incredible how much this one simple mechanic has enhanced the horror.”
- “It has no idea, no interesting gameplay (excluding black-and-white darkness & flashlight/weapon-modes combo), or exciting game design.”
- “Even though this unfinished technical demo has appealing b&w game design and unique flashlight mechanics, it feels like Szymanski puts little to no effort into the majority of his games and sells them in a half-baked state thinking it's a good practice.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
29 mentions
52 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its effective blend of horror and absurdity, creating an oppressive yet engaging environment that captivates players. Reviewers highlight the impressive sound design, level design, and visual aesthetics, which contribute to a memorable and immersive experience, despite some critiques of gameplay mechanics. Overall, the atmosphere stands out as the game's strongest aspect, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of horror, even if the gameplay itself is less compelling.
- “The atmosphere is really cool, and I love the whole design and lore behind it.”
- “Despite a sardonic spin on the horror genre, the game efficiently establishes an oppressive atmosphere, especially when 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.”
- “I will say though that the reload mechanic is distracting and takes away from the atmosphere.”
humor
23 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its strong sense of humor, effectively blending dark comedy with horror elements, creating a unique atmosphere that keeps players both entertained and on edge. Reviewers highlight the absurdity of the premise, funny lore notes, and the seamless integration of humor into the gameplay, making it a memorable experience. Overall, the humor is described as genuinely funny, enhancing the game's tension and providing a delightful contrast to its spooky themes.
- “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.”
- “It's that mix of cute, creepy, and funny that makes the game so good.”
- “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.”
music
19 mentions
42 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to create a creepy and atmospheric experience, effectively blending cheesy horror elements with tension-building theremin sounds. While some tracks may come off as goofy, the overall soundtrack enhances the gameplay, contributing to a sense of fear and unease. However, a few players noted issues with audio mixing and specific tracks that detracted from the overall vibe.
- “Even though the whole premise is goofy and you'll hear weird theremin notes as a soundtrack, it does a great job at maintaining tension and making you nervous about what's around the next corner.”
- “It has a very cheesy horror feel going for it as well as its scary yet goofy as hell soundtrack.”
- “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
18 mentions
56 % positive mentions
28 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are a blend of unique aesthetics, featuring a striking b&w art style with high contrast and effective use of lighting that enhances its horror atmosphere. While some players appreciate the retro charm and creativity behind the visuals, others find them lacking in technical polish, suggesting that the appeal lies more in the overall atmosphere and artistic direction rather than cutting-edge graphics. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's terrifying yet humorous experience, though opinions on their execution vary.
- “Incredible game with a terrifying aesthetic.”
- “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.”
- “It features a b&w aesthetic with some great use of baked lighting, has a basic combat system with some light resource management, and lots of terrifying encounters.”
- “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
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while it offers some additional modes and challenges that can entice players to revisit it, many reviewers note that the linear nature and short playtime limit the incentive for multiple runs. Some players appreciate the bonus modes and difficulty settings, but others feel that after the initial playthrough, the game lacks enough content to warrant further exploration.
- “Great game, 1st playthrough lasted about 45 minutes 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.”
- “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 again.”
- “There are also a few modes to help with replayability, though I think you'd have to be a specific type of player to run through the game multiple times as it's very linear.”
- “There is a bit of replay value with additional game modes, but from what I understand, you will see most of it in about an hour or less depending on how good you are at it.”
emotional
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of horror and discomfort, evoking strong feelings of trauma and unease through its unsettling imagery and narrative. Players appreciate the effective use of jumpscares and the thought-provoking commentary on corporate greed, which transforms innocent themes into a nightmarish experience. Overall, it strikes a balance between engaging horror and a compelling story that resonates deeply with players.
- “This has caused me more emotional trauma than anything I've ever experienced.”
- “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.”
- “A brilliant and striking narrative about how corporate greed will twist and rend any wholesome dream into a hellish nightmare... I think...”
optimization
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for significant performance issues, particularly during shooting sequences where effects like muzzle flashes contribute to frame drops. While the gameplay is generally enjoyable, these technical problems detract from the overall experience, making it difficult to recommend.
- “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 problems.”
stability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game exhibits some stability issues, including bugs and glitches, which are understandable given its short development time and nature as a micro-game created for a game jam. While players have experienced getting stuck on objects and needing to restart, these issues are generally considered minor and not overly problematic.
- “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.”