RPG Maker horror Short horror Horror Psychological horror

Eloquent Countenance

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A pastor's funeral, a nun assisting, and a voice in her head that says it is an angel.

Platforms: PC, Mac
Stores: Steam, itch.io
Price: Pay what you want
Rated: 4.7 of 5 from 700 ratings on itch.io
Length: 30 to 40 minutes (maker's estimate)
Players: 1
Controls: Keyboard only, with RPG Maker's usual controls: arrow keys to move, Enter to interact and advance text
Made by: RachelDrawsThis

Get it on itch.io Steam (free version, Windows)

What frightens A nun called in to assist at her pastor's sudden funeral hears a strange voice in her head that claims to be a guardian angel, in a church that demands everything be done perfectly. She has to decide whether to follow its instructions or act on her own, and the maker describes it as a short horror story game about nosebleeds, guardian angels and a funeral.
Content: blood, religious themes.

Eloquent Countenance is a short RPG Maker horror game by RachelDrawsThis. The pastor of your church died suddenly last night, and as the nun chosen to assist at his funeral you hear a voice in your head that claims to be your guardian angel. You decide whether to follow its instructions or act on your own, in about 30 to 40 minutes with two endings.

About Eloquent Countenance

Eloquent Countenance was made by the artist RachelDrawsThis for a Korean RPG Maker game jam that challenged entrants to build a whole game on a single map. She calls it her first finished game, made in 18 days. It is on itch.io for Windows and Mac at a price you choose, and a free version is on Steam for Windows.

You play a nun. Not long ago she helped with the funeral of the pastor's wife; now the pastor himself has died suddenly in the night, and she has been picked to assist at his service. The whole game takes place in one church, laid out in a 2.5D view with tall pillars, checkered floors and stained glass, and drawn in a cold palette of blues and whites. Just as the service is about to begin, a voice speaks inside her head and says it is her guardian angel.

You walk the nun around the church, read the order of service, talk to the people there and examine what you find, with visual novel scenes of drawn art at key moments. The voice gives instructions, and the choice of whether to do as it says or to act on your own leads to one of two endings, with different dialogue to find on the way.

The horror is quiet and unsettling rather than built on chases: a funeral that feels off, a church that wants things done just so, spots of blood and a voice whose intentions you cannot read. It suits players who like short, story-led RPG Maker horror with religious imagery and a choice that matters, finished in one sitting.

How to play Eloquent Countenance

Download Eloquent Countenance from itch.io for Windows or Mac, paying what you like, or get the free version on Steam for Windows.
Unzip it and start the game; choose Mourn on the title screen to begin.
Walk the nun around the church with the arrow keys and press Enter to examine things and talk.
Find the written procedure for the service and listen to what the voice tells you.
Decide whether to follow the voice or act on your own; your choices lead to one of two endings.

Screenshots

Eloquent Countenance screenshot: the nun's portrait over the church aisle as she looks for the written procedure for assistants

Eloquent Countenance screenshot: a hand holding the order of service, spotted with blood

Eloquent Countenance screenshot: the nun small in the aisle of a church of tall pillars and checkered floor

Eloquent Countenance art: the nun seen from behind in a burst of white light

Tips

Examine everything in the church before moving the service along; some dialogue only appears if you look.
Play it twice, once trusting the voice and once not, to see both endings.
Fan translations into Korean, Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese and Russian are linked from the itch.io page.