Yomawari: Lost in the Dark

Yomawari: Lost in the Dark's core gameplay loop is one that's not exactly brimming with mechanical complexity. But thanks to the impeccable atmosphere, extensive enemy variety, and memorable moments, the game doesn't really need it.

82%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

music, graphics

89% User Score Based on 82 reviews

Critic Score 76%Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Yomawari: Lost in the Dark" is a single-player Horror Adventure game with an interesting plot and dense atmosphere. Players control a young girl who must explore her town at night, avoiding malevolent ghosts to break a curse and regain her lost memories. Customizable characters and new terrifying ghosts add to the chilling experience in this latest addition to the series.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 92 reviews

story16 positive mentions

grinding7 negative mentions

The game maintains the series' signature creepy atmosphere and sound design, effectively immersing players in its unsettling world.
The story is engaging and explores deep themes, with emotional moments that resonate with players, especially towards the end.
The addition of character customization and new gameplay mechanics, such as closing your eyes to evade enemies, adds a fresh twist to the familiar formula.

The gameplay can feel tedious and repetitive, with long sections of backtracking and slow movement that detract from the overall experience.
Many assets and enemy designs are recycled from previous games, leading to a sense of emptiness and lack of innovation in the game world.
Boss fights are often drawn out and frustrating, with some encounters feeling overly long and lacking in excitement.

