Vigil

About

Vigil is a single player action adventure game with a horror theme. It was developed by Singularity Studios and was released on August 15, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

Vigil is a single-player horror action game featuring ingenious gameplay that uses real-life blink detection via webcam to create a tense, atmospheric experience. Set deep underground in a decaying facility, you must dispose of boxes while avoiding a terrifying automaton that moves when you blink or look away. With a compelling story and stunning graphics, Vigil delivers a unique and immersive narrative-driven horror adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 930 reviews

gameplay87 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The blinking mechanic is innovative and adds a unique layer of immersion to the horror experience.
The game effectively builds tension and creates a genuinely scary atmosphere, making players feel on edge.
Despite its short length, the game is well-executed and offers a fun, engaging experience for players.

The game is very short, with many players completing it in under 30 minutes, leaving them wanting more content.
There are technical issues with the blink detection, particularly for players with glasses or lower-quality webcams.
Some players found the game too easy, as the monster's behavior could be easily managed, reducing the overall scare factor.

gameplay
182 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
50%
2%
The gameplay of this game is centered around an innovative blinking mechanic that utilizes the player's webcam, creating a unique and immersive horror experience. Players find the mechanic both engaging and anxiety-inducing, as it adds real tension and suspense, although some have noted issues with responsiveness and the game's short length. Overall, the combination of atmospheric design and the clever use of the blinking mechanic has garnered positive feedback, with many hoping for a longer, more developed version in the future.
- “The blinking mechanic is extremely innovative and adds depth to the game.”
- “Incredible gameplay that literally keeps you on the edge of your seat!”
- “The atmosphere is tense and unsettling, and the blinking mechanic is both unique and genuinely terrifying — it makes you feel constantly on edge.”
- “The big reveal is the monster moves when you look away, but combined with a blink mechanic that's not dependable, it's just very frustrating after dying over and over.”
- “The gameplay was very quick and lacked the suspense I was expecting.”
- “This game is only 15 minutes of gameplay and it could have been turned into an hour of gameplay to make it better.”
graphics
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
57%
8%
The graphics of the game have received mixed feedback, with many praising the detailed visuals and atmospheric design that enhance the overall experience. However, a significant number of users expressed frustration over the lack of customizable graphics settings, which hampers performance on lower-end devices and leads to issues like excessive motion blur. Overall, while the game's aesthetic is appreciated, the need for optimization and adjustable settings is a common request among players.
- “A beautiful game and the graphics are spectacular.”
- “The graphics are detailed and perfectly enhance the dark atmosphere.”
- “Strong visuals and atmosphere.”
- “There are no graphics settings, and no option to turn off blur.”
- “Super super cool concept and when the blinking worked, it was amazing but the graphics are very poorly optimized.”
- “I could not even see much due to the motion blur and flickers of the graphics due to me not being able to set the graphics.”
story
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
60%
8%
The game's story is generally perceived as intriguing but notably short, leaving players eager for a more expansive narrative. Many reviewers appreciate the environmental storytelling and unique mechanics, expressing a strong desire for a longer sequel that delves deeper into the lore and character development. While some found the story simplistic or lacking, the overall consensus is that the concept has significant potential for future exploration.
- “I loved the environmental storytelling with the notes and computer monitor. It added depth to the experience.”
- “Overall, the game is cool as hell, the story was just getting good when it ended and I would love to see more of what you guys do.”
- “The game is not too long but the story is super interesting and the concept has a lot of potential, definitely worth a try!”
- “Game breaking bug that won't be fixed, hardly any story, very underwhelming.”
- “Yes, it is a rushed college project but I mean I wouldn't go out of my way to download 3 gigabytes to play an annoying bugged game with no story.”
- “The game is extremely simple, and it's left me wanting more from this story.”
atmosphere
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
37%
16%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dense, tense, and unsettling qualities, enhanced by strong graphics and effective sound design. Players appreciate the innovative mechanics, such as the webcam-based blinking feature, which heightens the sense of dread and immersion. However, some note minor audio issues and a lack of originality in certain horror elements, while still acknowledging the game's ability to evoke a gripping and claustrophobic experience.
- “The graphics are detailed and perfectly enhance the dark atmosphere.”
- “A gripping horror experience that sets itself apart with atmosphere and originality.”
- “The horror completely falls flat: you can feel the attempt at building a scary atmosphere, but it never feels frightening at all.”
- “The game expertly uses minimalism to build dread, creating an atmosphere that is both claustrophobic and unnervingly quiet.”
- “But on the other hand, I like this game for how well it ran the mechanics and the atmosphere it left on me, which I love about it, except the motion blur making me slightly sick when you turn your camera around trying to find where the robot was in the hallways.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with users reporting poor performance and a lack of adjustable settings, making it unplayable on lower-end PCs and laptops. Many players experienced issues such as annoying motion blur and audio lag, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite its intriguing concept, the game's optimization shortcomings have led to a general recommendation against playing it until improvements are made.
- “I have seen the video that you published about the game, as well as watching other people play it, so I know that if your hardware can handle it, it's a very fun short horror game with a lot of good atmosphere. However, as there are no performance settings, I can't recommend the game for anyone with a lower-end PC or a laptop.”
- “I understand that there likely won't be an update, as this was a small project, and I assume that you'd want to work on other things, but I hope you do consider making some sort of performance update. Until then, this has to unfortunately sit in not recommended for me.”
- “My problem, though, is that the game is poorly optimized.”
- “Frequent audio issues presumably linked to lag, yet no performance options available.”
- “Super super cool concept and when the blinking worked, it was amazing but the graphics are very poorly optimized.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with users finding it both funny and cleverly integrated, particularly in the context of a horror theme. The lighthearted elements provide a refreshing contrast to the game's darker aspects, enhancing the overall experience.
- “You are my sunshine with humor game”
- “Funny horror game”
- “Very funny and a cool implementation of humor”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it lacking due to its short length, others appreciate its surprising replayable elements.
- “Surprisingly has a great replayable aspect.”
- “It's too short, and it's not replayable.”
- “Once you finish the game, there's really no incentive to play it again.”
- “The lack of different endings or choices makes replaying feel pointless.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the game's stability to be solid, with only minor sound bugs reported. The immersive environment and engaging mechanics contribute positively to the experience, suggesting that the game runs smoothly despite the slight audio issues.
- “The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
- “I encountered several bugs that disrupted my gameplay, which was really frustrating.”
- “The stability issues are a major drawback; I lost progress due to unexpected crashes.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is surprisingly intense and impactful, contrasting sharply with its somber visuals, and many reviewers believe it elevates the overall experience, encouraging creativity across various mediums.
- “The soundtrack goes way harder than any game this depressing-looking has a right to.”
- “I truly think everyone should make their ideas come to real life, whether it be through music, movies, animation, or games themselves.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express that the game's mechanics can evoke frustration and discomfort, with issues like hitbox inaccuracies contributing to a sense of emotional distress. Additionally, technical problems such as ineffective blink detection and overwhelming motion blur can lead to a negative emotional experience, preventing players from fully engaging with the game.
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant investment of time to progress, likening it to needing a "second life" to manage the grind effectively.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Without using a webcam, it's kind of tedious.”