Veneficium

About

Stay quiet. Stay hidden. Watch your steps. If you don't, run. Play as Abigail in her quest to find her grandmother in a cursed forest. Use your spellcasting abilities to hide from various dangers. Will you survive the night?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 254 reviews

story17 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The game features stunning graphics and a fantastic atmosphere that immerses players in the horror experience.
The unique mechanics, such as spell casting and ingredient collection, add an interesting layer to the gameplay.
As a free game, it offers a solid experience with a compelling story and engaging sound design.

The game is quite short, with many players completing it in under an hour, leaving them wanting more content.
There are several bugs and issues with the monster's AI, including teleportation and pathing problems that can detract from the experience.
Some players found the gameplay repetitive and lacking in depth, with limited objectives and a lack of challenge.

story
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
63%
10%
The story of Veneficium is generally described as simple and short, with some players appreciating its atmospheric horror elements and intriguing twists, while others find it lacking depth and coherence. Many reviews highlight the potential for a more engaging narrative, suggesting that the game could benefit from additional detail and character development. Overall, while the story has its moments, it leaves players wanting more and feels incomplete in its current form.
- “The story revolves around Abigail's family, and the intro quickly sums up how all her relatives were burned at the stakes, with the exception of her grandmother.”
- “The cutscenes have a distinct art style and give the game a bit more backstory than just 'run around and collect object x to progress'.”
- “The worldbuilding was impressive too, giving us a solid story to follow and experience in such a short amount of time.”
- “There is an attempt at a story, which is not interesting, and some horror elements, but no substance to any of it.”
- “The game was alright, but I would have preferred a more cohesive story.”
- “In addition, there wasn't much of a plot besides the few short animated clips, and I feel that a heavier story would help improve the immersion of the game.”
atmosphere
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
25%
8%
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive and spooky qualities, effectively creating tension and a sense of dread throughout the experience. Players appreciate the realistic environments, strong sound design, and well-crafted monster designs that enhance the horror elements. However, some reviewers noted that while the atmosphere is excellent, the gameplay could benefit from improvements in monster AI and difficulty to maintain the sense of danger.
- “The atmosphere and the music is what makes the game.”
- “This game has fantastic atmosphere.”
- “The game was short and sweet, the atmosphere was tense throughout.”
- “This provides a consistently scary atmosphere and the game really scares you, without cheap jumpscares.”
- “I would recommend thinking of something different to show the location of things as half the player's screen at some points is covered in bright dots which is annoying and does not contrast well with the dark atmosphere.”
- “The game was.... short and sweet, the atmosphere was tense throughout.”
graphics
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
24%
8%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant colors, environmental design, and overall visual quality, particularly for a free title. However, several users note significant performance issues, including lag and optimization problems, which detract from the experience. While some find the graphics stunning and immersive, others criticize specific elements, such as character animations and monster designs, suggesting that improvements are needed in these areas.
- “The graphics are really good, with a nice use of color, shadows, and scenery.”
- “The graphics, presentation, audio, and monster design are all impressive, and I see so much potential in this short project; it was truly enjoyable!”
- “The jumpscares really got me; the graphics are amazing! I just stood in the forest admiring the view, how well the trees were made, the sky, and the stars.”
- “Graphics are okay, but the game needs a lot of optimization.”
- “The only thing that disturbed my gameplay was the constant laggy graphics and audio, but I can't complain much because it could just be my fault.”
- “The game has 4K settings but it defaults back to 1440p no matter what... sub-par graphics, glitchy as heck, terrible sounds, animations, and lighting.”
gameplay
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The gameplay features unique mechanics, including a magic system with spells for invisibility and distraction, but is generally criticized for its simplicity and lack of depth, often feeling like a standard "run away from the monster" experience. While some players appreciate the immersive horror elements and sound design, many note issues with lag, confusing mechanics, and a lack of guidance, leading to a mixed reception overall. Despite its interesting ideas, the gameplay is often described as mediocre and amateurish, with a low difficulty rating.
- “The gameplay is okay; it's just a simple get from A to B without being grabbed by the monster. It also introduces a little magic system where you have two spells you need to get ingredients for, which was an interesting idea: one spell to turn invisible and another spell to make your pursuer forget that they're pursuing you.”
- “Love the storytelling and suspenseful gameplay.”
- “The graphics were great, the sound horrifying, and the gameplay immersive!”
- “Overall: mediocre story, poor gameplay, and rough audio, animations, and overall gameplay.”
- “I would give it a 1/10 difficulty rating as the gameplay is basic and a 3/10 difficulty rating - if you want to finish the game without dying.”
- “It feels like another 'run away from the thing' horror game with no differentiating mechanics.”
music
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
31%
16%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its effectiveness in creating suspense and immersion. While some found the music occasionally overwhelming, particularly during tense moments, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's creepy ambiance. The combination of melodic and disturbing elements, along with a fitting score, has left a positive impression on players.
- “I enjoyed playing the game, loved the spooky sounds/music and the atmosphere was downright creepy.”
- “The atmosphere and the music is what makes the game.”
- “The soundtrack was immersive and fitting to the scenery.”
- “My only two complaints are the music and the game length.”
- “When the creature gets close to you, the music can get ridiculously loud to the point that you can't sometimes hear the creatures moving around.”
- “The music is what makes the game and the monster is sub par at best.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game's optimization has received criticism for being power-hungry and underperforming, even on mid-high gaming rigs. While the graphics are deemed acceptable, many players report performance issues and a need for further optimization to enhance the overall experience.
- “For better performance, I would also recommend wearing a headset while playing the game.”
- “Graphics are okay, but the game needs a lot of optimization.”
- “Graphics are okay at best, and incredibly power hungry and unoptimized.”
- “My only complaints are some performance issues, and I'd like to be able to toggle off the flashlight.”
- “Performance isn't that good, especially considering that I have a mid-high gaming rig and this game isn't groundbreaking in terms of graphics.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke laughter rather than fear, with players finding the monster's antics amusing rather than intimidating. Overall, the game successfully incorporates comedic elements that resonate with its audience.
- “Not scary; watching the monster walk made me laugh instead of feel scared.”
- “This game is funny, lmao.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report mixed experiences with stability, noting occasional glitches that can both simplify and complicate gameplay at different times.
- “I noticed a few glitches that made the game easier at times but harder at others.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it frustrating to progress.”
- “There are constant connection issues that disrupt gameplay and ruin the experience.”