Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Game
Game2024
The Black Within
Developer waleedzo
"The Black Within is a single-player first-person psychological horror game that takes players on a chilling journey into the depths of the human psyche. When selling her soul for fame and fortune, Laila Rose faces the consequences of her actions. A tale where greed, fear, and change intertwine. From the Steam store page
96 reactions from 2 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky) · newest Oct 7, 2026 · last updated Oct 8, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
89
LovedLoved
80 positive · 10 negative
95% range 81–94%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 80 | 10 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
6 newer reactions are still waiting for a label.
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
116 of 132 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What people are saying
Summary pending — the reactions are listed below.
Reactions
60 of 96 · most liked firstThe Black Within will likely take you a bit less than an hour to play through. It might be a bit longer if you spend more time being cautious of the potential terror around the corner. With that out of the way, how'd I like it? I liked it a lot. I was in a pretty good mood as I played it, a short reprieve from a light case of food poisoning. And so, I just wanted to have fun with it. And I did. I maintained very little levels of seriousness, which was perfectly fine for me. It was the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The story is awful. Everything seems out of place. It doesn't make any sense sometimes! There are some interesting lines, though. 2/10.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Kinda torn on this. It’s not a bad game, but it’s just nothing new. If you’ve played games like this, you’ve likely seen all the assets used here. It’s got the cliche jump scares we’ve all seen before (and love). It’s got original voice acting which is always appreciated. The graphics are also pretty damn good, and some of the puzzles, while easy, are pretty original. My beef with the game is the story and the price. The story is just nonsense, and it has no real resolution when you get to the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The plot revolves around Laila, a young musician who lives in an old apartment building that is barely holding together. But then she gets the opportunity of a lifetime when the owner of a record label offers her a deal. The guy did claim she is making a bargain with the devil, but Laila is ready for anything to make her dreams come true. She does not think long before driving to the owner's residence, where odd things begin to happen. The gameplay is typical, and aficionados of indie horror…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →First playthrough review time. The game has a dark atmosphere that suits the horror setting well. The voice acting is one of the stronger parts, and the sound effects add more to the overall atmosphere. I got the game from a retail site with a 96% discount. The visual side is not always consistent. Some objects and decorations look out of place and do not match the surroundings very well. There are also parts where the setting looks too old and abandoned, which can seem unnatural at times.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Certainly it contains some beautiful moments and a good amount of tension, but doesn't offer that much to chew on. Completion took me 45 minutes, and I'm not left with much temptation to go through it again; lack of replay-value. You'll mostly deal with average puzzles when comparing it to other indie horror titles. It feels like the standard blueprint they all follow when built on the Horror Engine. It does have a small amount of good puzzles too, which lean a bit more towards the creative…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A new Game EXP article for the short horror walking-sim The Black Within from indie developer waldeezo, playable on the Steam Deck. www.stageselectstart.com/2026/04/game... #TheBlackWithin #waleedzo #indiehorror #indiegames #StageSelectStart
unlabelledView post →This game has some major issues, for starters if you do the puzzles out of the game devs preferred order it bugs the game and you can't continue, there is also the issue of having to click multiple times to get the character to unlock or interact with something even if you have the item required, I got stuck around four or five times in the beginning trying to figure out why the bucket of water would not activate when clicking on the fire. Just so so many bugs I can't/
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Cute little horror project, nothing great but really very good. Linear. Nice n creepy enough. Could have walked a bit faster. One of the objects didn't really seem to do anything. Could have been more puzzles or multiple goals available or more objects to use in the environment. But you always knew what to do next. Not much backtracking. Definitely add more locations. The video tape element is always nice. more of that, maybe audio cues, email clues, more phone time etc. Very strong 1st effort.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Played on Linux using Proton Exp, Normal walking sim type Horror Game, Find Item, use item, read notes, find code, use code, etc, Some jump Scares, Has a Story and takes about 1 Hour to Complete, so not to bad, Graphics are a bit lacking and Bought/Free Assets are used, Sound is okay and does the job, It is worth a play but might be better to wait for a Sale. I will recommend as it did make me jump and it's at least an hour long.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very nice frame rate and the graphics are nice too, the story is going to be epic and i know i'm going to enjoy this one, is the music industry really like this when they sell their soul to the Devil? its not far fetched either as many artists say they have done... Thank you Dev!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →great debut game! loved the story / had some nice jumpscares.. puzzles weren't crazy hard which i appreciate but overall a very well done narrative horror sim. keep going dude!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →i really loved this game, got a good few jumpscares on me, really loved the atmosphere, the puzzles werent to hard but not hand held either, i recommend this game
