WORLD OF HORROR

About

"World of Horror" is a roguelite cosmic horror RPG, where the Old Gods reawaken in a world on the brink of madness. Players navigate through turn-based combat and unforgiving choices in Shiokawa, Japan, unraveling randomized mysteries inspired by Junji Ito and H.P. Lovecraft. With five characters and over 10 mysteries, players must solve puzzles, invoke dark rituals, and uncover disturbing clues in this roguelite-style game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

+16

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,275 reviews

graphics559 positive mentions

stability43 negative mentions

Outstanding art style and music that perfectly captures the essence of Junji Ito and Lovecraftian horror.
High replayability with multiple mysteries, endings, and character options that keep the gameplay fresh.
Engaging and immersive atmosphere that draws players into the unsettling world of Shiokawa.

The game can feel repetitive after a few runs due to limited content and similar events.
Some mechanics are poorly explained, leading to confusion for new players.
The developer has been inconsistent with updates and communication, leaving some features feeling unfinished.

graphics
1,211 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
53%
1%
The graphics of "World of Horror" are widely praised for their unique 1-bit and 2-bit art style, heavily inspired by the works of Junji Ito and Lovecraftian themes, creating a haunting and immersive atmosphere. Players appreciate the retro aesthetic, which evokes nostalgia for classic horror manga and old-school computer games, while the customizable color palettes enhance the visual experience. Despite some minor graphical issues, the overall presentation, including the soundtrack, effectively contributes to the game's unsettling vibe and engaging storytelling.
- “The art style is amazing, and the mechanics are easy to grasp.”
- “Its unique 1-bit art style brilliantly captures a Lovecraftian atmosphere, complemented by a haunting soundtrack that immerses you in its eerie world.”
- “The artwork is chilling, the combat is satisfying to master, and you can tell that each story had a lot of time and care put into it.”
- “Don't let the 1 (or 2)-bit art style deceive you, because the game can actually be very gory and startling at times, even though most of the game is still frames.”
- “Also, the game has no animations like it was shown in the trailer; instead, all is 'retro' monochrome PC graphics (but you can change the palette at least).”
- “Despite the trailer, though, the visuals in the game are pretty static with minimal animations.”
gameplay
1,040 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
66%
5%
The gameplay of *World of Horror* is a blend of roguelike mechanics and point-and-click adventure elements, heavily inspired by tabletop games like *Arkham Horror*. Players navigate through randomly generated mysteries, facing a mix of strategic decision-making and luck-based encounters, which can lead to a steep learning curve but ultimately offers a rewarding experience as they uncover the game's many secrets. While the aesthetic and atmosphere are widely praised, some players find the mechanics repetitive and reliant on RNG, leading to mixed feelings about the overall depth and engagement of the gameplay.
- “Each run of the game has you solving 4-5 mysteries randomly chosen from a long list, with a lot of great variety to their themes and even their gameplay.”
- “The gameplay loop is enjoyable before you try hunting down certain outcomes/achievements and realize how RNG it can be.”
- “The gameplay mixes point-and-click mechanics with rogue-like elements, offering high replayability through diverse scenarios and unexpected twists.”
- “Well, despite the replayability, some mechanics feel half-baked.”
- “Then after a couple of hours of playing, you start to notice certain mechanics seem incomplete; the narratives and events are glitchy, and entire sections feel like a bare-minimum placeholder was created so the game would be playable without being actually finished.”
- “The aesthetic is great, but the gameplay sucks; it's pretty much entirely luck-based, and higher difficulties just tilt the luck against you and give you less resources to work with.”
story
722 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
74%
4%
The story in "World of Horror" is a blend of unsettling narratives inspired by Junji Ito and Lovecraftian themes, presented through a series of short, modular mysteries that players can explore. While the atmosphere and art style are praised for their immersive qualities, many players feel that the storytelling lacks cohesion, with random events often feeling disconnected from the overarching plot. Despite its intriguing premise and replayability due to multiple endings, the game is criticized for its reliance on RNG and a lack of deeper narrative development, leaving some players wanting a more structured and engaging storyline.
- “World of Horror is one of the first roguelikes I've tried, and it made me fall in love with the genre not only with its intriguing story and self-contained mysteries, but also with the game's overall plotline of reaching the lighthouse and saving the town from its demise.”
- “The game's ability to throw threatening challenges at the player and feel immersive while doing so is a love letter to both post-gothic and gothic storytelling alike.”
- “The story is rich, funny, chilling, and has plenty of depth, making it a captivating experience that keeps you engaged throughout.”
