Vomitoreum

About

"Vomitoreum is a single-player horror shooter Metroidvania game with an interesting plot, good gameplay, stunning graphics, and an ingenious soundtrack. Explore a dark, interconnected world inspired by the paintings of Zdzisław Beksiński, battling eldritch monsters and searching for a cure for a deadly fog. As the Nephilem, survive the harsh environment, gather weapons and tools, and restore life to the plagued land."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 744 reviews

story82 positive mentions

grinding10 negative mentions

Unique and grotesque art style inspired by Zdzisław Beksiński, creating a haunting atmosphere.
Engaging exploration with a large interconnected map and rewarding secrets to find.
Fast-paced gameplay with satisfying movement mechanics, including dashes and double jumps.

Combat can feel repetitive and easy, with most bosses being defeated through simple circle strafing.
The story touches on dark themes but lacks depth and coherence, leading to a somewhat unsatisfying narrative experience.
Some gameplay mechanics, like the light source, can be frustrating and poorly implemented, detracting from the overall experience.

story
256 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
64%
4%
The story of the game is a dark and intriguing narrative that blends elements of horror and personal tragedy, often drawing comparisons to the themes found in Dark Souls. While some players found the storytelling to be simplistic or lacking depth, many appreciated its emotional weight and the atmospheric world-building that complements the gameplay. However, the narrative's handling of sensitive topics has sparked mixed reactions, with some praising its boldness while others criticize its execution and coherence.
- “The world around you is so enthralling, and the story you're in is incredibly compelling and has real emotional weight.”
- “Speaking of the story, for a game that isn't very long (2-4 hours), it tells a very compelling and moving story that gets me actually invested in the characters, their motivations, and how the world of the game works.”
- “The story embraces you all along the way throughout the game; I'd say for its runtime it is surprisingly detailed.”
- “For a game with such a radiant atmosphere, its story is quite lacking.”
- “You are not given much context about the fallen world, the humans, the enemies, and the environmental storytelling doesn't leave much to imagination, being sparse with finer details to leave room for gameplay.”
- “The plot is trying so hard to be taken seriously: Christian references, embryos and homunculi, the way the characters speak like it's supposed to be epic, the whole rape thing — all it does is just take away from the atmosphere.”
graphics
229 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
55%
3%
The graphics of "Vomitoreum" are characterized by a unique and grotesque art style heavily inspired by the works of Zdzisław Beksiński, creating a dark and unsettling atmosphere that resonates well with the game's themes. While many players appreciate the striking visuals and the effective use of pixel art combined with modern lighting effects, some critiques point to inconsistencies in quality and a lack of originality in certain areas. Overall, the game's aesthetic is a significant draw, offering a visually captivating experience that complements its gameplay, despite some technical limitations.
- “Vomitoreum is a 3D metroidvania with 2D sprites made with an absolutely gorgeous art style and overall aesthetic.”
- “The art style is absolutely gorgeous and fits the tone and world that the story creates perfectly.”
- “The visuals and audio can be commented on at the same time, because they're so well put together, screeches, moans, droning ambience, desolate winds, and punchy gunshots; mix perfectly with odd mutated, starving and sick looking creatures, haunting wastelands, and grimy machinery.”
- “The art style is all over the place, with some areas looking like postmodern self-aware vomit and others out of a middle schooler's sketchbook.”
- “Much of the artwork looks bad, including important characters and the repetitive, uninspired environments.”
- “It's hard to admire the visuals or be terrified by them when you can see struggles with basic anatomy.”
gameplay
189 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
54%
7%
The gameplay is a blend of classic Doom mechanics with Metroidvania elements, offering fast-paced action and unique boss encounters, though it often lacks challenge and depth. While the movement mechanics and exploration are praised for their fluidity and interconnectivity, many players find the overall experience repetitive and simplistic, with some mechanics feeling underutilized. Despite its engaging art style and atmosphere, the gameplay is seen as a mixed bag, with some enjoying its straightforwardness while others criticize its lack of complexity and polish.
- “Extremely solid gameplay meets collecting and secret hunting, and the story is pretty cool too.”