story
79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
76%
4%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its depth and emotional impact, while others criticize it for being confusing and poorly explained. Many noted that the narrative is more linear and focused compared to previous installments, but some found the pacing slow and repetitive, leading to frustration. Overall, while the story has engaging elements and themes, it often struggles with execution, leaving players divided on its effectiveness.
- “It's certainly more driven and focused, with everything you do being guided by that main story & what you 'need' to do next, but - the story ended up hitting me in ways I wasn't expecting!”
- “The strategic use of storytelling to play around this theme was excellently executed and I loved the twists that I encountered along the way.”
- “Horrifying atmosphere based around Japanese theology and urban legends; not for the faint of heart in the slightest due to egregious blood, themes of childhood bullying and youth suicide, but an incredibly deep story for those with the stamina to see it through.”
- “The story is terrible; nothing is explained, and I could only think, 'It's a metaphor for depression, I guess.'”
- “It's not that it's told poorly, but that it's the sort of story I can't deal with having to play through a game for ~20 hours to see.”
- “The atmosphere, scares, and story are all a step down.”
gameplay
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
73%
9%
The gameplay of "Yomawari: Lost in the Dark" has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the new "closing your eyes" mechanic and the exploration elements, while others criticize the overall experience as tedious and lacking the engaging mechanics of previous entries. Many feel that the game offers more content in terms of hours but suffers from frustrating boss sequences, a confusing story, and repetitive tasks that detract from enjoyment. Overall, while the game introduces some fresh ideas, it struggles with pacing and complexity, leaving some fans disappointed compared to earlier titles in the series.
- “For returning fans, I broadly enjoyed 3 more than 2. 2 had a tighter, darker story (arguably too dark) and more collectibles and post-game stuff, but for me, 3 has a more interesting story, more interesting mechanics (big ups to closing your eyes and sneaking rather than hiding in bushes), and is the only one of the franchise I even got close to 100% completion on.”
- “It takes the Yomawari formula and improves on it, with a much more open design compared to its predecessors and some unique gameplay ideas.”
- “Gameplay is exploration through various locations to progress a story while surviving ghosts and collecting items.”
- “The specific chapter areas tend to have more new stuff, but a lot of the mechanics and challenges end up feeling kind of tedious.”
- “Most of the gameplay involves running around, picking up items to get you to the next area, and then repeating.”
- “A decently interesting story, but matched with some seriously tedious gameplay that left me bored after just a couple of hours.”
atmosphere
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
81%
9%
10%
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its "spooky but not scary" vibe, effectively blending creepy elements with a charming art style reminiscent of previous titles. Reviewers highlight the excellent sound design and the incorporation of Japanese folklore, creating a haunting yet nostalgic experience that evokes childhood fears. While some note a decline in overall impact compared to earlier entries, the atmospheric horror remains a standout feature, making it appealing for fans of the genre.
- “The overall atmosphere of the game evokes the horrors of the night we once felt when we were young, and the charm of the nostalgic streets are still there.”
- “The dim lighting, disfigured monsters, stealth mechanics, and creepy atmosphere—all wrapped up in a beautiful (but really terrifying) 2D world—will be all the training you need to take on even scarier games.”
- “The atmosphere, scares, and story are all a step down.”
- “Horrifying atmosphere based around Japanese theology and urban legends; not for the faint of heart in the slightest due to egregious blood, themes of childhood bullying and youth suicide, but an incredibly deep story for those with the stamina to see it through.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The game's music features a notable title theme and two original soundtracks, enhancing the overall atmosphere despite the minimal use of music throughout. Ambient sounds effectively create an eerie mood, while the opening and ending themes are particularly praised for their emotional impact. Overall, the sound design, including environmental effects, contributes significantly to the game's unique experience.
- “This game features two original soundtracks and is the first in the series to have title music.”
- “The game's music theme, both opening and ending, is always good, and the sound effects effectively capture the environment.”
- “The music is still outstanding, adding to the overall charm and emotional depth of the game.”
- “The game lacks a soundtrack, but the title theme strikes my heartstrings.”
- “Ambient sounds dominate and music is kept to a minimum - effective for creating an eerie mood.”
- “It is quite literally the same as it was five years ago: limited lighting, grainy world design, absolutely creepy yokai roaming about, and ambient sound design in place of a traditional soundtrack.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game's graphics are characterized by a charming "creepy-cute" art style that effectively blends horror elements with cartoon-like anime visuals, enhancing the atmosphere and storytelling. While maintaining familiar audio and graphical assets from previous entries, the game features more detailed environments, particularly in the shopping district, though some players feel it lacks a bit of the previous vibrancy. Overall, the unique art style and immersive sound design contribute significantly to the game's appeal.
- “Although the art style is cute, the contrasting horror elements featured to give life to Japanese urban legends and superstitions showcase its unique charm.”
- “The map art style in this game is still a cartoon-like anime with much larger and more detailed environments, especially in the shopping district which now has alleys and a lot of objects.”
- “This series is characterized and known for the inclusion of horror elements mixed with cute graphics.”
- “It uses the same audio and graphical assets, has a very similar world design, and somehow feels a bit more empty.”
- “The map art style in this game is still a cartoon-like anime but lacks detail, especially in the shopping district which now has alleys and many objects.”
- “This series is characterized and known for the inclusion of horror elements mixed with cute graphics, but it feels like the graphics are not evolving.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many expressing frustration over the lack of variety in traversal and mechanics across chapters. While some appreciate the game's story and believe it may appeal to fans of previous entries, the overall experience is marred by the monotony of grinding, leading to boredom for many.
- “It feels tedious to play.”
- “The specific chapter areas tend to have more new stuff, but a lot of the mechanics and challenges end up feeling kind of tedious.”
- “A decently interesting story, but matched with some seriously tedious gameplay that left me bored after just a couple of hours.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game emotionally impactful, praising its ability to evoke a range of feelings, from terror to deep sadness, as the intricate plot unfolds. The meticulously crafted lore and visual design enhance the emotional experience, culminating in a heart-wrenching narrative that leaves a lasting impression. Overall, the game successfully engages players on an emotional level, making it a memorable experience.
- “But still, the game's main theme does not change, which is what I like about this series: you slowly unravel the whole plot of the story and it makes you feel emotional in the end.”
- “10/10, I cried and also screamed in terror.”
- “It's an emotional investment, of all emotions.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is noted for its clever references and wordplay, particularly with character names and dialogue that resonate with players' personal experiences. This adds a layer of relatability and amusement, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “It's hilarious how the older girl has a name similar to one of the central protagonists in the Touhou Galaxy Project that I use at work, and she often says the word 'bird'.”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever dialogue and unexpected situations that always catch me off guard.”
- “I love the quirky characters and their witty banter; it adds so much charm and laughter to the gameplay experience.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users praising its smooth performance and efficient resource management, while others report issues such as frame rate drops and long loading times. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary significantly across different hardware configurations.
- “The optimization in this game is outstanding, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end hardware.”
- “I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the performance, making it accessible for a wider range of players.”
- “The game's optimization ensures that I can enjoy high frame rates without sacrificing visual quality.”

76%Critics’ scoreBased on 10 critic reviews

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Yomawari: Lost in the Dark

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