The Ritual on Weylyn Island

Short but nicely made walking horror sim, not the top of a story rather from a B Horror Movie but sure worth playing for an relaxing hour or two, the atmosphere is cool, all about a one nights play without romances but lotsa killing by cultists on a private island where the player either finds remnants or scary dead scenes, the gore level is high, dont close the lighthouse door in time and the best is yet to see...
The NPC behavior is well made so the whole ambient part, last moment situations are well in collision limits so as the checkpoints are well placed, one does not lose too much when dying. Developers could have made more out of it or better more games like that. Ending the game is spladder pure so as an invitation to play Games like Skinwalker Hunt where the evolved main character can be found again. All in all a good shot, the second last Achievement, saving Megan in the Tunnels I could not earn but this is a well known bug, pity to miss all achievements what else is not a big thing to do.

This is a very good horror game tbh, it's better than I expected. It's has a nice plot with well thought twists and a decent dark and creepy atmosphere. That being said it is very short though, you can beat it in 1 sitting, and even though it could have been nice if it was longer, I don't think it's a bad thing to be short, since there's no need to be longer, it could have overstretched too much and become boring. All in all I think it's a very decent game that I can easily recommend.

Really excellent game with enough dose of horror and intriguing storyline to keep you going forward. A nice WIcker Man vibe (1973, Christopher Lee version) to it that I thoroughly enjoyed.

This could have been really good. Our heroine takes a boat to a family owned island to meet up with some old bad blood relatives and get the skinny on a possible will reading. You get to the house and find it ransacked and are soon attacked by a maniac and find yourself on the run from hooded cultists.

The story in Ritual on Weylyn Island is certainly in theory a high-point and has the makings of a snubnosed horror experience but it drops the ball more than a wide receiver who decided to play the Super Bowl after taking a fistful of morphine. It's more of the same; short playtime, read this/read that, get lost in environments that are pretty drab and run around like you need to hit the nearest Weylyn Island outhouse or else.

Most of your time will be spent jogging down linear wooded paths trying to find the next checkpoint or significant landmark from which you can progress. Going anyway but the right way will have a hooded cultist in your face bumping up against you like some kind of irritated cat that wants you to get off the couch. Their appearance and what they say is kind of tense at first until you realize that as long as you run the other way they have about zero chance of catching you. They act like ushers telling you to get back in your seat...or to stop being so damn curious and go the right friggen direction before they really get upset! It wouldn't be so bad if there was at least some hiding mechanics or interesting environments to traverse but there absolutely is not.

You're going to have a tough time being challenged much or really fear dying in this game. Hell, even the collectibles are all laid out like road signs that are more or less telling you to go the right way you damn fool. The grainy graphics actually gives off a certain charm (well, one that you can imagine if the locations weren't so dull) and the sound design (complete with voice-acting, a very cool touch) gets the job done but this is the most safe horror game with threats ever.

There are some tenser moments when a house you're trying to hole up in gets busted into to by these Grim Reapers in training as well as my favorite segment which requires you wheeling yourself in a cart across a zip line as the S.O.B. squad tries to stop it from happening. These moments hint at what Weylyn COULD have been if it had more budget and time behind it but sadly it didn't... I died once and was actually mad at myself for it because I just simply didn't understand what I was doing in that house "defense" segment.

On top of everything else you can complete the game in under an hour and a half without a walkthrough. The ending is actually fairly well-done for such a low budget entry but it needed way more build-up to truly have an effect. This isn't the worst horror game I've played. Oh no, no, no, I've played some real trash and Weylyn is fortunately cheap even without a sale but it would definitely be on my lower tier, "you've played most everything else in the genre" list without even a second thought coming to mind. I don't regret anything in my life yet if someone asked me if I'd have rather sat and stared at a wall in the time it took me to complete The Ritual on Weylyn Island...well, I might have hesitated to give my answer.

It's quite bad. Short, bad movement, ugly graphics and somtimes still bad performance. Usually you just walk around in some forest where everything looks the same. And the story is bs.

The ritual of Weylyn island is a fun short horror game with some scares. The player assumes the role of Moira Weylyn one the 5 members of the family to inherit the island, that is now occupied by cultists. I reccomend to those interested to wait for a sale on this one its not worth buying at the full price. Ending may dissapoint some players but honestly i didnt really mind it at all.

Calling The Ritual on Weylyn Island a "survival" horror game is a stretch; there are no survival elements to be seen here, with the exception of running for your life almost constantly. There's no healing mechanic, and the store front already states that it's a weapons-free title. At best, it's a walking running simulator with an underlying horror theme that revolves around an ancient cult, dark rituals, and black magicks. You take control of Moira Weylyn, who has been summoned to her grandfather's island, via wishes from his Last Will and Testament, so that she can rekindle her relationship with her few remaining family members and learn the secrets of the island itself.

