Ikai

 Xbox Series X
Ikai Image
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: Ikai is a first-person psychological horror game drawing inspiration from Japanese folklore. Live the horror by the hand of its defining yokais and submerge into the superstitions of the past driven by a unique story and exploration. Ikai embodies the spirit of the classical psychologicalIkai is a first-person psychological horror game drawing inspiration from Japanese folklore. Live the horror by the hand of its defining yokais and submerge into the superstitions of the past driven by a unique story and exploration. Ikai embodies the spirit of the classical psychological horror genre with a defenceless main character incapable of attacking the evil creatures. However, it explores a new sense of horror by making the player face the threats directly neither fleeing nor attacking. Every mechanic of the game is meant to raise this relatable feeling of helplessness and create a tense atmosphere. The slow, precise and natural movements as a way of interaction resemble real life’s to foster immersion in the uncanny world of Ikai.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 5
  3. Negative: 1 out of 5
  1. GamingTrend
    Mar 28, 2022
    75
    Ikai is a wonderful entry into the psychological horror genre. The story is intriguing and beautiful in its own way. The spooky music kept me feeling on edge, giving away no hint of any looming dangers, adding that much more to my sense of unease. I just wish there had been more of it.
  2. Xbox Tavern
    Apr 18, 2022
    70
    Overall and if you like horror games that pick up on typically used tropes or ones that have atmospheric tension dripping from every angle, then Ikai is probably going to call out to you. If you’re wanting a polished Japanese scare-fest, then you may want to either wait for a few updates or skip this one until a sale rolls around. It’s not a game you should avoid entirely but even with incredible audio and fantastic atmospheric design, this isn’t likely to be the biggest horror you’ll play this year, but in the same breath it will be far from the worst.
  3. Generación Xbox
    Apr 19, 2022
    67
    Ikai is a first-person horror adventure that provides an interesting starting point to understand a little more about the figures we continually encounter in ancient Japanese culture.
  4. TheXboxHub
    Apr 6, 2022
    50
    The action is dull, and while the monsters are nice, you never really feel like you are in any danger; as such the horror part of Ikai falls flat.
  5. GamingBolt
    Mar 29, 2022
    40
    Ikai's interesting setting and unsettling atmosphere are let down by its clunky gameplay, mundane and repetitive structure, and several technical issues.

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 1 out of 1
  1. Jt0429
    Mar 30, 2022
    4
    Good-
    The setting is fairly interesting. The audio design is excellent. The atmosphere is very unsettling
    Bad- The actual game structure    Good-
    The setting is fairly interesting. The audio design is excellent. The atmosphere is very unsettling

    Bad-
    The actual game structure is mundane and annoying. The movement and controls are so clunky. The puzzles are so uneven in difficulty it is just not fun. The plot is poorly paced. The visual and technical issues are so so bad here with glitches and pop in for a next gen game is unacceptable. Sub-par localization, writing and voice acting.

    Thoughts-
    All said and done, Ikai is a frustrating game. There’s a kernel of a good idea in there – psychological horror inspired by Japanese folklore is always interesting, while the atmosphere the game builds from the first second is also commendable – but it’s all outmatched to an almost overwhelming degree by the game’s many issues. The fact that it’s as short as it is and still manages to feel longer than it should be should tell you what you need to know about Ikai– that it’s a good idea that’s failed to evolve into a good game.    … Expand