The Shore

The puzzles use moon logic, the chase sequences are annoying, and the story isn’t all that satisfying. But the game undoubtedly has elements that are well worth paying attention to.

66%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

gameplay, stability

71% User Score Based on 1,798 reviews

Critic Score 53%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

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About

The Shore is a single player survival shooter game with horror and mystery themes. It was developed by THE SHORE and was released on February 19, 2021. It received neutral reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

"The Shore" is a narrative-driven adventure game where players uncover the mysteries of a strange island. Through exploration, puzzle-solving, and interaction with non-playable characters, players delve into the memories and emotions of the inhabitants to understand the island's enigmatic past. With its beautiful art style and immersive atmosphere, "The Shore" invites players to reflect on themes of loss, love, and the passage of time.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,798 reviews

story230 positive mentions

gameplay72 negative mentions

Stunning visuals and atmosphere that effectively capture Lovecraftian horror.
Engaging story with numerous references to Lovecraft's mythos.
Decent sound design and music that enhance the overall experience.

Gameplay is often clunky and frustrating, especially during chase sequences.
Puzzles can be vague and lack clear direction, leading to confusion.
Short playtime (around 2-3 hours) may not justify the price for some players.

story
818 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
64%
8%
The story of "The Shore" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its Lovecraftian themes and atmospheric elements, but criticizing its coherence and depth. While some found the initial premise engaging, involving a father's search for his daughter amidst eerie settings, others felt the narrative became disjointed and lacked meaningful development, often resorting to a collection of mythos references rather than a cohesive plot. Overall, the game is seen as visually stunning but narratively underwhelming, leaving players wanting more substance and clarity in the storytelling.
- “I recommend this game highly if you like short story games that actually leave you thinking more.”
- “The atmospheric sound design, coupled with a compelling story and challenging puzzles, creates an immersive experience.”
- “I count this to one of the best story-based Lovecraft adaptations in games I have played after reading many of his (short) stories.”
- “While there is some semblance of a story in the beginning (shipwrecked on an island, searching for your daughter), it soon becomes clear that it is a mere varnish.”
- “It's really only two bucket loads of disconnected Cthulhu mythos icons, words, and creatures all over the place, without any coherence or storytelling about what happened here, what the point of it all is, or what to do.”
- “The story itself feels somewhat rushed, with multiple elements packed into a short gameplay without sufficient explanation or attention, leaving it somewhat underwhelming.”
graphics
580 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
35%
3%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and atmospheric design, effectively capturing the eerie essence of Lovecraftian horror. Many reviewers highlighted the impressive monster designs and detailed environments, although some noted inconsistencies and optimization issues that detracted from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, the visuals are often described as the game's strongest aspect, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.
- “The visuals and the sound design are simply top notch and they are the main strengths of the game.”
- “The graphics for all the abominations, protoplasmic forms, powers and so on are simply amazing, grandiose and highly detailed, really bringing the whole thing to life.”
- “The visuals are spectacular and do a great job at creeping you out or keeping you in awe.”
- “Even on the lowest graphical settings and the lowest resolution, it still causes my GPU to massively overheat...”
- “For that reason, I can only assume this is very poorly optimized and I'm not willing to burn out my graphics card to play it!”
- “The graphics don't seem to be working properly even though my PC can handle many other games fine, so for many of the levels I didn't get to see the textures at all.”
atmosphere
516 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
32%
2%
The atmosphere of "The Shore" is widely praised for its impressive visuals, eerie sound design, and strong Lovecraftian themes, creating a deeply immersive experience that evokes feelings of dread and isolation. Many players appreciate the game's ability to capture the essence of cosmic horror, with beautifully crafted environments and a haunting soundtrack that enhance the overall mood. However, some critiques note that while the atmosphere is compelling, it is often undermined by gameplay flaws and a lack of narrative depth.
- “The lovecraftian atmosphere, the eeriness, the quiet, cold dread of something ancient and incomprehensible.”
