Mundaun
By David Chapman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Hand-drawn horror adventure feels scribbled together.

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Mundaun
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What’s It About?
MUNDAUN is a chilling, hand-penciled horror adventure fueled by the mythology of Swiss folklore. The story begins when players receive a letter informing them of their grandfather's passing in a fire at his barn in the small mountain village of Mundaun. Despite being told to stay away, players make their way to what's left of their grandfather's farm, only to discover that nothing is what it seems. A sinister conspiracy is at work, the machinations of a dark and supernatural evil that has a firm grip on the town and its inhabitants. Now, it's up to players to learn the history of events, the origins of Mundaun's deadly curse. But will they find a way to free themselves from the Devil's iron grip? Or will they be its next victim, extending evil's reach in the process?
Is It Any Good?
One of the biggest struggles in game development is achieving a balance between style and substance. While the indie horror adventure Mundaun can't be faulted for a lack of either, it's the balance part that the game seems to struggle with. The game's artistic style is unique, to say the least. It's first-person perspective uses 3D models, but with textures that have all been hand-drawn in pencil. While it makes for a distinct look, it's also jarring in a lot of places. Sometimes it's difficult to make out details in the environment and to understand what exactly you're supposed to be looking at. There's not a lot of consistency in the art either. Some sketches look sharp and finely tuned, while others look like they were haphazardly scribbled together in a rush. Finally, there's a noticeable disconnect that comes when trying to attach these sketches to basic 3D models. It makes the movements and animations of the game feel awkward and unnatural.
Mundaun's substance starts off almost as awkward as its style. The game has a bad habit of just tossing players into situations with no real explanation. At one point near the start, players get sucked into a drawing of their grandfather's burning barn. After a quick story beat, the player just arrives inside the barn and continues on as if nothing happened. The controls add to this frustration, especially when players run into invisible obstacles keeping them from moving to a seemingly open area, or when they're expected to walk casually through what looks like an impassible space. Eventually, things begin to smooth out a bit as the story starts to come together and the navigation issues get fewer and farther between. Still, sticking it out to this point will test the patience and tolerance of most gamers. Ultimately, Mundaun winds up feeling like an avant-garde film that's more interested in standing out in a crowd than in telling its tale.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the effects of art style on games. What are some of the different art styles that games use (hyper-detailed realism, cel-shaded cartoon, etc.), and how does that style help with the storytelling?
What's the appeal of being scared while being entertained? How can scary stories affect younger kids, and what age is too young to cope with the horror genre?
Game Details
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: MWM Interactive
- Release date: March 16, 2021
- Genre: Adventure
- Topics: Adventures, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- ESRB rating: M for Violence, Use of Tobacco
- Last updated: March 17, 2021
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