Werewolf: The Apocalypse — Purgatory

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 55 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
Werewolf: The Apocalypse — Purgatory Game Cover
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In "Werewolf: The Apocalypse — Purgatory," play as Samira, a refugee werewolf investigating murder, monsters, and madness amidst Poland's border crisis. Your choices along two investigative paths shape Samira's story, leading to different endings. Experience tabletop RPG mechanics in this dark fantasy thriller set in the World of Darkness universe.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 55 reviews
story23 positive mentions
monetization2 negative mentions
  • Purgatory offers a compelling and immersive story that weaves real-world issues, such as the refugee crisis, into the Werewolf: The Apocalypse lore, providing a fresh perspective.
  • The game features beautiful artwork and a captivating soundtrack that enhance the overall experience, making it visually and audibly appealing.
  • With multiple story paths and character customization options, Purgatory encourages replayability and allows players to explore different outcomes based on their choices.
  • The game is relatively short, with some players feeling that the story ends abruptly and lacks depth in character development compared to its predecessor, Heart of the Forest.
  • Critics have pointed out that the narrative can feel heavy-handed with its political messaging, which may detract from the immersive experience for some players.
  • There are technical issues, such as bugs and typos, that can disrupt gameplay and detract from the overall polish of the game.
  • story69 mentions

    The game's story is praised for its engagement with contemporary issues, particularly the refugee crisis in Eastern Europe, and offers a fresh perspective on werewolf lore. While some players appreciate the compelling narrative and character choices, others criticize it for being politically biased, predictable, and lacking depth in character development. Overall, the story is seen as a solid sequel that provides replayability through multiple routes, though it may not fully capitalize on its themes or character potential.

    • “The game offers very actual topics with a story that acknowledges the Eastern European current situation towards wars and the refugee crisis at the borders.”
    • “I love the story from the perspective of an Afghani refugee, using a lot of politically relevant situations in today's world and teaching me a lot about their culture and religion.”
    • “It's well-written, engaging, and believable (for a story about werewolves - I mean, there's some suspension of disbelief we've got to assume, right?).”
    • “The story doesn't even really start and it's over already; too short for over 10€.”
    • “While the story gives some insight into real-world struggles, it is very predictable with flat, cookie-cutter characters that check off stereotypical boxes with absolutely no depth.”
    • “The unyielding agenda of communicating one uncompromising point of view in a game that should pride itself upon its storytelling variety is what annoys me.”
  • music16 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance emotional depth, with many reviewers noting its atmospheric quality and consistency with previous installments. While some found the soundtrack dynamic and memorable, a few critiques mentioned issues with volume and personal taste, indicating that opinions on the music can vary. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, complementing its art and narrative effectively.

    • “And lastly, the music is beautiful, adding emotion to each scene and sticks in my head.”
    • “Just like before, the dynamic soundtrack is amazing and wisely follows the path of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it.' The devs have consistently maintained the same art style and core gameplay elements that made this such a smooth and memorable experience.”
    • “The music and art were amazing; the writing, less so.”
    • “Music is more a miss than a hit.”
    • “Also, I didn't like the soundtrack to this.”
  • gameplay15 mentions

    The gameplay is praised for its seamless integration of new mechanics, such as harano and gifts, into the existing system, enhancing the overall experience without adding unnecessary complexity. Players appreciate the variety and depth of choices available, particularly through the character of Samira, while noting that the game maintains a smooth and engaging flow reminiscent of its predecessor, "Heart of the Forest." However, some reviewers feel that character development could be improved, and there is a desire for additional mechanics to further enrich the gameplay.

    • “The new mechanics (harano, gifts, and items) all slotted beautifully into the system that was already in place, without making it overly complex.”
    • “I really felt drawn into Samira's character and enjoyed how the harano mechanic was a foil for rage/willpower and affected in-game choices, adding a layer to the gameplay mechanics first established in 'Heart of the Forest'.”
    • “It’s got a more fleshed-out main character in the form of Samira, there are more RPG mechanics, and the developers have doubled down on the choice-driven narrative.”
    • “I was worried with the transition to the mechanics (and lore) of fifth edition it was going to kill the game for me.”
    • “Some random ratings to explain my reasoning for this: setting: 9/10, story: 7/10, gameplay: 5/10, illustrations: 9/10, music: 9.5/10.”
    • “The game mechanics is all choice-based point and click but the story drew me in and the scene transitions were great also.”
  • graphics7 mentions

    The graphics and audio in the game are consistently praised for their atmospheric quality, maintaining the same art style and dynamic soundtrack that contributed to the success of its predecessor. Users appreciate the unique and cool abstract visuals, which complement the moody soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience despite some narrative comparisons. Overall, the game's artistic elements are highlighted as a strong point, contributing to its memorable and enjoyable nature.

    • “The artwork and music work well with the setting.”
    • “Great visual novel, amazing graphics, audio, and music.”
    • “Cool abstract graphics, awesome moody soundtrack, and a neat story.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    The game offers moderate replayability, primarily due to its two distinct storylines that encourage players to experience both. While some players may find value in replaying for character customization and exploring different choices, others feel the overall replay potential is limited, with only one additional playthrough being appealing. In contrast, Purgatory enhances replayability significantly with a broader range of options and storylines to explore.

    • “The game is a bit longer than others with two main storylines to choose from, making it replayable for at least one more time if you want to see the other one.”
    • “You choose between two main plots that seem unconnected, so the game is replayable at least once.”
    • “Purgatory, by contrast, provides players with a longer book to read through, and retains the replayability aspect with a full range of auspices, tribes, and optional storylines to experience in your playthroughs.”
    • “The game took me 4 hours to complete with seemingly modest replay value. I think I will play through it once more, but not more than that.”
    • “Main character Samira is a blank page the player can color with their chosen backstory and characteristics, so there is potential replay value. Other than that, I can't say much about her, and for supporting characters, there's not enough time to make them more fleshed out, excluding maybe a couple that starred in the previous title.”
    • “And also, you choose between two main plots that seem unconnected, so the game is replayable at least once.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its artistic direction, music, and sound design, effectively maintaining the quality of its predecessor. While the themes and mood are well-received, some players express disappointment with the brevity of the experience, feeling it ends just as it begins to develop fully. Overall, the atmospheric elements contribute significantly to the game's appeal, despite some critiques of the writing.

    • “It also maintains the atmospheric artwork, music, and sound of the previous game.”
    • “Despite this, the art and atmosphere are great, and even though the writing could be a little better, it's not necessarily a bad game.”
    • “I liked the atmosphere, the themes, and mood.”
    • “Heart of the Forest was praised for its atmosphere, artistic direction, and sound design, but we were let down by the shortness of the visual novel and how it ends right as it seems to get started.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for feeling more like a political advertisement than a balanced gameplay experience, with some players noting that while the werewolf mechanics are engaging, the overall monetization strategy detracts from the enjoyment.

  • character development1 mentions

    While the game offers a diverse range of gameplay mechanics and a compelling werewolf experience, reviewers note that character development is lacking, detracting from the overall narrative depth.

    • “Overall, it's a good game with a great variety in gameplay and mechanics, and it offers a solid werewolf experience, but the character development is lacking.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “While the gameplay is engaging, the lack of meaningful character development detracts from the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

12hMedian play time
12hAverage play time
12-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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