Whale Flesh

About

"Whale Flesh" is a short horror game where you explore the inside of a massive beached whale to uncover the fate of your research team. Using tools like dynamite, you'll dig through the flesh of the whale and uncover strange objects under x-ray. The game aims to create a sense of building dread and paranoia, and can be completed in under an hour. The story begins with a giant whale of mysterious size and origins, causing global chaos and sending you on a mission to uncover the truth.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 38 reviews

atmosphere11 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game has an excellent atmosphere that effectively builds tension and unease.
It features some well-executed jump scares that can catch players off guard.
The concept of exploring a massive whale carcass is unique and intriguing, providing a creative spin on horror.

The gameplay loop is repetitive and tedious, primarily involving digging through flesh with little variation.
The game is very short, with many players completing it in under an hour, leading to a feeling of insufficient content.
There is a lack of depth in the story and lore, making it feel underdeveloped and leaving players wanting more.

atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
79%
7%
14%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its compelling horror elements, creating a tense and unsettling experience that effectively engages players. While many reviewers appreciate the strong atmospheric design, they note that the game is relatively short and could benefit from further development in this area. Overall, it delivers a memorable and frightening ambiance that resonates well with fans of the genre.
- “A short but sweet atmospheric horror game, very tense atmosphere and creative spin on horror with hole digging action.”
- “Great game, the atmosphere was perfect; I was stressing throughout my entire playthrough.”
- “The atmosphere is great and it gave me serious Outer Wilds - Dark Bramble vibes!”
- “Delivers the unsettling atmosphere, but it’s a very short experience with little to offer.”
- “Short game, heavy on atmosphere.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
38%
38%
The game's story is characterized by a mix of mystery and environmental storytelling, creating an eerie atmosphere that some players appreciate. However, many feel it lacks depth and could benefit from more lore, as the narrative feels somewhat simplistic and leaves players wanting more. Overall, while the initial sense of dread is engaging, the story's resolution may not fully satisfy all players.
- “Nice sounds and environmental storytelling.”
- “There is a lot of background and storytelling to unpack in this short, wonderful horror game.”
- “If you're looking for a mysterious story that leaves you wondering and an unknown 'enemy', this game is for you.”
- “A little shorter than I'd like for nearly $9, and it could use just a little more lore/story, as it feels a little dry when it's all wrapped up, but regardless I still love this visual style, the eerie environment, and the initial sense of mystery and dread--even if this doesn't ultimately pay off.”
- “The story is simple and just helps to establish the setting.”
gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
43%
43%
The gameplay is criticized for being repetitive and lacking depth, primarily revolving around a monotonous loop of mining whale meat and finding radio signals. Despite an intriguing premise, players find the experience short and stale, with many completing it in under 30 minutes and feeling unsatisfied with the overall execution.
- “Here's my condensed playthrough for those who would like to see some gameplay before purchasing.”
- “Gameplay is repetitive, as you hack your way through the flesh of the whale for the whole time, just to discover some lore and get 3 jumpscares.”
- “The premise seems really intriguing, but the actual 'meat' of the gameplay is just a loop of 'mine whale meat', 'find radio signal' repeat.”
- “This game is rather short, but even with the game's runtime in mind, the loop of gameplay got stale rather quickly.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and slow, often describing it as a monotonous experience that detracts from overall enjoyment. While the concept has potential, the repetitive nature of tasks like mining and digging leads to frustration, making the gameplay feel more like a chore than an engaging adventure.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The issue is that the digging is absolutely the most boring, tedious, oh-my-god-could-I-swing-this-slower experience I have yet encountered.”
- “Concept is good, game isn't terrible quality, I just wish that the loop and exploration were more interesting and less tedious.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's graphics feature a unique aesthetic reminiscent of Iron Lung, appealing to those who appreciate its art style. However, some users find it difficult to recommend despite its low price, suggesting that while the concept is intriguing, the overall execution may not meet expectations.
- “I like the concept and the aesthetic of this game.”
- “If you like Iron Lung's art style but want something much more casual, give it a shot!”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
50%
The music and sound design create a solid atmosphere, enhancing the game's environment; however, the repetitive gameplay can diminish the impact of the music, leading players to zone out and lose the sense of tension or fear.
- “The solid atmosphere, music, and sound create an immersive experience.”
- “The music enhances the creepy factor of the environment, drawing you into the gameplay.”
- “Any creepy factor from the environment, music, or fear of an impending scare is completely worn away as you zone out from the loop of dig, check, scan for the next target, repeat.”