Before I launched Matreshka, I knew it was a horror game, but the first few minutes almost convinced me that I had mistakenly started some relaxing simulator of a Glovo delivery person. Pleasant colors, calm music, and pigeons in front of the building create a surprisingly relaxed atmosphere, and for a moment I really thought: “Maybe this won't be so traumatic after all.” Of course, that feeling lasts exactly until you enter the elevator. Then the game drops its mask, the atmosphere becomes heavy and claustrophobic, and the whole experience slowly turns into a real nightmare.
The best part of the game is definitely the atmosphere. The Soviet horror aesthetic is really well captured; moldy walls, rust everywhere, depressing hallways, and a constant feeling that everything around you is decaying and falling apart. The elevator especially feels realistic with all the graffiti and drawings of penises on the walls. The apartments look old and creepy, and the music contributes well to the overall impression. Some visuals stuck with me, especially after the “respawn” when the game teleports you to the bottom of the elevator where you smoke a cigarette surrounded by holographic swans. I know, it sounds strange, but the first few times it looks beautiful and serves as a break from what awaits you on the floors above, but after a while, it becomes just as repetitive as the rest of the game.
The problem is that the gameplay quickly becomes monotonous. Most of the time, you just go through the same floors over and over again while everything loops. Parts of the map feel empty, and the automated sounds that activate every time you pass certain parts of the map give an impression of incompleteness. Many horror elements become predictable, and by the end of the game, the story felt like it didn't really have any special meaning.
The game also has several annoying bugs. On the third floor, there is a moment where you can literally see the game teleporting you from one part of the hallway to another, which completely kills the atmosphere. On the seventh floor, if you don't enter the elevator immediately, the doors close and you can't open them even by pressing the button, so you have to reset the game. Also, the game isn't very well optimized considering the graphics it offers.
Despite that, there are details that I really appreciated. The animation of lighting a match looks great, and some scenes really create a sense of discomfort. I wish the game had more variety and a better “payoff” in the story and didn't rely entirely on “jumpscare” elements. And to be honest, the elevator desperately lacks “creepy elevator music.”
Overall, Matreshka has an excellent atmosphere and several striking visuals, but repetitive gameplay, bugs, predictability, and a sense of incompleteness have significantly affected my opinion of the game. I finished Matreshka in about 2 hours, although the game can probably be completed faster. I have respect for the developer as the game was made by one person, and you can really see the effort in certain details. Unfortunately, I'm not a big fan of the overall experience and I probably wouldn't play it again.
A copy of the PC version for review purposes was provided by the development studio Megame LLC