- “I was expecting more storytelling, but it's basically a numbers game.”
- “You’re not the protagonist—you’re the dumb NPC that dies in the opening cutscene of someone else’s story.”
- “The problem is that the story being told throughout these mysteries doesn't take these random encounters into consideration, and it all ends up feeling disjointed to the point where it breaks my immersion.”
music
660 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
42%
2%
The music in "World of Horror" has been widely praised for its exceptional quality, effectively enhancing the game's eerie atmosphere and complementing its unique 1-bit art style. Reviewers highlight the chiptune soundtrack as both catchy and immersive, with tracks that adapt to different gameplay scenarios, creating a sense of tension and engagement. While some players noted occasional repetitiveness, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's charm and horror experience.
- “The music is absolutely sublime, with every mystery having a sort of song based on a particular theme.”
- “The soundtrack is infectious, can't get enough of it.”
- “The music sets the tone wonderfully, it's disturbing without being upsetting, and catchy enough to listen to outside of the game.”
- “My biggest critique now is that the music is rather limited and some menus are still kinda confusing even after learning how to play.”
- “The music is ear-splittingly repetitive and way too eastern for my taste.”
- “The only thing that falls short is the soundtrack which sometimes feels like a 10 second loop with only 4 notes.”
atmosphere
404 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
37%
1%
The atmosphere of "World of Horror" is widely praised for its dense, creepy, and immersive qualities, effectively capturing the essence of Lovecraftian and Junji Ito-inspired horror. Players appreciate the game's unique 1-bit art style and haunting soundtrack, which together create a foreboding sense of dread and unease that enhances the overall experience. While some note that the atmosphere can diminish with repeated playthroughs, the initial impact and aesthetic charm leave a lasting impression on fans of horror and retro gaming.
- “World of Horror creates an absolutely flawless, compelling atmosphere that keeps you hooked from the first moment.”
- “The art style and atmosphere are amazing, capturing the eerie essence of Lovecraftian horror perfectly.”
- “The atmosphere is absolutely impeccable throughout the game - there's a really strong visual and sound direction that's been honed to a dagger's point.”
- “Something is foul and cursed in its atmosphere.”
- “The first run of each mystery is genuinely spooky but the atmosphere will already be completely disintegrated by the second replay.”
- “Because of this, any atmosphere there might otherwise be is immediately thrown away.”
replayability
325 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
47%
2%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with numerous characters, multiple endings, and a variety of events that keep each playthrough fresh and engaging. Players appreciate the randomization of scenarios and the potential for unlockable content, which enhances the overall experience. While some mechanics may feel underdeveloped, the game's unique art style and atmosphere contribute to its enduring appeal, making it a worthwhile choice for fans of roguelike and horror genres.
- “Amazing game with tons of secrets to unravel and nearly infinite replay value.”
- “Each play-through takes 40-60 minutes, but there's good replay value, since there are many storylines to play through, multiple endings to find, extra challenges to do, internal game achievements to gain (which unlock new items, allies, skills, game modes, etc), and a host of horrific enemies to battle.”
- “The sheer number of unlockables and events also give it a lot of replayability.”
- “Its a fake roguelite that has some replay value but can be very obnoxious and if the game wants you to lose, you can't avoid it.”
- “Ive played through all the game has to offer in less than 5 hours seen everything there was to see and done everything there is to do, and at least for me replay value fell off harshly due to this repetitiveness.”
- “My only complaint with this game is that there isn't enough content to make it as replayable as it needs to be, being a roguelike.”
stability
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting a range of bugs and glitches, particularly in recent updates and early access versions. While some players have experienced game-breaking issues, others find it mostly playable and enjoyable despite the rough edges. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game has potential, it still requires significant improvements in stability and bug fixes.
- “It's mostly bug-free (minor bugs might exist, but whatever) and it's full of content. It has been updated for years before the updates stopped.”
- “Despite being in beta, it overall runs pretty well and was almost bug-free (with the exception of one run where I exited and then re-entered the game to find my character was a completely different person).”
- “Don't be fooled by the immaculate aesthetics, World of Horror is a buggy, incomplete mess that shows no signs of ever being close to finished at the time of writing.”
- “The game is pretty buggy and rough around the edges with a ton of typos, grammar, and spelling mistakes in text and formatting issues, such as text not wrapping inside text boxes correctly and going off the edge of the screen.”
- “The wealth of game-breaking glitches is ridiculous.”
humor