- “The gameplay is smooth and enjoyable, and I didn't feel the need to change any settings as the default engine configuration used here was perfect.”
- “Everything about the atmosphere and gameplay just work so well together and is not only insanely beautiful to look at in a disgusting body horror way, but incredibly fun to play.”
- “Gameplay is lackluster.”
- “Sadly, vomitoreum's level design and clunky gameplay do not live up to its atmosphere and aesthetics.”
- “Where it falls short is the repetitive gameplay and lack of overall polish.”
atmosphere
138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
46%
3%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its rich, immersive qualities, often described as dark, eerie, and oppressive, reminiscent of titles like Dark Souls. Players appreciate the unique art style and sound design, which together create a compelling sense of dread and exploration. While the gameplay may not always match the atmospheric depth, many agree that the experience is heavily driven by its haunting visuals and ambient soundscapes, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The atmosphere and level designs are insane and I'm loving every second.”
- “The dark, dreary atmosphere and the hopeless feeling you get from the visual, sound and gameplay design is phenomenal.”
- “Vomitoreum is a game with a beautifully dark style in every single detail, that will catch you in its morbid atmosphere and story and won't let you go until it is done with you.”
- “The game is also teeming with an atmosphere of pure dread and unease.”
- “Sadly, vomitoreum's level design and clunky gameplay do not live up to its atmosphere and aesthetics.”
- “The atmosphere is second to none, full of horrifying and surreal sights and sounds.”
music
79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
49%
4%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the eerie and foreboding ambiance of the environments. Players appreciate the contrast between the haunting ambient tracks during exploration and the climactic soundtracks that accompany boss encounters, creating a memorable auditory experience. However, some reviews note that the music can be sparse at times, with abrupt transitions that disrupt immersion, yet overall, the sound design is considered a standout feature that complements the game's dark themes.
- “The music also adds to this ominous feeling, with droning ambiance that builds and falls, and changes depending on the area you're in.”
- “When encountering a boss, you get to hear loud and climactic soundtracks that fit the scenarios very well, creating a good contrast between the boss fights and exploring the regular areas, making these soundtracks really stand out.”
- “The music is a mixture of eerie ambient tracks, but gets much more aggressive during the boss fights.”
- “The way ambiance/music is mixed in the game is jarring; entering new areas can cut the music off abruptly, and there are parts of the game that go too silent.”
- “The sound is equally noticeable, with music that is dreadfully somber, and even sometimes silent.”
- “Nonetheless, the grotesque and creepy art style is beautiful and gives you goosebumps, yet the sound and music in this game could be a lot better to create an even more sinister feeling.”
replayability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it enjoyable enough to warrant multiple playthroughs due to its layout and hidden secrets, many criticize its short length and lack of additional difficulty settings or modes, which significantly limit replay value. Several reviews highlight that once the game is completed, there isn't much incentive to return, aside from speedrunning or hunting for collectibles. Ultimately, the consensus suggests that while the game offers a good experience, its replayability is generally considered low.
- “I can't recommend this game enough, and I believe it is absolutely worth the price despite the short playtime, and I find it to be incredibly replayable.”
- “Fun shooter, not too long, good replay value.”
- “I'd say it actually does have good replay value because of simply how the game is laid out.”
- “For such a short game, having no replay value really kills its appeal.”
- “Sadly there is no ng+ nor higher difficulty for replayability.”
- “Under 3hrs of gameplay with no replay value.”
grinding
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
91%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to repetitive backtracking and lengthy boss fights that can feel disorienting and frustrating. While the art design is praised, the level navigation is hampered by unclear paths and cryptic elements, leading to a gameplay experience that can feel unnecessarily prolonged. Overall, the game offers solid content but is marred by tedious mechanics that detract from the enjoyment.
- “It's a good GZDoom mod; it's metal, it's not grindy, and it has secrets.”
- “The bosses are all beatable with the good old circle-strafe while jumping, and their health bars are ridiculously tedious.”
