Zardy's Maze

About

Zardy's Maze is a single player survival strategy game with a horror theme. It was developed by SwankyBox and was released on January 22, 2021. It received very positive reviews from players.

In "Zardy's Maze," players enter a daunting cornfield at night, armed with only a flashlight and an axe to cut down massive, menacing weeds. The maze's layout constantly changes, ensuring a unique and challenging experience each time. With jumpscares and other loud noises, this horror game will keep you on your toes as you face the unknown threats lurking in the darkness.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,133 reviews

gameplay18 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Zardy's Maze offers a fun and challenging gameplay experience, reminiscent of classic horror games.
The game features a unique art style and engaging mechanics that keep players on their toes.
It's free to play, making it accessible for anyone looking for a spooky challenge.

The game can be frustratingly difficult, with some players feeling that it relies too much on RNG.
There are issues with enemy spawn points and mechanics that can lead to unfair deaths.
The lack of clear instructions on enemy behavior can make it hard for new players to understand how to succeed.

gameplay
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
66%
5%
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of fun mechanics and challenging enemies, with many players appreciating the unique character designs and the nostalgic feel reminiscent of games like FNAF. However, several reviews highlight issues with unclear mechanics and a lack of guidance, leading to frustration and a trial-and-error approach. Overall, while the gameplay is engaging and offers a rewarding experience, it can be difficult and occasionally repetitive, with some players feeling lost during playthroughs.
- “A difficult yet fun game with a cool concept and great gameplay.”
- “This game is visually amazing and the gameplay is tough but rewarding!”
- “Amazing game really, the enemies are creative and their mechanics are balanced and the challenges too, makes a good adrenaline feel when in tough situations and really gets you aware of your surroundings.”
- “The gameplay isn't too big of a puzzle to figure out.”
- “None of the mechanics are explained well and it's pure trial and error.”
- “Losing over and over to poorly explained mechanics and RNG is not fun; it is frustrating.”
graphics
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
54%
8%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players praising its unique pixel and low-poly art style that evokes nostalgia and enhances the horror atmosphere. However, some critics find the visuals mediocre and reminiscent of asset flips, which detracts from the overall experience for certain gamers. Overall, while the aesthetic appeals to fans of retro graphics, it may not satisfy those seeking modern visuals.
- “The low-poly retro aesthetic of the main game loop creates a very distinct feel that I greatly enjoy.”
- “The visuals of this experience are tremendous.”
- “I really love the art style and general atmosphere.”
- “The mediocre, low poly, almost asset flip looking artwork and the decision to use samey, repetitive procgen instead of actually creating content for the game are probably what led this to fail to garner significant attention from the majority of gamers here on Steam.”
- “This has some fairly mediocre, dated, retro looking graphics that will understandably be a turn off for a lot of gamers, and it's a big contributor to the failure of the game to attract gamers despite having no up-front cost.”
- “The models and the graphics give off an old and reminiscent feel to them.”
humor
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky characters, particularly the "funny scarecrow man" and "pumpkin jack," who provide comedic moments through their antics, such as jumping over obstacles and their amusing interactions with players. Many users highlight the game's ability to blend humor with horror, creating a lighthearted atmosphere amidst the scares. Overall, the humor is well-received, with players enjoying the comedic elements that enhance their gaming experience.
- “Along with that, there can be some pretty funny moments in this game too, like there is an enemy named Pumpkin Jack who runs around the maze and sometimes even takes huge shortcuts. One time I was in a corner charging my flashlight before hearing Cable Crow grapple nearby, and I looked over where he was and saw Pumpkin Jack jump over a section right on top of me, and all I said was '....oh.....'”
- “Funny pumpkin man overwhelms you in a very dark maze when you have a flashlight that's probably been thrown down the stairs many times.”
- “Throughout all this, Pumpkin Jacks are laughing and leaping all over the place.”
story
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
72%
17%
The game's story is generally considered minimal and straightforward, with many players noting that it lacks depth and complexity. While some appreciate the focus on gameplay over narrative, others find the limited storytelling confusing and unengaging. Overall, the emphasis is on challenging gameplay rather than a compelling story.
- “The plot is very well written yet straightforward.”
- “It has some solid gameplay to try and master, secrets in relation to finding out the story through various challenges, the codes they provide to look up online to gain from the dev, and just a fun experience overall.”
- “There's nothing especially shocking or standout about the lore, and the little bit of storytelling it does decide to throw at you is confusing and not really worth the time you invest to get to it.”
- “A solid video game for the people who want the gameplay and none of that story fluff.”
- “That's pretty much all you get in the way of story and objectives, so let's get cracking!”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
31%
