Penance

Penance

Scriptorium Artis · 2026 · Psychological Horror, Atmospheric, Horror, Story Rich, 2D

PC
Positive100% · 12
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$2.99
lowest tracked $1.79
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About Penance

Immerse yourself in the silence of St. Maurice Abbey, where the liturgy conceals an ancient truth.

You are Elías, a monk whose mentor, Severinus, has died under strange circumstances. Guided by his master's voice from beyond, Elías discovers that the Abbey is a façade for a secret society perpetuating an ancient dark sacrifice, hidden beneath false Christian vows.Your path is an introspective pilgrimage through seven phases based on the Canonical Hours (Matins, Lauds, etc.), which will lead you closer to a truth so devastating that it will force you to confront your own destiny.

The Price of Truth: The Guilt and Faith Mechanic

Penance is a 2D atmospheric exploration adventure with a deliberately slow-paced and contemplative rhythm.Gameplay centers on the constant dilemma of Guilt and Faith, represented in two interconnected bars that define your moral and spiritual state.
  • Elias' Staff: Your staff is an extension of your soul. It detects areas contaminated by Guilt that, if not purified, will physically block your passage.
  • Purification and Rhythm: You must concentrate your Faith through prayer to absorb the Guilt that emanates from objects, cleansing your path and allowing you to advance. This purification is performed using a rhythm system: press the prayer key at the exact moment when the guilt circles shrink toward your staff to achieve a "Perfect" or "Good" hit and purify the path.
  • Specters and Shield: The silence is broken by the ghosts of the sacrificed. These ethereal presences will interfere with your prayer and physically push you, forcing you to manage your Faith and Guilt while surviving the Abbey. Use the Protective Shield to repel nearby specters with an expansive pulse from your staff , adding a layer of tactical defense that consumes Faith.

Narrative of Revelation: Collect Your Destiny

The Abbey's hidden history is revealed piece by piece through 50 Objects of Mystery. Each collected object is associated with a symbolic concept (such as Fragility, Memory, or Mystery).Your journey will reveal that you were raised for a specific purpose assigned by the abbey's brothers. Your pilgrimage culminates in a final choice: your balance between Faith and Guilt will determine not only your fate, but that of all humanity.

Key Features

  • Contemplative Narrative Horror: A story-driven experience where prayer and atmosphere prevail over action
  • Rhythm and Concentration: Purify Guilt with a challenging rhythm system featuring precise timing windows ("Perfect", "Good") , where a miss interrupts your concentration and stops the prayer.
  • Tactical Shield Defense: Gain a reprieve from Specters by activating the Protective Shield, an expansive pulse that repels nearby threats at the cost of Faith.
  • Specters with Unique Behaviors: Face different types of spectral threats, each with distinct movement patterns and interference strategies.
  • Dual Survival Resource: Balance the Guilt and Faith bars, using your staff to purify contaminated objects and advance your path.
  • Unique and Structured Narrative: Unravel the plot through 7 Phases based on the Canonical Hours and 50 Mystery Objects that reveal the abbey's hidden truth.
  • Complete Experience: A two-hour story that culminates in a
  • Deep Auditory Immersion: An original soundtrack and meticulous atmospheric sound design, where every creak and whisper intensifies the feeling of being on the verge of a revelation.

What Steam players say

Recent verbatim reviews from Steam — separate from playze.io community reviews below.

Not recommended May 17, 2026
This game looked really neat and the atmosphere seemed really cool, but I do not like the way the game plays. The idea of going on a pilgrimage and discovering hidden truth sounded fun, but as soon as I get to anyone I have to defend against the game feels impossible. You have to clear the obstacles to advance, but Elias takes so long to get down in his praying stance that I get hit several time before I can pray. Getting hit while praying also cancels the prayer which makes it to where I can't shield. I'm convinced shielding doesn't actually work. As the game sits right now, I honestly cannot recommend it. I did not find the experience enjoyable.
2 found this helpful
Recommended May 30, 2026
Please hire human voice actors. You can probably get them for free on Casting Call Club or even for a small price. A lot of the assets appear to be created with AI. The story is interesting. You go on a pilgrimage to uncover the truth of Severinus's death. Overall, I love the music. I love the concept. I love the rhythm aspect of the game along with the shield but I believe there is a lot of potential in this game. For five dollars, I can't hate it entirely. Please redo the assets. Please hire an actual voice actor. I hope to see an update to the game. I would love to see how this game developes.
1 found this helpful
Recommended May 17, 2026
A really beautiful game. The art is amazing, and the narrative pulls you into an unexpected story. Adding rhythm mechanics to the action sequences is a brilliant idea and can be quite challenging at times. Highly recommended.
Recommended May 12, 2026
Amazing graphics and an excellent plot. The gameplay seems innovative and creative for a 2D game. Don't miss it if you like gothic-style games and have an interest in mysteries.
Recommended May 2, 2026
I thought it was a good game. The story and atmosphere are striking and surprising. The specters are very diverse and never get repetitive. There’s a lot of variety in their designs. The gameplay evolves as you progress through the levels. Once you get the hang of it, the game becomes even more enjoyable. I recommend it if you’re looking for something different that’s out of the ordinary.

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