- “Content-wise there's about 2 hours of solid gameplay in here, extended by tedious backtracking or vague objectives.”
- “The level design is sometimes needlessly cryptic; you can't tell when water is about to kill you, and once you clear an area, it's dead content that's tedious to backtrack through.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is marked by a mix of minor glitches and bugs, particularly with alt-tabbing on Windows 11 and some graphical issues. While players report occasional soft locks and disappearing objects, these problems do not lead to crashes, allowing for a generally playable experience. Despite the bugs, many find the game's aesthetic and world engaging, though some aspects, like 2D sidescrollers, are criticized for being particularly clunky.
- “Their FPS games are far more playable than their 2D sidescrollers, which are frankly clunky, buggy messes that I would recommend to no one.”
- “It often glitches in front of you.”
- “It's a little buggy and jank, but the world and characters are very interesting.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
88%
38%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its compelling narrative and impactful story elements that resonate deeply with players, often evoking strong feelings. While some find the emotional weight to be profound and satisfying, others feel that certain story elements can detract from immersion, leading to mixed experiences. Overall, the game is noted for its ability to deliver an emotional gut-punch, despite some criticisms regarding linearity and pacing.
- “The world around you is so enthralling, and the story you're in is incredibly compelling and has real emotional weight.”
- “This game made me feel like I was a child with nothing but a rattle, in a section of my house with baby-proof fencing keeping me trapped.”
- “The story being an emotional gut-punch is just the icing on top of the cake.”
- “The emotional moments felt forced and lacked genuine impact.”
- “I didn't connect with the characters at all; their struggles felt superficial.”
- “The attempts at emotional depth fell flat and left me feeling indifferent.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
17%
Overall, the character development in the game is praised for its excellent design and integration into a diverse and visually stunning world. While most characters are noted for their creativity and uniqueness, there are some criticisms regarding a few characters, such as a less engaging knight boss. The combination of compelling character and environmental design contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “Good story and excellent world/character design.”
- “I'm terrible at words but this game is beautiful; the environments are all super diverse and interesting. The sound design and music are amazing, and I really love the character design and story.”
- “The world/enemy/character design is so oddly twisted; I got some H.R. Giger vibes from a portion of the level textures, and it was great.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by quirky character designs, such as a perpetually smiling mason, and absurd moments like a comically exaggerated final cutscene featuring a naked anime character. Players also find amusement in the unconventional save feature and the overpowered secret weapons, which add a humorous twist to gameplay. Overall, the game delivers unexpected laughs, making it enjoyable even for those who initially approached it as a joke.
- “The final cutscene made me laugh really hard when the naked anime Tumblr woman looked into the camera with her big anime eyes while Imagine Dragons was epically playing in the background.”
- “The two secret weapons are so hilariously overpowered that there's no reason to use anything else - for a game with unlimited ammunition, why not make weapons that have advantages and disadvantages for different scenarios?”
- “My friend gifted it to me as a joke, but the only thing funny was how much I loved it.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The monetization model of the game is generally viewed positively, as it avoids intrusive ads and does not feel exploitative or like a cash grab, allowing players to engage with bosses without frustration.
- “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
- “I feel like I'm constantly being pushed to buy in-game currency just to keep up with the content.”
- “The prices for in-game items are outrageous, and it feels like a pay-to-win scenario.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's optimization is criticized for its poor weapon performance, which, combined with the infinite ammo pools, detracts from the overall experience and engagement.
- “The optimization is severely lacking, making the gameplay feel sluggish and unresponsive.”
- “The game suffers from frequent frame drops and stuttering, which disrupts the overall experience.”
- “Especially since all weapons have infinite ammo pools, which, coupled with their generally poor performance, further zones your brain out.”