Finding Frankie - Review

Finding Frankie sets a new bar for horror-meets-parkour, blending terror and hilarity in a nightmarish game show filled with creepy characters and dizzying obstacles. Imagine a mashup of Fall Guys, Poppy Playtime, and Mirror's Edge, and you're just scratching the surface of the chaos that Finding Frankie brings to your screen. For fans of horror-themed platforming, it’s an unexpected thrill ride – though, if you’re hoping for long playtime, you might be in for a bit of a shock.

Here's my take on what Finding Frankie does brilliantly, and where it might stumble a bit in keeping up with its price tag.

Horror Meets Parkour: A Wild Concept That (Mostly) Works

Finding Frankie throws you right into a bizarre game show where you’re up against spooky mascots and challenging obstacles. It’s one of the few horror games to incorporate platforming mechanics so heavily, and honestly, it’s a fun spin. The game blends horror elements with slapstick moments, showing you a bunch of weird, scary faces but also giving you a laugh with its sometimes goofy visuals and animations. I’d call it part of the charm – not quite polished, but charmingly janky.

The game is packed with parkour elements: wall jumps, slides, vaults, and more as you scramble across arenas filled with tricky jumps and timed segments. Not every mechanic flows perfectly (more on that in a bit), but it’s an entertaining formula that mostly works. Plus, the twisted game-show atmosphere keeps you on edge, balancing fun and terror with some truly memorable music and sound effects that set the mood perfectly.

Short and (Not So) Sweet: A Big Price for a Quick Playthrough

One of Finding Frankie's biggest issues is that it’s really short. Clocking in at under two hours if you’re even a halfway decent parkour player, you’ll get through this horror experience surprisingly fast. And for the $18 price tag, it does feel steep. There’s a lot of feedback calling for either more content or a price drop, and honestly, I’d agree. It’s a great game – but it feels like an extended demo with limited replayability at this price point.

Some players suggested that the developers add a “rogue-lite” parkour mode to give it more longevity. Now that would be a fantastic addition! A randomized, never-ending parkour challenge could make Finding Frankie a more lasting experience, offering players a reason to keep coming back after the initial run.

The Thrills (and Frustrations) of Movement Mechanics

For a parkour game, movement is everything – and in Finding Frankie, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. While sliding through haunted hallways feels exhilarating, the wall jumping and vaulting mechanics don’t always respond as you’d hope. Sometimes, you’re moving along smoothly, only to faceplant after a poorly-timed vault that doesn’t trigger correctly. And with how much the game relies on precision parkour, these moments can be rage-inducing.

When the mechanics work, they feel awesome – the fast slide is a highlight, giving you just a split second to catch your breath before launching into the next obstacle. But with the occasional misfire on jumps and vaults, especially during critical sections, you might find yourself cursing at the screen. It’s a learning curve, but a slightly uneven one, that can lead to frustration, especially towards the game’s brutal final sections.

Soundtrack and Visuals: Top-Notch Atmosphere with a Few Performance Issues

One place where Finding Frankie shines is its soundtrack. The music does a fantastic job of setting the scene – creepy, intense, and almost comically dramatic at times, adding to the overall horror show vibe. It really pulls you into the experience, especially in tense moments where you’re dodging creepy mascots or sprinting through hexagon-shaped mazes.

The visuals, too, are strikingly unique, blending cartoonish horror with colorful, almost theme park-esque sets. However, the graphics can be a little heavy on your PC, with some players noting that they had to lower settings due to lag. It’s not game-breaking, but it might take away from some of the immersion, especially if you’re a stickler for smooth frames during intense gameplay.

A Story That Doesn’t Take Itself Too Seriously

For a horror game, Finding Frankie keeps things surprisingly lighthearted. The plot doesn’t delve into deep, psychological horror; instead, it takes a more comedic approach, poking fun at itself and keeping things simple. It’s refreshing to see a horror game with a sense of humor, and while the story isn’t groundbreaking, it’s easy to follow and enjoy without any extra baggage. It feels like you’re stuck in a wacky, haunted reality show – and that vibe absolutely works here.

Some players were a little disappointed that certain areas teased in the trailers didn’t make it into the final game, which is a bit of a letdown. While the game is clearly designed to be short and punchy, seeing those missing areas might feel like a missed opportunity to expand the experience.

Final Frustration: The Brutal Endgame Section

One thing you should know about Finding Frankie: it doesn’t hold back at the end. The final sections are notoriously difficult, with some players comparing them to rage games like Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy. Between precision jumps, a tricky trampoline park, and more water traps than you can shake a stick at, it’s a test of patience. I’ll admit, there were moments where I nearly gave up. The difficulty spike is real, and it’s not for everyone. If you’re the kind of player who loves a tough challenge, you’ll be in your element here; otherwise, be prepared for some hair-pulling frustration.

Final Verdict: Fun, Fresh, but a Little Pricey

Finding Frankie is undeniably unique. With its combination of horror elements, clever (if slightly glitchy) parkour, and tongue-in-cheek humor, it’s a refreshing take on the horror genre. The soundtrack is a blast, the visuals are striking, and it does something new in a space filled with similar mascot horror games. But the short playtime and occasional mechanical hiccups make the $18 price tag feel a little hard to justify.

If you’re a fan of quirky horror games or want something different to spice up your horror collection, Finding Frankie is worth the experience – just maybe catch it on sale if you’re looking to get the most value for your buck. For all its charm and chaos, I’m hoping we see a sequel (or a big update) that adds more meat to this clever but brief package.