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3_fnTNpbJ0 Just played this with my friend Tetch, our playthrough is above. It was a ton of fun! Great jumpscares and the puzzles weren't too crazy =) The game also has full voice acting and a cool story! I recommend it =) =) —Edy
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game honestly had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. So many quality scary moments. The storytelling was rich,original, and has a very important message behind it. I recommend this game to anyone who enjoys horror games with a powerful story. Smooth gameplay all throughout. LETS BRING THE HORROR GENRE BACK BABYYY!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I finally gave up and just watched a youtuber complete the game. I've had issues with other games, but this was so buggy for me I wasn't able to complete it.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Perfect game for those just starting to play games in the horror genre. No chasing, but has jump scares that got me even though I was expecting them. Roughly 60-70 minutes to complete
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Best horror game iv've played in ages. This game was amazing. The visuals, the stereo sound effects. The two houses you search look really good. You get a torch and a lighter but most parts you dont need the flashlight or lighter as the house areas have dim lights anyway. The creepy atmosphere is great and very well done. You won't be running from monsters which is gerat but its the atmosphere and the sudden jumpscares that make this one awesome. The music is great too. The end ws awesome, as…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →the game is fun and theres definitely a good horror aspect too it, i would prefer if the game had some chase sequences but for 59p i cant really complain, very good game but did encounter a few bugs.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Black Within is a nice short (~ 60 min) horror game from one single Developer. I really liked the Story and how it's been told. Nice scenery, nice jump scares, which even got me twice, but possibly others more because I am not that easy to scare. The only negative would be that if you start the game, it starts on unlimited FPS, which made my whole PC crash out. (I still finished it, tho. 🙂) So be sure to check the FPS settings before you start the game. If you like games in your steam…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I finally picked this up on sale, and I’m glad I did! It turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The atmosphere is eerie, the graphics are well done, and the movement feels smooth and responsive. Best of all, it avoids the overused “run and hide” mechanics that bog down so many horror games. The only minor drawback is the story, which felt a bit underwhelming, but that’s hardly a dealbreaker. It took me a little over an hour to finish since I got stuck a couple of times, but for most players,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's OK for a quick game, I'd buy it when it's on sale though it's not worth the full price.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game was barely a pass, I found it a bit lackluster to be honest. The whole thing seemed really low budget and took exactly an hour to experience the whole thing. The developer seems really nice and I hope his next game is better. + The game has a genuinely creepy atmosphere + The puzzles are on the easy side, the game flowed well enough from location to location + The large statues randomly moving around was a great idea, spooky - The graphics and interface are extremely dated for a…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I really enjoyed this game! I LOVED the story. I've been so used to playing a character that is stuck in a haunted apartment with loud blast jump scares for no apparent reason lol (those are fun too, don't get me wrong). But every time I jumped here was intentional and had something to do with the story. Some of the most effective ones weren't even accompanied by music! Anyway I think was great and totally relevant (in a f*cked up way) ..especially in pop-culture. Great job on your first game,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Black Within is an impressive debut from indie developer, Waleedzo, delivering a solid horror experience. The story is engaging and effectively creepy, though it feels a bit short. The game delivers good spooks and maintains a tense atmosphere. However, there were occasional issues with sound not matching the visuals (time-wise eg the bathtub scene), which slightly disrupted the immersion. I wish there were Steam achievements for the game. Despite these minor flaws, The Black Within shows…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A nice short horror game to play, I've been waiting on this one ever since I played the demo. It takes under an hour to beat, and there are certain things to expect for a developer's first game. The overall story is neat and I do wish the game was longer to fully flesh out and develop the story. I do appreciate the locations, it is refreshing to not see the same pre-made assets that other horror games have been using lately. The actual mechanics of the game are pretty standard: mini puzzles to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Thought this was a little annoying to play tbh, and the writing at the end is silly. But I can see some potential from an indie dev, with some surprising attempts at production value.