Witchhazel Woods

About

Witchhazel Woods is a first-person narrative-driven game where you play as a detective investigating the mysterious disappearance of a local author. Explore the woods, gather clues, and make decisions that impact the story's outcome in this atmospheric and immersive experience. Solve puzzles, interact with characters, and immerse yourself in the beautifully crafted world of Witchhazel Woods.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

100%

Audience ScoreBased on 66 reviews

story22 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Charming graphics and engaging dialogue create a delightful atmosphere, making it a relaxing experience.
The game features a variety of quirky characters and multiple endings, encouraging replayability and exploration.
Developed by a solo female developer, the game showcases a lot of heart and creativity, making it a commendable first project.

The game is very short, with some players feeling it could have offered more depth and complexity.
There are minor bugs and issues, such as a crash when reloading and some controls not being clearly indicated.
Some players found the inclusion of drug references and profanity unnecessary, which could limit its audience appeal.

story
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
48%
6%
The story of "Witchhazel Woods" is a whimsical and engaging point-and-click adventure that combines charming graphics with a variety of eccentric characters and meaningful choices that affect gameplay. While the main storyline is linear, players can explore different interactions and outcomes, making it enjoyable for multiple playthroughs. The narrative is enhanced by humor and a unique atmosphere, offering a delightful experience for fans of story-driven games.
- “Choosing how to interact with each creature (or human) will determine how the game progresses: the storyline is linear, but available selections ensure that there is more than one way to reach the end, and the inherent humor in the writing ensures that it's worth going back after finishing and trying out the alternatives.”
- “I loved all the eccentric characters I came across and enjoyed the variety of ways I could progress the story.”
- “A whimsical storyline and some great music to boot; I think it's worth a play if you are looking for something relaxing and more story-driven.”
- “If you looked at this game from a very shallow, 'market' perspective, you would see something you could call a pixel-art game with very simple mechanics and a linear, easily predictable story.”
- “This game is a quaint experience moving from small problem to small problem, with the main story being completed in a sitting.”
- “The game description warns of drug use, more specifically there's alcohol and a psychedelic: one NPC gets drunk and in a conversation with the bartender you end up with a beer that your character will drink; can be avoided by leaving the house for the unexplored side before talking to the bartender; your character is also required to get high on magic mushrooms, with about a minute of trippy animation, in order to progress the main storyline.”
music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The music in the game is widely praised for its great soundtrack and ability to complement the game's whimsical atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the relaxed vibes and catchy tunes, often finding themselves bopping along while enjoying the detailed environments and engaging dialogues. While there are minor critiques regarding specific tracks, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's charm and appeal.
- “The music and sounds complement the world really well.”
- “Great soundtrack and relaxed vibes.”
- “A whimsical storyline and some great music to boot; I think it's worth a play if you are looking for something relaxing and more story-driven.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their aesthetic appeal and charm, effectively complementing the overall tone and story. Reviewers highlight the cool artwork and the heartfelt design, noting that the visuals enhance the characters' personalities and the game's ambiance. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's engaging experience, making it visually pleasing and memorable.
- “This game has great graphics and music as well as simple yet interesting dialogue from all of the characters that each have their own personality.”
- “The graphics and story are charming, with a dash of weirdness.”
- “Personally, I think that the graphics are aesthetically pleasing and that they work just fine with the overall tone of the game.”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by clever, engaging dialogues and witty interactions, particularly highlighted in the amusing conversations between two female crows that resonate with adult players. The lighthearted tone and heartwarming moments create a delightful experience, making the forest setting feel both funny and inviting. Overall, the humor is well-crafted, appealing to an older audience while maintaining a playful atmosphere throughout the game.
- “The environmental design has lots of attention to detail that has some good jokes and funny moments, my favorite being the crows getting mad in the crowbar when you change the music.”
- “This game is full of witty humor and unexpected twists and turns.”
- “No pressure, no stress – you have a goal that you have to accomplish, but you advance towards it peacefully, meeting all the joyful (and maybe one creepy) fellows of the forest, discovering their stories and giving them a helping hand, for which they too will repay you with kindness - most of the times via neatly written, clever, funny and engaging dialogues.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The gameplay features a 2D side-scrolling design enhanced by effective parallax scrolling, creating a pseudo-3D effect. It offers simple mechanics that are easy to understand, complemented by a manual save option and a light-hearted narrative. The combination of pixel art, engaging music, and point-and-click puzzles contributes to an enjoyable experience, despite its linear and predictable storyline.
- “A light-hearted game with some really interesting art and music combined with point-and-click style puzzle gameplay.”
- “Looks great and a nicely thought-out story and gameplay.”
- “If you looked at this game from a very shallow, 'market' perspective, you would see something you could call a pixel-art game with very simple mechanics and a linear, easily predictable story.”
- “The mechanics are indeed very simple and easy to grasp.”
- “Gameplay is presented in a 2D side-scrolling fashion, with effective pseudo-3D achieved using a well-presented parallax scrolling technique.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the game evokes strong emotional responses, particularly nostalgia, by reminding them of childhood fairytales and creating heartwarming moments, such as cuddling a pet dog. The blend of humor and warmth in the game's atmosphere, even in a creepy setting, enhances the overall emotional experience, making it memorable and impactful.
- “Finally, this is literally my first ever Steam review. I don’t usually write them, but I just couldn’t walk past this game without saying how it made me feel.”
- “As a gamer and a person, this game made me feel nostalgia. It reminded me of the fairytales I used to hear as a kid, and at certain moments, it made me feel like a kid again.”
- “I didn't know a creepy forest could be so funny and heartwarming.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its fun and spooky atmosphere, effectively creating an engaging experience despite its brevity, with completion times around 10 minutes. However, many reviewers feel that the short length does not justify the full price.
- “A fun little spooky atmospheric game that immerses you in a unique experience.”
- “The atmosphere is captivating, creating a perfect blend of tension and intrigue.”