Ikai

The game is well design, good graphics and animation, gameplay is okay. Overall, I would give a 7.5/10

I love the lore of the Yokai, I hate doing the drawing parts overall 6/10

Ikai, developed by indie studio Endflame, positions itself as a psychological horror game inspired by Japanese folklore, where you play as a shrine maiden facing supernatural threats. However, my experience felt more like a "spooky walking simulator" than a true horror title. While it delivers some atmospheric tension through sound design and occasional jump scares, it falls short on delivering genuine scares or deep psychological depth. If you're in the mood for a relaxed exploration game with a eerie vibe, this might hit the spot but horror purists will likely walk away disappointed. 1.Gameplay and Horror Elements At its core, Ikai is a first-person adventure where you wander through beautifully rendered environments, solving light puzzles and uncovering lore. The gameplay is straightforward and "normal," as in unremarkable: no complex mechanics, just walking, interacting with objects, and progressing through the story. I encountered no bugs, glitches, or crashes during my playthrough, which is a plus for stability. In the horror department, the game relies heavily on its sound effects to build a creepy atmosphere distant whispers, creaking wood, and ambient noises that keep you on edge. There are a handful of jump scares that provide brief thrills, but that's about it. Don't expect layered psychological elements, intense chases, or mind-bending twists. It's more of a gentle haunt than a nightmare, which might appeal to those who prefer subtle spookiness over outright terror. 2.Graphics and Technical Performance One of the standout positives is the graphics. The game's visuals are impressive for an indie title, with detailed environments that capture the misty, folklore inspired Japanese setting. Shrines, forests, and supernatural entities look polished and immersive, making the world feel alive (or undead, as the case may be). Technically, everything ran smoothly, with no issues to report. Voice Acting and DialogueUnfortunately, this is where Ikai stumbles. The voice acting comes across as annoying and unconvincing, often detracting from the immersion rather than enhancing it. The dialogue doesn't fare much better lines feel nonsensical or poorly translated, breaking the narrative flow and making it hard to connect with the story. These elements could have elevated the psychological horror aspect but instead drag it down. 3. Overall Scores As a Horror Game: 5/10 – It has the basics for atmosphere, but lacks the depth and scares to truly frighten. As a Walking Simulator: 8/10 – If exploration and vibes are your thing, it's a solid, enjoyable experience. Final Thoughts Ikai is a game of contrasts: it's not the terrifying psychological horror it promises, but it shines as a atmospheric walking sim for those who enjoy low stakes wandering with a touch of folklore. If you're seeking a relaxing title to unwind with some mild spooks, this is worth picking up. Hardcore horror fans, however, will be disappointed by the lack of real fear factor. A big thanks to the developers at Endflame for crafting this unique experience I enjoyed it overall, even if it wasn't scary at all. If you're on the fence, check it out during a sale for a chill evening of virtual shrine keeping.

Absolutely amazing game, it has become one of my top 5 games for sure!

nice lil game, some jumpscares. although some parts are a bit hard to understand

중간에 우물나오는 구간부터 버그때문에 게임을 진행 할 수가 없었습니다 ㅠㅠ 밧줄을 잡아야하는데 클릭도 안되고 중앙 커서가 손가락모양으로도 바뀌지 않았어요 밧줄도 놓치고...시청자도 놓쳤습니다 ㅠㅠ 고쳐주세요

This was a very interesting game. I wasn't expecting it to be this intense and scary, The sound design was done perfectly well and you never really knew if it was just ambience or one of the many yokai that was about to chase you. You were feeling helpless during the entire game, Either running, hiding or nervously attempting to draw a seal to banish the evil. Also I liked the graphics, story and many collectibles that thaught you interesting facts from Japanese folklore. This game was highly enjoyable. I'll play again for achievement hunting. Also I didn't encounter any bugs. The voice acting was nice too. I actually have nothing negative to say about this beautiful little horror experience. 10/10 for me!

Buena ambientación, sonidos excelentes, dibujar cuesta mucho, los puzzles son buenos, lo malo es que soy manco al dibujar :c. Si está en oferta compralo.

I liked this game very much and Japanese folklore; graphics and storyline. Very capturing horror.

Exorcisme low-cost Après avoir enchaîné Ad Infinitum (2023) et Ikai (2022), si je devais en garder un seul, ce serait probablement Ikai. Pourtant, son scénario est bien moins développé que celui du jeu d’Hekate, mais en termes de frissons, il m’a quand même un peu plus accroché. Disons que Ikai triche un peu, en abusant des effets de sursaut pour générer la peur à moindre effort. Ça fonctionne par moments, mais ce n’est pas non plus l’angoisse du siècle. Sur le trouillomètre, je lui mets un 5,5/10, soit légèrement au-dessus d’Ad Infinitum. Côté réalisation technique, on est sur du service minimum. Le jeu n’est ni beau ni moche, juste lambda. Ce qui le sauve, c’est son univers et son ambiance. Incarner une prêtresse dans un Japon médiéval hanté, où l’on croise tout un bestiaire issu du folklore nippon. J’ai apprécié cet aspect car à défaut d’avoir un jeu marquant par ses mécaniques ou sa mise en scène, j’ai au moins appris deux ou trois trucs sur les légendes japonaises. C’est toujours ça de pris. Autre point positif : le jeu ne s’éternise pas. Ikai se boucle en moins de trois heures, et j’ai terminé l’aventure avec 75 % des succès. Durant ce laps de temps, on affronte différents esprits vengeurs en accomplissant ce qui ressemble à des rites d’apaisement. Contrairement à certains simulateurs de marche où l’on avance sans risque, ici, on peut mourir. En effet, chaque fantôme ou piège peut vous envoyer ad patres, ce qui ajoute une tension bienvenue. Il vous faudra comme d’habitude se faufiler et avancer à tâtons pour ne pas se faire croquer. Quelques énigmes parsèment la progression histoire de diversifier le gameplay, mais rien de bien complexe. La particularité numéro une d’Ikai est votre capacité à écrire des idéogrammes. A différents stades du jeu, il vous faudra peindre à l’aide de la souris ou du joystick des idéogrammes afin de chasser les esprits malins. Petite spécificité sympathique mais un peu chiante car il faut être ultra précis pour finaliser l’exécution. En revanche, là où ça coince, c’est la fin. L’aventure se termine de manière abrupte, sans réelle explication, comme si les développeurs avaient décidé d’expédier la conclusion en vitesse. Honnêtement, je pense que la fin du jeu a été bâclé pour des raisons que j'ignore mais la manière dont se conclue l'aventure est très suspect. Bref, Ikai est un petit jeu d’horreur sympa, porté par son cadre japonisant original davantage que par ses mécaniques. Il ne révolutionne rien, mais il propose quelques sensations agréables avant une conclusion en eau de boudin. Je recommande surtout aux bandeurs du Japon, et Dieu sait qu’ils sont nombreux.