Witch Hunt
- September 3, 2018
- Gua
- 10h median play time
Witch Hunt is a cooperative online survival horror game where players assume the roles of demonologists, attempting to rid the world of evil. Players must investigate supernatural phenomena, gather resources, and work together to banish the witches they encounter. With a focus on teamwork, puzzle-solving, and combat, Witch Hunt delivers a thrilling and immersive multiplayer experience.
Reviews
- Very fun open world concept with lots of fun little secrets to discover.
- Great atmosphere and sound design that creates a genuinely spooky experience.
- Challenging gameplay that rewards patience and exploration.
- Some bosses are overly difficult and feel tedious to defeat.
- Limited ammo and long reload times can lead to frustrating encounters.
- The tracking mechanics for hunting targets can be tedious and rely too much on luck.
- atmosphere437 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Witch Hunt" is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively creating a sense of dread and tension throughout the gameplay. Reviewers highlight the game's strong sound design, atmospheric visuals, and the chilling ambiance of its dark forest setting, which contribute to a captivating horror experience. While some players note that the atmosphere can diminish over time, the initial impact and overall execution are considered exceptional, making it a standout feature of the game.
“The atmosphere is excellent, great sound design and graphics.”
“Witch Hunt has one of the most potent and frightening atmospheres I have ever seen; Vintsevych's ability is assuredly apparent and flourishing within this genre.”
“The atmosphere is thick, the concept unique, and sweet jebus why is it indies the ones coming up with this?”
“Unfortunately, it seems to follow almost the exact same formula - that is, the first part of the game has a creepy atmosphere, focus on exploration and non-linear gameplay, with lots of hidden caves and stuff around the map.”
“Fun and scary for the first hour or so but then you acclimate to the atmosphere and it loses its charm.”
“While the creepy atmosphere was still there, the enemies just become a nuisance due to the fact that when you hunt the sacrificial tree, it seems like every enemy on the map comes to your location.”
- gameplay280 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Witch Hunt" is characterized by its immersive atmosphere and intuitive mechanics, allowing players to explore a dark, colonial American setting while hunting various supernatural creatures. While the core gameplay loop is engaging and offers a mix of exploration, combat, and resource management, it suffers from repetitive elements and some frustrating mechanics, particularly in tracking monsters and the save system. Overall, the game provides a challenging experience that rewards patience and skill, though it may feel tedious at times due to its simplistic design and limited variety in gameplay.
“The gameplay is intuitive and lets you learn on your own, without the overbearing hand-holding you often see in other games.”
“The core design concept is a strong draw; a little bit of rogue, a little monster hunter, tidbits from great titles, coming together to create an engaging and challenging gameplay loop.”
“With its intoxicating atmosphere and addicting gameplay, Witch Hunt is a triumph.”
“Unfortunately, however, the gameplay loop devolves into frustration.”
“With little to no story or solid gameplay, the game becomes dull way too quickly and playing further through just feels like a chore.”
“The gameplay doesn't deliver either since the combat is very basic with no nuance to it.”
- story156 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story in this game is generally considered minimal and simplistic, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a focal point. While some players appreciate the atmospheric and environmental storytelling, many express a desire for more depth, side quests, and character interactions to enhance the narrative experience. Overall, the game offers a basic plot involving a witch hunter in a haunted town, but it lacks substantial development and complexity, leaving players wanting more.
“This story-driven open-world hunting game comes with countless twists and interactive world-building opportunities in the environment that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
“The story is short but it's great.”
“The mystery of the overall story, as it unwinds, keeps it suspenseful and fun.”
“I didn't expect much for a story to begin with, but it's still pretty barebones.”
“The game desperately needs more plot and quest elements as so far there is only the main game and many side, story-lacking quests scattered throughout the map.”
“There's very little story in the game; don't expect some mystery to uncover, this is very much a mechanics-first kind of game.”
