Eyes Of The ElderWood

This is pretty neat so far, I really liked the enemy design in this game. I don't know anything about Kashubian folklore so learning more about that is a treat. I also thought the spell system was unique and pretty cool. I'll definitely be coming back for the next update.

A fantastic atmosphere wasted on a cheap and boring puzzle game. Eyes of the ElderWood presents itself as a Slavic folklore-inspired survival horror adventure: unsettling forests, supernatural creatures, sanity, magic and a revolver. Everything suggests an exploration and survival experience with an early-2000s horror aesthetic. Unfortunately, beneath that presentation lies little more than a linear corridor filled with tedious puzzles. Most of the game consists of lighting torches, activating mechanisms and platforms, finding the next switch, and repeating timed sequences. These obstacles feel artificially inserted merely to stretch out extremely linear levels. The platforming is clumsy, the puzzles are uninteresting and, mechanically, none of it fits the atmosphere the game is trying to create. The magic system could have been used to investigate rituals, uncover secrets or learn how to confront creatures from folklore. Instead, it mostly functions as a glorified coloured key: draw the symbol, light the torch, activate the platform and continue down the corridor. Combat and survival elements are so scarce that presenting them as the core of the experience feels misleading. This is not survival horror with a few puzzles. It is a linear puzzle-platforming adventure with occasional bursts of action, disguised by a survival-horror aesthetic far more interesting than the actual game underneath. Visually and atmospherically, it offers exactly the kind of world I wanted to explore. That only makes the disappointment worse. I expected to survive, investigate and confront strange creatures—not spend most of my time lighting little torches to activate platforms. Attractive art direction cannot carry a game whose core mechanics are this boring, rudimentary and disconnected from the experience it appears to promise. I cannot recommend it.

I like the main idea of the game. Just a couple mentions: -Make the enemies a bit more aggressive there are a few situations when you can skip them really easy. -I like the idea of each enemies is weak to certain spells. -The second level is to bright it doesn't feel to spooky. In general it was good. ദ്ദി(ᵔᗜᵔ)

So far I like the game and the horror atmosphere is creates. It's primarily a puzzle game with some combat, but you can easily get by without killing everything. The rune system for combat is actually pretty neat and I hope to see more from that. Only a few enemies were actually a threat, others are either stationary or stick to a repeated path. I thought the boss fight for stage 3 (end of EA launch) was very slow and you can easily softlock yourself if you attack a certain enemy before it grabs a certain thing (no spoilers). I also felt that the main character's dialogue was questionably relaxed and comedic, which is pretty contradictory to the atmosphere and setting. Summary: Cool puzzle horror game, combat is ok, dialogue is weird.

So far the atmosphere is decent, and the gameplay is similar to something like Resident Evil/Runehaven which is nice 🔥 I do have a suggestion though, as it has caused me to have to exit out of the game 3 times now (I feel the reload for magic should be on Q rather than R, as I have wasted so many bullets when pressing R to cancel the magic, for it to reload cause I am a reload spammer) Update: Beat the game, and what was offered was nice! I definitely would like to see the story added to more though, as it was short, and didn't really get deep into any lore before it ended (end level could use some more depth as well, as it was mainly just running, and then the boss fight)

great game idea, a little clunky in its controls so far but loads of potential to become a great game. the spell castign is a really nice touch

Interesting little game. Gameplay wise combat system is an interesting blend between depended on your speed drawing magic (Arx Fatalis) and slow gun mechanic (Any Survival Horror). You need to get used to it, but it works perfect forcing you to use both in combat and when solving puzzles. Level design is done well in the second. The first is a little to linear acting more like a tutorial and the third is interesting, but short I hope their will be much more available levels then now. AI of the monsters is weird in the first level the enemies when the notice you and it feels random and you are in their range you will get hit and you can't do anything about it. Moving Enemies in the second level feel good, the stationery ones never attacked me, maybe to low detection range. Sound design is serviceable. Ambients are good. Would i recommend it ? For this price yes it is very promising.

Eyes Of. The ElderWood is an atmospheric first-person horror adventure developed by Virtual Sanctuary and published by Forever Entertainment S.A. Drawing heavily from Kashubian folklore, the game distinguishes itself by embracing myths and legends that are rarely explored in mainstream horror titles. Instead of relying on familiar haunted houses or generic monsters, it introduces players to a mysterious woodland filled with ancient rituals, forgotten secrets, and supernatural forces inspired by regional traditions. This cultural foundation gives the adventure a memorable identity while creating an eerie world that feels both unfamiliar and deeply immersive. Exploration is at the heart of the experience, encouraging players to uncover the truth behind the cursed ElderWood through abandoned settlements, shadowy forests, hidden caves, and unsettling ruins. Every environment contributes to the game's storytelling, rewarding curiosity with clues, lore, and environmental details that gradually reveal the larger mystery. Rather than overwhelming players with nonstop action, the game favors slow, deliberate pacing that allows suspense to build naturally. Its retro-inspired visuals further strengthen the atmosphere, combining nostalgic aesthetics with effective lighting and environmental design to create locations that are unsettling without depending solely on graphic imagery. A standout feature is the unique spellcasting system, which requires players to manually draw magical symbols before activating their powers. This mechanic adds a layer of involvement that makes magic feel more personal and interactive than simply pressing a button. Spells serve multiple purposes, allowing players to reveal hidden paths, manipulate the environment, solve puzzles, and confront supernatural enemies. Traditional combat is also available through a revolver, giving players the flexibility to combine mystical abilities with conventional weapons. The balance between exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat helps keep gameplay varied while reinforcing the game's supernatural theme. Psychological horror is reinforced through a sanity mechanic that changes the player's perception as they venture deeper into the cursed wilderness. Hallucinations, distorted visuals, and increasingly unreliable surroundings create constant uncertainty about what is real and what is merely a product of a deteriorating mind. This feature adds tension beyond enemy encounters, making exploration itself feel dangerous. The game succeeds in maintaining an oppressive atmosphere where every corner of the forest seems capable of hiding another disturbing secret, encouraging players to remain alert throughout their journey. As an Early Access release, Eyes Of. The ElderWood currently represents the opening chapters of a much larger vision. The available content already introduces its core mechanics, world-building, and narrative direction, while future updates are planned to expand the story, introduce new environments, enemies, and gameplay systems, and refine existing mechanics based on community feedback. Although players looking for a fully complete adventure may prefer waiting for the final version, the current build provides a strong demonstration of the developers' ambitions and showcases a project with considerable potential. Eyes Of. The ElderWood succeeds by combining authentic folklore, immersive exploration, creative magical mechanics, and psychological horror into a cohesive experience that feels distinct from many modern horror games. Its emphasis on atmosphere over constant action allows the mystery and tension to develop at a satisfying pace, while its cultural inspiration gives the adventure a unique personality. Although its Early Access status means there is still room for expansion and polish, the foundation is promising and already offers an engaging journey for fans of narrative-driven horror. If the remaining content reaches the same level of quality as the existing material, this title has the potential to become a standout entry in the indie horror genre. Rating: 8/10