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →THE BLACK WITHIN Yet another short horror walking simulator that has a nice creepy atmosphere. The visuals are fine so is the audio/music/voice acting. There is some light puzzles to uncover key items but nothing too annoying! So what is this one? Like the synopsis says, this is Laila, a prominent singer that is willing to go at any length for fame and fortune. No technical issues nor bugs encountered in my playthrough. Perfect UltraWide monitor support. HOWEVER, I'd like to point out that…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very nice game. Loved it. Played the 2nd game too... The Green Light. Waiting for your 3rd game Dev... keep up the good work !!!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →[Itch.io] (Game) The Black Within is free! See the /r/FreeGameFindings thread below. #FGF #FreeGameFindings #Free https://redd.it/1qts6t6
unlabelledView post →This was a solid debut game. The first half has some really great creepy atmospheric vibes and some good jumpscares. The second half felt a little rushed with not as much story telling, but it's very minor with any issues I had. I liked this and I think you're on the right track to making some more really great games. Definitely worth the money!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I am a fan of horror games but I'm too much of a scaredy cat. I feel with this one I've learned to be okay with some jump scares and some noises. I definitely liked it. I can't wait for the next game, well done <3
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I would call it - if you think about a deal with demon for a quick success.. don't think about it xD In short words, this isn't a long game. The story is too quick, too sudden, basically it says "what will happen if you make a deal with dark thing". Or - "be scared of your wishes". About the last. The game is not scary. Monsters are mostly laughable, they appear with loud sounds, which are more uncomfortable, than tense. Also, the game has a disgusting feature - if you have no idea what to do…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I loved this game. The story had meaning to it and it brought tears to my eyes. The game was scary and very entertaining through every minute. And I loved the puzzles. The graphics were amazing at times. There’s a few things that need a little help. The concert scene feels to me like it could have been improved a bit. And the audio level could be a bit more leveled too. Also some of the animation could be a bit better but other than that I really did enjoy this game and can’t wait for more!…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Maybe a bit expensive, but fun to play. Many jumpscares, good story, deep thoughts, nice puzzles and eerie atmosphere. I'm looking forward to their next game The Green Light^^
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Got Some Nice Jumpscares Y'all!!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'm still on the fence as to how this is sitting with "Very Positive" reviews. I feel like some of the scares in this game were done pretty well (there's one part where I about pissed myself). However... with that being said... I think this story is not only all over the place... but also HIGHLY unbelievable. Laila is so willing to sell her soul and has absolutely no reservations about it. Not even when you can't even find the guy anywhere who's getting you to sign the contract (even though you…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Being this solo devs first game, I was rather impressed at how well it plays. No bugs I've came across and the story, although remounted a few dozen times over the years, is still inventive enough to get you hooked. The game is short, although a longer runtime wouldn't have hurt it, but it doesn't overstay it's welcome. Absolutely recommended if you like horror. If you want to check a full walkthrough, just press the link below: https://youtu.be/zuk-t0Scpic
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →https://youtu.be/20LLFroRyPo This is a fantastic short horror game with some great scares. I did record my play through above but I highly recommend you check out the game yourself if you're a fan of horror.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very fun game to play Waleedzo has very clear artistic vision and talent as seen in the cutscenes, music choice, and Voice actors chosen for this project as all were done very well. Game is rough around the edges but overall a positive experience. Things are only up from here