- graphics129 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they are not cutting-edge or highly detailed, they effectively contribute to the game's immersive and atmospheric experience. The visuals are often described as simple or dated, reminiscent of early 2000s games, yet they are complemented by strong sound design and a chilling ambiance that enhances the horror elements. Overall, the graphics may not impress technically, but they align well with the game's aesthetic and mood, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of atmospheric horror.
“The atmosphere is excellent, great sound design and graphics.”
“I love the artwork and level design; I think the attention to detail with this game is incredible.”
“The graphics and sound are decent, and the woods are really creepy.”
“The graphics are pretty dated, like a decade or more, the story is pretty non-existent, the skills and inventory aren't very interesting, there seems to be very little depth in general, and I think the creatures move extremely fast because I have a beast of a machine; I had all settings to max.”
“The graphics aren't anything to write home about, but that doesn't hinder the gameplay whatsoever.”
“While the graphics and engine are dated, the setting, atmosphere, and difficulty are what really make this stand out to me.”
- grinding65 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly during boss fights and exploration. Many reviews highlight that while the initial gameplay can be engaging, it quickly devolves into aimless wandering and lengthy, repetitive encounters that detract from the overall enjoyment. The lack of difficulty settings and the high health of certain bosses contribute to a sense of grindiness that can overshadow the game's potential.
“My only gripe is that the last boss fight (or before last) is grindy, fighting 2 bosses at the same time and one of them can instakill you isn't fun.”
“The final boss fight is the most tedious, grinding, and eventually unfun thing I have done in a first-person shooter.”
“The grinding process is just not fun.”
- music24 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game is minimal, often replaced by ambient sounds that enhance the eerie atmosphere, such as rustling trees and distant howls. While some players appreciate the atmospheric qualities of the sparse music, others find it unmemorable or lacking during gameplay. Overall, the sound design effectively contributes to the game's haunting environment, though it may not stand out as a traditional soundtrack.
“The music is few and far between but covers you in a sort of warmth when you do various actions such as kill a monster, making you feel slightly better about the terrifying environment you find yourself in.”
“The atmosphere in this game is amazing, whether it is somber music, or sounds of creaking trees and distant owls in a foggy forest.”
“Great atmosphere, great music and sound, easy and simple to play, lacks of content.”
“As your first sensory guidance while hunting monsters in the Bellville Woods are the distant grunting sounds some of them make, there's only an absolute minimum of occasional music in this game.”
“There's hardly actual 'music', mostly just eerie rings and droning that's present enough for you to acknowledge it but never becomes intrusive.”
“No music whatsoever during gameplay either which makes the game all that much quieter, adding to the eerie feel of everything.”
- replayability22 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while it offers enjoyable gameplay and some achievements that encourage multiple playthroughs, many players feel that the lack of varied maps and modes limits its long-term appeal. Some users appreciate the hardcore mode and the potential for future content updates, but overall, the consensus is that the game may not sustain interest after the initial playthrough.
“High replay value, very fun alone or with friends, very smooth & intuitive gameplay, light but very engaging & rewarding RPG elements, just enough story to give players a clear view of what's going on without losing the atmosphere the game is going for, & a challenging, yet rewarding combat system that's a classic FPS shooter style with period-accurate weapons & reloading animations.”
“The game doesn't have a large amount of replay value but if you're a completionist, there are achievements that will ask you to see everything the woods have to offer and even playthrough-based achievements that will change the way you play.”
“Though the map never changes, there is still a lot of replay value here for only $10.”
“Albeit it's a short game, it granted me a lot of fun and I really enjoyed my time playing it; sadly, after having completed it once, it doesn't have very much replay value.”
“However, for the price, you may end up beating the game within hours with little to no replay value.”
“Only complaint is that there is no sandbox mode and/or replayability, but for the price, I'm happy with the experience I got.”
