The Ritual on Weylyn Island

About

In "The Ritual on Weylyn Island," players assume the role of a detective investigating supernatural occurrences on a secluded island. The game combines elements of horror, adventure, and puzzle-solving, as players uncover the dark secrets of Weylyn Island and its ritualistic past. Dialogue and exploration are key components in this atmospheric, story-driven experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 80 reviews

story20 positive mentions

optimization2 negative mentions

The game has a cool atmosphere and effectively captures the essence of a B horror movie, making it enjoyable for a short play session.
The NPC behavior and ambient design contribute to a tense experience, with well-placed checkpoints that minimize frustration upon dying.
Despite its short length, the game features intriguing twists and a decent storyline that keeps players engaged throughout.

The game is very short, with a playtime of around 1.5 hours, which may leave players wanting more content.
Movement controls are often criticized as clunky, and the graphics are described as mediocre, detracting from the overall experience.
The story lacks depth and development, with some players finding it clichéd and unsatisfying, leading to a feeling of missed potential.

story
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
50%
19%
The story of "Ritual on Weylyn Island" is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its intriguing twists and dark atmosphere, while others criticize it for being clichéd, predictable, and poorly developed. Despite its potential, many reviewers feel the narrative falls short due to monotonous pacing and lack of engaging character development, leaving it feeling unfulfilled. Overall, while the game offers a brief horror experience, its storytelling struggles to leave a lasting impact.
- “It's a very story-driven piece, in other words, but one which gets down to the nitty-gritty action nice 'n' quick, all things considered.”
- “Really excellent game with enough dose of horror and intriguing storyline to keep you going forward.”
- “Even if you see themes and tropes often used in other horror games, if you like story, there's plenty of fun here since it's done well, and the bottom line for the player was fun.”
- “The story has a lot of potential but is not developed enough.”
- “As far as the story is concerned, it's a clichéd debacle that shows its hand prematurely, killing any mystery that could have been built up and explored, although I will admit that the ending is very appropriate.”
- “But despite all of this, it’s Weylyn Island’s story that ruined the entire game for me.”
atmosphere
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
32%
14%
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its dark, creepy, and immersive qualities, effectively evoking tension and intrigue throughout the experience. Players appreciate the well-designed environments, sound design, and visual elements that enhance the horror elements, particularly in the forest and coastal settings. While some critiques mention the presence of certain character voices detracting from the overall mood, the general consensus is that the atmosphere successfully captures the essence of a chilling horror narrative.
- “The atmosphere built nicely in this game and the forest sections had the hair on the back of my neck standing up a couple of times.”
- “Whether it be exploring the quiet coast of the island, evading a silent stalker in a basement, or investigating a strange altar with a music box, the game is full of interesting scenes matched with good atmosphere and a level of intrigue accomplished by good vision and direction.”
- “I could really have done without the demonically possessed family members hissing and swearing; I think the atmosphere is better served by the hooded cultists, but if they have to stay, keep their mouths shut.”
- “The island’s dark and laced in shadows, and your first few minutes are spent soaking up the atmosphere.”
- “It has an atmosphere and plenty of freaky things happen.”
gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
73%
14%
The gameplay is described as a mixed experience, with some reviewers noting a lack of engaging mechanics such as hiding or healing, and a weapons-free environment. However, others appreciate the game's variety in settings, tasks, and pacing, highlighting its ability to keep players guessing and involved despite its low-budget presentation. Overall, while there are criticisms regarding depth and execution, the game offers a surprisingly diverse and solid gameplay experience for its short length.
- “And this has twists, turns, a variety of environments, models, music, good sound effects & ambience, voice acting (though obviously lacking experience and/or good direction), and even surprisingly varied gameplay for such a small & short game!”
- “The game mixes itself up and comes off as a low-budget attempt to make an interesting sort of cinematic horror experience, one that has actual diversity in gameplay, setting, tasks, and knows how to pace itself and keep things interesting.”
- “In big part due to it being able to keep the player guessing, a variety of settings, tasks, and solid core mechanics, matched with feeling involved in every moment of the action going on.”
- “It wouldn't be so bad if there were at least some hiding mechanics or interesting environments to traverse, but there absolutely are not.”
- “As for gameplay, there’s little to speak of.”
- “Most indie horror games on Steam that are/were in early access tend to be riddled with incompetent gameplay, feature underwhelming length, and show poor execution all around.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
50%
14%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the grainy aesthetic that adds a certain charm, while others criticize the visuals as ugly and lacking detail. Despite the varied opinions, many agree that the graphics are adequate for creating an atmospheric experience, complemented by strong sound design. Overall, while not groundbreaking, the visuals are deemed sufficient to support the game's horror elements.
- “The graphics look great; I liked listening to the cassette tapes while running to the next location.”
- “Good graphics, nice level of detail.”
- “Short, bad movement, ugly graphics and sometimes still bad performance.”
- “The visuals are on par with what you'd expect.”
- “Before going any further, we might as well talk graphics.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, including poor movement mechanics, unattractive graphics, and inconsistent performance. Overall, players have expressed dissatisfaction with the game's optimization.
- “Short, bad movement, ugly graphics, and sometimes still bad performance.”
- “There are also some optimization issues.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is noted for enhancing the atmosphere and complementing the diverse environments, contributing to a sense of intrigue throughout various scenes. While the sound effects and ambience are generally well-received, the voice acting is critiqued for lacking experience and direction. Overall, the music plays a significant role in creating an engaging and immersive experience.
- “The game is full of interesting scenes matched with good atmosphere and a level of intrigue accomplished by good vision and direction.”
- “The music adds to the overall experience, enhancing the emotional depth of each scene.”
- “The sound effects and ambience create an immersive environment that complements the music beautifully.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game is viewed positively, as it is perceived as well-executed and not merely a cash grab, distinguishing it from other titles that rely on lazy monetization tactics.
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the humor in the game enhanced by amusing bugs that, while not game-breaking, contribute to an enjoyable experience. These lighthearted moments add to the overall fun, making the gameplay more entertaining.
- “I came across some bugs; none were game-breaking, though they made me laugh, have a good time, and enjoy the experience even more.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, detracting from both the enjoyment and the intended scare factor, ultimately making the experience feel more like a chore than an engaging challenge.
- “The grinding makes the game not particularly scary nor fun, just tedious.”
- “The grinding makes the game not particularly scary nor fun, just tedious.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers minimal replayability, as it features only one ending and a single collectible that is easily visible, leaving little incentive for players to revisit it.
- “There is no replay value - the single collectible in the game is always in plain sight, and there is only one ending.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game experiences significant stability issues, particularly with controller input, causing characters to auto-walk or spin uncontrollably. Additionally, there are glitches with the flashlight functionality, further detracting from the overall gameplay experience.
- “The game has serious stability issues; when I plug in the controller, it starts to auto-walk and spin to the left, and the flashlight glitches out when I try to use it.”
- “The game is enjoyable, but the stability problems are frustrating. My character keeps auto-walking and spinning when I connect my controller, and the flashlight doesn't work properly.”
- “While the game has potential, the stability is a major concern. Plugging in the controller causes my character to uncontrollably walk and spin, and the flashlight frequently glitches.”