Platform reviewed: Steam (Steam Deck)
Also on: PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S
Price: $19.99
The key lesson I took away from Crow Country is simple: don’t be greedy, and don’t mess with the supernatural.
I'm not a fan of horror games, so I initially avoided Crow Country. However, after playing Harvest Hunt (another fantastic game published by Neonhive), and having heard good things about Crow Country and decided to give it a try. The story drew me in with its well crafted characters and mystery. While it has some horror elements, like the visual setting of a run down amusement park and the eerie sounds and music, it’s not the kind of game that relies on jump scares (although there were a few). Instead, Crow Country leans into a spooky atmosphere, but its real strength is in its storytelling.
The protagonist is Mara Forest, a special agent sent to Crow Country, a decrepit amusement park, in search of Edward Crow, the owner of the derelict park who has gone missing. It quickly becomes apparent that I'm walking into a bad situation. Most of the equipment is out of order, and there are what appears to be blood stains and messages written in blood. Mutated, freaky-looking creatures wander around—and I’m sure they’re there to do me harm.The narrative is my favorite part of Crow Country - as I journey with Mara to uncover the whereabouts of Edward Crow, it becomes more and more apparent that this is more than just finding a lost person - it’s imperative that Mara finds Edward, as if her own life depends on it.
As the story unfolds, Crow Country pulls me deeper into its lore, encouraging me to uncover the secrets hidden within. I come across staff notes, revealing their thoughts on the strange occurrences, and newspaper clippings that detail how park visitors were harmed by the mysterious creatures. Letters to Edward from his associates expose some of his questionable business dealings, leaving me to wonder what else he was involved in besides running an amusement park. I also learn about his deep love for his daughter and discover a journal that recounts a discovery Edward made as a child with his father. Piece by piece, these notes and the characters I encounter start to reveal the true nature of Edward’s actions. A major twist awaits at the game’s conclusion—one I won’t spoil here. I find myself discovering the truth alongside Mara, questioning both her fate at the end of the game and the unsettling truth she uncovers in Crow Country.
The clues I discover didn’t just deepen the story—they also provide the solutions to the game’s various puzzles. Most were relatively simple, though a few riddles required more thought and took some time to figure out. In addition to solving these puzzles, Crow Country kept me searching for keys and objects to unlock doors or activate machinery essential for progressing. Backtracking to previously explored areas became common as I encountered locked doors or equipment needing a specific item to function. The challenge comes when it isn’t always clear which object was needed to make certain machines work, which makes searching for a specific item more difficult, when I’m unsure what I am looking for.
I start off armed with a handgun and a limited supply of ammo—initially, not enough in my opinion. But as I explore, I quickly find an abundance of both ammo and weapons, some of which were hidden secret items. Though not necessary to complete the game, these hidden weapons made my journey much easier. Early on, I made the mistake of trying to kill every enemy I encountered, which quickly depleted my ammo. I later realized I could skip some enemies and even a few mini-bosses (though I only figured this out after I triggered them). Combat, however, was one of my least favorite parts of the game. The sluggish aiming system made it difficult to hit enemies effectively, and since headshots were required to take them down efficiently, the slow controls became frustrating.
Another aspect that provides some frustration is the loading screens. I played on a Steam Deck, so that may have played a part in the long loading screens, but everytime I moved from one room to the next, waiting for the next room to load got tedious after a while.
Final Grade: A-
Despite a few minor critiques, Crow Country is a fantastic game. I'm glad I gave Crow Country a try, as it has quickly become one of my favorite Halloween games because of its rich atmosphere and compelling narrative. The story is compelling, and though it’s set in a creepy, abandoned amusement park with Playstation One-style aesthetics, it leans more into the realm of a sci-fi thriller than pure horror. The twist takes me completely by surprise, and the ending leaves me wondering about Mara’s fate and the secret she uncovers. If you’re looking for the perfect spooky game to dive into this Halloween, Crow Country is definitely worth your time.
Review code provided by Neonhive
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