Gylt had its Summer debut on Steam on July 6th, 2023 after its previous role as a system-exclusive game on Google Stadia. After Google Stadia’s closure, fans rejoiced that Gylt had made its way to being re-released via multiple platforms for all who enjoy the genre. Tequila Works and Parallel Limited worked together to develop this Horror-puzzle mystery so let’s go over a few things.
Gylt takes place in the old mining town of Bethelwood; a small rural area where our protagonist Sally resides. After her cousin goes missing and the case goes cold, Sally continues to put up posters around town looking for any clues to her cousin’s disappearance. Sally makes her way up into the mountains, where she’s met with bullies who pester her until she falls off a cliff. While making her way back, she discovers Bethelwood is now dilapidated and riddled with monsters and secrets. At first glance, Gylt is reminiscent of popular animated films such as Coraline, and faces similar dark themes whilst under the guise of a child-friendly cartoon. Going into the journey, the tone and atmosphere is the biggest payout. Both never become too exciting, but never too boring where you’d want to stop playing. Gylt does an amazing job at setting up for stealth that feels important; aside from a flashlight, your own two hands, and a fire extinguisher, you are ill-equipped to deal with the opposition.
In terms of gameplay and overall tone, Gylt is a bare-bones puzzle-horror and fits the genre well. It never gives you too much ease as to breeze by enemies but you can always find solutions without having to resort to a wiki or outside resources. The tone sets you up for the haunting reality you find yourself in, with all the dark crevices and flickering lights to add to the imperative stealth. The mechanics are fluid and functional, I would only opt to suggest being able to turn off the motion blur as it can be a little nauseating at times. Aside from this everything within the game is stylized and with purpose. With this being said, replacing weapons to only a flashlight is a welcomed trope changer; adding to the overall helplessness and fear of running low on battery amidst an attack- unlike other titles that get progressively less scary due to power creep and abilities.
Gylt’s sound design and music makes for a chilling experience, the sound effects of the monsters as they scour your previous movements and lurch through the dark environment with nothing more than broken lights and fire in your path is fantastic. I recommend wearing headphones to immerse yourself in your search for Emily.
Gylt is a good middle-ground game and I recommend playing it. It never strays from what it’s supposed to be. A survival puzzle horror with a solid story. The plot is a slower burn with reading notes and finding symbolism but it is rewarding to say the least. You could potentially finish the story arch within one sitting if you’re willing to put in a few hours or enjoy it over the course of a day or two. Whichever you choose to do, it is an experience worth having albeit a short, but entertaining and smooth running game.
Pros:
- Stylized in a fun cartoon way
- Smooth Gameplay
- Meaningful stealth mechanics
- Excellent Story
Cons:
- Motion Blur
- Too slow at times
- Some sound / dialogue overlapping
