The Shadow People

About

The Shadow People is a single player action game with a horror theme. It was developed by Roc Studios and was released on October 27, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

The Shadow People is a retro point and click horror adventure game with a minimalistic aesthetic. As a student cramming for finals, you drive all the way to school, sit through class, and try to slog your way back home. But fatigue sets in, and dark creatures dance in the edge of your eyesight.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 37 reviews

stability3 positive mentions

The game features a charming retro aesthetic with nice pixel art and a creepy atmosphere, making it enjoyable for fans of horror and point-and-click genres.
It offers multiple endings and replayability, encouraging players to explore different choices and paths throughout the game.
As a free game, it provides a fun and engaging experience, making it accessible for casual players and those new to the genre.

The game suffers from frequent crashes, which can disrupt gameplay and frustrate players.
The interaction menu is cluttered with unnecessary options, making navigation and gameplay feel clunky and less intuitive.
Some puzzles can be confusing or require external guides, which may detract from the overall experience for players seeking a straightforward adventure.

story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The game's story is described as interesting and cryptic, offering a mysterious narrative that draws players in, though it can be challenging to follow without external guidance. While the atmosphere and puzzles are enjoyable, some players feel that the complexity of the story is hindered by cumbersome gameplay mechanics and a lack of meaningful choices, leading to a somewhat frustrating experience. Overall, the surreal storytelling evokes comparisons to works like Twin Peaks, but the execution leaves room for improvement.
- “I find the story, puzzles, and atmosphere really enjoyable.”
- “The story is very cryptic, but I think it offers enough details for the player to understand what is happening.”
- “It tells a mysterious story and has a few interesting puzzles (you should take notes while playing!).”
- “Apart from that, my personal feedback is to remove the nine buttons of possible actions and instead replace them with only 'look' and 'use' since the rest serve very little purpose and sometimes ruins the immersion of the story.”
- “I had to spend a lot of time looking through discussions to figure out that the developers intentionally removed easy access to an essential feature of the game at random important points because they couldn't figure out how to develop the game in a way so that people weren't playing the storyline out of order.”
- “The music and graphics were way more annoying than scary, and the storyline was overdone.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming retro Game Boy aesthetic that effectively enhances the creepy atmosphere and overall vibe. While many players appreciate the nostalgic visuals and music, some critique the simplicity of certain creature designs, suggesting they detract from the intended horror experience. Overall, the presentation is a mix of effective retro charm and occasional shortcomings in design.
- “Some really creepy tense moments and atmosphere here that really leverages the retro aesthetic.”
- “A neat little 'macventure-like' with a charming Game Boy aesthetic!”
- “If you're looking for a short and scary game with cool retro graphics, then this is your game.”
- “The presentation is quite effective with spooky music and visuals, even though some of the creature designs don't go beyond simple stickmen, betraying the influence of childish internet creepypastas that the game would be better off without.”
- “The music and graphics were way more annoying than scary, and the storyline was overdone.”
- “None of the puzzles were obtuse with a solution that makes the player say 'that was bull****.' The Game Boy aesthetics, music, and general vibe really sell what the game is going for.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and poorly looped, leading to annoyance during gameplay. While some appreciate the nostalgic Game Boy style and its fit with the game's aesthetic, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, overshadowing the visuals and storyline. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a weak point, contributing to a tiring atmosphere rather than enhancing the game's intended spooky vibe.
- “Nice Game Boy style graphics and soundtrack.”
- “The Game Boy aesthetics, music, and general vibe really sell what the game is going for.”
- “The presentation is quite effective with spooky music and visuals.”
- “The soundtrack is a bit repetitive and it's not looped properly, so it can be a little annoying.”
- “The puzzles were easy and the music was very tiring.”
- “The music and graphics were way more annoying than scary, and the storyline was overdone.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a creepy and tense ambiance that effectively utilizes a retro aesthetic, enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of mystery and enjoyable storytelling, which, along with the distinctive style, contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The game had a decent atmosphere, a nice retro style, and a small amount of mystery with it.”
- “Some really creepy tense moments and atmosphere here that really leverages the retro aesthetic.”
- “The style and atmosphere really add to the game's experience.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game features strong replayability due to its multiple endings—five in total—each influenced by player choices, item collection, and exploration. Reviewers note that these endings are not only varied but also cool and unique, encouraging players to replay the game to experience all possible outcomes.
- “Multiple endings for more replayability, and most of them are cool and unique.”
- “The game also offers some replayability as it has 5 different endings depending on your choices, items you picked up along the way, and rooms you find.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report that the game runs smoothly without any significant issues, indicating a high level of stability.
- “Runs great.”
- “The game maintains a smooth performance without any crashes.”
- “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is, even during intense moments.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is highlighted by specific moments, such as Ending #4, which elicited laughter from players, indicating that the game successfully incorporates comedic elements.
- “Ending #4 made me laugh.”
- “The witty dialogue kept me chuckling throughout the game.”
- “I loved the clever puns and humorous references sprinkled throughout the storyline.”