You Shouldn't Be Here

About

You Shouldn't Be Here is a single player action game with a horror theme. It was developed by Doomster Entertainment and was released on July 1, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

You Shouldn't Be Here is a short psychedelic visual novel set in a surreal world filled with eerie creatures. You encounter Dimitriv, who offers protection in exchange for your help, as the narrative explores themes of mental health, exclusion, and existential questions. Its gritty pixel art and haunting soundtrack create a dreamlike, nightmarish atmosphere.

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Single-Player

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92%

Audience ScoreBased on 52 reviews

story12 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game features stunning pixel art and a haunting soundtrack that effectively enhances the overall atmosphere.
It offers a thought-provoking narrative that explores deep themes of addiction, depression, and existentialism, resonating with players on a personal level.
Despite its short length, the game provides a unique and immersive experience, making it a worthwhile investment for fans of surreal and artistic storytelling.

The gameplay is extremely linear with minimal choices, which may disappoint players looking for more interactivity and branching narratives.
Some players found the writing to be cryptic and difficult to interpret, potentially leaving them feeling disconnected from the story.
The game's dark themes and heavy subject matter may not be suitable for all audiences, particularly younger players or those sensitive to topics like addiction and suicide.

story
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
42%
12%
The story is a haunting and poetic exploration of addiction, presented through a surreal visual narrative that emphasizes emotional depth and artistic expression. While it is short and linear, lacking branching paths, the writing is cryptic and thought-provoking, resonating with themes of despair and the complexities of friendship. The game's atmospheric visuals and music enhance the storytelling experience, making it a compelling, albeit somber, journey that may not appeal to everyone.
- “A beautifully crafted story that deals with real-life issues in a very creative and intelligent way.”
- “It's short and doesn't ever overstay its welcome; the music is atmospheric and unsettling, the pixel art and the animations are downright gorgeous, and it's clear a lot of love and time went into them. The story, as well as the writing, are intriguing and thought-provoking.”
- “Its a hauntingly beautiful story with fantastic horror elements that keep me on my toes while still probing deeper.”
- “The game's opening sequence seemed to have promised branching paths, but the remainder of the story is linear.”
- “The writing itself is a little difficult to interpret and full of poetic imagery that doesn't exactly explain itself even by the end of the story.”
- “There are no story branches.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
31%
23%
The graphics of the game are praised for their unique, lo-fi aesthetic, featuring rough, grainy visuals and charming pixel art that enhance the overall immersive experience. Many reviewers appreciate the stunning artwork and creative creature designs, which complement the game's emotional themes and music. Overall, the visuals are described as endearing and fitting, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere.
- “The artwork is amazing and the perspective made me feel immersed, but there wasn't enough meaningful interactivity.”
- “The visuals are endearing and fit the vibe quite right, and the music elevates it fittingly.”
- “First of all, the presentation is different from other visual novels, since, apart from using pixel graphics with animations, these are placed in a box on the left with the text on the right, also making good use of an animated dark background that makes the experience quite immersive.”
- “️ [b]Visuals:[/b] rough and grainy with a deliberately ugly, liminal feel.”
- “ Low-res aesthetic.”
- “ Fans of lo-fi, liminal, or intentionally rough aesthetics.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
18%
27%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the emotional depth and atmosphere, contributing to a haunting and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight its soothing yet unsettling qualities, which complement the stunning artwork and thought-provoking narrative, creating a cohesive and evocative vibe throughout the gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a crucial element that elevates the game's dark themes and emotional resonance.
- “The music is nice as well, adding a good portion of sadness (as if the game isn't sad enough); the artwork is also stunning.”
- “Beautiful writing, well thought out, haunting music, and eerily beautiful art.”
- “The atmosphere was on point the entire time; I thought the sound effects and music choices you made were perfect for the experience, giving the game this gloomy but also ethereal tone.”
- “The music is atmospheric and unsettling.”
- “The music, art direction, and writing are a vibe.”
- “It's short and doesn't ever overstay its welcome, the music is atmospheric and unsettling.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
14%
29%
The atmosphere of "What you shouldn't be here" is consistently praised for its tension and creepiness, enhanced by soothing yet unsettling music and gorgeous pixel art. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a gloomy yet ethereal tone, making it an engaging experience that captivates players from start to finish. Overall, the atmospheric elements are a significant draw, contributing to the game's intrigue and emotional impact.
- “Fun little visual novel with nice creepy art and a bleak atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere was on point the entire time; I thought the sound effects and music choices were perfect for the experience, giving the game this gloomy but also ethereal tone.”
- “The atmosphere is so tense.”
- “Some jump scares, but the atmosphere is what sells it and what got me to wishlist it some weeks before it released.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have found the game to be deeply emotional, often leading to tears due to its poignant portrayal of addiction and its overall depressing themes. The immersive artwork enhances the experience, although some feel that a lack of meaningful interactivity detracts from the emotional impact.
- “I cried playing this, by the way.”
- “This was one of the most depressing games I've ever played; maybe I shed a tear or two.”
- “It really depicted what addiction is like and made me shed a tear.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers minimal replayability, primarily due to its linear gameplay and limited choices, making it less appealing for players seeking varied experiences. However, those interested in completing achievements may find some incentive to replay.
- “Gameplay: You walk around and trigger scenes with a few choices here and there; minimal replayability unless you're looking for achievements you didn't get the first time.”
- “The game lacks significant replay value, as the choices feel superficial and don't lead to vastly different outcomes.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play again since the story remains largely the same regardless of your choices.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The gameplay is characterized by a simple exploration mechanic where players walk around to trigger scenes and make limited choices, resulting in minimal replayability unless pursuing missed achievements. Overall, it offers a passive experience with little mechanical depth, focusing more on narrative than interactive elements.
- “The gameplay involves walking around and triggering scenes with a few choices here and there, but it has minimal replayability unless you're aiming for achievements you missed the first time.”
- “Mechanically, the gameplay is quite simple: you wander, you watch, and you listen.”
- “Gameplay: you walk around and trigger scenes with a few choices here and there; minimal replayability unless you're looking for achievements you didn't get the first time.”
- “Mechanically, there's almost nothing going on: you wander, you watch, you listen.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is subtle, often arising from poetic writing that features mismatched imagery, which adds a lighthearted touch to the narrative. Additionally, there are a few jump scares complemented by moments of levity, contributing to a balanced tone throughout the experience.
- “There are moments when the poetic writing is a little humorous because it employs imagery that doesn't flow well with each other, but overall it reflects the struggles of the secondary character and their relationship with the main character.”
- “A few jump scares, along with a couple of humorous moments.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

You Shouldn't Be Here is a action game with horror theme.

You Shouldn't Be Here is available on PC and Windows.

You Shouldn't Be Here was released on July 1, 2025.

You Shouldn't Be Here was developed by Doomster Entertainment.

You Shouldn't Be Here has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

You Shouldn't Be Here is a single player game.

Similar games include You Will (Not) Remain, Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling, The Cat Lady, Strangeland, DISTRAINT and others.

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