Welcome to Kowloon
- August 1, 2023
- N4bA
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"Welcome to Kowloon" is a first-person indie horror game that takes place in the densely populated city of Kowloon, China. The game follows a young student seeking affordable housing, who finds himself drawn into a mysterious and ominous reality in his new home. With a playing time of approximately 50 minutes, players will uncover hidden stories and face the darkness that lurks in the heart of this city.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features an impressive atmosphere and sound design that effectively builds tension and unease throughout the experience.
- The graphics are visually stunning, creating a detailed and immersive environment that enhances the horror elements.
- The jump scares are well-placed and effective, providing genuine moments of fright that keep players on edge.
- The game is very short, typically taking less than an hour to complete, which may not justify the price for some players.
- The story feels disjointed and lacks depth, leaving players wanting more context and narrative development.
- There are issues with camera movement and controls, including a fisheye effect that can cause discomfort and motion sickness.
- atmosphere144 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Welcome to Kowloon" is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, enhanced by stunning graphics and effective sound design that create a tense, claustrophobic environment. While many players appreciate the game's ability to build tension and deliver genuine scares, some criticize its reliance on jump scares, which can detract from the overall atmospheric experience. Overall, the game is recognized for its captivating ambiance, making it a notable entry in the atmospheric horror genre.
“The atmosphere is just so well done.”
“The atmosphere is incredible, from the sound design to the visuals it is incredible, it makes you feel on edge and scared from start to finish.”
“Welcome to Kowloon offers an immersive and atmospheric journey through labyrinthine streets, blending intricate storytelling with captivating visuals to create a unique gaming experience.”
“The game fails to create a heavy, oppressive atmosphere or utilize more sublime fear factors, relying on straightforward jump scares instead, which is considered a very amateur move in the horror genre.”
“The atmosphere made me want to leave the game and never finish it because every second I thought someone was going to jump scare me or run after me.”
“Despite being pursued through this claustrophobic hellhole by my homicidal landlady and equally weird neighbor, the game's story pales in comparison to its bleak atmosphere.”
- graphics101 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning quality and immersive atmosphere, often described as "near perfect" and comparable to AAA titles. Players appreciate the detailed environments, effective use of lighting, and the overall aesthetic that enhances the horror experience, despite some minor graphical glitches and issues with visibility in darker areas. Overall, the visuals are a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's tension and engagement.
“Visuals and the atmosphere are literally perfect.”
“The graphics are stunning, and even the atmosphere is pretty good.”
“It excels in delivering a short and eerie adventure with exceptional graphics, making it a must-play for those seeking a spooky and visually impressive experience.”
“1- some graphics glitches.”
“Graphics are serviceable, so much room for detail to be added especially with cut scenes and animations.”
“very outdated visuals.”
- story83 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it either lacking or incoherent, often describing it as minimal or non-existent. While some appreciated the atmospheric setting and found the narrative intriguing, others criticized it for being cliché, poorly developed, or overshadowed by jump scares and gameplay mechanics. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game offers a decent horror experience, its storytelling leaves much to be desired, with many players wishing for a more substantial narrative.
“Welcome to Kowloon offers an immersive and atmospheric journey through labyrinthine streets, blending intricate storytelling with captivating visuals to create a unique gaming experience.”
“The game's lore and storyline are genuinely impressive, offering plenty of unexpected twists that keep you engaged right until the end.”
“Beyond the thrills and chills, the story even manages to touch the emotional chords.”
“The game is littered with jump scares and contains very little story to help explain why any of this is happening.”
“The story is rudimentary and incoherent at best, non-existent at worst.”
“In terms of lore/story, you gather a number of clues regarding the strange happenings within the walled city, but ultimately results in a non-cohesive morsel of a narrative.”
- gameplay52 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Welcome to Kowloon" is primarily characterized as a walking simulator with straightforward mechanics, featuring simple puzzles and a focus on atmosphere rather than complexity. While the game offers impressive graphics and unique flashlight mechanics, many players find the reliance on predictable jump scares and linear progression to be somewhat lackluster. Overall, it has potential for a more developed experience, but currently feels short and repetitive, with a desire for more depth and length in future iterations.
