Uninvited
- May 24, 2022
- Octavi Navarro
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Uninvited" is a single-player horror adventure game with good story and graphics. The game challenges you to find hidden cards in a haunted house while evading a menacing presence, with only a jar of fireflies for light. Interact with various objects and uncover the house's secrets to survive in this immersive and atmospheric experience with stunning 3D environments and pixel art.
Reviews
- The game features beautiful pixel art and a unique retro aesthetic that enhances the horror experience.
- The gameplay mechanics, including the use of different characters with unique traits, add strategic depth and replayability.
- The story is engaging and well-crafted, providing a compelling backdrop to the gameplay and evoking emotional responses.
- The hiding mechanics are poorly designed, making it difficult to determine when it's safe to come out, leading to frustrating gameplay moments.
- The game can feel tedious and repetitive, with some players finding the search mechanics overly simplistic and lacking depth.
- There are issues with the game's difficulty balance, as some players feel it is either too hard or not scary enough, detracting from the overall experience.
- story23 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story in "Uninvited" is described as engaging and tragic, featuring a compelling plot that combines horror elements with a sweet ending. Players appreciate the unique premise and the integration of exploration and item collection into the narrative, although some feel the story could benefit from a more accessible way to review story items after gameplay. Overall, the game is praised for its beautiful presentation, including pixel art and music, which enhance the storytelling experience.
“I thought it was an enjoyable playthrough, and the plot of the story is sad but has a sweet ending.”
“Despite its buggy nature, Uninvited was a story-rich and compelling game with eerie sound design and a plot that left me coming back into that creepy house again and again, eager for more.”
“The story and setup are great: enter the house, find the cards, try to get out again... alive!”
“Nice little horror game with about 60 to 90 minutes of exploration, but I was hoping for more of that signature Octavi Navarro twist - I think in the end the story didn't have much to offer.”
“I don't know if the characters' 'sweat level' keeps going up while viewing these various story items in-game, but the way the game plays, I didn't ever really stop to pay too much attention to them, fearing I was needing to move quickly.”
“A little gallery in the main menu, maybe after completing the game, or just after finding each story item, would be nice for people to get a better idea of the background story, without needing to feel rushed to read each of these items during your in-game playthrough.”
- gameplay19 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a repetitive search mechanic within a haunted house, which some players find engaging due to its fluidity and intuitive design, while others criticize it for becoming monotonous. The inclusion of unique elements like a suspenseful survival mechanic and randomization adds depth, but the effectiveness of certain mechanics, such as hiding, has received mixed reviews. Overall, while the game offers a visually appealing experience and some innovative features, concerns about its value relative to gameplay length persist.
“The artwork is gorgeous, gameplay fluid and intuitive, and I look forward to playing it more and beating it!”
“The search mechanic is pretty scary and the automaton is a really nice touch.”
“What took me by surprise was how suspenseful the survival mechanic became in certain situations.”
“I say 'some' because of the repetitive nature of the gameplay.”
“Gameplay-wise, it's just search, search, search.”
“Overall, not too difficult if you are patient and pay attention to the mechanics; one thing I didn't like is that I couldn't tell exactly when the monster stopped camping the closet.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful pixel art and charming retro aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. However, some users noted issues like flickering textures and simplistic 2D sprites that detract from the otherwise appealing visuals. Overall, the art style is a standout feature, drawing players in with its unique presentation and effective use of horror elements.
“The artwork is gorgeous, gameplay fluid and intuitive, and I look forward to playing it more and beating it!”
“Very nice little spooky game with some beautiful pixel art visuals; you have to search for cards in a haunted house using three different characters with their own buffs or debuffs.”
“It's all really well-presented - there are some great pixel-art panels that deliver the story before and in between runs, and the in-game graphics have a really charming lo-fi retro FPS vibe, akin to Doom (but considerably more cartoony).”
“The visuals are okay at first glance, but then you see flickering overlapping textures and what should just be a flat floor. When you get a clear look at the monster, you see it's just a terrible 2D sprite that slides towards you, which really takes away from what could otherwise be charming art design.”
“It's all really well-presented - there are some great pixel-art panels that deliver the story before and in between runs, and the in-game graphics are a really charming lo-fi retro FPS vibe, a-la Doom (but considerably more cartoony).”
“However, I was immediately drawn to the retro style pixel art aesthetic, so I jumped down the rabbit hole.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its attention to detail, effectively creating a blend of horror and charm that resonates with players. The soundtrack and visual style contribute significantly to the immersive experience, enhancing the overall ambiance and emotional impact.
“Absolutely love the atmosphere of the game.”
“Overall, this is a very cute atmospheric game, hitting my kind of vibe!”
“I love the style and the sound in the game, as well as the cut-scenes, which are very well done and set up the atmosphere well.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, with many reviewers highlighting its beauty and atmospheric quality, making it a standout feature alongside the art and story. The original score by Octavi is particularly recommended, enhancing the overall experience of this indie horror game. Overall, the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's engaging and immersive environment.
“The music and audio design are the real stars for me.”
“If you get a chance to grab the soundtrack, you should - Octavi's original score is so good and atmospheric.”
“This is a really cute, fun, and quite tense indie horror game that does so much more with a great soundtrack, unique designs, and lots of exploration that tells a story.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
"Uninvited" offers moderate replayability through its two endings and achievement system, enhanced by roguelike elements. However, some players feel that once the game mechanics are mastered, it may become less challenging, suggesting that the price point could be reconsidered given its replay value.
“Uninvited is an overlooked first-person survival horror game that draws inspiration from combat-less horror games like Amnesia and infuses some gentle roguelike elements for replayability.”
“There are two endings, so you do have some replayability besides achievements.”
“Once you get the gist of the game, with a little practice, you should be able to get through it consistently, but I haven't beaten the game yet, so maybe there's more replayability to it that I haven't seen yet.”
“There are two endings, so you do have somewhat of replayability besides achievements.”
“But again, the price point makes me feel that it should cost a little less than $7 if that's the case, as once you get the gist of the game, with a little practice, you should be able to get through it consistently without too much difficulty. (But again, I haven't beaten the game yet, so maybe there's more replayability to it that I haven't gotten to see yet?)”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, citing issues like unresponsive controls, forced inactivity, and repetitive dialogue that detracts from the overall experience.
“The game seems almost deliberately tedious at times, between the forward key just refusing to work seemingly for no reason, the amount of times the game forces you to just stand there and do nothing because it said so, and the mandatory 'old man tells you about buying items' dialogue is unbearable past the first or second attempt.”
“So yeah, pretty tedious.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game is well-optimized, running smoothly without any performance issues or slowdowns.
“The game ran really well for me with no performance issues or slowdowns.”
“The optimization is top-notch, allowing for a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
“I was impressed by how well the game performed on my system, with consistent frame rates and no lag.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game "Uninvited" is noted for its compelling story and eerie sound design, but it suffers from significant stability issues, including bugs that can cause players to get stuck in various locations. Despite these frustrations, the engaging plot keeps players returning for more.
“Despite its buggy nature (if you get stuck on the stairs or in a hallway: good luck), the game was story-rich and compelling with eerie sound design and a plot that left me coming back into that creepy house again and again eager for more.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing significant progress.”
“I encountered numerous glitches that disrupted the gameplay experience, including characters getting stuck and objects not behaving as expected.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is well-executed and offers a clever twist on the genre; however, the constant proximity of the monster due to the small house size detracts from the comedic experience.
“It's nicely done and has a humorous twist on the genre.”
