Marginalia

Ok, this game is weird. Like, super weird. I am a big fan of walking sims, exploration games, lovecraftian games, and story-based games, so this one seemed right up my alley. And it has some nice things, like scenery, music, general atmosphere, and some very interesting moments near the end. However, it's also pretty boring for the most part. You can't run, so you just walk through a HUGE forest. I've read that there are actually hidden things around, but exploration seemed greatly discouraged given that there's practically no way to orient yourself, everything looks pretty much the same, and at first you don't really know where to go or what to do. After a while you realize that there are lanterns sprinkled around, and your character speaks when reaching them. Those lanterns don't really make any sense there, and I've found it to be the most immersion-breaking thing in the game, but you also need them to actually find your way around. You go from one to the next, until you reach some landmarks, and then something else replaces lanterns as your main guide. But up until the ending, there's not much there, other than a pretty cliched, story. In spite of this, the ending makes it almost worth it, and the atmosphere is definitely very lovecraftian. The walking almost aimlessly and slowly through the forest could even be on purpose, to get you to actually feel lost and helpless (and you do), but I think it's not the best way to present it in a game. Some polishing could really help this wonders. Regardless, the payoff was nice enough, so I'll recommend it, but only on sale (heavily discounted, as it is also extremely short) xD

it takes about an hour to complete. the less you know about it going in, the better. it's not complex--it's going for something simple, and it achieves it. if the atmosphere and the aesthetics of the screenshots appeal to you, it may be for you if you're willing to meet it on its terms.

An utterly spellbinding game. Play it on a dark stormy night and take your time. Let yourself get lost in the woods, and the beautiful music. No jump scares, but something entirely more scary - the promised slow, creeping dread. Plenty of the room in the plot for your brain to come up with horror. [Playtime says 0.1 hours, but I played it for an hour. Not sure why.]

This is a decent game, just don't go into it expecting some grand adventure or heart-pounding horror experience. It's more or less a walking simulator through a creepy forest while an unseen narrator tells a spooky story, but I got a lot of enjoyment out of it and so will you if you find that kind of thing interesting. It really nails the feeling of isolation and paranoia, and something tells me that was the entire point of Marginalia.

Honestly not many games give me goosebumps but this one did. Short, but definitely worth the price. Moody and atmospheric. The soundtrack is perfectly engrossing, oppressive, and electrifying. No jump scares, just pure cosmic horror at its finest without using tentacles or 'madness' as a crutch.

A short, unsettling experience. For me, it dodges the issue a lot of narration-heavy games have, where the narrator tends to talk through the whole thing, telling you how to feel and not letting the game itself breathe. Not in this game: the narration and story acts more as a tone-piece, giving you just enough to make you ask more questions about what you're experiencing, while leaving space for the environment and gets-under-your-skin sound design to drive you forward and drown you in uncertainty and discomfort. [Time played inaccurate, played on itch.io]

Very much recommend. The atmosphere is phenomenal, music is great, and the story is interesting. Well worth the cheap price

A lot of games do horror really well but more then anything Marginalia nails dread. Its like listening to a dark ambient album, reading poetry by Edger Allen Poe, or turning around in the forest and realizing that you hopelessly lost.

yes

Moody, atmospheric little walkabout that doesn't feel the need to answer things better left to the mind.