- “The lighting and sound design work harmoniously to create a palpable atmosphere of dread and wonder, immersing players in the otherworldly island setting.”
- “The shore is an atmospheric visual spectacle wrapped up in a beautiful but questionable interpretation of the lovecraft mythos.”
- “Unfortunately this made it even worse, since the atmosphere didn't benefit from it at all, and the feature was implemented really lackluster and, to me, felt strangely out of place.”
- “They pretty much shatter the eerie atmosphere that the game has managed to build up to that point, and make the whole thing start to feel like a chore.”
- “Even though technically, the atmosphere is the only thing this game did right, it just... isn't enough.”
gameplay
398 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
69%
18%
The gameplay of "The Shore" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its heavy reliance on walking simulator mechanics and simplistic puzzles, often leading to frustration due to clunky combat and unclear objectives. While the atmospheric visuals and Lovecraftian themes are praised, the gameplay is frequently described as shallow, unpolished, and at times, tedious, making it a divisive experience for players who may appreciate the aesthetics more than the mechanics. Overall, it seems best suited for those who prioritize atmosphere over gameplay depth.
- “Considering though that it's an indie game from a small developer with very few people working on it, those 5-6 hours of gameplay make it seem like AAA for the effort.”
- “If you like Lovecraft, and enjoy a good atmosphere with easy gameplay, don't miss it.”
- “While the gameplay may not be action-packed and could use a bit more polish, the overall experience is hauntingly satisfying.”
- “I'm not a fan of walking sims and usually when I stumble into one, labeled as something with actual gameplay, I end up annoyed, disappointed, and ready to write a negative review.”
- “The gameplay is practically nonexistent.”
- “The gaming experience as a whole was weak and short, with annoying level design and combat mechanics that are so poorly executed that I was constantly questioning why this is even in the game.”
music
286 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
39%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the Lovecraftian themes and overall mood. However, some players noted issues with volume balancing, where music often overpowers voice acting, and a lack of variation in tracks, leading to repetitive experiences. Despite these criticisms, the soundtrack is generally praised for its ability to evoke tension and drama, contributing significantly to the game's eerie ambiance.
- “The great ambient soundtrack and sound design really help to make it even better and more atmospheric.”
- “The music shifts from hopeful but subdued operatic scores, to musical denials of certain doom that hang over scenes of terror frozen in time like a ghostly echo of forgotten trauma, to the sinister ambiance of a technological environment produced by wholly alien industry, and swelling to impactful crescendos during scenes when monumental, awe-inspiring power has been unleashed, and does so with appropriate timing.”
- “This game has unparalleled art direction, fantastic atmosphere and outstanding music.”
- “Additionally, the abrupt shifts in music tone from calm to dark can feel jarring.”
- “The sound design is tonally mismatched, often using techno sound effects in an effort to imitate annihilation, and the mixing is unbalanced such that the roar of a giant monster is barely heard over the music.”
- “The music is constant and does not allow for moments between the 'scare'.”
stability
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with many players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and performance issues that detract from the overall experience. While some users noted that they encountered minimal problems, the majority described the game as laggy and poorly designed, with issues such as invisible walls, unresponsive controls, and graphical errors being common. Overall, the game feels unpolished and incomplete, leading to frustration for many players.
- “Besides that, it runs great and looks amazing.”
- “The gameplay is a walking sim that also manages to be unbelievably buggy.”
- “Overall it was laggy, buggy and a bit of a mess with the controls.”
- “I waited so long for this heap, and I promise you, steer clear of this awful, clunky, buggy walking sim.”
optimization
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
41%
52%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, frame rate dips, and audio glitches, which detract from the overall experience. While the graphics and atmosphere are praised, the technical shortcomings, including unresponsive controls and bugs, leave the game feeling unpolished and incomplete. Many users express hope for future updates to improve optimization, as the current state does not justify the game's price tag.
- “Even when played without the VR set, it's still optimized for keyboard and mouse, but it does get a little extra shiny when you play through a VR headset.”
- “As an active Cthulhu cult member, I 100% give this game a thumbs up because I felt like it stayed true to its goal; just wish it was more optimized because at times, if I needed to tab out, the game would lock up, which I was able to fix by pressing escape.”
