The Windows Are Gone

About

The Windows Are Gone is a single player action adventure game with horror and thriller themes. It was developed by Scary Cube and was released on October 2, 2023. It received very positive reviews from players.

"The Windows Are Gone" is a psychological horror game that immerses players in a disturbing narrative filled with guilt and grief. The retro visuals and atmospheric gameplay create an unsettling atmosphere as you explore a haunted house and uncover its secrets. As you move in and decorate the house, the line between reality and the subconscious becomes increasingly blurred.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 254 reviews

story35 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game delivers a unique and immersive atmosphere, effectively building tension without relying on cheap jump scares.
Sound design is exceptional, enhancing the eerie experience and contributing to the overall sense of dread.
The narrative explores themes of grief and guilt, providing a thought-provoking experience that resonates with players.

The game suffers from technical issues, including bugs that can lead to soft locks and a lack of a save system, which can frustrate players.
Pacing is slow, with extended periods of unpacking that may feel tedious and detract from the horror elements.
Limited replayability due to a straightforward narrative and minimal branching paths, which may leave players wanting more depth.

story
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
46%
4%
The game's story is a compact and atmospheric horror narrative that explores themes of isolation, grief, and memory, drawing comparisons to works by Stephen King and Silent Hill 2. While many players found the plot engaging and chilling, some noted it felt rushed or underdeveloped at times, with a desire for deeper exploration of its themes. Overall, the story is praised for its emotional impact and effective use of atmosphere, making it a compelling experience despite its brevity and occasional narrative gaps.
- “A compact, weirdly intimate horror story about isolation, memory, and the creeping terror of watching the outside world quietly disappear.”
- “The story is compelling and explores themes of grief and guilt. Despite the game being short, around an hour or so, it offers two endings and secrets to uncover, which makes it worth replaying.”
- “'The Windows Are Gone' is an incredible horror experience that drips with atmosphere and a gripping, tense story with perfect pacing that literally gave me shivers down my spine.”
- “I thought the story would go in one direction at first, but it wound up being a bit underwhelming.”
- “They make use of cliché horror trailer tropes, they overexplain the story, and they're just not necessary.”
- “The unpacking did very little to advance the plot and operated as a fear cock block (something scary would happen and you'd unpack boxes for 5-10 minutes).”
atmosphere
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
26%
5%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised as its standout feature, characterized by a haunting, eerie quality that effectively builds tension and unease throughout the experience. Reviewers highlight the impressive sound design and visual aesthetics, which contribute to a deeply immersive environment that enhances the psychological horror elements. While some note minor issues with execution or complexity, the overall consensus is that the atmosphere is captivating and integral to the game's impact.
- “The best part of the game is the atmosphere; the lofi aesthetics sell this weird, hazy setting that is rather haunting.”
- “Nails the atmosphere and keeps you unnerved the entire time.”
- “The atmosphere was top-notch, and I loved the way dread slowly built as I tried to make this strange new house my home.”
- “The atmosphere building up is very well done, even though the story is not too complex.”
- “Starting off as a simple unpacking and decorating sim, it slowly builds up an eerie atmosphere that kept me on edge.”
- “'The windows are gone' is an incredible horror experience that drips with atmosphere and a gripping, tense story with perfect pacing that literally gave me shivers down my spine.”
gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
The gameplay is generally engaging, featuring immersive mechanics centered around mystery and exploration, with a runtime of about 30 minutes to an hour. However, players noted potential issues with repetitive gameplay and limited replayability, alongside a slow start that may not appeal to everyone. Despite these drawbacks, the game offers a compelling atmosphere and intriguing plot, making it a worthwhile experience, especially considering its free access.
- “Give this game a go, it's about 30 minutes to an hour of gameplay if you try for the other endings.”
- “The game leverages immersive gameplay mechanics that revolve around exploring the vanished windows and uncovering the mysteries behind their disappearance.”
- “Engaging gameplay mechanics centered around mystery and exploration.”
- “Despite its intriguing premise, the game may suffer from the potential for repetitive gameplay loops.”
- “However, it may face challenges with repetitive gameplay and limited replayability.”
- “A horror game that's not just 'a monster chases you, what do?' is always appreciated, but it would be way nicer if the game saved the progress I had made or at least offered more expansive gameplay options.”
graphics
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
41%
18%
