Tsugunohi

57%
Game Brain Score Based on 51 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Tsugunohi Game Cover
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"Tsugunohi" is a horror game collection featuring nine stories, including seven from the popular Tsugunohi series and two new episodes. The gameplay involves walking to the left, as the player navigates through daily life that collapses into terror. Featured stories include a junior high school student feeling a strange chill on his usual way home, and a live broadcast ending with Kizuna Ai experiencing something sinister on her way back home.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

57%
Audience ScoreBased on 51 reviews
humor3 positive mentions
atmosphere3 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique and intriguing approach to horror, with interconnected stories that build tension and atmosphere.
  • The art style and sound design contribute to a creepy aesthetic, enhancing the overall experience.
  • It's a fun and accessible way to experience short horror stories, perfect for fans of J-horror and those looking for bite-sized content.
  • Gameplay is overly simplistic, often reducing to just holding a button and clicking, which can feel tedious and repetitive.
  • Many jump scares are cheap and predictable, leading to a lack of genuine fear or excitement.
  • The price point is considered too high for the limited content and simplistic mechanics, with many reviews suggesting it should be much cheaper.
  • story12 mentions

    The game's story is minimal and often repetitive, featuring a series of ghost tales that lack depth and background, leading players to create their own interpretations. While some stories are engaging and evoke tension, the overall narrative experience is marred by a reliance on the same themes and characters, resulting in a sense of monotony. Despite this, the game includes intriguing details in each chapter that enhance the horror atmosphere.

    • “It's a simple side scroller game where you just go in one direction as things start to get crazy and spooky as the story progresses.”
    • “The ghost stories with no background will also have you pondering what the frig and conjuring some very creative plot points of your own.”
    • “Each game has a pretty horrifying story, that makes each day go from calm to horrifying.”
    • “There isn't much to the story as to why or when it happened, and it's fine like that.”
    • “If the lack of scares doesn't kill you, or seeing the same ghost face 20+ times in one single story, the sludge pulsating slow pacing of the game will.”
    • “Sure, some of the stories are okay, like four of them, but it is literally the same gimmick each story used over and over again.”
  • graphics9 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the unique art style and realistic visuals that evoke a sense of creepiness, while others criticize the overall dated appearance and lack of modern polish. Although the visuals are reminiscent of early 2000s browser games, they contribute to the game's nostalgic aesthetic, aligning well with the themes of Japanese horror. However, the sound effects and overall presentation are often described as annoying and lacking depth, detracting from the immersive experience.

    • “I admire the art style so much, and the overall creepiness of everything.”
    • “The graphics are admirable, very life-like with realistic faces, and the banal settings ripped straight out of a countryside somewhere are never reused between chapters.”
    • “Although the audio and graphics are very dated, the sound and music really do still carry a lot of the same feeling and tone as I find in most Japanese horror films.”
    • “The art style is lacking, the scares non-existent, the sound effects annoying, and the actual gameplay less interactive than clicking play on YouTube.”
    • “This game is a compilation of some browser games that were created in the early 2000s, so obviously they can't be held to the same standards as today's games with their evolved mechanics, graphics, etc.”
    • “The game looks, sounds, and feels extremely dated but that actually helps its aesthetic, I'd say.”
  • gameplay9 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by its extreme simplicity, relying on basic mechanics such as clicking and pressing enter, which some players find enhances the tension of the horror elements. While the compilation of early 2000s browser games offers a quick and accessible experience, the lack of depth, coherence in storytelling, and reliance on cheap jump scares have drawn mixed reviews. Overall, it presents a unique but oversimplified gameplay experience that may not meet modern gaming standards.

    • “The simple gameplay deepens your nervousness as the game slowly introduces its own version of horror.”
    • “Probably the most intriguingly accessible and simplistic gameplay in recent memory.”
    • “This is because there is no death, no-fail state; the core gameplay loop is built around the supernatural slowly getting stronger and stronger, with it all culminating on the sixth (hexed) day.”
    • “This game is a compilation of some browser games that were created in the early 2000s, so obviously they can't be held to the same standards as today's games with their evolved mechanics, graphics, etc.”
    • “It's a cool, quick way to experience these stories, but the mechanics are extremely simplistic (literally hold left and click the mouse button or press enter occasionally), the art is simple, and the stories are very short.”
    • “The stories are not very coherent, there are a lot of cheap jumpscares, the first episodes are very muddy, gameplay is oversimplified, etc. Negative reviews are all valid.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere in the games varies significantly, with standout titles like "Kisaragi Station" and "Whisper from the Past" praised for their immersive environments. However, earlier games in the series struggle to create a compelling atmosphere due to poor asset quality and dialogue. Players who prefer a more atmospheric experience over jump scares have found some titles to be more appealing.

    • “Overall, I would say my favorites are the two revolving around Kisaragi Station and 'Whisper from the Past' (by far the best atmosphere).”
    • “In terms of horror, the first five games fail to build a decent atmosphere among the crudely made assets and cheesy dialogue.”
    • “2D settings! 3D atmosphere!! 1D characters!!!”
    • “Some people were complaining about how they don't like jump scares in games, and so they liked this one because it focused more on atmosphere.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its intentionally absurd jump scares that are more amusing than frightening, providing a comedic experience, especially when shared with friends. Players find the combination of terrible sound effects and cheap scares to be hilariously entertaining rather than genuinely scary.

    • “And by jump scares, I mean they're actually funny.”
    • “But in an extremely funny way.”
    • “Get it only if you want to laugh at the terrible sounds that end up being hilarious while trying to sound scary.”
  • music3 mentions

    The music in Tsugunohi effectively enhances the unsettling atmosphere, reminiscent of classic Japanese horror films, despite the game's dated audio and graphics. The sparse use of music, appearing only occasionally, significantly amplifies the impact of sound effects, contributing to the overall fear-inducing experience.

    • “The sound and music are highly important in setting up an unsettling atmosphere, and Tsugunohi did a great job with that.”
    • “Although the audio and graphics are very dated, the sound and music still carry a lot of the same feeling and tone found in most Japanese horror films.”
    • “Although the audio and graphics are very dated, the sound and music really do still carry a lot of the same feeling and tone as I find in most Japanese horror films.”
    • “One thing is very apparent though, the lack of music, with it only showing up here and there, amplifies the impact of sound effects exponentially.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be repetitive and tedious, with endless jump scares that lack intimidation and grotesque imagery, ultimately diminishing the overall experience.

  • replayability1 mentions

    Players note that while the game offers relatively short gameplay sessions, there is a degree of replayability that encourages multiple playthroughs.

    • “The game offers a variety of paths and choices, making each playthrough feel unique and encouraging replayability.”
    • “With multiple endings and different character builds, I find myself coming back to explore all the possibilities.”
    • “The short gameplay sessions are perfect for replaying, and I love discovering new strategies each time.”
    • “The game is quite short, and while some elements offer a bit of replayability, it ultimately feels limited.”
    • “I found the gameplay to be enjoyable, but the lack of substantial replayability makes it hard to return to.”
    • “After completing the game, I realized that there isn't much incentive to replay it, as the experience feels too linear.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

40% average critic score

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