Enigma of Fear is a retro-inspired survival horror game that blends action with investigative adventure. The first thing that stood out to me when I started playing was its charming and absolutely gorgeous art style. The game features a mix of retro visuals, where the main characters have an art style that resembles pixelated old-school games, but the backgrounds are fully animated in 3D. This combination works well in action and looks and plays beautifully.
However, my biggest issue with Enigma of Fear is its rather lackluster user interface and confusing presentation. The game offers minimal UI, making it very easy to get confused and lost in its world. Some players might find this thrilling. There are two different difficulty options available: you can either go full hardcore with no hints or support in the game, or choose a slightly modern difficulty with some support.
While the game excels in visuals, I found the gameplay rather lackluster. It is a very puzzle-heavy game, and the puzzles are not easy to solve. The developers expect players to remember every hint they encounter and use them to solve obstacles later in the game. The game also has a creepy atmosphere and monsters, which enhance the survival horror experience, even though the main gameplay loop revolves around figuring out the mystery of the protagonist’s father’s disappearance.
Enigma of Fear is so reliant on puzzles that even starting the game can feel like solving one. The main menu features a simple layout, but once you start a new game, you’re immediately faced with a minor puzzle—a hint of things to come. This puzzle includes a set of symbols, some marked by blood. I managed to figure it out, but playing on a controller, I struggled to realize that all I needed to do was press a button. This issue stems from the game’s occasional over-reliance on keyboard and mouse controls, which can be confusing.
The UI includes a checkpoint and objective system, but it often fails to clearly indicate where you need to go next. I don’t blame the developers, as this could be their first project, and they’ve delivered an impressive game overall. However, some elements do fall short of the standards we expect from other indie games. Another issue I had was with the in-game artwork. While I loved the pixelated art style, I wasn’t as fond of the character art.
The main protagonist, Mia, is on a quest to find her missing father. She is aided by close friends who are part of their paranormal investigator group. They search for clues and investigate paranormal activity, leading them to a mysterious mansion where they uncover signs of something sinister. The game doesn’t provide a proper narrative story; instead, players have to rely on clues and diaries found in the game.
The writing in Enigma of Fear is surprisingly good, and the characters offer a depth of personality that even some bigger games lack. However, it’s hard to shake the feeling that something is amiss. I was also a little disappointed that the game couldn’t maintain 60 FPS on a Steam Deck, even though it didn’t seem to require a lot of rendering power. Despite this, it still plays fine on the Steam Deck, which is where I experienced most of it. The puzzles are challenging and can honestly be frustrating at times, making us go back and forth to figure out any missed clues.
The combat is quite solid, and I was impressed by the quality of the enemy encounters. The game offers multiple ways to dispatch enemies, including standard melee combat and weapons. Ammo is not scarce, at least on standard difficulty, so progressing through the game wasn’t too hard, aside from the lack of navigation and a cumbersome UI. Despite these issues, I think this game is worth a try, especially for fans of old-school survival horror games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill.
Enigma of Fear Game Information
- Price: $24.99
- Publisher: Dumativa
- Developer: Dumativa
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
