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The Tartarus Key

The Tartarus Key combines thoughtful puzzles, engaging writing, and a compelling setting and melds them together inside a PS1 package. It may not create a great deal of horror, but the writing and suspense keep you moving forward.
83%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
replayability, grinding
96% User Score Based on 318 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

PCPCXboxXboxXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|SPlaystation 5Playstation 5Playstation 4Playstation 4WindowsWindowsPlayStationPlayStationNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchXbox OneXbox One
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About

In "The Tartarus Key," Alex Young finds herself trapped in a mysterious mansion filled with puzzles, traps, and sinister creatures. To escape and save her fellow captives, she must rely on her wits and solve challenges inspired by classic horror games. The game features three distinct endings and a gripping, mysterious story.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
The Tartarus Key screenshot
The Tartarus Key screenshot
The Tartarus Key screenshot
The Tartarus Key screenshot
The Tartarus Key screenshot
The Tartarus Key screenshot
The Tartarus Key screenshot
The Tartarus Key screenshot
The Tartarus Key screenshot
The Tartarus Key screenshot
The Tartarus Key screenshot
+6

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 328 reviews
story54 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • Engaging puzzle design that is challenging yet logical, providing a satisfying experience for puzzle enthusiasts.
  • Atmospheric retro aesthetics that effectively create a nostalgic and eerie atmosphere, enhancing the horror elements.
  • Strong character writing and dialogue that adds depth to the story and makes players care about the characters' fates.
  • Some puzzles can be overly obscure or rely on trial and error, leading to potential frustration for players.
  • The story lacks depth and can feel predictable, with some characters being underdeveloped and not fully utilized.
  • Technical issues, such as the PS1 style flicker filter and unskippable cutscenes, can detract from the overall experience.
  • story
    158 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story features an intriguing premise set in a spooky mansion, with lovable characters and engaging puzzles that enhance the experience. However, many players noted a lack of narrative depth and originality, with predictable plot twists and excessive dialogue that sometimes detracts from the atmosphere. Overall, while the story is enjoyable and serves the gameplay well, it may leave some players wanting more in terms of character development and plot resolution.

    • “The story is so interesting, & the true ending got me sitting here thinkin' about it for a while.”
    • “The story line is interesting, each character felt distinctive and unique, and I felt driven to help other survivors and get to the bottom of what's happening in this spooky mansion.”
    • “An awesome puzzle game with some of the best character writing I've seen from most video games - I was genuinely invested in the story and enjoyed the gameplay to the fullest.”
    • “As with a lot of intriguing setups, the eventual resolution of the story isn't all that great and in this case, it's rather unoriginal.”
    • “You'll guess very early what's going on and you'll be right about it, because it's the same story you've been told a dozen times before.”
    • “The story is just coherent enough not to bother you while playing, but falls apart as soon as you start thinking about it.”
  • graphics
    132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics are characterized by a charming retro PS1 aesthetic, effectively creating a nostalgic and eerie atmosphere that enhances the horror elements. While many players appreciate the low-poly art style and its ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia, some have noted that the visuals can occasionally hinder gameplay, particularly in terms of legibility and detail. Overall, the graphics are well-received for their unique style and atmospheric contribution, making them a highlight for fans of retro gaming.

    • “Utilizing a low-poly, PS1-inspired art style, the game effectively creates a nostalgic and eerie atmosphere that enhances the horror elements.”
    • “Where the game shines is the presentation, because the graphics style reminiscent of early 3D games combined with satisfying colors and lighting just look stellar.”
    • “The PS1-inspired graphics look great and give a real Resident Evil vibe to the whole game.”
    • “The premise of the game is okay, but after less than 20 minutes, I got frustrated with the visuals.”
    • “There are some good puzzles but often they are either way too simple, way too obtuse, or way too reliant on spotting something minuscule (especially given the low fidelity art style).”
    • “The atmosphere set by the graphics is seriously undermined by the 'ironic millennial' attitude of the player character and two-dimensional NPCs.”
  • atmosphere
    94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of "The Tartarus Key" is widely praised for its effective blend of nostalgic, low-poly PS1-inspired graphics and a haunting sound design that creates a compelling, eerie ambiance. While the game excels in psychological tension and a spooky aesthetic, some players feel that the atmosphere occasionally lacks oppressive depth and is undermined by character interactions. Overall, it successfully immerses players in a rich, atmospheric experience that enhances the engaging puzzles and narrative.

