TRAILCAM

About

TRAILCAM is a single player simulation game. It was developed by NiceSoup and was released on October 15, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

TRAILCAMStep into the shoes of a veterinarian investigator, specializing in forest and wildlife incidents. You’ve been summoned by the Appalachian Mountains Forest Agency to investigate a series of unsettling missing person reports. Every time someone vanishes, the forest is left with ominous traces— blood, signs of struggle —but no bodies are ever found. The local police have hit a dead end, …

Genres & Tags

Simulation

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 50 reviews

atmosphere4 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game has a great atmosphere and effectively builds suspense, making it a thrilling experience.
It's a fun and short horror game that can be enjoyed in a single sitting, perfect for fans of the genre.
The concept of monitoring wildlife through cameras in a watchtower is unique and engaging, providing a fresh take on horror gameplay.

The game suffers from poor execution, with repetitive gameplay and a lack of randomization, leading to a feeling of monotony.
Players are limited to only six mistakes before being forced to restart, which can be frustrating and detracts from the overall experience.
The ending is underwhelming and leaves many questions unanswered, disappointing players who expect a more satisfying conclusion.

gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it straightforward but ultimately boring, while others appreciate the fluid mechanics and clear explanations. However, criticisms include the ineffective bear scare mechanic and repetitive tasks that detract from the overall experience. Despite some creative elements, the gameplay lacks depth and variety, leaving players wanting more.
- “I enjoyed the gameplay and the scares were fun!”
- “Gameplay is fluid, all of the mechanics are well-explained with infographics and texts that reference how to use all the equipment.”
- “Like most other indie horror games, it contains its fair share of re-used assets, but they're put to pretty good use and the developer's creativity still shines through from its rather interesting type of gameplay.”
- “The bear scare mechanic is almost useless; it could have been utilized more, not just one time.”
- “The mechanic that keeps the bear alarm running is terrible - you have to click it hundreds of times.”
- “Gameplay is pretty straightforward, and frankly, boring.”
story
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The game's story features an engaging build-up to a tense conclusion with two possible endings, but many players found the final reveal disappointing and the plot progression somewhat arbitrary. While the atmosphere is effectively creepy, the narrative is minimal and lacks depth, leaving players wanting more backstory and resolution. Overall, it offers a short, intense experience but may not satisfy those seeking a fully fleshed-out story.
- “Its plot beats build up to an exciting and nail-biting conclusion, with two possible endings and a couple of elegantly executed jumpscares.”
- “Easy to figure out the story and your job, and a very good and creepy atmosphere.”
- “A short but intense horror story with observation duty game mechanics.”
- “Absolutely no payoff, no resolution to the story that left me feeling satisfied.”
- “Really thought there was going to be more backstory or at least an introduction at the beginning of the game, but it just drops you in with minimal explanation of what we are doing there or what the circumstances are behind us being asked to watch the trail cams.”
- “If you expect a fully fleshed out horror game with story and whatnot, maybe pass.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
23%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and unsettling qualities, effectively utilizing the u5 engine to create a creepy ambiance filled with tension and anticipation. Players appreciate the combination of eerie visuals, haunting sounds, and a sense of dread that enhances the overall experience, although some note that the atmosphere may diminish after multiple playthroughs. Overall, it is considered a strong point of the game, contributing significantly to its appeal.
- “I found the game incredibly atmospheric, and became deeply immersed in the whole experience: the creepy black and white footage, the fear of spotting an unidentifiable 'something' on a camera, hearing terrifying sounds from the woods, the bone-rattling fury of an incoming storm...the whole ambience of this game is electrifying.”
- “Trailcam started off really strong, introducing a truly unsettling atmosphere and slowly building anticipation.”
- “The atmosphere is what makes this game a positive to me.”
- “I may try and go for the good ending; however, the game really lost its charm and atmosphere after repeated playthroughs.”
- “The atmosphere is not the strongest, but by all means still does a great job at what it should do.”
- “The overall atmosphere around is conveyed well.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from limited replayability due to its linear structure and repetitive events, with players noting that the same anomalies occur in the same order each time. While it offers a compelling horror experience, it is best enjoyed with others or at a discounted price, as the lack of randomness diminishes the incentive to replay.
- “The game ends up feeling slow and repetitive; it could easily gain replayability by randomizing the occurrences in the cameras, but instead, the same events are always repeated.”
- “Really cool horror game, liked the twist, would recommend getting it at a sale price as it lacks replayability unless you're having someone else play it and are watching with them.”
- “Finally, despite the description claiming otherwise, the game is linear (all of the 'anomalies' are in the same order each playthrough) except for the ending sequence, making replayability limited... unless you keep getting them wrong, of course!”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is characterized by a unique aesthetic featuring stuttering VHS-style night-vision feeds that create a spooky atmosphere, though they can hinder visibility. Fortunately, helpful prompts guide players on which feed to concentrate on, mitigating some of the visibility issues.
- “The stuttering VHS-style night-vision feeds give everything a spooky air, making it hard to see clearly. Luckily, handy prompts tell you which feed to focus on.”
- “The optimization in this game is severely lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and a choppy experience.”
- “I encountered numerous bugs that hindered gameplay, making it clear that the optimization was not a priority during development.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The graphics are generally well-received, offering a captivating aesthetic that enhances the gameplay experience, though some users note imperfections and challenges related to varying graphic settings. The fluid gameplay is complemented by clear infographics and text that effectively communicate the mechanics and equipment usage.
- “Gameplay is fluid, all of the mechanics are well-explained with infographics and texts that reference how to use all the equipment.”
- “One other issue I will address: games like this need to work around the obvious issues of playing on different graphic settings.”
- “It's not perfect, but it is a great, short thrill ride, which you are bound to appreciate if you like the general aesthetic of the presentation.”