Throughout your stay on Weylyn Island, which will last anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half, you can expect to do a lot of running, mostly from cult members and some zombie-like creatures. There are also audio tapes that can be picked up, which help to bridge the gaps of the story between dialogues and cutscenes. Although much of the game feels as though it could be classified as a demo to a much larger, high-budget title, there are far too many areas that feel like they go on forever; sections of the game that have no dialogue, tapes, or cutscenes, just pure running. On that note, it's a good thing that the main character's stamina is unlimited.

As short as it is, that's really all that can be said about The Ritual on Weylyn Island; there are no puzzles or combat, just story and a little bit of action. There are a total of six chapters, to which the developer has said last 2-3 hours "depending on exploration". As the game is almost entirely linear, there isn't much exploring to be had. Though the story is good, there are far too many monotonous moments without dialogue or any form of interaction, other than traversing the wilderness by running along trails. There's even a noticeable lack of ambiance. There are also some optimization issues. The game is a decent contender for the "something to do for a couple of hours on a dark, rainy night" category, but given its age and repetitive nature, grab it on sale.

Rating: 3.0/5.0 - Average, can take it or leave it.

Not bad but very very short. For the price I would say it is fair enough.End is satisfactory. The story has a lot of potential but is not developped enough. More hints, letters, movies, tapes or more anything but more of something that is sadly missing to light up in me that magic spark. Really enjoyed the game overall. Took me only 3.5 hours to dig it all. I took pauses while in game to eat and do stuff.I restarted once from chapter four and it took me only 3.5 hrs. Game only I would say 1.5 hrs. total

The Ritual on Weylyn Island is yet another horror game to shamble out of early access and become a fully fledged Steam title, but is it any good? Unfortunately, no. What we have here is an interesting premise with a lot of potential snuffed out by tragic design choices. First and foremost is the challenge that it presents, or lack thereof; I am struggling to understand why the "chase" sequences in this game were ever included, the enemies move at such a sedate pace that the only thing they could catch up to is a limbless torso. The threat level is further reduced thanks to the abominably written and voice-acted lines of dialogue that are shouted without repose. As far as the story is concerned, it's a clichéd debacle that shows its hand prematurely, killing any mystery that could have been built up and explored, although I will admit that the ending is very appropriate.

In all honesty I thought Weylyn Island was going to be average, and even with this expectation, came away disappointed.

3/10

This game is a good horror survival game for any who like ones with a unique set of characters and storyline! The only things I will say that aren't so good with the game is that the voice acting ain't too shabby, but it could be better. The game could've also been longer and had a wider range of characters and setting.

Summary: A fun, first-person horror game that does not overstay its welcome.

This game is about 1.5 hours long and, much like a typical horror movie, that seems about right. It is part exploration and part walking simulator. You get to explore areas but much of it is on a linear path. I enjoyed this and it kept the story moving.

I saw a YouTube Let's Play of the first level when it was still in development (thanks Jim Sterling!) and patiently waited until the game was complete before buying. I am a fan of creepy horror movies (not just slashers) that build an atmosphere with sound and visuals and tell a tale. The atmosphere built nicely in this game and the forest sections had the hair on the back of my neck standing up a couple of times. This game cost me about $5 and I feel it was well worth the price of admission. I have certainly paid more for less with other games and other movies. If there was a follow up product I would get it and that means I would have to recommend it.

Most indie horror games on Steam that are/were in early access tend to be riddled with incompetent gameplay, feature underwhelming length and show poor execution all around. Fortunately, The Ritual on Weylyn Island only suffers from one of those problems.

With a current price tag of $9.99, "Ritual" offers only about 90 minutes of game. There is no replay value - the single collectible in the game is always in plain sight, and there is only one ending. Despite those shortcomings, I find myself recommending this game purely from the enjoyable experience those 90 minutes were.

"Ritual" is an ambitious game for one of its budget and staff size. There are cutscenes, facial animations, QTEs and chase sequences. There is an overall cinematic appreciation that's missing from its "find a key to open a door to find another key" indie horror peers, and that's what sets it apart.

It isn't without its faults, of course. The voice acting quality is spotty, some animations are a bit limp, and the locations you visit often feel too empy. The presentation, while well-meaning and generally well-executed, feels "off" from time to time due to these limitations, but those limitations give it a certain charm that I find refreshing. And it sure beats the hell out of many of the bug-ridden horror snoozefests being sold on this platform.

