What Lies Frozen

About

What Lies Frozen is a single player simulation game. It was developed by Qi Liu and was released on April 30, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

A psychological horror experience created by a team of 5 developers over the course of 4 months, featuring puzzles, immersion, and a unique hand-drawn art style. In this game, you navigate a snowy cabin. Following a story between a Husband and Wife. Uncovering environmental clues and experiencing an unsettling atmosphere, and quickly realize something is very wrong. The game leverages tense so…

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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88%

Audience ScoreBased on 25 reviews

graphics5 positive mentions

The game features a beautiful and immersive art style that enhances the atmospheric experience.
It offers engaging puzzles and a thought-provoking narrative that lingers after the game ends.
The developers show dedication to refining the experience with regular updates and patches.

The gameplay can feel too simple and easy, lacking tension and complexity.
Some players experienced technical issues, such as jittery mouse movements that broke immersion.
The game may not effectively capture the horror elements it aims for, leading to a less impactful experience.

graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
37%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and hand-drawn art style, contributing to a chilling and immersive atmosphere. While some players find the visuals captivating, others feel that the overall experience lacks depth, leading to a sense of boredom during gameplay. Overall, the artwork is considered a standout feature, enhancing the game's psychological horror elements.
- “The art style is great and simple.”
- “Awesome art style and just all around solid short horror game.”
- “What Lies Frozen is a chilling psychological horror game with a hand-drawn art style and deeply immersive atmosphere.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
The atmosphere in "What Lies Frozen" is consistently praised for its chilling and immersive qualities, enhanced by great sound design and a hand-drawn art style. Reviewers highlight the game's reliance on suggestion and emotion rather than jump scares, creating a nerve-racking experience that effectively conveys a silent, oppressive mood. Overall, it is regarded as a compelling atmospheric horror game that captivates players through its exploration and subtle dread.
- “What lies frozen is a chilling psychological horror game with a hand-drawn art style and deeply immersive atmosphere.”
- “What lies frozen is a bold and atmospheric indie horror experience that blends survival, exploration, and just enough dread to keep your pulse racing.”
- “I can feel the silent and oppressive atmosphere, which seems to tell me something, but not directly.”
- “Instead, it relies on the power of suggestion, atmosphere, and emotion.”
- “No jump scares, just a spooky atmosphere and some puzzles, 20-minute playthrough.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The gameplay is described as minimalist yet immersive, particularly in the context of a short horror game featuring a looping mechanic. While some users find it lacking in tension and overall enjoyment, there are numerous positive comments highlighting the mechanics and gameplay experience.
- “Really great short horror game with a looping mechanic.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it's minimalist but immersive.”
- “Lots of great comments here speaking towards the gameplay and mechanics, so please check them out.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's story is highly praised for its unique and eerie atmosphere, enhanced by environmental storytelling and cryptic messages that unfold the narrative gradually. Reviewers highlight the excellent storyline, culminating in a tragic ending that leaves a lasting impact, solidifying it as a standout aspect of the game.
- “This game is unique, using the same areas while changing something every time you enter, making it more eerie. It has an excellent story with a sad ending.”
- “The story itself is where the game truly shines.”
- “The narrative unfolds slowly and deliberately through environmental storytelling and cryptic radio messages.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes a profound emotional resonance, exploring themes of guilt, memory, and the haunting silence of a post-apocalyptic world. Despite its brevity, the experience leaves a lasting emotional impact that lingers well beyond gameplay.
- “Set in a world that feels emotionally post-apocalyptic.”
- “It’s about emotional distance, guilt, memory, and silence—the kind of silence that screams at you.”
- “It’s a short experience, yes, but the emotional aftertaste lingers long after the credits roll.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is highly praised, with users noting that it complements the art beautifully, creating an immersive experience.
- “The art and music are perfect.”