Enigma of Fear Review

Enigma of Fear is a survival horror that involves complex puzzles, exploration, and psychological terror, all set inside the Paranormal Order Universe. The game is developed by Dumativa in cooperation with Rafael Lange from Cellbit. It offers chillingly mysterious worlds with which to be fully engaged. You play as Mia, daughter to the paranormal who visits The Perimeter- an eccentric place that apparently does not exist- to discover the truth behind her father's disappearance.

Enigma of Fear is inspired by Alan Wake and Resident Evil, presenting action, boss battles, and survival features. What clearly sets this game apart from others is the focus on intricate and remarkably engaging puzzles. Instead of basic problem-solutions, these warp deep-thinking abilities in fully involving players in the eerie narrative of the game. Set in a moody, atmospheric backdrop, the story manages to weave together thrilling and thought-provoking elements, both new and old, from the inherited lore of the Paranormal Order Universe. Let's get into it in the review.

The storytelling in Enigma of Fear is one of its strongest points. Instead of handing you the story outright, the game lets you uncover it by exploring, reading documents, and connecting clues on your own. This investigative style makes you feel like a real detective, and it's satisfying when you manage to piece things together. However, this also means there might be times when you feel unsure of what to do or where to go; even so, those moments didn't feel frustrating to me—instead, they pushed me to dig deeper and find answers.

One thing that really stands out is the game's open-world design. Unlike many horror games with linear paths, Enigma of Fear encourages you to explore freely. You can wander through the Perimeter at your own pace, uncover secrets, solve puzzles, and face supernatural enemies. I spent hours just exploring, and the world felt alive—though eerie and unsettling. This freedom made me feel like I had control over the story, which I really enjoyed.

That said, however, there are some disadvantages to the open-world approach. There is very little direction in this game, so it's a bit frustrating for those people who like having specific objectives. I had a couple of occasions on which I could be found wandering around aimlessly, trying to figure out what to do next. The tall grass bits were tricky–they looked good and added to the atmosphere, yet they made it harder to find your way around, so I got lost in those spots more than I'm willing to admit.

The investigation system in Enigma of Fear is detailed and immersive. You have tools like a UV flashlight to reveal hidden messages, a gun for defense, and old radio equipment that lets you communicate with two support characters, Samuel and Agatha, who can provide hints or discuss your findings. The game's nonlinear structure offers a vast, interconnected world to explore, with key locations like a creepy mansion, a cathedral, a graveyard, and more.

The environment is full of puzzles and riddles, much like a true detective case. You'll encounter diaries, documents, mechanical locks with specific symbols, and plenty of environmental storytelling, including audio recordings. While you'll occasionally face blood zombies in combat, the game focuses more on letting you figure out how to handle situations rather than overwhelming you with constant fights. There are also about six boss fights in the game, including one featuring a four-armed blood zombie, but these are more significant story moments than traditional action sequences.

The puzzles were fair enough but challenging, and it made me feel good to solve them. Mia's mental map was specifically good at helping me piece things together; I felt like an actual investigator uncovering a mystery.

Combat, on the other hand, involves varied experiences. Some of them were pretty hardcore supernatural fights, thrilling but at times overwhelming. I learned how to do it through various unsuccessful approaches with few tutorials, which was annoying at the beginning. Once I got it, however, the fights turned out to be one of the most enjoyable things to do in this game.

Then there's Lopi, Mia's loyal dog. Lopi isn't just a companion; his presence is essential to the gameplay; whether he's sniffing out clues, alerting you to danger, or simply staying by your side, Lopi plays a crucial role in navigating the Perimeter. That said, controlling him wasn't as intuitive as I'd hoped. It took some time to figure out how to use his abilities effectively, and the game could have done a better job of explaining his role.

There are two difficulty modes in Enigma of Fear. One of them is Detective Mode, which offers a more challenging experience. In this mode, the game doesn't track your notes or give you a mini-map—you're on your own. You'll need to keep track of notes manually, and you might even find yourself taking pictures of the screen to remember important details. It makes the experience feel more immersive, and that's the mode I chose.

However, I started to regret that choice about halfway through. Once you pick a mode, there's no way to switch back. The issue I ran into is that, as a content creator with multiple games to juggle, I wasn't able to play Enigma of Fear in one sitting or over a short enough period to keep everything organized. I struggled to remember all the details, and I didn't realize how complex the puzzles would be. I didn't start keeping careful notes early on, and that became a problem later in the game.

The graphics feature a unique mix of 2D-pixel art and 3D assets, creating a visual effect that tricks your brain into perceiving the 2D sprites as 3D when you move around. You almost forget that they're 2D. The artwork, assets, puzzles, and characters have all been well-executed. The characters, for the most part. 

The light in the game was, at times, more of an obstruction than an aid. In some areas, it was so dark that seeing what lay ahead was next to impossible, even after illuminating a flashlight. While it definitely added a great feel to the tension, the gameplay became somewhat annoying.

The sounds from a solid background adapt themselves perfectly during events in the game, increasing pressure at well-chosen moments. The pressure builds tension and mounting hushedness but is incredibly brought out, catching my breath full of expectation. Effects include each creak of a floorboard, screams far off, and whispers in the dark, adding to the haunting atmosphere of this video game. If you play, I highly recommend headphones. The audio would become its own character.

Did I mention that the entire dialogue and storytelling, delivered through old recordings, are fully voice-acted? This is impressive for a smaller game like this, and it enhances the connection to the characters.

If speaking in terms of value-for-money, this game deserves paying for. It is certainly not the longest game, but there is plenty in here and good possibilities for replaying it. Those who enjoy showing up in every corner of the game world will find it easy to get in many hours. I revisit places that I have already visited, and when I go back, I find some added clues or maybe a piece of lore that adds to my understanding of the story.

Enigma of Fear presents a bewitching mix of experiences that melds exploration with puzzle-solving and psychological horror, dragging one into its world of mystery. It certainly is not the longest game, but that is compensated well by its weighty, interesting narrative and replayability.

The investigation system, the combat mechanics, and Mia's loyal dog, Lopi, all add depth to the gameplay experience, though there are a few areas where the mechanics could have been better explained. The choice of difficulty modes adds an extra layer of immersion but might leave some players wishing for more flexibility.

The graphics and sound design are notable for their creativity, with a striking mix of 2D and 3D visuals and an atmospheric soundtrack that draws you deeper into the game's world. Enigma of Fear offers strong value for its price, combining a rich narrative, challenging puzzles, and an atmospheric world. It may not be the longest game, but its depth and replayability make it worthwhile.