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending dark comedy with horror elements to create a unique and engaging experience. Players appreciate the clever writing, quirky narratives, and moments of absurdity that provide comic relief amidst the creepy atmosphere. Overall, the game successfully balances unsettling themes with humor, making it both entertaining and memorable.
- “The writing and quirky horror narratives fill this game with a mix of funny parodies of its inspirations, as well as intriguing horror mysteries that reward hesitation and planning.”
- “It's funny seeing people who have only played less than 5 hours complain that the dev is not updating the game... bro, you didn't even finish 1/4 of the game.”
- “Gorgeous artwork, legit scary and funny, and therefore very entertaining.”
grinding
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
3%
93%
Players frequently criticize the grinding aspect of the game, noting that it can be excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring repetitive gameplay to unlock content and achievements. Many feel that the grind detracts from the overall enjoyment and narrative engagement, leading to a sense of frustration rather than excitement. While some appreciate the potential for optimization and strategy, the reliance on RNG and the lack of meaningful progression can make the experience feel stale and unfulfilling.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “In my opinion, the main issue with World of Horror lies in the excessive grinding required to access certain content.”
- “It gets old really fast and the grinding makes you not care about any of the story.”
- “The gameplay is still a dry, heavily RNG-reliant chore which, when the novelty of unlocking exactly one or two new mysteries in an achievement wears off, will amount to endlessly just grinding out runs for diminishing returns.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke strong feelings, with players expressing a willingness to experience its poignant moments again. It is described as a heartfelt tribute to the works of Junji Ito and Lovecraft, combining horror with a surprisingly wholesome atmosphere that resonates deeply with players. The game's unique presentation and immersive storytelling contribute to a rich emotional experience, making it both touching and intriguing.
- “10/10 would cry again.”
- “If you're a fan of Junji Ito and Lovecraft's body of work, you'll find this game to be a touching love letter to both while still being distinctly its own thing.”
- “A heartwarming love letter with a solid art direction.”
optimization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, particularly on the Steam Deck, where players report scaling issues and unresponsive controls that hinder gameplay. While some aspects of the UI/UX could be improved, the overall performance on other platforms appears stable, with no significant crashes reported. Players who enjoy managing challenges may find the optimization elements engaging, despite the initial frustrations.
- “Many of the mysteries are captivating on your first run, and going through the same events doesn't actually feel tedious, since over time, the game becomes more of an optimization game against the roll of the dice, which might not be for everyone, but damn if you like managing stuff in games.”
- “The random options can change that challenge dynamic to force you out of the mold of optimized builds.”
- “- Works on any computer and I personally had no problems with performance or crashes yet.”
- “To begin, I'm seeing a lot of criticism for the game's optimization on the Steam Deck.”
- “Scaling issues and unoptimized controls make it hard to play on a Steam Deck.”
- “There are aspects of the UI/UX that could be optimized, and objects that I can't understand how or where to use.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with players noting that there is no significant growth or evolution of characters throughout the story. While the character designs are praised for their charm and aesthetic appeal, many feel that they are somewhat generic and fail to contribute to a more profound narrative experience. Overall, the focus seems to be more on visual and gameplay elements rather than on meaningful character progression.
- “World of Horror is a strange little game with a very satisfying core gameplay loop and a banging aesthetic, featuring a great graphical style (apparently somehow done in MS Paint?? Amazing), charming character designs, and an engaging soundtrack.”
- “If you do successfully min-max your character through the game, you're treated to some excellent art, music, gameplay, story, and character design - it'll draw you in.”
- “The art and character design are very great and honestly terrifying.”
- “There is no character development in the story.”
- “The playable character designs are all pretty decent, but they feel a little generic and samey, with half the cast being schoolgirls.”
- “The character development is lacking, which detracts from the overall experience.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that some players perceive the game's monetization as exploitative, labeling it a "cash grab" or "rip-off," while others argue that the game's marketing effectively highlights its challenging mechanics. Overall, opinions on monetization are mixed, with some players feeling justified in their criticisms.
- “I am mentioning this because if you go into the Steam forums, you will hear wild claims about this game being a cash grab or rip-off by people with too much of a chip on their shoulder.”