Leviathan: Rhino Review Summary

A short but memorable Lovecraftian horror with excellent atmosphere, a touching story, unique old-man gameplay, and striking cardboard retro art, though its brevity may leave you wanting more.

Short and sweet experience: Players consistently appreciate that the game is short and does not overstay its welcome. Despite its brevity, it feels well made and satisfying, with many noting it can be completed in about an hour to an hour and a half. The concise length leaves a strong impression without feeling bloated.

Excellent atmospheric horror: The game's atmosphere is frequently praised as deep, oppressive, and effective. Reviewers highlight the sense of hopelessness, loneliness, and impending doom, with some describing it as pure atmosphere that is creepy, nostalgic, and oddly cosy.

Emotional and touching story: The narrative about old man Petrovich and his last days is described as engaging, heartfelt, and extremely sad. It touches on sensitive topics like old age, memories, and belonging, and delivers a powerful message about valuing what you have.

Old man gameplay and physical limitations: Playing as a frail old man is a novel concept, with mechanics like stamina constraints, slow movement, and health management adding to the immersion. The physical limitations are well-designed and contribute to the game's unique feel.

Positive overall impression: The game is generally described as good, fun, interesting, and meeting expectations. Many reviewers completed it with pleasure and highly recommend it.

Short game duration: Players frequently report that the game is shorter than expected, with some completing it in half an hour without obtaining all cats. The overall game process feels very brief.

Slow character movement: Character movement is described as very slow, which makes replaying as the old man tiring. Players are discouraged from seeking remaining endings due to this sluggishness.

Inconsistent art styles: The art direction feels all over the place, with environmental design, NPCs, and cars each having separate art styles that do not harmonize. This lack of cohesion is noted as a visual drawback.

Early game lacks content: There is not much to see or do in the early game apart from a few interactions, leaving players without clear direction. One reviewer did not understand what the game is about.

Shotgun aiming issues: The shotgun has no aiming and randomized spread, requiring close range to land all pellets. This makes the weapon feel unreliable in combat.

Old man protagonist: Players control an elderly character with limited stamina and health, making movement slow and requiring rest. This physical constraint is central to the gameplay experience.

Very short game length: Multiple reviews note the game can be completed in about one hour, with some calling it too short. The story is brief and quickly finished.

Village exploration: Players can walk around the village looking for cats, visit a small store to buy food, and talk to a few characters. The environment is a small town that degrades over time.

Walking simulator style: The game is described as a first-person walking simulator with light exploration and simple progression. It focuses on narrative over complex mechanics.

Horror with Lovecraftian elements: The game is a Lovecraftian horror story featuring a giant monster named Leviathan: Rhino and its fleas. It includes psychological thriller elements.

Steam Deck Compatibility Verified: One reviewer reports that the game runs perfectly on the Steam Deck, indicating good handheld performance without issues.

Overall positive recommendation: Many reviewers recommend playing the game, with some saying it is absolutely recommended and 100% worth playing. This reflects broad satisfaction across the feedback.

Good value for price: Several reviewers consider the game worth buying for the price and find its normal price reasonable. This suggests the game offers good value for money.

Suited for atmospheric horror fans: The game is recommended for players who enjoy short horror stories with less action and more atmosphere. It also appeals to those who like light horror games.

Immersive short story experience: Reviewers recommend the game for those who want to immerse themselves in a good story for a short time. The narrative and brevity are highlighted as positive aspects.

Appeals to Lovecraftian horror enthusiasts: Reviewers specifically recommend the game to players who like Lovecraftian horror. This niche appeal is a clear positive for fans of the genre.

Game completion: 1.5h.

Story completion: 1.0h.

Session length: 1.0h.

Linux and Proton: The available feedback is entirely positive regarding Steam Deck compatibility. The reviewer reports that the game runs perfectly on Steam Deck and recommends it, with no mention of Proton workarounds, launch failures, anti-cheat blockers, performance issues, or other Linux-specific problems.

Hidden cats for achievements: The game features 12 hidden cats scattered around the map for achievement hunters to find.

Leviathan coastal town setting: The story is set in a small coastal town with a leviathan approaching the capital, and the world features leviathans.

Existential themes of mortality: The narrative explores reflections on life from the perspective of old age, centering on mortality and inevitability.

Layered paper-like art style: The game uses layered 2D images to simulate 3D paper-like objects, with some assets static while living creatures turn to face the player.

Arthouse handcrafted unique product: Reviewers describe the game as arthouse in style and a unique, handcrafted product.