Horror visual novels Psychological horror

Bad Faith

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A sanctuary on an island, its punishments, and a building in the woods.

Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux
Stores: Steam, itch.io
Price: Paid
Rated: Very Positive on Steam (59 of 64 reviews positive); 4.8 of 5 from 143 ratings on itch.io
Length: about 3.5 to 4 hours (players' reports); 35,000 to 40,000 words
Players: 1
Controls: Mouse: click to advance text; a mouse-only option, save anytime and narrated menus
Made by: Mado
Released: 2022

Get it on Steam itch.io (Windows, Mac, Linux, comes with a Steam key; free demo)Game Jolt

What frightens Magda lives in the Haven, an island community of young women and one elderly leader that holds mandatory Apologia Assemblies where misdeeds are confessed and punished. After one, she finds a mysterious building in the woods. The maker warns of explicit blood, gore and violent death, and of physical and emotional abuse including torture.
Content: gore, violent death, physical and emotional abuse, torture, strong language, mild sexual themes.

Bad Faith is a psychological horror and drama visual novel by the solo developer Mado. Magda lives in the Haven, an isolated island community that shelters the pure from the world and punishes misdeeds at its assemblies, and after one hard assembly she finds a mysterious building in the woods. It is about 35,000 to 40,000 words, with a free demo of the first act.

About Bad Faith

Bad Faith is a visual novel by Mado, who made its art, interface, code and writing, released on Steam in February 2022 for Windows, Mac and Linux. It is also sold on itch.io, where a purchase includes a Steam key, and a free demo covers the first act in about an hour.

In the middle of a lake, on an isolated island, lies the Haven: a community of young women and their one elderly leader, Lady Amaris, who believe it shelters the pure of heart from a world gone mad. To keep corruption out, the Haven holds Apologia Assemblies, mandatory gatherings where members' misdeeds are discussed and punished. Magda, a timid and watchful young woman in the Haven's Art Sect, loves her home but hates its punishments, and tries hard to keep its strict rules.

After one stressful Assembly, Magda walks into the woods to clear her head and finds a building she has never seen. Around her are the other members: her close friend Grace, the hostile writer Cerise, the calm researcher Eve and the kindly head of her sect, Maria. Most of the game is read, as text over drawn characters and painted backgrounds, with music by a group of composers.

The horror is the slow kind: the pressure of a closed community, what happens to those who break its rules, and what Magda's curiosity may cost. The maker warns that it is not for children or the easily disturbed, with explicit blood, gore and violent death, abuse and torture. It suits readers who like story-heavy horror about cults and control, and who want a visual novel they can finish over an evening or two. It has accessibility options for dyslexia and for visual and hearing impairments.

How to play Bad Faith

Read the content warnings on the store page first; the maker says it is not for children or the easily disturbed.
Try the free demo on itch.io, which covers the first act in about an hour.
Buy the full game on Steam, or on itch.io, where the purchase comes with a Steam key.
Click to advance the text and follow Magda through life in the Haven.
Use the options to set text and accessibility settings, and save whenever you like.

Screenshots

Bad Faith screenshot: Magda and a friend with glasses talk in an art studio about a pattern called the Tree of Life

Bad Faith screenshot: three young women in dark dresses at an assembly, as the narrator claps quietly so as not to raise suspicion

Bad Faith screenshot: a drawing of a crowned, winged figure sitting on clouds and looking down

Bad Faith screenshot: Grace holding a pillow and speaking to a blonde girl

Bad Faith screenshot: a girl with glasses grabs a dark-haired girl's chin and glares at her beside a tree

Tips

Play the demo before buying; it is the whole first act, so you will know whether its tone is for you.
Set the accessibility options early if you need them: there are settings for dyslexia, visual and hearing impairments.
Keep track of the Haven's members and their sects; the cast is introduced quickly.

Questions

How long is Bad Faith?

About 35,000 to 40,000 words. Players report around three and a half to four hours for a full read.

Is there a free demo of Bad Faith?

Yes. The free demo on itch.io covers the first act and takes around an hour.

Is Bad Faith scary?

It is a slow, disturbing psychological horror about a closed community, with explicit gore, violent death, abuse and torture by the maker's own warning, rather than jump scares.

What platforms is Bad Faith on?

Windows, Mac and Linux, on Steam, itch.io and Game Jolt.