“For a horror game, I 1000% recommend this game because it has great gameplay, graphics, and unique movement, along with unpredictable jumpscares.”
“The tension is often unbearable, the graphics are amazing and the gameplay dynamics are flawless.”
“Spooky game with awesome atmosphere and gameplay.”
“The gameplay itself is pretty lackluster; walk to the end of a hall, read a note.”
“Normally I wouldn't mind a game like this, but there are way too many jump scares, boring gameplay, some clunky controls, and just nothing new to offer.”
“To be frank, it's a very run-of-the-mill walking simulator, whose only core mechanic is to shepherd you from one irritating jump scare to the next.”
- music11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for enhancing the overall atmosphere, with ambient sounds and thematic tracks contributing to a terrifying and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight how the music elevates tension and complements the game's design, creating a cohesive audio experience that effectively supports jump scares and emotional engagement.
“Also, the ambient noise and music made it much more terrifying. I highly recommend this game if you want to get the pants scared right off of you!”
“Combined with the superbly atmospheric music, it creates a truly immersive and claustrophobic experience.”
“Interesting concept, great world design, and music.”
“Just filling noises, no music.”
“Apart from some ambient music, I felt they helped elevate the tension a bit.”
“Something about the sound effects/audio and music just meshes so incredibly well together.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting significant stuttering, sluggish performance, and a lack of graphical options. Many noted that the high field of view and absence of resolution settings contributed to a frustrating experience, detracting from the otherwise appealing atmosphere. Overall, the consensus is that the game requires substantial improvements in optimization to enhance playability.
“It has a really nice atmosphere, but poor optimization and very few options, including no resolution options, and the view is weird because the FOV is set pretty high.”
“Clunky performance: the game's performance felt sluggish at times, which was frustrating and distracting.”
“It has a really nice atmosphere, but poor optimization and very few options, no resolution options, and the view is weird because the FOV is set pretty high.”
“Lastly, this desperately needs graphic options and optimization.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it infinitely replayable, others note that it offers limited replay value, especially if completed quickly. Overall, it may be worth experiencing, particularly if purchased at a discount.
“Infinitely replayable (or almost).”
“This game has great replay value.”
“Completed it in under an hour, and while it has little replay value, it's worth it if you can get it on sale.”
- stability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with users reporting minimal issues such as occasional graphics and sound glitches. Players noted that the game runs well on Linux using Proton Experimental, and there are no significant game-breaking bugs, though some areas may feel overly dark.
“The game runs great on Linux using Proton Experimental, with impressive graphics and decent sound. I appreciate that if you mess up during a chase sequence, the game simply resets you to just before it starts, which eliminates the frustration of game overs.”
“I experienced no bugs during my playthrough, which contributed to a smooth gaming experience.”
“The stability of the game is commendable, as it allows for seamless exploration without interruptions or crashes.”
“There were some graphics glitches.”
“The only negative things I can think of were that some areas of the game felt very dark and there were also sound glitches in parts of the game.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally impactful, with its immersive setting creating a sense of home despite unfamiliarity. While some narrative choices may detract from the emotional experience, the story effectively resonates with players, often eliciting strong feelings and even tears. Overall, the game successfully touches on deep emotional themes, enhancing its overall appeal.
“Beyond the thrills and chills, the story even manages to touch the emotional chords.”
“I'll post some clips of this game on my TikTok because it has made me cry... other than that, play it!”
“I've never been to China, nor been inside the notorious walled city where this game is set, but this little title does a good job of giving this place a lived-in aesthetic that made me feel like it was my home.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is polarizing; while some players find it amusing, others feel it undermines their affection for animals, leading to mixed reactions about its comedic approach.
“This game is hilarious and keeps me laughing throughout!”
“The humor in this game is top-notch and adds so much to the experience.”
“I love how the game uses clever jokes and witty dialogue to keep things entertaining.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
"Welcome to Kowloon" is praised for its exceptional character development, highlighting the depth and growth of its characters throughout the game. Players appreciate the nuanced storytelling that allows for meaningful connections and transformations, enhancing the overall experience.
“What truly stands out in 'Welcome to Kowloon' is its exceptional character development.”
“The depth and complexity of the characters make the story incredibly engaging.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making their journeys feel authentic and relatable.”
