Maid of Sker Reviews
Maid of Sker might not be the scariest horror game out there, but the tense moments, sound-based gameplay design, and intriguing story come together to form a solid horror experience nevertheless.
All in all, I’m glad I got to spend time with Maid of Sker. Aesthetics, themes and those haunting siren songs that the game explores will no doubt stay with me for a long time to come. If you’re a horror fan, looking for a fun scare, would you kindly visit Sker Hotel?
While Maid of Sker delivers in the atmosphere department, it fails to execute on any of its gameplay ideas, and it results in a game that is simply not fun to play
Maid of Sker doesn't break the mold of traditional survival horror, but it executes its formula with proficient aplomb.
Maid of Sker is an indie horror game that despite its interesting plot fails to stand out from the myriad of similar games out there.
Review in Greek | Read full review
A very atmospheric horror game that suffers from technical issues and punishing checkpoints. The unsettling story based off welsh folklore is worth pushing through the adversities nonetheless. As far as first-person horror goes, this isn’t the best choice, but it’s also far from the worst.
Review in German | Read full review
Maid of Sker is a good horror game but not quite a great one.
Atmospheric survival horror with a focus on exploration, that has spongy graphics and disappointing stealth mechanics.
Review in German | Read full review
Maid of Sker has some decent enough ideas, but the good parts barely outweigh the disappointing bits. I like the idea of stealth gameplay combined with not having a weapon; it just isn’t used effectively here. Likewise, for a story-heavy game, it fumbles with its storytelling.
Though Maid of Sker has an intriguing premise, it is very often a frustrating chore to play.
Maid of Sker scratched my horror itch for the year so far for sure. Despite some of my criticisms, it’s not a bad game, far from it. It’s just let down by a very few glaring issues that stop it from being a truly great game. I still really enjoyed my time with it, mainly due to its incredible setting and references to folklore. The story progresses in a very natural way and feels just about the right length at around four hours. The Quiet Ones are an interesting enemy type and their presence in the game is explained brilliantly through the excellent world-building that’s throughout the floors of the hotel. The only problem is that the story of them limits the gameplay experience somewhat to a repetitive sneaking trial and error game and that can get very frustrating, especially when it’s let down by strange AI problems. The puzzles in the game are very fun to work out and feel just as fun to do as the puzzles in a Resident Evil or Silent Hill game. The visuals and sound design are really quite something and lift the experience somewhat, which tells me that there’s potential for a fantastic horror experience to come from Wales Interactive.
Maid of Sker has an interesting story based on the House of Sker folklore. The use of binaural sounds is extremely well done but is let down by its reliance on jump scares and repetitive sound effects. The holding your breath mechanic does help and adds an extra layer to the survival aspect.
Compelling story and a lot of missed opportunities in terms of gameplay.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Overall if you can look past its flaws Maid of Sker provides a fun little romp through a setting haunted by the physical supernatural. Unlocking your path forward can be a rewarding experience but you may need to endure a few trial and errors to get there. The story is serviceable but predictable and is saved by the fantastic realization of the backdrop in which your playing. A serviceable game that will definitely find an audience.
The designs of Elizabeth's family aren't so much foreshadowed as foreshouted, and the plot soon wavers off-key and winds up shipwrecked. But something about it hangs around, like the hum of an unsettling tune.
Maid of Sker gives a great deal that is progressed nicely, and I will appreciate frightfulness aficionados, for example, myself. However, the hindrances, for a few, are possibly more than worth managing.
Impressive gothic horror abounds.
An excellent premise, a compelling narrative, and an effective atmosphere of dread are scuppered by muddy visuals, an antiquated save system, and stilted gameplay mechanics lacking in new ideas. Multiple endings reward those who persevere though, so fans of folk-horror should sample the wares within Sker Hotel, but for most the game will feel stuck in the past.
To finish I can not stop recommending the title whether you are a user of the genre or not, because it does not invent anything new in it, but it is really entertaining. If you are a lover of that exploration with puzzles that reminds of that of the old survival horror, even saving the game on gramophones, you will enjoy touring the rooms of the Sker hotel, Leaving aside its technical limitations, it is a pleasant experience, to tour the rooms in this overwhelming atmosphere, accompanied by the great sound work that they have done from Wales Interactive. As well as its soundtrack, it is one of the great atmospheres of terror of recent years in the world without a doubt.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
In short, Wales Interactive really hit it out of the park with Maid Of Sker and if this game is an example of what’s to come, I, for one, absolutely can’t wait to see what they do next.