Yomawari: Lost in the Dark Critic Reviews

Yomawari: Lost in the Dark is a creepy horror adventure, where you need to find clues from your past to resolve the curse put on you. Don’t get barlowed from the cute and children friendly first impression, since it turns into a nightmare real quick. Its not only visually very creepy, it also plays with typical human fears and great sound effects, so be prepared for some mean jumpscares and a great storyline.

This sequel’s twist is an ‘eyes closed’ mechanic: if you can’t see it, it can’t see you. Because of that, slowly plodding around the ominous red mist of enemies, your rapidly increasing heartbeat indicating proximity, becomes a simple yet terrifying staple (as do creating distractions, using your torch, and just legging it). As your vision’s frequently limited, the sound design is crucial. Between the lack of music, the almost echo-location function of the heartbeat, and disturbing noises made by the spirits, it evokes the feeling that you are never truly safe. And you aren’t. Lovely!

A third chapter that does not differ too much from the previous ones but is expanded in terms of map and plot.

This third entry in the survival horror series developed by Nippon Ichi doesn't add so much to the original formula, but it feels more mature and brings more content to the “explore, hide and resolve” side.

To break a curse placed upon her, a young girl must venture into the haunted streets of her town at night to search for her lost memories while evading the twisted spirits that lurk in the darkness.

Yomawari: Lost in the Dark is the new (very conservative) chapter of the small but artistically delightful horror series.

The presentation and the fear factor of Yomawari: Lost in the Dark leave a great first impression. The beautifully crafted visuals and moment-to-moment potential horror you face makes it an unnerving experience that’s hard to shake. However, the more you play, the less you’re rewarded with actual reasoning from the story. It’s a gut punch to persevere in the final act. This may be appealing to fans of the series but it didn’t make a new one of me by the end.

Yomawari: Lost in the Dark is a new game in the franchise five years after its last, delivering familiar gameplay and setting for fans of the series, but losing the opportunity to reinvent itself and target a wider public.

Yomawari: Lost in the Dark is a decent horror title that never quite allows itself to excel in any particular area. Japanese horror fans will enjoy the variety of enemies and the scares, but outside of the cleanly drawn visuals and a decent story, it can’t escape the demon of its own design – a short runtime that just feels too long due to its repetitive gameplay and late-revealing secrets.

With its unique gameplay and superb audio, Yomawari: Lost in the Dark offers a solid albeit repetitious fear-fest that fits in 2 dimensions.