WORLD OF HORROR

I do not know if this is a developer or GoG related issue, but players should not have to wait months on end to get a proper bug fix/balancing update.

On a friend's recommendation who is playing this on Steam, I specifically picked it up here on GOG to support the site and the dev. My initial experience was finding out that the basic tutorial scenario is unplayably broken in the current version(0.9.84) and has been for half a year with no updates from the dev, which was not promising. But I moved on and played other parts of the game, and for the most part I've enjoyed it. But in ~3.5 hours of game time, I've hit game-crashing bugs 5 or 6 times, and with the game's Save feature being unappealing(all equipped items, gained Perks, Allies, and Spells disappear on a save-reload), I've had to replay the same content over and over to progress. Further, since my friend has not run into these same issues, I decided to pick it up on Steam instead, and lo and behold, apparently it works over there - it seems as if the dev has simply let the GOG version be broken for months, even though both copies are the same version of the code, with no hint of or plans for a resolution anytime soon. The game's intent and execution is phenomenal when it works, but until the dev decides to straighten this situation out, skip out on the game here and just pick it up on Steam. I'm reaching out to the dev now on Twitter, and if I don't get a response in a few days, I'll be getting a refund for it here myself.

As the title suggests, this is a tentative review since the product is still in early access, so some issues that currently exist (typos, text allignment, missing content/mechanics, etc.) I'm holding off on until the game actually goes gold. All that being said, even if this was the final version of the game I would say it is a pretty solid title. It's a rogue-lite RPG that combines some elements of old Windows 98 adventure games, with an aesthetic and style meant to emulate the works of HP Lovecraft and Junji Ito. Right now, the primary gameplay loop is that you pick one of several pre-defined characters, and in essence need to make it the end of the game to stop an evil Elder God from being summoned (the god in question varying from run to run) In between this time you are tasked with solving five different and randomly generated ysteries currently plauging your town, all while trying to balance your Health, your Sanity, and your time before the Elder God is summoned. The aesthetic and presentation definitely sell the game, but what actually has me stick around is how surprisngly simple yet satisfying the gameplay loop is. Trying out all the different characters, as well as additional modifiers for each run COMBINED with the randomness of each run really does feel rewarding to 'crack' even if some runs are less fair than others. I would describe as the perfect game to play when you have only 40 minutes to spare, and I'm not saying that as an insult, the fact that it can be as satisfying as it is in a short amount of time is what keeps me coming back. As noted, the game could use some more content/some more QoL improvements, fortunately the developer does keep adding more on since it's initial release, and though a bit cumbersome to find and install at this time there is actually a pretty decent mod community forming around this game (all supported by the dev, and seemingly later within the game itself)

WOH is a turn-based rogue-like, themed around classic horror mangas, with a pinch of Eldritch horrors in it. Visuals are great, although the style isn't for all (the "1-bit" graphics are exceptional in capturing the feeling of an ancient PC game of sorts, as well as the manga inspiration). The design of the grotesque enemies you encounter is also great, and even the sound and music feel very "appropriate", for lack of a better word. The gameplay, at its core, is just a series of random encounters, triggered by exploring the locations you have available (each location has its own set of encounters, although I assume some are universal). The encounter might then expect you to make a choice (and usually test your stats) or to have an item available to automatically get a good outcome. Items can be found during certain events or bought in stores (but the selection is random, and funds can be scarce). Almost all actions increase your "doom counter" and if it reaches 100%, it's over (you can also die by losing all stamina and/or reason). The other type of encounters are fights. They are simple, but with some elegant choices, like focusing to increase your chance to hit (even up to guaranteed hits), dodging and so on, while managing the equivalent of your "action points" bar each turn to survive. Fights also have custom systems for specific enemies and for ghosts, at times unlocked by learning more during the exploration phase. The gameplay works together with the themes (it really feels like a twisted horror manga), as you investigate weird events to stop armageddon. Survive 5 mysteries (each with several endings), and you'll be able to tackle the final challenge. The one flaw is that once you know a mystery, replaying it is much easier, but there are a lot of them, and there is lot of variety in general. Development has also been historically slow (more updates are planned after 1.0). I strongly recommend this game if you like this type of rogue-like.

This game is a must buy, if you like the art style. While the gameplay is simplistic, the story is evocative so that it really doesn´t matter. The game is marketed as a roguelike, but it´s more like a "choose your own adventure" kind of game.