World of Horror

{{Infobox video game

| title = World of Horror

| image = WorldOfHorror.jpg

| developer = Paweł Koźmiński

| publisher = Ysbryd Games

| platforms = {{ubl|macOS|Windows|Nintendo Switch|PlayStation 4|PlayStation 5}}

| released = Windows, Mac
October 19, 2023{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Alice |date=2023-06-07 |title=World Of Horror spreads Junji Ito-inspired spookings in October |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/world-of-horror-spreads-junji-ito-inspired-spookings-in-october |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |archive-date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718171406/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/world-of-horror-spreads-junji-ito-inspired-spookings-in-october |url-status=live}}
PS4, PS5, Switch
October 26, 2023{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Callum |date=2023-10-20 |title=World of Horror PS5 and Nintendo Switch release date slightly delayed |url=https://rpgamer.com/2023/10/world-of-horror-console-release-pushed-back-a-week/ |access-date=29 January 2024 |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031230231/https://rpgamer.com/2023/10/world-of-horror-console-release-pushed-back-a-week/ |url-status=live}}

| genre = Role-playing, horror

}}

World of Horror, also known by its Japanese title {{Nihongo||恐怖の世界|Kyōfu no Sekai}}, is a role-playing video game with a 1-bit pixel art style inspired by the works of H. P. Lovecraft and Junji Ito.{{Cite web |title=WORLD OF HORROR |url=http://wohgame.com/ |access-date=2020-12-09 |website=wohgame.com |archive-date=15 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215173741/http://www.wohgame.com/ |url-status=live}} The game was created by Polish developer Paweł Koźmiński and published by Ysbryd Games.{{Cite web |title=ysbryd games |url=http://www.ysbryd.net/ |access-date=2020-12-09 |language=en-US |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115143047/http://www.ysbryd.net/ |url-status=live}} It was released into early access on February 20, 2020 through Steam, GOG.com, and Microsoft Store.{{Cite web|title=WORLD OF HORROR on Steam|url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/913740/WORLD_OF_HORROR/|access-date=2020-12-09|website=Steam|language=en|archive-date=28 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128040656/https://store.steampowered.com/app/913740/WORLD_OF_HORROR/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=WORLD OF HORROR|url=https://www.gog.com/game/world_of_horror|access-date=2020-12-09|website=GOG.com|language=en|archive-date=20 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220063050/https://www.gog.com/game/world_of_horror|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Buy WORLD OF HORROR (Game Preview)|url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/world-of-horror-game-preview/9n1fdttss49z|access-date=2020-12-09|website=Microsoft Store|language=en-us|archive-date=13 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113054230/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/world-of-horror-game-preview/9N1FDTTSS49Z|url-status=live}} The full game was released on October 19, 2023 for macOS and Windows. It was released on October 26 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.

The game takes place in the year "198X" in the fictitious town of Shiokawa, Japan. The player must explore various locations and fight otherworldly creatures in order to halt a looming apocalypse.

Gameplay

File:World of Horror screenshot.jpg

World of Horror is a roguelite role-playing game, built around individual self-contained playthroughs consisting of five different "mysteries" that must be solved, each corresponding to one of five keys that are used at the end of the playthrough to enter a locked lighthouse, in order to defeat one of several possible Old Gods that is threatening the town. The player must do this before the game's "DOOM" meter reaches 100%, which marks the point at which the entity is summoned. DOOM increases each time the player takes an action, and can increase further as a result of certain events. Each of the various Old Gods apply various unique effects or limitations on gameplay.{{Cite web |last=Brunskill |first=Kerry |date=2023-10-24 |title=World of Horror review |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/world-of-horror-review/ |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=PC Gamer |language=en |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129222430/https://www.pcgamer.com/world-of-horror-review/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=Alice |date=2023-10-18 |title= World Of Horror review: a weird and wonderful horror adventure in time for Halloween |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/world-of-horror-review |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun}}

The game features turn-based combat where the player queues up actions and attacks to be used against hostile creatures,{{Cite web |last=McMullen |first=Paige |date=2020-05-03 |title=World of Horror: Beginner's Guide to Combat and Enemy Stats |url=https://screenrant.com/world-of-horror-beginners-guide-combat-enemy-stats/ |access-date=2020-12-09 |website=Screen Rant |language=en-US |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129222427/https://screenrant.com/world-of-horror-beginners-guide-combat-enemy-stats/ |url-status=live}} many of which are based on creatures from Japanese horror manga or urban legends, such as Kuchisake-onna.{{Cite web |last=Shaver |first=Morgan |date=2020-02-21 |title=World of Horror {{!}} A Junji Ito Fan's Nightmarish Paradise |url=https://indieobscura.com/article/2505/world-of-horror-a-junji-ito-fans-nightmarish-paradise |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421005331/https://indieobscura.com/article/2505/world-of-horror-a-junji-ito-fans-nightmarish-paradise |archive-date=2020-04-21 |access-date=2020-12-09 |website=IndieObscura |language=en}} The game also incorporates adventure game and roguelike elements through its exploration and puzzle-solving mechanics.{{Cite web|last=Norman|first=Thomas|date=5 November 2020|title=WORLD OF HORROR: An Investigative Interactive RPG, Grimoire of Horror|url=https://www.grimoireofhorror.com/the-yurei/world-of-horror/|access-date=2021-01-03|website=Grimoire of Horror|language=en-US|archive-date=28 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228222640/https://www.grimoireofhorror.com/the-yurei/world-of-horror/|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine |last=Watts |first=Rachel |date=2020-02-21 |title=World of Horror is a gruesome adventure game inspired by the work of Junji Ito |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/world-of-horror-is-a-gruesome-adventure-game-inspired-by-the-work-of-junji-ito/ |magazine=PC Gamer |language=en-US |access-date=2020-12-09 |archive-date=27 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227090914/https://www.pcgamer.com/world-of-horror-is-a-gruesome-adventure-game-inspired-by-the-work-of-junji-ito/ |url-status=live}}

