Fear in video games: a theme strongly associated with horror, but it can also be found in survival, action, or simulation games. When fear takes over a game, the result is often the same, the player’s sanity slowly vanishes, and their pulse races in an instant. That’s how it usually goes, but what if a game based on fear isn’t scary at all? Asfalia: Fear achieves exactly this idea, providing us with the sweetest, most cheerful, and most inspiring “fear-filled” game, intended for both children and adults.
In Asfalia: Fear, we play as Charlie, a curious and cheerful boy whose puppies suddenly disappear in the park during a storm. While searching for them, he meets Lily, a fallen star who accompanies him on his journey. Together, they must navigate strange worlds that are being attacked by a mysterious shadow, forcing them to confront their greatest fears. Only by overcoming various challenges and helping others will they be able to find the lost dogs and save Asfalia from the sinister shadow.
It’s a fairly simple point-and-click game, some might even say too simple. We explore various locations, find clues to solve puzzles, and then move on to the next world. There are no frustrating moments, impossibly difficult brain teasers, or reasons to feel stuck or confused. Given the difficulty level and the game’s visual style, it’s clear it’s primarily aimed at children to help them recognize and develop their emotions through play.
But even though the game excels at this, I believe Asfalia: Fear can be equally enjoyed by adults; for instance, the game contains numerous references and comical elements aimed at an older audience and pop culture enthusiasts.
What will delight both children and adults is the game’s stunning presentation. The worlds we visit during the adventure are visually beautiful, diverse, and highly interactive; players can change the environment, either to advance the story or to discover hidden secrets. Everything is hand-painted and smoothly animated, which is especially noticeable during the short animated scenes (though, I must admit it would be useful to add an option to skip transitions and dialogue or at least to speed them up). It’s also worth mentioning that every sentence in the game is professionally voice-acted.
Although Asfalia: Fear is a relatively short game with gameplay based on frequently revisiting previous locations, it offers mini-games and challenges that encourage players to replay. Not only can they try to achieve the best score among friends in a peculiar version of Space Invaders, but they can also find all the hidden secrets and easter eggs, which earn them prize stickers. In that sense, the only possible fear you’ll feel during this game is that of empty spots in your album—luckily, that’s easily fixed with another round of the game, filled with curiosity and creativity.
Full of humor, optimism, and childlike joy, Asfalia: Fear is more of an emotionally rich and educational experience than a classic point-and-click adventure. While its simplicity and cheerfulness might not be to everyone’s taste, this game represents a great opportunity for anyone who loves warm, inspiring stories but gets frustrated by tedious puzzles.
In the end, it is the game’s message that leaves the strongest impression: fear doesn’t have to be something negative or painful. It is a part of life that we must learn to cope with, and this game helps you do so in the most beautiful way possible.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Hand-painted smooth animations. | Unskippable dialogues. |
| Fully voiced acting. | Slow transitions. |
| Touching story. | Simple puzzles. |
| Great replayability. | Contains bugs. |
Review copy provided by the publisher
3.5