- “Even if, in my opinion, at this point the quality and optimization of the game is not reflecting its price tag, I wanted to support the dev(s).”
- “Unfortunately, the game is poorly optimized and littered with performance issues.”
- “The game is extremely poorly optimized.”
- “As of yet, the game's performance is mediocre and, in addition to the sadly poor optimization, suffers from progress-blocking bugs that require constant restarts of segments in the hope that the game logic may work the next time around.”
grinding
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
3%
94%
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and frustrating, with players noting that combat and chase sequences often feel clunky and repetitive. Many reviewers express a desire for more complex puzzles and exploration, as the current design leads to moments of annoyance and confusion. While the game's visuals and atmosphere are praised, they are often overshadowed by the tedious gameplay mechanics.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “But once you have to run from monsters pointing the triangle at them - tedious, annoying, and frustrating.”
- “The item hunt does become tedious and there's a few 'where the hell do I go?' moments, which becomes fairly annoying due to your character running at the pace of a snail and some of the areas being pretty large.”
- “I would have much preferred more complicated and in-depth puzzles instead of tedious combat scenes which just consist of beings chasing you and outrunning you while you try and find the exit, barely getting the chance to fight back.”
emotional
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
7%
The game evokes a range of emotions, from excitement and unease to moments of shock and horror, particularly through its striking visuals and atmospheric sound design. However, many players felt a lack of emotional connection to the main character and his daughter, with only fleeting moments of engagement that failed to establish a deeper bond. Overall, while the game successfully captures the essence of Lovecraftian horror, it struggles to create lasting emotional investment in its narrative.
- “In summary, it's a visually striking and emotionally resonant journey that leaves a lasting impact, making it a must-play for horror aficionados.”
- “For the positives: nice graphics, some cool set pieces, beautiful music (when they're designed to be calm and atmospheric), easy puzzles, interesting myth, and a touching tale.”
- “It's essentially a walking simulator with minor FPS mechanics, but it's a really touching love letter to everything Lovecraft, chock full of references and nods to his writing, and probably the most bespoke deep dive into the mythos I've seen in games.”
replayability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
Overall, the game has minimal replayability, with many users noting it offers little incentive to play again after the initial experience. While there are some collectibles and achievements that could encourage a second playthrough for completionists, the linear story and short playtime (around three hours) significantly limit its replay value. Most reviews suggest it is best enjoyed as a one-time experience.
- “There are some collectibles and achievements, some of which are missable, so there is a tiny bit of replayability if you want to 100% it.”
- “No real replayability, but it's interesting for a one-shot.”
- “Lastly, I wish the game was longer. I got through the entire game in less than 3 hours completely blind and by no means rushing it; also, with the game being linear, I can't say it would hold up for very good replay value.”
- “There is zero replay value.”
- “No replay value at all.”
- “Almost 0 replayability.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its intentionally bad voice acting and a comical storyline, featuring Cthulhu as a cartoonish villain. Players find the interactions with quirky enemies amusing, although the gameplay can be frustrating due to technical issues and puzzle mechanics. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch to the otherwise dark Lovecraftian visuals.
- “Cthulhu plotting and laughing like an evil cartoonish villain.”
- “Voice acting in some parts is bad and even funny.”
- “Cthulhu laughing and talking like your typical villain wanting to destroy the world and some kind of conflict between him and Nyarlathotep.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
While the character design and 3D modeling are praised for their high quality and visual appeal, there is a notable lack of depth in character development, with reviewers indicating that the design is impressive but does not extend beyond aesthetics.
- “The character design is on point, showcasing a high level of creativity and attention to detail.”
- “10/10 character design, truly impressive and immersive.”
- “The 3D modeling and character design are exceptional, contributing significantly to the overall experience.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, with reviewers expressing disappointment in its lack of depth and reliance on superficial elements, such as tentacle imagery, to evoke cosmic horror.