Development

The game's developer, Paweł Koźmiński (a.k.a. Panstasz) worked on the game part time in between his work as a dentist.{{Cite web |last=Conditt |first=Jessica |date=2019-09-20 |title=A dentist made a game in MS Paint and it's terrifying |url=https://www.engadget.com/2019-09-20-world-of-horror-junji-ito-hp-lovecraft-hypercard-game.html |access-date=2020-12-10 |website=Engadget |language=en |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807043732/https://www.engadget.com/2019-09-20-world-of-horror-junji-ito-hp-lovecraft-hypercard-game.html |url-status=live}} All of the in-game artwork was designed using MS Paint, with additional writing provided by author Cassandra Khaw. The game's music was composed by ArcOfDream and Qwesta. Interest in a console release has been expressed since 2020,{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Callum|date=2020-02-19|title=World Of Horror: PS4 and Nintendo Switch release date after Early Access on Steam|url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/02/19/world-of-horror-release-date-ps4-nintendo-switch-steam/|access-date=2020-12-09|website=HITC|language=en-GB|archive-date=28 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928231927/https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/02/19/world-of-horror-release-date-ps4-nintendo-switch-steam/|url-status=dead}} and a release date was revealed during Nintendo's Indie World Showcase in November 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-09 |title=Latest Indie World Showcase unveils a wave of indie games coming to Nintendo Switch in 2022 and beyond |url=https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/latest-indie-world-showcase-unveils-a-wave-of-indie-games-coming-to-nintendo-switch-in-2022-and-beyond/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=Nintendo Official Site |language=en-us |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109203734/https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/latest-indie-world-showcase-unveils-a-wave-of-indie-games-coming-to-nintendo-switch-in-2022-and-beyond/ |url-status=live}}

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| MC = PC: 78/100{{Cite web |title=World of Horror for PC Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/world-of-horror/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=Metacritic |language=en |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240129222907/https://www.metacritic.com/game/world-of-horror/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |url-status=live}}
NS: 81/100{{Cite web |title=World of Horror for Nintendo Switch Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/world-of-horror/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=Metacritic}}
PS4: 76/100{{Cite web |title=World of Horror for PlayStation 4 Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/world-of-horror/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |website=Metacritic}}

| Destruct = 8/10{{Cite web |last=Handley |first=Zoey |date=2023-10-18 |title=Review: World of Horror |url=https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-world-of-horror/ |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=Destructoid |language=en-US |archive-date=28 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228202350/https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-world-of-horror/ |url-status=live}}

| Edge = 7/10

| EuroG = 3/5{{Cite web |last=Wales |first=Matt |date=2023-12-21 |title=World of Horror review - atmospheric retro dread as fleeting as a nightmare |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/world-of-horror-review-atmospheric-retro-dread-as-fleeting-as-a-nightmare |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=Eurogamer}}

| NLife = 8/10{{Cite web |last=Vogel |first=Mitch |date=2023-11-05 |title=World of Horror Review |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/world-of-horror |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=Nintendo Life}}

| PCGUK = 85/100

}}

=Early access version=

Jordan Devore of Destructoid called the game "a rare treat" and praised its modular format, as well as its "eerie chiptune soundtrack and rising tension during a long, hard-fought run," but also criticized its combat as becoming tedious over long sessions.{{Cite web |last=Devore |first=Jordan |date=2020-02-26 |title=Early Access Review: World of Horror |url=https://www.destructoid.com/stories/early-access-review-world-of-horror-581560.phtml |access-date=2020-12-10 |website=Destructoid |language=english |archive-date=10 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110152816/https://www.destructoid.com/early-access-review-world-of-horror/ |url-status=live}} Jenna Stoeber of Polygon called the game's horror "engaging", though she criticized the visuals as "mixed", and called navigating the interface "frustrating".{{Cite web |last=Stoeber |first=Jenna |date=2020-02-24 |title=World of Horror lets me bring doom upon myself |url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/2/24/21151048/world-of-horror-junji-ito-horror-impressions-windows-pc |access-date=2020-12-10 |website=Polygon |language=en |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129222430/https://www.polygon.com/2020/2/24/21151048/world-of-horror-junji-ito-horror-impressions-windows-pc |url-status=live}} Lane Martin from CGMagazine said it "strikes at the very bone of what can be truly terrifying".{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Lane |date=2020-03-05 |title=World of Horror Review |url=https://www.cgmagonline.com/review/game/world-of-horror-review/ |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=CGMagazine |language=en-CA |archive-date=28 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928231926/https://www.cgmagonline.com/review/game/world-of-horror-review/ |url-status=live}}

=Final release version=

According to Metacritic, World of Horror currently has "generally favorable reviews". Kerry Brunskill from PC Gamer called it "one of the year's best horror games". Zoey Handley from Destructoid praised its creative approach. Rock Paper Shotgun described it as a "game that is absolutely being what it wants to be. And because of that, some of you are going to hate it".