Witch's Doll
- May 24, 2024
- Elite Lords Studios
"Witch's Doll" is a dark psychological horror walking simulator where you play as a young writer who moves into a cursed apartment owned by an elderly woman who lost her daughter. As the storm rages outside, you feel an evil presence and hear strange screams from the woman's apartment. Using Unreal Engine 5, the game offers a hyper-realistic environment to explore and uncover the horrifying truth behind the apartment's curse and the missing people.
Reviews
- The game features an immersive atmosphere with impressive graphics and sound design that enhances the horror experience.
- Jump scares are well-executed and effective, keeping players on edge throughout the game.
- The puzzles are engaging and provide a satisfying sense of accomplishment, contributing to the overall narrative depth.
- The walking speed is excessively slow, making exploration tedious and breaking immersion.
- The story can feel fragmented at times, leaving some plot points ambiguous and underdeveloped.
- There is no save feature, requiring players to replay sections if they need to take a break, which can be frustrating.
- story31 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its depth and engaging atmosphere, though some find it fragmented or lacking clarity in certain connections. While it features familiar horror elements, it offers a fresh narrative centered on a mother and daughter, complemented by effective jumpscares and immersive sound design. Overall, the storytelling is considered a strong point, enhancing the game's tension and player experience.
“I have played a few other horror games with the same map layout, but this still gave a fresh take with a different story of a mother and her daughter.”
“The story had depth and was very good, the atmosphere was one of the best for an indie horror game and you do not get bored; there is always something to do and you are always on the edge.”
“I enjoyed how the story was built up from something simple to something intense.”
“However, the storytelling can sometimes feel fragmented, leaving some plot points ambiguous.”
“Many jumpscares and the story is nothing new.”
“There is no story, there is no atmosphere; if I could give this game less than a zero, I would.”
- atmosphere25 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively enhancing the horror experience with high-quality sound design and impactful jump scares. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a captivating and unsettling environment that lingers in players' minds, making it a standout in the indie horror genre. While some note minor flaws, the overall consensus is that the atmospheric elements significantly contribute to the game's success and enjoyment.
“From the eerie atmosphere to the challenging puzzles, this game does a fantastic job of immersing you in its dark and twisted world.”
“The atmosphere, sound effects, and the story play a huge role in creating a terrifying experience for this game.”
“Terrifying as hell... there were plenty of jumpscares in the entire game... the atmosphere was crazy, making me have goosebumps from the beginning till the end... absolutely well made horror game...”
“There is no story, there is no atmosphere; if I could give this game less than a zero, I would.”
“The atmosphere really brought it all to life.”
“Terrifying as hell... there were plenty of jump scares in the entire game... the atmosphere was crazy... making me have goosebumps from the beginning till the end... absolutely well-made horror game...”
- graphics19 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received widespread acclaim for their impressive realism and ability to enhance the horror experience, contributing to a spine-chilling atmosphere filled with effective jump scares. Players noted that the visuals are particularly striking at higher settings, with no significant graphical issues reported, making for a smooth and immersive gameplay experience. Overall, the combination of stunning graphics and a haunting ambiance significantly elevates the game's tension and engagement.
“The fusion of creepy visuals and an unsettling soundtrack creates a truly spine-chilling experience.”
“Very incredible horror experience, very top tier horror game, super fun and scary with top notch graphics.”
“The atmosphere is great, and I found the game works better with high graphic settings than medium, which is the default.”
“Its graphics are quite realistic, so they manage to increase the feeling of fear and tension.”
“There are no clipping or graphic issues.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a walking simulator format that features a compelling narrative enhanced by diary entries and atmospheric environments. While the graphics and music are praised, the slow character movement significantly detracts from the experience, leading to a feeling of unnecessary length without substantial gameplay or plot development.
“The narrative, woven through disturbing diary entries and haunting environments, adds depth to the gameplay.”
“Otherwise, nice graphics and music, smooth gameplay, clear direction, a few puzzles, and a story.”
“The gameplay follows the walking simulator formula.”
“This game has one minus, and it is huge: the desire of all indie developers to make their games longer not due to gameplay and plot points, but due to the very slow walking of the character.”
“There is simply no plot, gameplay, or logical justification for this; the developer just decided to stretch out the passage time.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its high quality and atmospheric qualities, effectively complementing the creepy visuals to create a spine-chilling experience. The dark and unsettling soundtrack enhances the overall ambiance, contributing to the game's immersive storytelling and gameplay.
“The sound is really good, very high quality, and the 'doll's soundtrack' is very dark and atmospheric.”
“Otherwise, nice graphics and music, smooth gameplay, clear direction, a few puzzles, and a story.”
“The fusion of creepy visuals and an unsettling soundtrack creates a truly spine-chilling experience.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find that the game's emotional impact is significantly enhanced by the rich backstories of characters like Lev, contributing to a deeply engaging narrative. Additionally, moments of suspense, such as jumpscares, evoke strong visceral reactions, further intensifying the emotional experience.
“Meeting characters like Lev and uncovering their backstories adds an emotional layer to the game.”
“Engaging narrative with emotional depth.”
“The first jumpscare that popped up, my heart felt like it got pushed backwards.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the walking simulation to be excessively slow and tedious, leading to a frustrating and boring experience.
“The walking simulation is tediously slow.”
“It's absolutely ridiculous how slow you move; it's extremely tedious and boring.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely absent, with players finding it more focused on jump scares than comedic elements. While some may appreciate the initial intrigue, the overall consensus leans towards a lack of genuine humor, making the experience more frightening than funny.
“The game was interesting at first since it reminded me of September 7th, but I ended up laughing as the jump scares became like a routine. You should try the game for yourself; you may like it, but it definitely needs an update ASAP.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users generally find the optimization of the game to be satisfactory, indicating that it performs well without significant issues.