"Ritual" won't make any horror GOTY lists, but I would be lying if I said I didn't get off this 90-minute ride with a smile on my face.

The Ritual on Weylyn Island, developed by zemaGamez, had the potential to bring back all of your favorite horror tropes, and that’s probably what the devs had in mind. However, due to poor presentation, an unfulfilled story, and hollow characters, Weylyn Island stumbles and falls before it can provide the homage it strives to represent.

You play as Moria Weylyn; a typical collage girl without any defining traits or skills. Her grandfather had recently died, and in his will, Moria and a handful of family members are given the isolated island he once called home; Blessed Island. (Odd, seeing as how the game’s title is Weylyn Island, yet it’s clearly called Blessed Island throughout the story. But I digress.)

These family members include: Uncle Brian, his two kids, Fin and Megan, and Moria’s older sister, Row. Plans were made to meet up on the island, but a freak storm delays Moria’s trip. Arriving one day after her family, she sets foot on the cold, wet dwarf and heads out.

In all honesty, Weylyn Island starts out really strong. The Island’s dark and laced in shadows, and your first few minutes are spent soaking up the atmosphere. I mean, you’ve got a bunch of unsuspecting teens (and one adult) on a secluded, creepy island. The possibilities are endless! Your first real objective is to head up to the old cabin, where your family is supposedly waiting for you. As I trudged down the trailside, bombarded by endless rain, I could only imagine what sort of horrors awaited me.

Sadly, that’s about the extent of this game’s suspense and intrigue.

Before going any further, we might as well talk graphics. And they’re… alright. I mean, Weylyn Island isn’t ugly by any stretch of the word, but its design is easily forgettable. The grey, overbearing tone works wonders at first, building upon the mood of the setting. But endless rain, pine trees and monochrome color pallets only go so far. Again, this game’s level design isn’t bad, but only decent. As for character models… well, that’s another story.

Their textures are basic at best and look far from appealing, but they manage. But it’s their animations that really bite the dust; everyone walks like they’ve got a wooden plank shoved up their ass.

But let’s be real: you don’t need high budget visuals or picturesque designs to make something scary. If done correctly, a game with ugly graphics can be forgiven if its got a solid story and solid gameplay. I mean, a build up with this much potential is sure to lead to something good, right?

Right…?

As for gameplay, there’s little to speak of. Long bouts of walking and quick-time-events are in high abundance, topped off with not-so-scary chase scenes, and most of these are void of sound effects or tracks. The results are less intense and more uncomfortable (and no, not in a good way).

But despite all of this, it’s Weylyn Island’s story that ruined the entire game for me. Hell, I could forgive all these flaws had the plot been (at least) good.

But nope, it isn’t. I won’t spoil anything, but it’s got everything required to tell a lame horror story. There’s practically zero explanation until the third act, which left me more confused and less terrified most of the time. Some of these characters don’t even fucking talk! We’re watching them suffer and die but… why should I care? One of them had little more than two lines of dialogue, and another was only capable of squealing and whining. Jesus, one of them didn’t get a chance to talk before kicking the bucket! All of their voice actors were terrible, especially your character’s. I’ve seen sloths with more dedication than this bitch.

The game also thinks that long sessions of poetry recited by old men is scary. It isn't. This is Weylyn Island’s #1 method of storytelling, and it’s done awfully.

This game just makes me mad. God, it’s even forced me to type up my longest review yet. But when a story with so much possibility fails to strike almost every note, it just leaves me baffled. “What went wrong,” I think to myself. “What. Went . Wrong?”

"I am a fact driven guy..." ;-) So here they are: 6 linear, dark chapters, well designed, great graphics, sound and atmosphere, some "get-the-key & move-objects" puzzles and "quick-time-events", fair level of difficulty. But be aware that this is not going to be a walk in the park! You will meet your enemies after a couple of minutes on the island... You might face some controller issues, still. But besides that, it is a clear must have for horror adventure fans!

Good game kind of...when plugging the controller in it starts to auto walk/spin to the left and the flashlight glitches out when it is pulled out. There seems to be more bugs the longer you play the game. Im still pushing through to play the game, the concept is great and well i want to get my moneys worth. haha! keep up the good work guys!

Overall, I quite enjoyed The Ritual on Weylyn Island. The game mixes itself up and comes off as a low-budget attempt to make an interesting sort of cinematic horror experience, one that has actual diversity in gameplay, setting, tasks, and knows how to pace itself and keep things interesting. A few scenes can even be startling or unnerving. This all comes with an edge of low-budget elements, including some wonky animations and a level of jank to things. However, the ambition and successful execution of many of its concepts makes it an enjoyable 1.5-2 hour experience to go through (appropriately about the length of a horror movie).

