Decarnation Reviews
Decarnation is a well-written, spine-chilling adventure, but it would have been better off as an animated film instead of a game. The interactivity felt forced, but its writing, characterisation, atmospheres and settings sparkled, leaving me unnerved to the very end. I rooted for Gloria, and though her journey to finding inner strength was a bit trite, I was with her till the very end. This piece of art was self-conscious in so many ways, reflecting the darkest natures of human beings - I just wish it had been more of a game.
It's quite hard to recommend Decarnation, because the game itself is rather bleak, depressing and melancholy-inducing. But then again - that's the whole point.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Decarnation is an incredible and well written video game, supported by an intelligent and always engaging and impactful storytelling. Furthermore, the play structure fascinates and surprises. Must have absolutely.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Decarnation is a unique horror puzzler that tries to make sense of the main character's emotional breakdown in ways that don't make sense. It effectively keeps players off balance throughout, but also in ways that knock the gameplay off balance, unfortunately.
Despite several useless and unsatisfying gameplay elements, Decarnation still features one of the best stories I've seen in a horror game with a fantastically portrayed message both visually and narratively and lots of excellent references.
Decarnation is not about the gameplay, but about the journey. And that journey is wrought with existentialism, Lovecraftian horror, and psychological quandaries that may be trigger inducing. It will grip you, refuse to let go, and entrap you until the end of its story. Should you play Decarnation, you will be opting into experiencing horror through the eyes of a protagonist you may, or may not, empathize with. Should you play Decarnation, you should also avoid sharing its execution of horrors that should remain unspeakable. In other words, avoid spoiling whenever possible.
Decarnation is a visual treat and indie horror fans will potentially love it, but throwaway gameplay elements and a bloated and sometimes confusing narrative results in an overlong and often uncomfortable game.
Decarnation is heavily inspired by Mulholland Drive and Satoshi Kon's works. It's a great psychological horror with a rich story, but also a derivative game with too many gameplay limitations.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Decarnation has an excellent story that makes you feel a lot of emotions to keep playing it for hours, but the gameplay mechanics and parts are a little stained in the painting.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
This is made a bit worse by the fact that the game hits the point where most stories of this type usually end, and then keeps going for upwards of an hour, doggedly refusing to roll credits in favor of a drawn out series of epilogue scenes. I really wanted to like Decarnation–it was near the top of my list in terms of most anticipated indie titles for the year–but sadly it just did not deliver the experience I had hoped. It is not what I would necessarily call a bad game, but it is one held back by its multiple missteps along the way.
A dark story-driven game which raises unusual for the videogames topics. Gameplay-wise it's not that amazing, but everything else is really, really great.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?
Decarnation is one of those rare video games that’s more than the sum of its parts. The story it tells is both important and carefully plotted. Gloria is an exceptional character and the game offers full access to her inner life. The gameplay is varied enough to keep players interested, although not all the mechanics are good by themselves.
Decarnation is a game I really wanted to love more. It has an undeniable style. Its grounded and painfully real horrors are genuinely spine-chilling, and the flair of its cinematic presentation is top-notch. It's just a shame that some clichéd writing, a flawed ending, and a generally repetitive gameplay experience (especially in the back half) hold it back from glory. Decarnation is still a game worth experiencing, especially for fans of horror and the inspirations Decarnation wears on its sleeve. But tread lightly. You never know who might be watching...
Had Decarnation not fumbled with its gameplay, I’d probably be giving this a perfect score. Its disturbing, yet engaging narrative, and top-notch presentation all come together in a way that somehow managed to exceed my already lofty expectations that the preview build had left me with. It’s just a shame, then, that those gameplay issues are so very intrusive. All too often I had my immersion broken and found my interest in continuing through Gloria’s plight waning due to how often Decarnation forces the player into irritating mini-games, or fussy stealth segments. On the whole, though, Decarnation still ends up being more than the sum of its parts, and I can confidently say that it’s worth the time of any horror fan.
I’ve played my fair share of pixel games, but none so deliriously beautiful or grotesque as the horror game Decarnation. But its beauty isn’t just skin deep – the symbolism and gameplay give this indie title nuance that kept me enthralled from curtain rise to swan song.
Even if at times it insists on applying gameplay elements that add little to the work as a whole, Decarnation is yet another incredible addition from independent studios that arrives on Switch and deserves to be checked out, as it features impeccable art direction, an equally assertive soundtrack and a deep plot that addresses important themes.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Designed as a horror title that makes you feel more uneasy than scared, Decarnation succeeds in being creepy but won’t be for everyone
Decarnation’s story is thrilling and unsettling, and every point the game gets is because of how well-crafted the winding nightmares are in relation to the overall progression of Gloria’s life.
Decarnation is a sensitive work whose weighty discussion is handled in a mature manner. It's a beautiful example of what can be done with video game media to portray real and urgent topics.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review