    • “The atmosphere is thick with sinister undertones, but it's not trying to jumpscare you.”
    • “The atmosphere’s on point and that is in no small part due to the game’s fantastic art direction, music and sound design as well as its writing.”
    • “Very spooky atmosphere and a gripping mystery, all tied together with incredibly satisfying puzzles.”
    • “The atmosphere set by the graphics is seriously undermined by the 'ironic millennial' attitude of the player character and two-dimensional NPCs.”
    • “Unfortunately, the story was less interesting than expected and the constant chatter between Alex and Torres sometimes hurts the atmosphere.”
    • “I do feel though that at times the creepy atmosphere falters in being sufficiently oppressive, and I wish there were more interactions with the characters, but outside of it was a pleasurable experience.”
  • music
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack for enhancing the atmosphere and fitting well with the PS1-era visuals. However, some players find the music either too low in volume or not well-suited to the gameplay, leading to a preference for silence to heighten the horror experience. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally regarded as good, opinions vary on its effectiveness in relation to the game's overall design.

    • “The atmosphere’s on point and that is in no small part due to the game’s fantastic art direction, music, and sound design as well as its writing.”
    • “The PS1 era visuals and the great soundtrack fit perfectly.”
    • “Everything from the music, characters, atmosphere, and of course the puzzles felt as though it was a labor of love.”
    • “The soundtrack is completely mediocre.”
    • “Music itself is fine, but it doesn't work with the game for some reason.”
    • “Also, the ambient music felt too low in volume even with settings being pushed up by me.”
  • gameplay
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is centered around exploration and puzzle-solving, with a strong emphasis on attention to detail, as many puzzles can lead to misleading solutions. While the mechanics are engaging and include creative elements like a slider puzzle, some interactions feel superfluous, detracting from the overall experience. The game is recommended for fans of 'escape the room' mechanics, offering a compelling story and high tension without relying on typical horror tropes.

    • “Gameplay consists of exploring and a lot of puzzle solving, and while they don't reinvent the wheel, they're done pretty well. At least the main puzzles require you to pay a lot of attention, or you'll think you found the correct solution only to learn better when it's too late.”
    • “I recommend this game to those who enjoy 'escape the room' mechanics and prefer a horror story without excessive gore or jump scares.”
    • “An awesome puzzle game with some of the best character writing I've seen from most video games - I was genuinely invested in the story and enjoyed the gameplay to the fullest.”
    • “I'm less wanting to interact with your environment knowing that a majority of interactables will result in 'witticisms' that serve no purpose to the story or gameplay.”
    • “There is a 'radio' mechanic which seemed like it could have been a cool Metal Gear Solid type thing but it winds up just being kind of pointless.”
    • “Feels like coming up with trivia dialogues and flashy cutscenes was taken with less priority than gameplay and the final twist.”
  • humor
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting the witty and sarcastic dialogue of the characters, particularly the main character, Alex. The writing is described as charming and filled with humor, making the characters relatable and enjoyable. However, some players expressed a desire for a stronger focus on horror elements rather than humor, especially towards the endings.

    • “I liked the character I played and thought she was funny and sarcastic despite the dire circumstances.”
    • “Alex (the main character) has some hilarious dialogue and commentary on her situation that keeps things fresh.”
    • “The writing in this is so friggin good, filled with humor and charm and characters you can't help but grow to love.”
    • “That's not funny?”
    • “That's not funny?”
    • “That's not funny?”
  • replayability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability through multiple endings that depend on player choices, encouraging exploration of different narrative paths. However, some players feel that outside of pursuing these endings, the game lacks additional replay value.

    • “The game offers various endings that motivate players to replay and discover different outcomes.”
    • “With multiple endings influenced by player decisions, the game invites players to explore diverse narrative paths, enhancing its replayability.”
    • “Some may not like that there isn't any replay value outside of going for the various endings.”
    • “The game has essentially no replay value as well, unless you want to get the other endings.”
    • “The game features multiple endings based on player choices, encouraging replayability and exploration of different narrative paths.”
  • character development
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is often criticized for its sparse narrative depth, with players feeling that the intriguing storyline fails to fully explore and develop its characters, resulting in a sense of unfulfilled potential.

  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players appreciate the presence of clever puzzles in the game, though some find certain puzzles to be tedious, contributing to a mixed experience with grinding.

    • “The game has a lot of clever puzzles, but some of them feel tedious and overly repetitive.”
    • “While there are many clever puzzles, a few of them become tedious and drag on too long.”
    • “The clever puzzles are overshadowed by the tedious grinding that feels unnecessary.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game demonstrates excellent stability on the Steam Deck, with multiple users reporting a smooth performance.

    • “It runs great on Steam Deck.”

70%Critics’ scoreBased on 10 critic reviews

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