Melancholianna

Free-to-play horror RPG

Melancholianna is a free adventure game from KAIB LTD, INC. This side-scrolling role-playing game puts you in charge of the titular character, a girl trapped in a dilapidated mansion. This world moves between that of the living and the otherworldly. Face monsters, find items, and solve puzzles as you move toward a primordial evil.

While it looks like a light horror experience, Melancholianna is actually an immersive and slightly challenging Metroidvania title. Its unexpected traps and jumpscares add quite the punch, despite the game having a short playthrough. It’s like Night Horror in the Pink House.

Imagine getting lost in an old mansion

The first thing to note about Melancholianna is the anime-inspired design of its main character. Meanwhile, the game itself follows a simple design commonly seen among indie titles. Each part of the stage is framed with bricks, keeping that old mansion aesthetic. As for the monsters, they mostly look tame and generic, aside from a few boss-like creatures scattered around.

For the gameplay, it’s pretty straightforward. You have almost no means of fighting monsters traditionally. Instead, you use various items such as torches and blades. Other than that, your only choice is to avoid monsters or let them take their course. This aspect is divisive because some monsters can get frustrating, while others will appreciate the creative ways of getting around.

However, the game could use more story content. Its short playthrough only serves to build up expectations from its unusual way of dealing with the enemies. Once you think you’re getting used to it, the game abruptly ends. It has no ending sequence, and no story closure, which all makes the experience feel incomplete. This also leaves the experience with limited replayability.

A worthy indie experience

If you’re looking for a quick horror experience, Melancholianna can deliver. The retro visuals, the droning and creepy soundtrack, and the horror and storytelling elements actually make this short game memorable. Make sure you’re ready, though, there are parts that will take a couple of tries to pull through. Overall, the design, soundtrack, and puzzle-centered gameplay make it a good indie game despite its limited replayability.