Zemblanity
- April 3, 2022
- XenOxygen
Get on Steam"Zemblanity" is a first-person psychological horror adventure game where you investigate the mysterious disappearance of your father by exploring your friend's ominous mansion. The game features a graduating story, an evolving environment, and various puzzles to solve. Players are encouraged to use headphones for the best experience, as they examine interactive items and uncover the house's hidden secrets.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Zemblanity offers a great atmosphere and effective jump scares, making it a fun experience for casual horror fans.
- The game is well-crafted for a first outing, showcasing a generally eerie aesthetic and engaging mechanics.
- At its price point, Zemblanity provides a decent amount of content and is recommended for those looking for a short horror adventure.
- The game suffers from poor design choices, such as a lack of saving options and confusing inventory management.
- Some players found the gameplay to be repetitive and lacking in depth, with aimless wandering and excessive key hunting.
- The story and puzzles can be convoluted and poorly translated, leading to confusion and frustration for some players.
- story20 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it intriguing and well-crafted, particularly appreciating its Lovecraftian elements. However, others noted that the plot can feel contrived and confusing, exacerbated by rough translations and a disconnect between the narrative and puzzle mechanics. Despite these issues, many enjoyed piecing together the storyline and expressed interest in potential continuations.
“The story was vaguely Lovecraftian and well-crafted throughout.”
“Great game and interesting storyline.”
“Omg so scary and interesting story, good job by the way, keep it up!”
“I do think the plot of this game was contrived, convenient, and a little confusing.”
“I understood the main idea of the story by the end, but I was left a little confused with some things.”
“The story was a bit rough, and the puzzles didn't really fit the story, but nothing too terrible to overlook.”
- atmosphere16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for being impressively oppressive and effectively creepy, particularly at the beginning and midway through. While some players found the jump scares to be excessive and not particularly scary, the overall sound design and atmospheric elements contribute positively to the experience, making it a worthwhile indie horror game for fans of the genre.
“Good jump scares, nice atmosphere, and well worth the price if you enjoy these little indie horror games.”
“It is a short game but worth the money, the atmosphere is great and some of the jump scares are on point.”
“Great jump scares, sound design, and atmosphere.”
“Unfortunately, I didn't find this game scary in the slightest, but the atmosphere at the start and around the halfway point was impressively oppressive, and I found myself double-checking the occasional corner because I swear I saw something there.”
“The scares are not scary; the atmosphere was just a tad creepy in the beginning, but after that, I basically looked like the grumpy cat, wishing I was done already.”
“The atmosphere was lacking; it started off with some potential, but it quickly faded into a dull experience.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the eerie aesthetic and seamless integration with gameplay, others note that the visuals are not groundbreaking and rely on commonly used assets. However, the last moments of the game are highlighted for their decent quality, and overall, players report no bugs, contributing to a generally positive visual experience.
“The gameplay, theme, and graphics were seamless.”
“Encountered no bugs and the visuals are really great.”
“It has a generally eerie aesthetic and there are a fair number of jump scares.”
“Graphics are not the best and yes it's made with assets that have been used so many times before but at least this guy does give credit for them at the end of the game.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as a walking simulator featuring easy puzzles and note reading, with a focus on a creepy and engaging atmosphere. Players cannot die, and the mechanics are described as smooth and straightforward.
“It's creepy and engaging, with smooth mechanics and straightforward puzzles.”
“Gameplay is a walking sim with some easy puzzles and note reading; you cannot die.”
“Gameplay is a walking simulator with some easy puzzles and note reading; you cannot die.”
“Gameplay is a walking simulator with some easy puzzles and note reading; you cannot die.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users consistently report that the game exhibits excellent stability, with no glitches encountered during gameplay.
“The game runs smoothly with no glitches.”
“I experienced no stability issues during my playthrough.”
“The performance is rock solid, providing a seamless gaming experience.”