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Short horror experience that will make you scream for a while.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I can see some inspo from Visage (My favorite horror game) how they both set a great atmosphere around the story. The game still needs a lot of polishing, but for being your first game as a solo dev, you really nailed it! Exited to see what you bring next!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is quite good. I liked the atmosphere as it legit gets creepy with certain happenings. I also love the fact that it is voice acted. Very good decision. The game looks solid graphically. I didnt run into many if any bugs or stutters. The story is interestin' as we are tasked with signing a contract and doin' exactly as a dude says regardin'' it. Lookin' forward to seein' how it all plays out. The game features jump scares etc but doesnt blow it's load with em too much. One of the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I really wanted to like this game. It looked good at least. I streamed it and it took a bit over 2 hours to complete when i saw videos on YT of full walkthroughs from 21-50 minutes so I guess I just wasn't able to figure out what to do next most the time. Visually the game looked good. The audio had some issues. The dialogue and main game sounds where really quiet while the jump scares and cut scenes seemed to be on a volume 500% louder then the rest of the games sounds. That made it where I…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Black Within - a horror themed walking simulator - is a fairly short and to-the-point horror game with a slightly confusing and, at times, illogical storyline. The story is about an artist who signs their first contract and is excited by the prospect of fame and success while the reality looks vastly different. Pros: ❤ Really good voice acting. ❤ Clear objectives. ❤ Nice pieces of artwork can be found throughout the game. ❤ Some eerie happenings. Cons: 💀 Begins with frustration…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It was pretty good. The scares got old after a while. But interesting story. 8/10 on the pear scale.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →MORE scary in VR with UEVR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPWXBmEPSis
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Felt like this game was def trying to say something or be something more than it was but it was hard to take serious. The gameplay is your typical horror game, find item to open door, in next room find item to open a different door, you know how this goes. Braindead puzzles that required no brain power, no danger and you cannot die. So unless you are really afraid of jumpscares and bad audio mixing then this game isn't really scary. Game has some broken textures, the house layout is really…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →ضيف لغة عربية 🤍👍
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →🎮Free games on 🔹IndieGala🔹 & 🔹itch.io‼️ Myrne : The Quest freebies.indiegala.com/myrne-the-qu... Hentai Mosaique Neko Waifus freebies.indiegala.com/hentai-mosai... The Black Within (itch.io) waleedzo.itch.io/the-black-wi... Warframe Game Pack Key eu.alienwarearena.com/ucf/show/217...
unlabelledView post →🔴 LIVE NOW 🔦 Dark Discoveries: Indie Horror Edition We will be exploring PANICORE, Among Ashes, The Black Within, & two eerie itch.io gems: I Met An Archaeologist & BANSHEE! 👻 Join the horror, support indie devs & brace for scares! 📺 Live soon: www.twitch.tv/wallakoalas #IndieHorror
unlabelledView post →it's short but a few decent scares, i'd recommend on sale
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Good little horror game. The jump scares, minus one or two are not that scary or well placed, but also not boring or annoying. The puzzles are really easy, maybe - too easy for my taste, but i can forgive that. There is an actual story, and while you cannot expect horror deep enough to rival King or Kunz's books, it's actually interesting. The Black Within gave me about two fun hours for few euros, so i can't complain.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →W Streamer W Game W Person / Darens
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →As at the time of playing i am fighting with the border that keeps on collapsing, the mouse pointer not synced with the cross hair and various other issues. Very frustrating. This game has a lot of potential, so i shall carry on with it for a while. Here we go....round 2! (ding ding)
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I though the game was great especially for it being the developers first one. We all have a starting point and I feel this game along with others has huge potential behind it. I find the message of this game to be very insightful and different compared to other horror games I've played and the message itself is rather actually an important one at that. Atmosphere was great in this game, I loved the random paranormal activity that occurred in the house creating a sense of dread like something…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A interesting game good story line and a few good jump scares yes I word recommend
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →All I can say is WOW! I really enjoyed the writing in this game and the perspective that it presented on fame culture. Without spoiling the ending, I feel that anyone who has ever wanted to go “viral” or worked in the entertainment industry could relate to the story in this game. I thought the audio design was very thoughtful and planned out as well. Not only the music, but the sound effects, as well as the sounds for the jump scares and horror aspects of the game. The voice acting was also…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is social commentary that uses horror to guide its narrative. I did not like the ending, I was hoping for something more abstract instead of the story just spelling out the intended message. However, I enjoyed the road that took me to the ending.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game is rock solid, smooth and has a great atmosphere. I'd suggest every horror fan to give it a try!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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