19%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its spooky and vintage horror aesthetic, effectively creating an eerie and immersive experience that enhances gameplay, especially during Halloween. While some players find the atmosphere beautifully crafted, others feel it lacks a truly uncanny quality, with certain character designs not delivering the intended scare. Overall, the combination of art style, sound design, and a gradual build-up of tension contributes to a compelling atmosphere that keeps players engaged, despite some frustrations with gameplay difficulty.
- “I personally think the game is beautiful and captures the atmosphere of vintage horror.”
- “It's a fun challenge with an eerie atmosphere and cool looking characters.”
- “This game could be good, but I suck at it, and the more frustrated I got, the less draw the atmosphere had.”
- “The atmosphere was a little underwhelming at times.”
- “The atmosphere starts off calm and quiet but without warning just pulls you down into this dark, weirdly unsettling feeling.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
78%
11%
11%
The game is praised for its high replayability, with users highlighting its random maze generation and challenging gameplay that keeps the experience fresh and engaging. Many reviewers note that it feels almost infinitely replayable, making it a standout in the indie horror genre, especially considering it is free to play. Overall, players find it to be a fun and rewarding challenge that encourages repeated playthroughs.
- “This game is severely underrated and is really fun to play. Since the maze is random, it's basically infinitely replayable, and the challenges are really fun. 10/10 game, plus it's free, so you have nothing to lose.”
- “If you're looking for a fun yet challenging, enjoyable, and infinitely replayable experience, I cannot recommend this game enough.”
- “Its a free game, but I wouldn't mind paying a bit for it since it is a good challenge with a custom difficulty option that's like the custom night options in the FNAF series, giving tons of replayability.”
- “It may seem simple at face value, but the trial and error game mechanics really enhance the replay value.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
Players express that the grinding aspect of the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time akin to having a "second life." While some recommend it to specific audiences, many suggest that a more relaxed approach, like a farming simulator, would be preferable.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Not some farming sim!”
- “Absolutely recommend...to the right crowd...how about a chill farming sim next time, Swanky?”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The character development in the game is highlighted by unique mechanics for each character, creating intense gameplay moments, particularly when multiple characters are present. The designs are praised for their simplicity and effectiveness, contributing to a well-crafted atmosphere, although some characters, like the scarecrows, lack a frightening presence. Overall, the character designs are considered a standout feature, enhancing the game's appeal.
- “Each character has a unique mechanic that works by itself and makes for really intense and panic-inducing moments when multiple are coming for you at once, not to mention the great character designs for the enemies themselves.”
- “The character designs are great, and the regressor did an incredible job bringing these characters and the world of Zardy's Maze to life.”
- “The character designs are so simple yet so good.”
- “The atmosphere, despite being very nice and well-crafted, is not uncanny in the slightest, and despite being well-made and well-designed, the scarecrow character designs aren't scary either.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
20%
40%
Overall, the game's optimization receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate its performance and atmospheric design, others highlight significant issues, particularly for low-end systems, indicating a need for improved graphics settings.
- “The optimization is good, but this game needs some graphics settings.”
- “This game is great because it has addictive and simple gameplay with a few enemies that work together to kill you. The optimization is good, as well as the style and atmosphere.”
- “The only horror is the optimization.”
- “A small warning to fellow low-end gamers: this game is poorly optimized.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game is mixed, with some players experiencing significant bugs and glitches, such as enemies not fading properly and unexpected appearances of foes, which can disrupt gameplay. However, others report a smooth experience with no issues, indicating that stability may vary between sessions or players.
- “Also beware of some glitches such as Zardy not instantly fading sometimes, and I have to turn off and on my flashlight before he fades. The brutes, god almighty, just appear out of nowhere and chase me in the corn. Pumpkin Jacks are also your nightmare by jumping on you and goomba-squashing you and swarming you.”
- “Very good, I liked the gameplay; it is buggy but still loved it.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its fit within the horror atmosphere and its role in enhancing challenges. However, some feel that a larger soundtrack would have improved the experience, even though the limited tracks effectively complement the game's reliance on audio cues.
- “I love that it's a challenging and fun horror game; I admire the music in the challenges and the lore.”
- “While I feel the game could've benefited from a bigger soundtrack, what is here is decent, and I almost feel that it suits the game to not have very many music tracks, as so much of the game relies on audio cues.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the game evokes intense emotional responses, often feeling overwhelmed or deeply affected by its narrative and themes.
- “Thank you for mentally and emotionally killing me.”