Tom's Verdict
Olivia was one of those games I deliberately went into completely blind. I hadn't watched any gameplay, avoided reading reviews and had very little idea what to expect. Looking back, I think that was absolutely the right decision because it allowed the story and atmosphere to unfold naturally.
The abandoned house immediately creates an uneasy feeling, and I really enjoyed the way the camera is used to uncover clues and reveal more of the story. It's a clever mechanic that gives exploration a genuine purpose, rather than simply having you wander from room to room looking for the next key.
I'm also someone who jumps far too easily, so the well-timed scares worked perfectly on me. They never felt overused, instead appearing just often enough to keep me on edge without becoming predictable. Even when I found myself slowing down, it was usually because I was nervously checking every corner before taking the next step.
The game isn't especially long, but I don't see that as a negative. It tells its story well, remains engaging throughout and left me satisfied by the time I reached the ending. The only part I found frustrating was one puzzle involving a clock, where I struggled to clearly see what I was doing, although that may simply have been down to my monitor or brightness settings rather than the game itself.
If you enjoy atmospheric psychological horror with an interesting story, clever puzzles and just enough jump scares to keep your heart rate elevated, Olivia is an easy game for me to recommend.
Game Screenshots
Watch My Gameplay
Prefer to see Olivia in action? Watch my gameplay video to see how the game plays before reading my full verdict.
Why I Liked This Game
- ✅ 📸 Unique camera mechanic – Using photography to uncover clues and progress the story gives exploration a fresh and engaging twist.
- ✅ 👻 Excellent atmosphere – The abandoned house creates a constant feeling of unease that kept me hooked throughout.
- ✅ 😱 Well-timed jump scares – The scares are used sparingly, making them far more effective when they do happen.
- ✅ 📖 Engaging story – I enjoyed uncovering the mystery piece by piece, with each discovery encouraging me to keep exploring.
- ✅ 💷 Great value – It's a relatively short experience, but it's well made and feels fairly priced for what it offers.
What I Didn't Like In This Game
- ❌ 🕰️ One puzzle lacked clarity – I struggled with a clock puzzle because it was difficult to clearly see what I was doing, although that may have been due to my monitor or brightness settings.
- ❌ ⏳ Quite a short adventure – The story doesn't last very long, so players looking for a lengthy horror experience may reach the ending sooner than expected.
