Devour, a co-op horror survival game developed by Straight Back Games, has been making waves on PC since its release in January 2021. While not a narrative masterpiece, it offers a unique blend of frantic action, jump scares, and – most importantly – hilarious moments when played with friends. This review will delve into everything you need to know about Devour, from its creepy atmosphere and challenging gameplay to its limited content and replayability.

What is Devour?

Devour throws you and up to three friends into a terrifying situation. You play as unsuspecting cultists who accidentally awaken a monstrous entity named Anna during a satanic ritual. Now, your objective is simple: survive her wrath and banish her back to the underworld. But achieving this goal is far from easy. You’ll need to explore procedurally generated maps, collect ritual items, and appease the ever-growing hunger of the demonic Anna.

A Feast for the Frights? Examining Devour’s Gameplay

Cooperative Chaos: The Fun of Working (or Not Working) Together

Devour’s core strength lies in its co-op gameplay. The thrill of frantically searching for ritual items while a monstrous entity chases you is amplified tenfold when you’re doing it with friends. The game thrives on communication and teamwork. Players will need to strategize, share resources, and revive each other to survive. But beware – Devour can also be a recipe for hilarious disaster. With friendly fire enabled by default, accidental (or intentional) team sabotage can lead to some of the game’s funniest moments.

Hide-and-Seek with a Demonic Twist: Evolving Enemy AI

One of Devour’s most interesting aspects is its enemy AI. Anna, the main antagonist, starts slow and relatively predictable. However, as you progress through the ritual, she becomes increasingly aggressive and intelligent. This keeps players on their toes, forcing them to adapt their strategies constantly.

Procedural Puzzles: Fresh Scares Every Time (Sort Of)

While the core objective remains the same – appease Anna and complete the ritual – Devour’s procedurally generated maps offer some level of replayability. Each playthrough throws unique layouts and item placements at you, requiring you to adjust your tactics on the fly. However, the limited number of maps and enemy types can make the experience feel repetitive after a while.

Aesthetics to Die For (Literally): A Feast for the Eyes (and Ears)

Devour boasts an impressive visual style. The environments are dark and oppressive, with unsettling details that create a genuinely creepy atmosphere. The sound design is equally effective, with eerie ambient sounds and Anna’s bone-chilling shrieks adding to the tension.

A Short But Sweet Serving: Devour’s Content and Replayability

Here’s where Devour might leave you wanting more. Currently, the game offers only one main campaign with a single ending. While the procedurally generated maps offer some variation, the core gameplay loop can become repetitive after a few playthroughs. The recently released additional maps (“The Asylum,” “The Lighthouse,” “The Abandoned Casino,” and “The Altars”) add some variety, but completionists might find the overall content lacking.

What are People Saying About Devour?

Praise for the Frights and Friends

Devour has garnered a positive reputation on platforms like Steam, with user reviews praising its frantic co-op gameplay, creepy atmosphere, and surprisingly funny moments. Players especially enjoy the challenge of working together (or against each other) to survive Anna’s wrath.

A Hunger for More Content

A common criticism of Devour is its limited content. While the procedurally generated maps offer some replayability, some players feel the game lacks variety in terms of maps, objectives, and enemy types.

Is Devour Worth Your Time (and Money)?

The Verdict: A Deliciously Chaotic Co-op Experience

Devour offers a unique and thrilling co-op horror experience. While the lack of content and replayability might be a dealbreaker for some, the frantic gameplay, creepy atmosphere, and hilarious moments with friends make it a worthwhile purchase for horror fans looking for a short but intense scare. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide:

Get Devour if:

You love co-op horror games.

You enjoy frantic action and jump scares.

You don’t mind the occasional friendly fire (or intentional sabotage).

You’re looking for a fun and affordable horror experience with friends.

Skip Devour if:

You crave a lengthy and expansive horror adventure.

You prefer single-player experiences.

You get easily frustrated by repetitive gameplay.

FAQs

What is Devour?

Devour is a co-op survival horror game developed by Straight Back Games. It can be played with 1 to 4 players and tasks you with completing a ritual to stop a demonic entity called Anna from dragging you to hell.

Is Devour scary?

Player experiences vary, but Devour can be quite frightening. The atmosphere is unsettling, the creature design is grotesque, and the looming threat of Anna keeps you on edge. However, some players find the co-op nature lessens the fear factor compared to traditional single-player horror games.

What are the core gameplay mechanics?

Devour is objective-based. You’ll explore creepy environments, solve puzzles, and collect items to complete the ritual. The catch is that Anna is actively hunting you. You’ll need to be stealthy, avoid detection, and work together as a team to survive.

How long is Devour?

A single playthrough of the main map (The Farmhouse) can take 1-2 hours. However, there are additional difficulty modes and new maps available as DLC, offering more content to explore.

Is Devour worth buying?

Reviews are generally positive, with many praising the fun of co-op horror and the game’s price point (around $5 USD). However, some find the content limited and the difficulty uneven. If you enjoy co-op horror games and don’t mind shorter experiences, Devour is worth checking out, especially with friends.

Is Devour single-player?

Technically, yes, you can play Devour alone. However, the experience is heavily balanced for co-op, and the AI companion isn’t very helpful. Most players recommend playing with friends for the best experience.

What platforms is Devour on?

Currently, Devour is only available for PC on Steam.

Are there any future updates planned for Devour?

The developers have released several updates since launch, adding new maps, characters, and difficulty modes. While there haven’t been any official announcements, continued support seems likely.

Do you enjoy co-op games? 

Devour is best experienced with friends.

Are you looking for a long horror experience? 

The base game is short, with additional content offered as DLC.

Can you handle jump scares and unsettling imagery? 

Devour is a horror game, so expect some scares.

What are some alternatives to Devour?

If you’re looking for co-op horror experiences, here are a few options:

Phasmophobia: Investigate haunted locations and identify ghosts.

Left 4 Dead 2: A classic zombie shooter with strong co-op elements.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: A series of branching narrative horror games with co-op support.

I hope this FAQ helps you decide if Devour is the right game for you!

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