Unforgiving - A Northern Hymn

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 509 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • atmosphere
Unforgiving - A Northern Hymn Game Cover
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Unforgiving - A Northern Hymn is a first-person norse horror adventure game. Explore the hauntingly beautiful landscapes of northern Sweden while solving puzzles and uncovering the dark secrets of your past. With a focus on narrative and exploration, uncover the truth behind the mysterious apparitions stalking you. Short summary: Immerse in a first-person norse horror adventure, exploring the eerie landscapes of northern Sweden, solving puzzles, and uncovering the dark truth of your past.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 509 reviews
story86 positive mentions
grinding12 negative mentions
  • Great ambience and enjoyable gameplay.
  • Interesting creature designs and incorporation of Nordic mythology.
  • Effective sound design that enhances the horror experience.
  • Too dark at times, making navigation difficult.
  • Some chase scenes can feel buggy and frustrating.
  • Short playtime, leaving players wanting more content.
  • story212 mentions

    The game's story is generally described as intriguing and atmospheric, drawing heavily from Norse mythology and Swedish folklore, which adds depth to the horror experience. While many players appreciate the narrative's twists and immersive elements, some criticize it for being simplistic, linear, or underdeveloped, with a few noting that gameplay mechanics detract from the storytelling. Overall, the story is seen as a strong point for those who enjoy lore-rich narratives, despite some inconsistencies and pacing issues.

    • “The story is intriguing and kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.”
    • “A beautiful combination of Swedish folklore, great atmosphere, and an interesting story makes me want to play more and more.”
    • “The story was interesting enough to keep me going, even if I didn’t think the ending was the most original.”
    • “Because the backstory is depicted in one of the worst possible ways, the storyline feels disconnected.”
    • “The story feels like it was written by an 8-year-old kid.”
    • “The story is very easy to predict, starting with getting separated from your brother at the river to scripted chase scenes, so there isn't much to catch you off guard.”
  • gameplay133 mentions

    The gameplay of "Unforgiving - A Northern Hymn" is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its atmospheric tension and unique mechanics, such as the harp puzzle system, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth. The game primarily involves exploration and stealth, often feeling linear and slow-paced, which can lead to moments of boredom despite its engaging story and sound design. Overall, while the gameplay has its enjoyable moments, it may not satisfy those looking for more dynamic or varied interactions.

    • “At first, I felt a bit lost having to explore a spooky forest, but during the gameplay, it became very enjoyable, especially because it's not difficult and tense all the time.”
    • “The [spoiler] harp [/spoiler] mechanic was creative, intuitive, and fun, all without being frustrating.”
    • “The gameplay is varied enough that nothing grows stale, and the Swedish folklore it's based around is quite intriguing.”
    • “What it lacks in net graphical fidelity, compelling scares, and engaging narrative, 'Unforgiving - A Northern Hymn' also lacks in sound design, gameplay, and overall cohesion.”
    • “The reason I find the gameplay boring is that not many things happen, the walking speed is painfully slow, and the scenes are repeated.”
    • “Some cool storytelling and a few genuinely good scares early on, ruined by maybe the worst 'hide and seek' gameplay I've ever played, drove me to quit way before the end of the game.”
  • atmosphere129 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and chilling qualities, effectively combining sound design, music, and environmental details to create a sense of dread and tension. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to balance calm, eerie moments with panic-inducing sequences, making it a standout experience in atmospheric horror. While some note technical shortcomings, the overall consensus is that the atmosphere is the game's strongest aspect, drawing players into its dark, folklore-inspired world.

    • “The atmosphere is primarily created by the sound design, which I was very impressed with.”
    • “The atmosphere in the game is really good and keeps you on edge, dreading every sound you hear.”
    • “An excellent horror game with incredible atmosphere and sound design that will have you tense and looking behind you almost every step of the way.”
    • “But it's rough technically, slow paced, visuals are weird - the darkness and mist are more making it hard to play than creating an atmosphere.”
    • “Not to mention, the use of said jump scares attempts to make up for a lack of atmosphere or story building.”
    • “I was not drawn into the atmosphere and the brother looked like he was made on a Friday night after the developer had no time to spare before pushing this to full release.”
  • music85 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and haunting qualities, effectively enhancing the horror experience with influences from Nordic and Swedish folk traditions. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to create tension and immerse players in the game's eerie environments, although some note that the chase music can be overly loud or mismatched at times. Overall, the sound design and music are considered standout features that contribute significantly to the game's chilling atmosphere.

    • “The music is astonishing, the tension and atmosphere are beyond on point.”
    • “The game's stunning graphics and haunting soundtrack set the perfect tone for the horror that unfolds.”
    • “The soundtrack is brilliant and the tracks are well placed.”
    • “There was constantly loud intense music playing when nothing was happening just to make you feel on edge, and some of the music in the chase scenes didn't fit the theme of the game, in my opinion.”
    • “Music, however, is generic and nothing memorable.”
    • “I cannot really remember any specific soundtrack from this game, though.”
  • graphics85 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that they are often dated or mediocre, reminiscent of older console titles. While some appreciate the attention to detail and atmospheric design, others criticize the visuals for being blurry, poorly optimized, or overly dark, which can hinder gameplay. Overall, the graphics are seen as a secondary concern, with many players finding that the sound design and narrative compensate for the visual shortcomings.

