PONE

PONE is a multiplayer horror game blending the eerie atmosphere of infected creatures with objective-based gameplay, inspired by Lethal Company and MLP Infection AUs. Players undertake missions such as rescuing children or delivering items within a mansion-like estate filled with various enemies. While the game boasts a unique concept and appealing art style that combines cute and unsettling elements, its current early access state reveals significant flaws. Players frequently encounter game-breaking bugs, including UI glitches, mission softlocks, and inconsistent enemy behaviors. The spawn rates of enemies are often overwhelming, leading to near-impossible survival, especially for solo players. The map design and vent system cause disorientation due to random teleportation and lack of landmarks, compounded by a fast-paced in-game timer that pressures players. Additionally, the absence of tutorials, bestiary, and customization options limits accessibility and player engagement. Despite these issues, the community appreciates the game's potential and looks forward to future updates and content expansions to refine gameplay and balance difficulty.

Highlights

Players praise PONE's innovative gameplay loop that mixes horror with mission objectives, offering a fresh take on the extraction genre. The enemy designs are widely regarded as creative, spooky, and visually appealing, contributing to an intense atmosphere. The game's art style successfully merges unsettling and cute aesthetics, enhancing immersion. Multiplayer cooperative play is found to be enjoyable, fostering teamwork and strategy. Many appreciate the random mission system that keeps gameplay dynamic and unpredictable. The developer's dedication as a solo creator is also acknowledged, with optimism for the game's growth and polish over time.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the game's excessive difficulty and overwhelming enemy spawn rates, which often result in instant deaths and frustrating gameplay. The map and vent system are confusing due to random teleportation and repetitive layouts, making navigation and team coordination challenging. The in-game timer moves too quickly, limiting exploration and increasing pressure. Lack of tutorials, in-game guides, or bestiary hampers new player understanding of controls and enemy mechanics. Numerous bugs, such as UI glitches, item duplication, and softlocks, detract from the experience. Limited inventory space and absence of customization options reduce gameplay depth. Players also request better balancing, quality-of-life improvements, and more content variety.