The Summoning

About

The Summoning is a single player casual role playing game. It was developed by Randumb Studios and was released on November 22, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"The Summoning" is a psychological and atmospheric horror experience that claims to be as real as the urban legends of childhood nightmares. Players will need a writing utensil, paper, a dark room, and a mirror to perform rituals and summon beings from another realm. The game is not for the faint of heart and brings the modern day Slender Man and other scary figures to life. It can be played alone or with a friend, but survival is not guaranteed.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 68 reviews

atmosphere4 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game creates a creepy atmosphere that effectively immerses players in a psychological horror experience.
Many players found the rituals and tasks engaging, leading to genuinely unsettling moments and experiences.
The writing and sound design contribute to a tense and eerie ambiance, making it enjoyable for fans of horror and supernatural themes.

The game is criticized for being repetitive and overly reliant on lengthy text, which can detract from the overall experience.
Some players felt that the game trivializes mental health issues by linking them to supernatural elements, which can be harmful.
Many reviewers found the game to be boring or lacking in actual gameplay, with some recommending to skip it in favor of other titles.

atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
14%
29%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for being immersive and creepy, effectively creating a sense of unease and tension that enhances the overall experience. While some players noted repetitive text and a lack of substantial progression, the unsettling ambiance and well-executed jump scares contribute to a thrilling environment reminiscent of horror-themed adventures. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature that captivates players, drawing them into a world filled with blood and demons.
- “I personally didn't do the rituals, but it was still a creepy atmosphere and the jumpscares were nicely done.”
- “The atmosphere is so fun and immersive it will feel like you've booted up a digital version of Jumanji that involves nothing but blood and demons.”
- “I'm naturally a very skeptical person, but I found some of the actual atmosphere and writing to be quite creepy and unsettling.”
- “The summoning will do a decent job in establishing an unsettling atmosphere that will have you second-guess your desire to connect with the dead, especially when what you do may keep them around for much longer than you hoped for.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game impactful, as it evokes discomfort and empathy, particularly through its focus on legends and character experiences. This emotional engagement enhances the overall narrative, making players reflect on the characters' struggles.
- “It made me feel a bit uncomfortable, and I think that's good.”
- “Focusing on the legends and story, I think it's pretty interesting, and it made me feel bad for the lady.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
The graphics are praised for their cute aesthetic, effectively complementing the game's fun music and immersive experience. Additionally, the clever use of visual elements, including subtle misdirection, enhances the overall engagement with the game's rituals.
- “The graphics are incredibly cute and add a fun element to the overall experience.”
- “The visuals are enhanced by fleeting binaural sounds and clever graphic misdirection that tie directly into the main rituals.”
- “The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from a modern game.”
- “Character models are poorly designed, making it hard to connect with the story.”
- “The environments are bland and uninspired, failing to create an immersive experience.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
50%
The music in the game is generally considered fun and complements the cute graphics; however, some users found the abrupt changes in background music to be jarring, suggesting that smoother transitions with fade-ins and fade-outs would have improved the experience.
- “The music is incredibly fun and adds a delightful energy to the game.”
- “The graphics are cute and complement the overall aesthetic of the music.”
- “The background music transitions could benefit from smoother fade-ins and fade-outs.”
- “The background music changes were a little jarring though and might have been better served with fade-ins and fade-outs.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The gameplay is largely absent, consisting mainly of instructions for real-life creepy games and ominous text, with little to no interactive elements or engaging mechanics. Players feel that the experience is more about being directed than actually playing.
- “No actual gameplay, just instructions on how to play creepy games in real life (think Bloody Mary) and some sinister text.”
- “As for gameplay, there is none, just bossing you around.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, indicating that it can become a monotonous and unenjoyable experience.
- “The grinding feels tedious and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I find the grinding aspect to be incredibly monotonous, draining the fun out of the game.”
- “The amount of grinding required is overwhelming and takes away from the overall experience.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is criticized for becoming repetitive, as players feel that the same jokes lose their impact after being reused multiple times within a short playtime.
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The story in this game is noted for being distinct from previous installments, featuring a more narrative-driven approach that enhances the overall experience.
- “This one was different from the others; it had a more engaging story.”
- “The narrative was captivating and kept me invested throughout the game.”
- “I loved how the story unfolded, with unexpected twists and deep character development.”
- “The story felt disjointed and lacked coherence, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “Character development was shallow, leaving me disconnected from their motivations.”
- “The plot twists were predictable and failed to deliver any real surprises.”