Free · About 10 minutes · Several endings
Exhibit of Sorrows: a circus museum where every doll hides a key
Exhibit of Sorrows is a short point-and-click horror puzzle game by Maxim Tsai, with art by Theresa Kao, set in a circus-themed museum of strange dolls. Each exhibit is a small puzzle: interact with the doll and its props until a key turns up, then use it to go deeper. The visit starts bright — a lobby with a glowing "WELCOME!!" sign and a caption reading "Welcome to the Exhibit of Smiles! :)" — and the rules on the Instructions board sound polite: collect the key, respect the exhibits, clean up before you leave. According to CrazyGames, the mood darkens as you go, the same exhibits return in disturbing new forms, and the choices you make decide which ending you get. A full run takes about ten minutes.
Quick facts
- Developer: Maxim Tsai (game creator credit)
- Artist: Theresa Kao
- Genre: point-and-click horror puzzle
- Length: about 10 minutes, per CrazyGames
- Endings: more than one, based on your choices
- Content note: the game warns of spooky and intense scenes
How to play Exhibit of Sorrows
The museum is a row of rooms. Every room holds one exhibit, and every exhibit gives up one key.
- 1
Press Begin
The black start screen has a Begin button, a warning about spooky and intense scenes, and a suggestion to play with headphones.
- 2
Read the Instructions board
In the lobby, click the yellow board on the right. It lists the rules: collect the key in each exhibit, respect the exhibits, clean up before you exit, and look for emergency lights near the exit if the power goes out.
- 3
Walk to the first exhibit
Use the arrow at the right edge of the screen. The first display is a clown doll sitting on a plinth next to a blue air pump, surrounded by balloons.
- 4
Work out the puzzle
Click the doll, the props and anything that moves until the key appears. Take it, then carry on to the next room.
Controls
Desktop
- Left-click objects, dolls and doors to interact
- Left-click the key to collect it once it appears
- Arrows at the screen edges move between rooms
Phone & tablet
- Tap to interact and to collect keys, per GamePix
- GamePix lists both landscape and portrait support
- Headphones help, as the start screen recommends
What sets Exhibit of Sorrows apart
Named doll exhibits
CrazyGames names the dolls on display: Mr. Floaty, Mr. Washy, Ms. Stretch and Mr. Handy. Each one is its own puzzle.
Rules that set the tone
The Instructions board says damage to property will not be tolerated. Keep that line in mind; CrazyGames warns that you may have to do terrible things to escape.
More than one ending
The ending depends on the choices you make along the way, so a second run can finish differently.
Hand-drawn art
The rooms are drawn in a bold cartoon style with curtains, bunting and balloons, which makes the later, darker versions of the same rooms stand out.
Tips for Exhibit of Sorrows
- Read every sign. The Instructions board and the small plaques on the plinths are part of the puzzle, not decoration.
- Try every object in the room. The first exhibit has a doll, an air pump, a hose and a cluster of balloons; the key could be tied to any of them.
- Put headphones on. The start screen recommends them for the best experience.
- Replay for other endings. A run takes about ten minutes, so trying different choices does not cost much time.
- Check the credits in the lobby. The Credits banner under the welcome sign lists who made the game and where the music comes from.
Who is Exhibit of Sorrows for?
Horror fans who prefer mood over action
There is no combat or chase in the part we played; the unease comes from the setting and the choices.
Players who like short, complete stories
It is built to be finished in one sitting of around ten minutes.
Point-and-click puzzle players
Every exhibit is a small object-interaction puzzle that ends in a key.
Keys and endings
There are no points. Progress is measured in keys: each exhibit hides one, and you need it to move forward, as the Instructions board states. The outcome of a run is the ending you reach, and CrazyGames says there are several, decided by the choices you make during the visit. The game's warning screen and its store descriptions point to content that grows more disturbing as you go; in the opening rooms we played, the art was bright and cartoonish and we did not hit a jump scare.
Frequently asked questions
What is Exhibit of Sorrows?+
Exhibit of Sorrows is a short point-and-click horror game set in a circus-themed doll museum. It was made by Maxim Tsai, with art by Theresa Kao.
How do you play Exhibit of Sorrows?+
Click or tap the dolls and props in each exhibit until a key appears, then collect it to reach the next room. The mouse is the only control.
Is Exhibit of Sorrows scary?+
It is billed as a horror game and opens with a warning about spooky and intense scenes. The first rooms look bright and cartoonish; the unsettling material builds up later.
How long is Exhibit of Sorrows?+
CrazyGames lists a playtime of about ten minutes. There are several endings, so replaying with different choices adds more.
Who made Exhibit of Sorrows?+
The in-game credits name Maxim Tsai as game creator and Theresa Kao as artist. CrazyGames dates the release to April 2022.
Privacy
Exhibit of Sorrows reaches this page through an embed from GamePix, which hosts the game files. Ads that appear are chosen and handled by GamePix, not What Games Play. The game can be played without signing up.
The museum doors are open
Press Begin, read the rules, and find the first key.
↑ Play Exhibit of Sorrows
