Thirty Minute Nightmare

About

"Thirty Minute Nightmare" is a first-person survival horror experience, offering a choice between modern and classic 90's PSX-style graphics. Players must navigate through dark, atmospheric environments filled with eerie sounds and menacing enemies. The game features a short but intense story, perfect for those seeking a condensed horror adventure. Evil lurks behind every corner in this immersive, horror-filled dreamscape.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 19 reviews

story3 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic old-school horror feel, reminiscent of classic titles, and provides a decent atmosphere with its music and sound design.
For its low price, the game delivers a fun, albeit short, experience that can be enjoyed in about 15-30 minutes.
Despite its flaws, the game has moments of genuine creepiness and can be entertaining if approached with the right expectations.

The game is very short, often completed in under 30 minutes, which can lead to disappointment given its title.
Gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth, with enemies being easy to defeat and minimal challenge throughout.
Technical issues such as getting softlocked, poor HUD design, and a lack of volume control for music detract from the overall experience.

music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
50%
38%
The music in the game is widely praised for creating a tense and immersive atmosphere, effectively enhancing the sense of impending doom. However, some users noted that the volume can be excessively loud at times, and there is a desire for a downloadable soundtrack. Overall, the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's ambiance, despite minor frustrations with its implementation.
- “Despite the waning immersion and slightly mounting frustration during this part, the developer managed to maintain a tense, suspenseful ambiance thanks to the thrilling music that he chose for the entire project.”
- “The ending music really gives you a sense of impending doom.”
- “The music is too loud at times, without a volume slider.”
- “While 'Thirty Minute Nightmare' doesn't do much in terms of gameplay, it manages to fully immerse players in its world with a dreadful soundtrack and a (optional, but highly recommended) faux-retro graphic filter.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game's graphics have received mixed reviews, with some players preferring the nostalgic 1997 pixelated style over the modern graphics, which many find unappealing or off-putting. The option to switch between these styles is seen as a gimmick, though it may appeal to fans of retro aesthetics. Overall, while the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they contribute to the game's immersive atmosphere.
- “While 'Thirty Minute Nightmare' doesn't do much in terms of gameplay, it manages to fully immerse players in its world with a dreadful soundtrack and a (optional, but highly recommended) faux-retro graphic filter.”
- “The whole being able to switch between 'modern' and 1997 graphics is a weird gimmick that I personally didn't care for, but you may be into it if you like your graphics more pixelated.”
- “Good game, genuinely scary, but play it on the 1997 graphics.”
- “The modern graphics feel off.”
- “The (modern) graphics: terrible.”
- “The whole being able to switch between 'modern' and 1997 graphics is a weird gimmick that I personally didn't care for, but you may be into if you like your graphics more pixely.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The gameplay is described as repetitive and simple, involving running, shooting enemies, and collecting keys within a short playtime of about thirty minutes. Despite its limited mechanics, the game effectively immerses players with a haunting soundtrack and an optional faux-retro graphic filter.
- “While 'Thirty Minute Nightmare' doesn't do much in terms of gameplay, it manages to fully immerse players in its world with a dreadful soundtrack and a (optional, but highly recommended) faux-retro graphic filter.”
- “Gameplay was kind of repetitive even with the short playtime.”
- “Both the story and gameplay are equally simple; the sparsely narrated tale is about a nightmare that the developer had, and the gameplay has you running around, shooting enemies, and collecting keys.”
- “While the thirty-minute nightmare doesn't do much in terms of gameplay, it manages to fully immerse players in its world with a dreadful soundtrack and a (optional, but highly recommended) faux-retro graphic filter.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
100%
The story is criticized for being simplistic and poorly developed, revolving around a nightmare experienced by the developer, which fails to engage players. Overall, it lacks depth and is overshadowed by the straightforward gameplay.
- “The story is a haunting exploration of a nightmare that the developer experienced, adding a personal touch to the gameplay.”
- “The narrative is simple yet effective, drawing players into a world filled with tension and intrigue.”
- “The combination of a sparse narrative and engaging gameplay creates a unique experience that keeps players invested in the unfolding tale.”
- “The story is terrible.”
- “Both the story and gameplay are equally simple; the sparsely narrated tale is about a nightmare that the developer had, and the gameplay has you running around, shooting enemies, and collecting keys.”