    • “Lovely game, beautiful graphics with a good attention to detail and a good story.”
    • “The game's stunning graphics and haunting soundtrack set the perfect tone for the horror that unfolds.”
    • “Great visuals, animation and music/sound effects, you can tell that a lot of hard work and long nights went into making this indie game.”
    • “Graphically and technically, the game is extremely poor.”
    • “The graphics despite being on maximum also look extremely bad, without textures or shadows, and the characters are bland and artificial.”
    • “It uses extreme levels of darkness as a crutch to hide poor design and lame graphics.”
  • grinding12 mentions

    The reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is predominantly characterized by tedious and repetitive tasks, such as excessive walking and collecting items, which detracts from the overall experience. While some mechanics show potential, the overwhelming sense of busywork and lack of engaging content lead to a boring and frustrating journey, making it difficult for players to stay invested. Overall, the grind is seen as a significant flaw that hampers the game's enjoyment.

    • “This game is in no way scary or spooky -- it is just tedious and annoying.”
    • “After that, it just becomes tedious busywork.”
    • “I wanted to enjoy it for the myths and legends aspect, but I found the beginning too slow and grindy to hook me.”
  • replayability10 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is limited, with most players noting that it primarily revolves around achievement hunting or uncovering secrets rather than offering substantial new experiences. While some find value in replaying for completionist purposes, many agree that the lack of alternate endings and a compelling story diminishes the incentive to revisit the game.

    • “No spoilers but it has great replay value and it's worth way more than whatever it's on sale for.”
    • “Offers a bit of replayability in case one wants to uncover all of its secrets.”
    • “I do plan to replay it to get all the achievements though it does have replay value for me.”
    • “So except to get all the achievements, the game doesn't really have much replayability.”
    • “As far as replayability goes, there isn't much reason to unless you are trying to achievement hunt or uncover more of the story, which isn't really amazing or anything.”
    • “All in all, it is definitely worth playing, but for replay value, it is nearly nonexistent.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is widely criticized, with many users reporting poor performance even on capable rigs, particularly due to unoptimized lighting effects and a lack of proper graphics options. While some praise the graphics, others note that the game is not suitable for low-spec systems, indicating significant optimization issues.

    • “The game has good optimization, but the graphics are a bit dated even on the highest settings.”
    • “The graphics are great, the character models and movement not so much, the sound is decent, and the optimization is fine.”
    • “Unoptimized game, mainly lighting effects and post-processing. The game lacks proper graphics options, and you can't even turn off antialiasing.”
    • “Also, it runs horribly on a rig that can handle Destiny 2 on mid-to-high performance, even when using borderless fullscreen.”
    • “If you don't have the newest gaming PC and are looking for a low-spec horror game, I recommend you look elsewhere, because this is not optimized at all.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The game's stability is mixed, with some players reporting bugs and glitches, particularly during chase scenes and with enemy AI. However, others have completed the game without encountering any issues, suggesting that experiences may vary. Overall, while some players faced stability problems, others found the game to run smoothly.

    • “Firstly, the game is buggy and has some glitches.”
    • “The game is very short, has buggy enemy AI, and terrible depth perception.”
    • “It is a short game, and upon initial installation, it was a bit buggy.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The game is praised for its strong emotional impact, effectively combining fear, disgust, and sadness to create an engaging experience. Players find it emotionally addictive, with some expressing surprise at the depth of feelings it evokes, including moments of genuine fright and joy. Overall, it stands out as one of the most emotionally resonant games they have encountered.

    • “Emotionally very addictive game, actually one of the best games I've ever played.”
    • “I was really impressed by the emotions the game made me feel; it was a combination of fear, disgust, and sadness.”
    • “One instance got me to actually verbally yelp 'ah!' in fright and then I smiled because I cannot remember the last time a game made me feel like that.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is derived from unexpected moments, such as characters speaking Swedish and the overuse of jump scares, which some players found amusing rather than frightening. Additionally, unconvincing animations contributed to the comedic effect, making certain scenes unintentionally funny.

    • “It made me a little scared to play this at first, but when they started speaking Swedish, I just started laughing a lot.”
    • “The overuse of jump scares is actually humorous at times and ruins the immersion.”
    • “The animations are somewhat unconvincing, and a few times they looked funny too.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game shows promise, with a rich mythology that enhances the narrative, though some players feel that character design and story cohesion require improvement. The inclusion of an art book is recommended for those interested in deeper insights into the character design.

    • “This game is very detailed in the mythology, and I suggest getting the art book as well if you want to learn more about the character design.”
    • “Some things would need a bit of work - some character design as well as making sure the story doesn't feel disjointed - but otherwise, it's a good one.”
    • “Some aspects need improvement, particularly in character design and ensuring the story feels cohesive, but overall, it's a decent effort.”
    • “The game is rich in mythology, and I recommend getting the art book if you want to delve deeper into the character design.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
3-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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