The basic idea is you play as a girl name Moira, who has come a bit after the rest of her family to Weylyn Island, an island her rich grandfather had purchased and passes down to his family upon his death (along with his riches and possessions). They go to stake claim to the place, and to help strengthen some family ties that have grown a bit distant recently. However, a strange cult has invaded the island, and now seem to want the family dead. And thus, it becomes a tiresome night of having to evade cultists, ritualistic shrines, and discover what exactly is going on here.

And it mostly succeeds. In big part due to it being able to keep the player guessing, a variety of settings, tasks, and solid core mechanics, matched with feeling involved in every moment of the action going on. Whether it be exploring the quiet coast of the island, evading a silent stalker in a basement, or investigating a strange altar with a music box, the game is full of interesting scenes matched with good atmosphere and a level of intrigue accomplished by good vision and direction.

There are a few flaws here; The story is predictable as all hell, the finale while not quite disappointing feels like it could be more. While the game is worth playing through to the end, I feel the first half of the game was better fleshed-out and realized, with the second half feeling a bit more linear and sometimes coming off as more scripted. A few areas do feel they could be tighter designed, such as a scene where you're in a house looking for a key and something is banging on the door, but no matter how long you take the door will just keep banging, smudging much of the tension there. But even despite all of this, there is a very solid little horror experience in this title. The length might put some off, but it doesn't feel they padded the game to make it longer and do keep the variety and overall quality at a higher-than-average aspect to indie horror developers. In some ways, it feels like maybe their ambition was a bit over their heads, but for this to be a mostly well-realized vision is quite an accomplishment.

But I point out these flaws as I feel the game itself is quite solid. Not the best horror game I've played, but a pretty well-done foray with a few interesting twists and turns up its sleeves to keep the 1.5-2 hour experience interesting. It's also notable the game avoids many indie horror pitfalls; the game has a good level of darkness (you never can't see what's going on and it looks like its night rather than pitch dark), your flashlight has no batteries and is actually quite efficient, there is no limited sprinting, it doesn't rely on jump scares, there isn't much in the way of key collecting, it doesn't come off as a clone of any popular indie horror game and there's no clone segments designed after Slender or FNAF or something (this comparison isn't the best, but the thing I find myself comparing it the closest to would be Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth, which it reminded me a bit of), the writing is good and isn't full of typos and grammar mistakes, the voice acting is pretty decent, among other things. But it doesn't accomplish it goals because of it not failing, it is a competent and often engaging journey on its own.

If you like cult horror (as in, literally about cults and figuratively), indie horror games with a lot of heart, don't mind a low-budgeted game with deep ambitions, and overall don't mind the price tag to the hours it might provide of entertainment, I say definitely worth checking out.

I was a little hesistant with this developer since it looks to be the first non-mobile game they've developed (according to their website)... But this was actually quite smooth to play. You play Moira who's grandfather has just passed and find yourself on his island to inherit the last of his belongings with the rest of your family. The visuals are on par with what you'd expect. Better looking than most Unity based games I've played recently. The voice acting isn't FANTASTIC but it's enough for immersion. Note that when the game states it's "combat-free" this may be a little misleading. As you can't actively engage enemies, there are some QTE-style situations you'll have to deal with. The game also plays fairly casually, the hardest puzzles you'll have to solve are finding keys and barricading doors. I played about a half hour of the game, and was able to cut the gameplay down to 19 minutes. If you want a quick skim to see what you're in for check this out.

WARNING: Language/NSFW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh8HmxOOjsI

'DEVIL WORSHIPPERS INVADE FAMILY ISLAND!', yeah, this could absolutely be one of those weird early eighties action flicks or, if it's unlucky, a slightly more recent Steven Seagal movie.
With only the first three chapters sketched out and playable thus far, The Ritual on Weylyn Island is giving a very solid account of itself. Cult plots are usually too saturated in cheese to grind any fear from but the game establishes their brutality early as you arrive at a family residence to find blood, broken glass, defaced pictures and arcane graffiti. Your first encounter with the invaders is similarly unsettling; fleeing through a dense wood, you veer off onto narrow branching paths, forced to suddenly retreat as you almost run into the outstretched hands of robed figures.
There's no combat to speak of, aside from a QTE, and the best thing TROWI could do is keep it that way. This isn't a difficult game; there are no puzzles beyond figuring out which box to barricade a door with but it is the engaging equivalent of a walk through a haunted house.
Apart from the tightening up of interaction UI and some unfinished sound cues, my advice to the developers is mainly plot orientated. I'd ditch the opening cutscene. It looks like crap and acheives nothing. Tighten up the dialogue. Keep the cult in the shadows. I could really have done without the demonically possessed family members hissing and swearing; I think the atmosphere is better served by the hooded cultists but if they have to stay, keep their mouths shut.
Definitely heading in the right direction. Check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynifepPD7iI

