Village

About

Village is a single player simulation game. It was developed by STuNT and was released on September 25, 2023. It received negative reviews from players.

A young boy has come to a distant village to visit his grandmother. Arriving at the final station, in some wilderness, we find newspaper clippings on the platform. This is where our tangled story begins. The mysterious disappearance of residents in a remote Russian village is investigated by the grandson of one of the residents. The atmosphere of the Russian countryside, the supernatural and detec…

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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10%

Audience ScoreBased on 10 reviews

atmosphere3 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Village creates a deeply atmospheric experience, immersing players in a hauntingly quiet rural setting that evokes a sense of isolation and dread.
The environmental storytelling is effective, allowing players to piece together the narrative through exploration and found objects, enhancing personal engagement with the mystery.
The sound design contributes significantly to the mood, with subtle audio cues amplifying feelings of unease and enhancing the overall atmosphere.

The game suffers from poor optimization and a lack of navigation, leading to confusion and frustration as players struggle to find their way through the empty environments.
Gameplay is overly simplistic and repetitive, with minimal interaction and no clear objectives, which may bore players looking for more dynamic experiences.
Village is criticized for being an asset flip, lacking originality and depth, and is marred by issues such as bad writing, technical glitches, and a lack of save options.

story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The story in "Village" is conveyed through environmental storytelling and found objects, creating a personal and immersive mystery for players to unravel. However, its linear structure and lack of alternate paths limit replayability, and some players find navigation challenging, leading to potential confusion in story progression. Overall, while the atmospheric setting enhances the narrative experience, the execution may frustrate those seeking clearer direction.
- “Village, developed and published by Stunt, is a quiet and atmospheric first-person horror experience that leans heavily on mood, exploration, and environmental storytelling.”
- “The choice to present the story through found objects rather than cutscenes allows players to piece together their own interpretation of what happened, making the mystery more personal and immersive.”
- “Its sense of isolation is genuine, its environments are evocative, and its approach to storytelling is understated but effective for those who appreciate environmental mysteries.”
- “The linear structure also means that once the mystery is solved, there is little incentive to revisit the game, as there are no alternate paths, branching outcomes, or secrets that significantly change the story.”
- “Sometimes trees or buildings are just hovering in the air, and because you can walk anywhere (but don't have a map), it's difficult to know where to go to progress the story.”
- “I even got the feeling that you can progress the story in the wrong order if you don't follow a certain path, but I couldn't figure out what that path should be.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
"Village" excels in creating a haunting atmosphere through its focus on mood, exploration, and environmental storytelling, appealing to fans of introspective indie horror. While it may lack high production values and elaborate scares, its modest presentation enhances the somber and unsettling experience of uncovering the secrets of a forgotten settlement. Overall, the game offers a deeply atmospheric journey for those who appreciate a quieter, methodical approach to horror.
- “Village, developed and published by Stunt, is a quiet and atmospheric first-person horror experience that leans heavily on mood, exploration, and environmental storytelling.”
- “Where Village succeeds most is in its atmosphere.”
- “It may not satisfy those seeking high production values or elaborate scares, but for fans of introspective, atmospheric indie horror, it delivers a somber and quietly unsettling journey into a forgotten settlement and the secrets it left behind.”
- “Performance and presentation are modest but functional; this is not a polished, cinematic horror title but rather a small-scale indie project with ambitions centered on atmosphere rather than technical spectacle.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and minimalism, which some players find appealing while others see it as a drawback due to a lack of variety and clear objectives. Many users report issues with optimization and navigation, leading to a frustrating experience that feels unoriginal and drawn out, particularly for those used to more structured gameplay. Overall, the gameplay suffers from poor direction and repetitive mechanics, detracting from the overall experience.
- “Gameplay is built around simplicity, and this minimalism is both a strength and a limitation.”
- “Without strong variations in gameplay, these segments may feel drawn out, especially for players accustomed to more guided experiences.”
- “From the very first minutes, you encounter terrible optimization (the GPU heats up as if it’s running a AAA game, despite graphics on par with a mobile project), a complete lack of navigation (figuring out where to go is a mystery), and primitive gameplay with no clear objectives.”
- “The interface, mechanics, and even the discoveries (like notes and a flashlight) are copied from other indie horror games without any originality.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The graphics have been criticized for their poor optimization, causing excessive GPU heating despite resembling mobile-level visuals. Reviewers noted the simplicity of the graphics, which, combined with a lack of navigation and primitive gameplay, detracts from the overall experience.
- “From the very first minutes, you encounter terrible optimization (the GPU heats up as if it’s running a AAA game, despite graphics on par with a mobile project), a complete lack of navigation (figuring out where to go is a mystery), and primitive gameplay with no clear objectives.”
- “The graphics are simple.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized due to the presence of suspicious reviews, likely from fake accounts that promote the game shortly after its Steam launch, suggesting a pattern of asset flipping and cash grab tactics. This raises concerns about the authenticity of user feedback and the game's overall value.
- “The monetization system feels exploitative, with prices set unreasonably high for in-game items that should be accessible to all players.”
- “It seems like the developers are more focused on making money than providing a balanced gaming experience, which is disappointing.”
- “The constant push for microtransactions detracts from the enjoyment of the game, making it feel more like a cash grab than a genuine experience.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the game's story and character development are lacking, with players feeling that characters are underdeveloped and the narrative fails to engage or evolve meaningfully throughout the gameplay.
- “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, leaving me disconnected from the story.”
- “I expected more depth in the characters, but they all seem one-dimensional and predictable.”
- “The lack of meaningful character growth throughout the game made it hard to stay invested in the narrative.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews indicate that the game lacks significant replay value, suggesting that players may not find enough incentive to revisit it after completing it once.
- “The game lacks replay value, making it feel like a one-time experience.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
- “The limited choices and outcomes significantly reduce the replayability factor.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The background music in the game is generally praised for enhancing the overall atmosphere, with many players noting its ability to complement the gameplay experience effectively.
- “The background music perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “I love how the soundtrack evolves with the gameplay, making each moment feel unique and immersive.”
- “The music selection is fantastic, with a variety of tracks that keep the energy high and the gameplay engaging.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization is notably poor, with users reporting excessive GPU heating despite graphics that resemble a mobile project rather than a AAA title. While it aims to create an atmospheric experience, the lack of navigation and primitive gameplay detracts from its overall functionality.
- “Performance and presentation are modest but functional; this is not a polished, cinematic horror title but rather a small-scale indie project with ambitions centered on atmosphere rather than technical spectacle.”
- “From the very first minutes, you encounter terrible optimization (the GPU heats up as if it’s running a AAA game, despite graphics on par with a mobile project), a complete lack of navigation (figuring out where to go is a mystery), and primitive gameplay with no clear objectives.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is derived from its perceived shortcomings, with some players finding amusement in its flaws, labeling it as the "worst game" they've ever played yet still entertaining in a comedic way.
- “This is, indeed, the worst game I've ever played, but maybe to the extent that it's funny.”