The game's graphics are praised for their unique lofi and retro aesthetic, effectively creating a haunting atmosphere that enhances the psychological horror experience. The low-poly visuals and PS1-inspired art style add charm, though some critics feel this choice may be a way to sidestep modern graphical standards. Overall, the combination of visuals and sound design contributes significantly to the game's eerie ambiance and storytelling.
- “The best part of the game is the atmosphere; the lofi aesthetics sell this weird, hazy setting that is rather haunting.”
- “It has a really good PS1 art style along with a dark atmosphere, fun exploration, and multiple different endings.”
- “The atmosphere is eerie, especially because of the beautiful VHS-like art style and this empty old house you are moving into to start your life over.”
- “The retro graphics style of the game adds little charm and may only exist as an excuse to dodge modern indie standards.”
- “I played 700 hours of Skyrim on single-digit FPS, so I'm really not someone who complains about low frames, but it felt a bit ridiculous for a pixelized 'retro graphics' game.”
- “This is a decent short psychological horror game with a retro, pixellated art style.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The music in the game has been widely praised for its ability to enhance the spooky atmosphere and build tension, with many reviewers calling it a masterpiece that perfectly complements the story and sound design. While some players appreciated the overall sound experience, a few suggested the option to adjust music levels separately from sound effects. Overall, the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's terrifying and immersive experience, earning high ratings from users.
- “The music, atmosphere, story, and the horror aspect were so good!”
- “The soundtrack is an absolute masterpiece and the game is terrifying.”
- “It's a bite-sized horror with effective use of sound and music, mixing subtle creepy details with in-your-face terror.”
- “There should've been a section to adjust the music of the game instead of the whole sound.”
- “The music is fine, but I would have appreciated less of it.”
- “It would be nice to see an OST release, most notably of the backing during the initial text conversation (it feels like it has inspiration from Aphex Twin's 'Rhubarb').”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews highlight a mixed reception regarding the emotional aspect of the game. While some players appreciate its sincere storytelling and the exploration of serious themes like mental health, others feel that it falls short of delivering a truly gripping narrative. Overall, the game is noted for its emotional depth and engaging story, despite some criticisms of its innovation and execution.
- “I really wanted to love the game; it had all the makings for a really great scary yet emotionally moving story.”
- “Emotional, fun, and interesting all throughout the game and story.”
- “It starts with a cinematic opening that lays out the backstory, punctuated later on with some very heartfelt text conversations between the protagonist and various other characters.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
43%
43%
The game "The Windows Are Gone" is criticized for its limited replayability, primarily due to the absence of a checkpoint system and a lack of alternative endings or branching storylines. Once players uncover the game's mysteries, there is little incentive to replay, leading to a repetitive experience that diminishes long-term enjoyment.
- “Lack of alternative endings or branching storylines could diminish long-term enjoyment for players seeking replay value.”
- “Regrettably, as previously mentioned, The Windows Are Gone has no checkpoint system, and there is really no replay value because the game is exactly the same up until the final choices.”
- “[b] Limited replayability[/b] once players uncover the mysteries within The Windows Are Gone, there may be limited incentive for replayability.”
- “However, it may face challenges with repetitive gameplay and limited replayability.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Players have reported encountering various technical issues and optimization challenges while playing "The Windows Are Gone," which can detract from the overall gaming experience. However, some appreciate that it offers a more original design compared to other poorly optimized games in the genre.
- “Some players may encounter technical issues or optimization challenges while playing, impacting their overall experience.”
- “Technical issues and optimization challenges.”
- “Finally a 'PSX style' game that is not a bunch of pre-made assets, badly optimized, or boring.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and monotonous, leading to a generally negative perception of this gameplay element.
- “It's just so tedious though.”
- “The grinding feels endless and repetitive.”
- “I find myself doing the same tasks over and over without any real reward.”

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1h Median play time

1h Average play time

1h Main story

2h Completionist

1-1h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Windows Are Gone is a action adventure game with horror and thriller themes.

The Windows Are Gone is available on PC and Windows.

The main story can be completed in around 1 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 2 hours to finish. On average players spend around 1 hours playing The Windows Are Gone.

The Windows Are Gone was released on October 2, 2023.

The Windows Are Gone was developed by Scary Cube.

The Windows Are Gone has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

The Windows Are Gone is a single player game.

Similar games include The Convenience Store, Layers of Fear, No one lives under the lighthouse, REVEIL, BrokenLore: LOW and others.

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