Ok proper review now since i got the game working ( the mouse and keyboard didn't work since i had a blue tooth usb game controller plugged in). So what do I think of this game, its brilliant. It has a atmosphere and plenty of freaky things happen. You have to run round a seemingly deserted island looking for your lost family members. The best thing about this game is the classic horror feel to it. 7/10 Some work still needed but for early access, this is a great horror game that doesn't make your wallet cry.

I'll be damned if I know which "classic horror movies of the early 80's" the devs of this game are claiming to be inspired by on their Store page, given that I've seen just about every horror film from that period, and the two movies this reminds me of the most are "The Wicker Man" (1973) and "The Blair Witch Project" (1999). But let's not be pedantic, and just try to review this as a GAME in its own right, eh? Or, to be more specific, an Early Access game, which I'll say right off the bat this most definitely qualifies as.

The Ritual on Weylyn Island is far from finished. Some sound effects are blatantly missing, for starters, and the aforementioned Store page clarifies that all we're getting at this point is the first three chapters out of six. On the whole, though, it's perfectly playable, and far from "broken" from what I've experienced thus far. What IS here, in any case, is looking awfully darned promising, especially if you're into all things witch-y and demonic, like I am. This is some spooky stuff! The sound design, while unfinished, is a particular standout, full of whispering voices telling you that they are coming for you and what-not, and while the graphics are nothing too spectacular, they're more than sufficient to create the desired effect. The story is building up to be a good'un, the dialogue and voice acting is adequate if uninspired (and NOT in broken English, praise Satan!), and the gameplay is certainly solid.

So what exactly does the gameplay comprise of, you ask? Well, thus far I'd describe it as somewhere between a first-person stealth-horror game (a la "Amnesia", et al) with elements of quick-time, narrative-based events not dissimilar to Telltale's "The Walking Dead" (push a table up to a wall, climb on the table to access a high window leading out of the basement to the world outside, and press "space" repeatedly to kick your demonically-possessed uncle in the head several times as he grabs your ankle and tries to prevent your escape...that kind of thing). It's a very story-driven piece, in other words, but one which gets down to the nitty-gritty action nice 'n' quick, all things considered. The Store page does describe the game as "combat-free", however, so I'd think it safe to say that you're unlikely to get your hands on a shotgun and go cultist-culling at any point in the game's narrative. But if a story-driven horror-adventure with a fair dose of stealth and running away from enemies sounds good to you, this may well be one to consider.

Now, before I continue, there is ONE thing I should probably mention. I've apparently played up to the end of the first three chapters - the first HALF of the game, allegedly - and it only took me about an hour! So, er, yeah...it's gonna be one of them SHORT games, unless chapters 4 to 6 turn out to be much longer and/or more challenging than the first three. I know there's a bucketload of you people out there who object to paying decent money for such a short gaming experience - I'm not really one of you, but - should you be one of those people, you may wanna hold off for a substantial sale, even once the game's officially finished.

And there ARE, of course, other risks involved with these "Early Access" propositions. We horror game addicts have been burned one or two (or damn well near FIFTY) times in the past, so there's always the chance these devs are gonna go bust, or simply abandon their project because one of them decides their true calling in life is to become a lonely, God-fearin' pig farmer out in Kansas or somethin' (it happens). But I can confidently report that this DOESN'T seem to be one of those scam-happy development "companies", which are in truth probably one or two nerdy young dudes locked in their bedrooms who take all their life lessons from GTA, and thereby believe that money = bitches = the be-all and end-all of human existence, and art be FUCKED. This one, on the other hand, seems genuine. You can truly sense the LOVE in this one, and I don't mean in a hippy-dippy, Charlie Manson commune-y kinda way (nor is that the kinda love you're gonna get from the cult members you'll encounter in the game).

For now, consider my recommendation a somewhat reserved one, based on the fact that this is very much a work-in-progress which could go any-which-way at this stage. Fingers crossed, I'll be increasing the below rating mere months from now. If not, well, it won't be the first ten bucks I've ever wasted in the ever-unpredictable and oh-and-so magical land of Steam...such is life...

Verdict: 7.5/10.

(PS Nice to see a new horror game where your character isn't so borderline-asthmatic that they can't run more than five metres without stopping for breath. Thank God some devs are reading reviews, and paying attention to which recent trends audiences AREN'T actually liking!)