- optimization17 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance and stable frame rates, others note significant room for improvement, particularly in graphics settings and game mechanics. Many users feel that the game resembles a remaster of older titles, lacking modern optimization standards, and suggest that various aspects, including audio and enemy behavior, could benefit from further refinement. Despite these issues, the game's engaging content and unique monster designs are often highlighted as redeeming qualities.
“Amazing game runs smoothly and every monster you fight is different with its own abilities.”
“It has nice graphics but the level of detail on the trees (and perhaps the thing that most impacts performance) is just amazing.”
“Its very well optimized for a game of its type.”
“It's almost like a game from 10-12 years ago that got a remaster and optimization for modern PCs.”
“That said, it was much more poorly optimized than I expected.”
“The difference in image quality between medium and high settings is really big, and since we cannot configure shadows or textures individually, it means that you can't get that sweet spot between image quality and performance.”
- stability9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability with no major bugs or glitches reported by most players, even on lower-end PCs. While some minor pathing issues were noted, the game is largely considered bug-free, making it a standout in the indie scene for its solid quality assurance. However, a few users experienced isolated incidents of freezing and sound glitches, indicating that while stability is generally high, there may be occasional exceptions.
“Best of all, it runs great on my potato of a PC.”
“This game, like many indie games, doesn't boast impressive optimization, but it is still very serviceable, functions well, and is completely bug-free with no glitches, a rarity in the indie scene.”
“This game, like many indie games, doesn't boast impressive optimization, but it is still very serviceable and functions well and is completely bug-free and has no glitches, a rarity in the indie scene.”
“I haven't encountered any notable glitches, not even a hard crash or freezing (yet).”
“Despite being an indie one-developer title, the QA in the game is strong and it has no glitches or bugs (I've seen nothing after 10 hours of gameplay).”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of eerie and unexpected, with some players appreciating the restraint on 'lolrandom' jokes, while others find certain elements, like a devilish child and fast-moving enemies, unintentionally funny. Overall, the humor contrasts with the horror elements, creating a unique blend that some players feel detracts from the game's serious tone.
“What a funny, scary little indie gem!”
“This is also one of the few games of this scope where some restraint has been put on 'lolrandom' humor, out-of-place references to other media, or poorly timed jokes.”
“For instance, due to the hilarious speed of some of the enemies, it is impossible to shoot them if they are running in anything other than a direct line towards you.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its intense and atmospheric storytelling, which immerses players in a dark narrative reminiscent of the Salem witch trials. While some elements may seem extraneous, they contribute to a rewarding emotional experience that evokes feelings of fear and tension, making it a compelling journey for those seeking an emotional ride.
“Instead, this is an atmospheric experience meant as much for the emotional side of gaming as it is for the pleasure side.”
“A few elements are unnecessary to the core game, yet events that nonetheless are rewarding for those who want that emotional ride, indulgers of scare & fright.”
“This game literally made me feel like I was in the early American era during the Salem witch trials.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is viewed positively, as it is not perceived as a cash grab; instead, it focuses on delivering a quality gameplay experience reminiscent of classic games, with minimal emphasis on microtransactions and in-game purchases. Players appreciate the game's atmosphere and combat mechanics, highlighting that it prioritizes enjoyment over aggressive monetization strategies.
“Excellent game, reminds me of the good old times when games were all about gameplay, atmosphere, and an overall amazing experience rather than microtransactions and in-game store.”
“It's not a simple cash grab.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in this game is minimal, as it avoids lengthy narratives and complex storylines, focusing instead on delivering a direct and intense experience that prioritizes atmosphere over character depth.
“The character development in this game is incredibly immersive, allowing players to form deep connections with each character as their stories unfold.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful and meaningful.”
“The depth of the characters and their personal growth is one of the standout features, making the narrative feel rich and engaging.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I was disappointed by the lack of depth in the character arcs; they felt more like stereotypes than fully realized individuals.”
“The game offers little in terms of character growth, leaving players with a sense of stagnation rather than evolution.”