The Cecil: The Journey Begins

Can't even get it to run in full screen. Pushing Esc shrinks the game to a tiny window and the framerate is shocking. running on an i9, 4080, 32GB Ram. Not great unfortunatly.

I enjoyed my time in The Cecil even though our protagonist, John, clearly did not! The gameplay is fairly typical of indie horror games with you generally looking for items to use in certain places to make progress through the story. Things become stranger and stranger as you uncover more of the hotel and the stories it contains. There are some moments where you'll be fighting enemies but it's nothing too challenging and gives you a bit of release from the tension that's always building. There are some bugs but nothing game-breaking. When I played the game there was a frequent drop in framerate which the devs are aware of and actively working to improve but it's completely playable even so. The story is very strange and I'm not entirely sure if I understood what really happened but I enjoyed the Journey. I hope the devs continue working on their game to improve and polish and add the Events that are slated for future release.

游玩了大概一个多小时，但是可惜的是有些晕3D，没有继续玩下去。不过作为一个恐怖游戏爱好者，我支持并尊重每一位恐怖游戏制作者，希望会越做越好。 总体来说，游玩期间有以下几点感受： 恐怖氛围还不错，但是游戏线索提示太少，导致大部分时间都在寻找线索，无法推进剧情。建议关键道具高光提示【毕竟在一个地点转无数次会影响游戏体验】 游戏画面不错，但是优化较差，游玩期间会有掉帧和卡顿现象出现。 游戏剧情还比较吸引人，但是有几封带有语音的文档无法跳过，以至于本人已经看完两遍文案，语音还没有说完。 还有，一楼有一个倒在地上的柱子，为什么不能跳过去呀哈哈哈。每次都要绕一下才能过去。【如果是为了后期追逐战或者其他什么设计的，就当我没说，不然那个柱子没什么存在的必要，还影响玩家的游玩感受】 动态模糊关和开没感受出区别，像我这种很容易晕3D的玩家很在意这个。 虽然有很多不足的地方，但是还是给予支持，听说是一个人独立完成的游戏，希望能坚持下去，为大家带来更好更精彩的塞西尔~

Es hat mir insgesamt sehr gut gefallen. Die Atmosphäre war spannend, die Story interessant und das Spiel konnte mich von Anfang bis Ende fesseln. Besonders die Rätsel haben mir Spaß gemacht. Sie waren teilweise etwas knifflig, aber machbar und haben dadurch für ein gutes Erfolgserlebnis gesorgt. Mein einziger Kritikpunkt sind die Ladezeiten. Diese waren teilweise recht lang und haben den Spielfluss etwas unterbrochen. Mit kürzeren Ladezeiten wäre das Spielerlebnis noch besser geworden. Trotzdem kann ich das Spiel definitiv empfehlen.

I'd recommend it, if you like these kind of games, although it does nothing new. I won it from a competition, but I don't think it's worth the asking price though $29.50 AUD, I'd be more comfortable at $15 if I was going to buy it; Given the enemy's AI is potato and combat is too easy, especially the final fight. The story, exploration, and design/universe was good, but too much hand holding in the exploration side. Overall I leave a positive review as I did enjoy it, and wanted to finish it. Also the 1 and only achievement didn't pop lol

1、什么纱暖BUG，全屏和窗口化都有问题，4月份游戏刚发售就有人提出的BUG，到现在都还没修？？？连这最基本的都搞不定，做什么游戏，制作组解散算了。申请退款了，游戏，首先要能玩，这么小的窗口，怎么玩？？？ 2、另外，游戏优化极其糟糕。

The Cecil: The Journey Begins is a first-person survival horror experience developed by Genie Interactive Games and published by Wandering Wizard. Set within a decaying, haunted hotel inspired by the infamous real-world Cecil Hotel, the game blends psychological tension, environmental storytelling, puzzle-solving, and bursts of action into a claustrophobic narrative journey. As the subtitle suggests, this installment feels like the opening chapter of a larger horror saga, introducing players to a disturbing world where reality and nightmare blur together. The story follows John, a man whose romantic getaway with his wife Sarah takes a horrific turn when he awakens imprisoned within the hotel’s dark interior, only to discover that Sarah has vanished without explanation. From the outset, the emotional stakes are clear. The game grounds its supernatural horror in a personal quest, transforming the experience into more than a simple haunted-house scenario. John’s desperation fuels the player’s motivation, pushing them deeper into the labyrinthine halls and abandoned rooms of the hotel. As fragments of the building’s past emerge through notes, objects, and environmental cues, a broader mystery unfolds, hinting at malevolent forces and psychological deterioration. Exploration is the heart of the experience. The hotel itself is meticulously crafted to evoke dread, with flickering lights, peeling wallpaper, narrow corridors, and oppressive silence punctuated by sudden disturbances. The atmosphere leans heavily on tension rather than constant jump scares, though shocking encounters do appear at carefully timed intervals. Environmental storytelling plays a crucial role; players must search for clues, examine interactive objects, and piece together narrative threads to progress. Puzzle elements are woven into this exploration, requiring observation and logic rather than reflexes, which helps maintain a steady rhythm between fear and investigation. Combat is present but not dominant. John can defend himself using firearms and improvised weapons found throughout the environment, but ammunition and resources are limited. Encounters with grotesque creatures or hostile entities shift the pacing, introducing moments of urgency and adrenaline. These action sequences contrast with the slower investigative segments, though some players may find the transitions between puzzle-solving and combat uneven. The balance between psychological horror and direct confrontation reflects an attempt to merge classic survival horror traditions with more modern action elements. Narratively, the game leans into psychological ambiguity. Hallucination-like sequences, distorted visuals, and surreal moments challenge the player’s perception of reality. The line between external threats and John’s internal unraveling is intentionally blurred, reinforcing themes of trauma and fear. While the core narrative is compelling, certain story threads may feel underdeveloped or abrupt, suggesting that this chapter is designed to lay groundwork for future installments rather than fully resolve its mysteries. Technically, the game launched with some rough edges but has seen post-release improvements aimed at refining performance and controls. Updates have addressed stability issues, improved save reliability, and enhanced controller support. Despite these efforts, occasional navigation stiffness and pacing inconsistencies remain noticeable. Visually, however, the game succeeds in creating a cohesive aesthetic. Lighting design and environmental detail work together to sustain immersion, even if character animations and enemy designs occasionally reveal indie limitations. Reception has been divided, reflecting both its strengths and shortcomings. Many players praise its atmosphere, emotional premise, and dedication to psychological horror. Others point to uneven combat mechanics and moments of repetitiveness in exploration. The game’s ambition is evident in its layered setting and narrative tone, though execution sometimes falls short of its conceptual promise. Ultimately, The Cecil: The Journey Begins is an atmospheric and emotionally charged survival horror experience that prioritizes mood and narrative tension over polished action mechanics. Its haunted hotel setting and personal storyline create a memorable foundation, even if certain gameplay elements feel inconsistent. For players drawn to psychological horror with environmental storytelling and moderate survival elements, it offers a haunting and immersive journey into darkness, laying the groundwork for what could become a deeper and more refined horror series. Rating: 5/10