MATRESHKA

I saw Matreshka on my recommended list before it even released, and it immediately looked like something I’d enjoy. So of course, I picked it up on release and jumped in a few days later.

And overall—it wasn’t a bad experience.

The game leans pretty heavily into jumpscares, and honestly, they’re done well. The sound design adds a lot to that too, creating a tense atmosphere that keeps you on edge while you’re moving through it.

The monster itself is a really cool concept. That nesting doll design is definitely unique, and when it starts chasing you… yeah, it turns into full panic mode pretty quickly.

My only real criticism—and it’s more of a personal preference than anything—is the lack of direction.

There aren’t many prompts guiding you on what to do next, and there were a few moments where on-screen text disappeared a little too quickly for me to fully catch it. That led to a lot of wandering around trying to figure out what I was supposed to be doing.

Now, you can figure it out—it just takes some patience.

Because of that, my playthrough ended up being around 2.5 hours, but realistically, I’d say it’s probably closer to a one-hour game if you know exactly what you’re doing.

Overall, Matreshka is a solid little horror experience.

It’s got a unique concept, effective scares, and a strong atmosphere. It may take a bit of trial and error to get through, but if you’re okay with that, it’s definitely worth checking out. 👀