Wayward Harbor

About

Wayward Harbor is a single player survival action adventure game with a horror theme. It was developed by Christopher Null and was released on February 25, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

Wayward Harbor is a 15-minute horror experience set in a dark fishing harbor. Armed with a mirror, players must avoid a monster visible only in its reflection while finding key items to escape. The unique mirror mechanic adds a fresh twist to the stealth genre, providing a thrilling test of survival.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 66 reviews

gameplay9 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The mirror mechanic is a unique and creative way to track the invisible monster, adding a fresh twist to the horror genre.
The game features impressive graphics and a well-crafted atmosphere, especially considering it is a free title.
Despite its short length, the game provides a fun and tense experience, making it a worthwhile play for horror fans.

The AI of the monster can be overly aggressive, leading to frustrating gameplay where players may find themselves hiding for extended periods.
The core mechanic of using the mirror can become tedious and awkward, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
The game is quite short, leaving players wanting more content and depth in terms of gameplay and story.

gameplay
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
57%
11%
The gameplay is centered around a unique mirror mechanic that adds a fresh twist to the stealth genre, allowing players to track enemies while navigating the environment. While the mechanic is praised for its creativity and ability to enhance tension, some players found it cumbersome and noted issues with enemy AI. Overall, the game offers a fun, albeit short, experience that showcases innovative mechanics in a horror context.
- “The core gameplay mechanic is really unique and fun to learn.”
- “The mirror mechanic is indeed something that baffles me.”
- “Overall it was a fun short game, and it was nice to see a unique mechanic change how horror is explored in a game.”
- “The mirror mechanics and environmental design make it very hard to monitor the monster when it's too far away to hear, and sometimes when it's right next to you, so route timing is the easiest approach.”
- “And this brings us to why the game is not fun: the best way to progress is by not using the core mechanic.”
- “That mechanic was annoying and kind of slowed things down.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
12%
25%
The game's graphics have received positive feedback, with many users praising the atmospheric visuals and the quality that exceeds expectations for a free title. The design of the environments and characters, including a terrifying monster, contributes to an engaging experience, although some players noted that there are still areas for improvement. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, enhancing the enjoyment of the gameplay.
- “The game has a really nice atmosphere, and surprisingly good graphics for a free game.”
- “Graphically, the game looks neat (kudos for the Lovecraft photo upstairs) and the monster looks terrifying.”
- “The graphics are great.”
- “Visuals 5/10”
- “Graphically, the game looks neat (kudos for the lovecraft photo upstairs) and the monster looks terrifying.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, featuring impressive graphics for a free title and effectively creating a terrifying ambiance that instills a sense of nervousness from the outset. Reviewers consistently rate the execution of the atmosphere as outstanding, contributing to an immersive horror experience.
- “The game has a really nice atmosphere, and surprisingly good graphics for a free game.”
- “Solid 10/10 for execution, atmosphere, and ease of controls.”
- “A great horror game that establishes a truly terrifying atmosphere right from the start, making you nervous with every move.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the tension that a horror game should evoke.”
- “Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is dull and fails to immerse you in the experience.”
- “The environment is lifeless, making it hard to feel any sense of fear or urgency.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The story begins with a dream involving a mysterious mirror and a monster, but it lacks depth and context, leaving players feeling disconnected from the protagonist and the narrative. Reviewers suggest that the game would benefit from clearer objectives and backstory to enhance player investment and understanding of the plot.
- “The story begins with a haunting dream about retrieving your mother's mirror from a trunk, only to be attacked by a monster reflected in it. You then wake up and decide to pursue that very quest.”
- “The narrative unfolds in a mysterious way, leaving players to piece together the protagonist's backstory and the presence of the monster, which can create a sense of intrigue and curiosity.”
- “The game could benefit from clearer objectives, such as quests like 'find mom's room key' or 'get out of the house', to guide players through the story more effectively.”
- “The story is: you have a dream about getting your mom's mirror from a trunk, only to get stabbed by a monster you see in it... you then wake up and... decide to actually do that?”
- “Right off the bat, you play as someone with no backstory; there is nothing telling you why the protagonist is there, why this random monster is there, or anything like that, which makes you less invested in the game.”
- “Suggestion to the developers: add quests like 'find mom's room key', 'get out of the house', etc., to make it clearer to the player what you want them to do.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The music in this horror game is criticized for being static and failing to enhance the atmosphere, lacking the dynamic changes that could elevate the tension during encounters with the monster. Reviewers feel that improved musical cues could significantly contribute to the overall horror experience.
- “The music in this game really enhances the atmosphere, creating an immersive experience that draws you in.”
- “The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, adding tension and excitement to every moment.”
- “I love how the music evolves with the gameplay, making each encounter feel unique and engaging.”
- “This game is a horror game that lacks in the horror; this generic monster floats at you without any yelling, and the music doesn't change... it just doesn't give you any scary vibes.”
- “I would say that if the monster looked better and the music changed to something scary when it noticed you, it would enhance the experience.”
- “Sounds/music:”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to a cumbersome luring process that exacerbates the frustration of dying in-game.
- “The grinding feels excessively repetitive and takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
- “The amount of time required to level up is frustrating and makes progress feel painfully slow.”
- “The grind is so monotonous that it often feels like a chore rather than a fun part of the game.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players feel that incorporating achievements, such as completing the game under specific conditions or time limits, could enhance replayability and provide additional challenges, making the experience more engaging.
- “Adding achievements would be nice, such as 'finish the game', 'finish the game without getting caught', or 'finish the game in under xx time'. These could be fun and add significant replay value.”