Vernon's Legacy

About

Vernon's Legacy is a single player action adventure game with a horror theme. It was developed by TripleBrick and was released on September 23, 2016. It received neutral reviews from players.

Vernon's Legacy is an horror adventure with an enigmatic story that takes place nearly a century ago. You are playing as Robert, the new owner of Dunkenhof manor.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

57%

Audience ScoreBased on 44 reviews

story15 positive mentions

stability6 negative mentions

The game features impressive graphics and environment design using Unreal Engine 4, creating a visually appealing and immersive old mansion atmosphere.
The first half of the game offers a well-done adventure and puzzle-solving experience with an intriguing story told through numerous notes and letters.
Sound design, including thunderstorm ambient sounds, significantly contributes to the game's eerie and foreboding mood.

The second half devolves into repetitive maze-like levels with a frustrating chase mechanic involving an annoying, insta-kill ghost enemy that diminishes enjoyment.
The game suffers from several bugs, clipping issues, lack of configuration options (no resolution or control key rebinding), and inconsistent puzzle logic causing player frustration.
The overall game is very short with an unsatisfying ending and little replay value, making it hard to justify the full price outside of a sale.

story
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
54%
8%
The story in Vernon’s Legacy is primarily conveyed through scattered notes and journal entries, offering an intriguing and well-written backstory that some players found enjoyable and immersive. However, the narrative is considered predictable and somewhat underdeveloped, with pacing issues that cause the initially promising atmosphere to dwindle into mediocrity. While appreciated by story enthusiasts, the plot lacks tension and depth for a broader audience, resulting in a somewhat lukewarm reception.
- “The letters found during the search for keys, cogs or levers provide an interesting back story which are well written and short so reading is no chore.”
- “The story is told almost exclusively through the notes you find around the manor, and even though I'm usually not a huge fan of that, this game somehow makes it work.”
- “Vernon's Legacy was a well put together game, the story was interesting, the manor was beautifully put together and the game was fairly challenging to solve without resorting to seeking out a guide or walkthrough.”
- “Unfortunately, I can't say that it stands out from the crowd, as the initially promising atmosphere and story quickly dwindles into below mediocrity.”
- “Some people in other reviews have talked up the story aspect of this release, but in reality it's not that special.”
- “It's glitchy, boring and more of a puzzle-run away from ghosts-read notes kinda game... the sound is choppy, the story is vague, the opening was kinda boring.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
39%
11%
The game showcases generally impressive graphics, effectively utilizing Unreal Engine 4 to create stunning environments and immersive atmospheres, particularly noted for its detailed mansion and eerie vibe. However, some users cite occasional texture issues, clipping, and unpolished elements that prevent it from reaching its full visual potential. Overall, the graphics are a strong highlight and a key reason players are drawn to the game despite other shortcomings.
- “Proper use of Unreal Engine 4, nice graphics.”
- “The visuals are stunning, the controls are smooth and the in-game performance is great.”
- “The graphics take advantage of the Unreal 4 engine and show off what it can do well, with great sound effects that echo realistically as you explore your uncle Vernon's mansion.”
- “Graphics - 0 price - 0.”
- “While graphics and sound are generally decent, the textures aren't really as good as you want them to be in a game where you spend most of the time running around and taking a close look at everything.”
- “There were halls that went nowhere, boxes flying around, difficulty picking items up, and fuzzy graphics; just glad it was cheap.”
gameplay
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The gameplay starts strong as a puzzle-driven adventure with exploration and mystery, but it becomes dull and repetitive in the latter half, shifting to frantic chases that some find primitive and unengaging. While the early puzzles and atmosphere receive praise, inconsistent mechanics and a drastic change in style hinder overall enjoyment. Fans of classic graphic adventures may appreciate the story, but guesswork and degraded gameplay limit its appeal.
- “The creepy mansion is fun to explore, with a decent story and clever puzzles providing solid gameplay.”
- “Vernon's Legacy is still a decent game, with fluent gameplay and cool atmosphere.”
- “The later twist in gameplay was quite well done, I thought.”
- “First of all, I think it is important to mention that the game can be divided into two parts: the first half functions as an adventure game (or 'walking simulator') where you search for keys, unlock doors, collect items, and solve puzzles to advance; meanwhile, the second half consists mostly of hectic running from an evil entity, degrading gameplay into a second-rate Slenderman clone. The monster follows a pattern but chases if it notices you.”
- “Unfortunately, the biggest problem is the dull and plodding gameplay.”
- “Having played 81 minutes, I refunded it. What looked like a great little indie game was an ultimate failure, let down by a game design choice that absolutely destroyed it from around 40 minutes of gameplay onwards.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The game's atmosphere is initially praised for its spooky, foreboding mansion setting with immersive ambience and eerie music that creates tension without relying on jump scares. However, many users feel this strong atmosphere diminishes significantly in the latter half, leading to a less engaging and more tedious experience overall. While not the best in its genre, the atmosphere remains a highlight, especially in the early stages.
- “Surprisingly, the first half of the game somewhat succeeds to create the required atmosphere within the old, abandoned mansion and the sounds of the raging thunderstorm outside.”
- “Initially we had a spooky mansion setting, and quite a gripping one at that - foreboding atmosphere and some nice ambience as well as the gothic look of the place made this compelling enough to want to go on.”
- “The game plays out like many other walking simulators as no combat exist in the game, instead you're greeted by an eerie atmosphere and music, which often leaves the gamer on the edge of his seat waiting to see what pounces out at him behind the next locked door.”
- “Unfortunately, I can't say that it stands out from the crowd, as the initially promising atmosphere and story quickly dwindles into mediocrity.”
- “There is little in the way of atmosphere or tension, and the puzzles are limited.”
- “And unfortunately that was where it unraveled - that initial setting was by far the best area, as once you end up deeper in the game and are introduced to the entity which pursues you, it loses every ounce of fun and atmosphere and just becomes a horrible chore.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The music in the game is minimal and primarily limited to ambient sounds like a thunderstorm and occasional repetitive tracks when reading notes, which helps create an immersive and eerie atmosphere without overwhelming the player. While some find the sparse soundtrack effective for building tension, others note certain music moments can be frustrating or feel out of place. Overall, the music contributes subtly to the creepy, foreboding mood without dominating the experience.
- “I don't believe there was any soundtrack except for the thundering storm outside, which did a great deal to sell a heavy sense of foreboding.”
- “The combination of music, ambiance sounds, and graphics introduces you to an immersive situation in a creepy Dunkenhof manor.”
- “No music basically.”
- “Sadly, the only music soundtrack you get is when you are reading notes, and it is highly repetitive.”
- “The sound design is sparse, with no voice acting and very little music, mostly when you open up the journal to read notes, but what there is helps to set the mood.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits several minor glitches and design issues, though no game-breaking bugs or crashes were reported. Some players find the current state unstable, but early access status suggests these problems may be resolved before the final release. Overall, stability is acceptable but somewhat lacking due to ongoing bugs.
- “It should also come as no surprise that triplebrick are MIA from their own forums, while multiple players are asking for help with glitches.”
- “While I haven't encountered any game-breaking bugs or glitches and the game has never crashed, there are a lot of small design issues that should've been addressed.”
- “-4 points for being a buggy incomplete mess.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features impressive visuals and smooth controls, delivering excellent in-game performance with efficient optimization.
- “The visuals are stunning, the controls are smooth, and the in-game performance is great.”