Tales from Candleforth is a folk horror 2D point and click game with puzzles and escape room mechanics, that narrates the fairy tales from the village. The text contained in this ancient and evil book is now bleeding out, mixing the world of nightmares with the real one through handmade 2D graphics.
Players describe the puzzles as "well-designed" and "challenging but not frustrating." The logical nature of the puzzles allows players to use their problem-solving skills to figure them out, rather than relying on guesswork. The puzzles seamlessly integrate with the game's world and narrative, giving players a sense of progression and discovery as they unravel the mysteries. The review highlights that the puzzles strike a good balance in difficulty. Some are more straightforward, while others require more thought and exploration. While a few puzzles were "obscure" or required "brute forcing," the majority of players found the puzzle difficulty to be appropriate and rewarding.
Players thoroughly enjoy the detailed, hand-drawn environments, praising the "beautiful," "creepy," and "atmospheric" art style. The environments encourage close examination, as players can interact with various objects to uncover clues and progress the story. The point-and-click mechanics allow seamless interaction with the game world. Players can collect items, combine them, and use them to solve puzzles, creating an engaging and satisfying exploration and progression loop.
The reviews emphasize the strong integration between the gameplay and the game's narrative. Players appreciate how the puzzles and exploration enhance their investment in the story, with the mysteries and supernatural elements blending seamlessly into the gameplay experience. Many players highlight the cohesive nature of the gameplay mechanics and the "folk horror" theme, which work together to create an immersive experience. The puzzles and interactions feel like natural extensions of the narrative, drawing players deeper into the world.