Calling vs Penumbra: Black Plague
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Rin Kagura, Shin Suzutani, Chiyo Kishibe and Makoto Shirae are drawn to the mysterious website "The Black Page," where a counter tracks the dead. Each character seeks answers to personal tragedies, and after entering a chatroom they are pulled into the Mnemonic Abyss—a void between life and death that manifests the memories of the dead. Using their cell phones, they must navigate this eerie landscape, solve memory‑based puzzles, and confront haunting visions to escape before they become another count on the page.
Surrounded by enemies and assaulted by terror from all sides, Philip must collect clues and solve vexing puzzles while combating the gnawing psychological terrors that assail his mind and threaten to strip him of his sanity. Trapped in a shadowy, underground complex, the intrepid explorer is determined to discover the truth behind his father's disappearance. Can Philip master his fear and finally uncover the truth behind a mystery that has haunted him for a lifetime? Face terrifying creatures, hide in the shadows, and piece together the dark secrets hidden deep beneath the earth in this acclaimed survival horror experience.
- Engaging, character‑driven narrative
- Unique cell‑phone interface adds immersion
- Tense, atmospheric horror ambience
- Well‑crafted puzzles that tie into the story
- Engaging physics-based puzzle mechanics
- Deeply atmospheric and terrifying horror setting
- Compelling and suspenseful narrative mystery
- Effective stealth and sanity management systems
- Limited replayability after multiple endings
- Occasional clunky phone controls
- Relatively short campaign length
- Outdated graphics by modern standards
- Can be frustratingly obscure in puzzle progression
- Limited replayability once the story is finished
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Calling
View all →Venture into a shadowy underground complex to uncover the truth in this psychological horror adventure.
Uncover a haunted village with a camera that captures souls.
Alternatives to Penumbra: Black Plague
View all →
Explore Mount Massive Asylum and survive its terrifying secrets as journalist Miles Upshur.
A cinematic survival horror reboot set in a monster-infested New York.
A Lovecraftian first‑person shooter that blends horror, stealth and mind‑bending puzzles.
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataPenumbra: Black Plague offers stronger critical reception and deeper physics‑based puzzles, while Calling provides a unique phone‑interface narrative but shorter, less replayable experience.
Key differences
- •Critic scores: 62/100 (Calling) vs 80/100 (Penumbra)
- •Puzzle style: memory‑fragment puzzles (Calling) vs physics‑based, object‑interaction puzzles (Penumbra)
- •Interface: in‑game cell‑phone UI (Calling) vs traditional first‑person controls (Penumbra)
- •Visual presentation: hand‑drawn art (Calling) vs dated 3D graphics (Penumbra)
- •Price info: not disclosed for Calling; Penumbra listed at $9.99
Gameplay & fun factor
Penumbra’s physics puzzles and stealth/sanity systems provide richer, more varied gameplay than Calling’s limited phone UI.
Platform availability
Both are single‑player titles; no platform specifics given for either.
Price & value
Penumbra lists $9.99; Calling’s price is not specified, making direct comparison impossible.
Multiplayer / co‑op
Both are single‑player only.
Content & replayability
Both have limited replay value after completing the story or multiple endings.
Difficulty & accessibility
Penumbra’s puzzles are physics‑based but can be obscure; Calling’s phone controls are occasionally clunky, making Penumbra slightly more accessible.
Graphics & performance
Calling uses hand‑drawn visuals that are stylistically distinct, whereas Penumbra’s graphics are noted as outdated.
Choose Calling if…
Players who want a short, narrative‑driven horror experience with a unique phone‑interface.
Choose Penumbra: Black Plague if…
Players who prioritize higher critical scores, deeper puzzle mechanics, and richer atmospheric gameplay.
Common questions
Which game has better reviews?
Penumbra: Black Plague has a critic score of 80/100, compared to Calling’s 62/100.
Do either games support multiplayer?
Both are single‑player only.
What is the price of each game?
Penumbra is listed at $9.99; Calling’s price is not specified in the provided data.