Would you believe it if I told you I found the game due to its usage of NHK, or MHK in-game, fee collector as a horror? BrokenLore: DON’T WATCH is part of the franchise that seems to be publishing multiple titles this year alone. DON’T WATCH primarily focuses on the Japanese societal issue of hikikomori, or as often translated as shut-ins. And NHK fee collector, believe me, is part of the horror.
Tagged Horror
Platform 8 Spiel
I remember when Platform 8 came out, the indie market was already saturated with Exit 8-likes, especially with trains, trolleys, subways, and tubes — any kind of public transit that would be remotely reminiscent of liminality. In essence, Platform 8 is late in the game; subways and trains are already tried ideas as Exit-8 likes.
Order 13 Spiel
I suppose calling Order 13 a job simulator would be a euphemism. Order 13 is a horror game with big enough emphasis on the job of warehouse workers. Though I have never worked in Amazon warehouse before, I can safely assume jobs in the warehouse is more separated and specialized, instead of having one employee on the look out for the products, packaging, labeling, and shipping it out from his/her lane.
Dollmare Spiel
It’s yet another horror game from yesteryear with a ‘find an anomaly’ mechanic. However, Dollmare is less an anomaly game than more a job simulator game. Job simulator is a subgenre which focuses on “simulating” real life job — in this game, a doll inspector. The premise of the game is rather straightforward. The protagonist has gotten a job in a doll factory as a doll inspector, who now needs to examine the toys before they can hit the shelves.
Indigo Park: Chapter 1 Spiel
With the release for Chapter 2 finally set for coming December, I believe it’s a great time to revisit the mascot horror that went viral last year. Indigo Park: Chapter 1 is technically in playable teaser state, where the first chapter only debriefs the premises of the game. It is relatively short and free to play at the time of the writing. I couldn’t find the official confirmation on how many chapters are planned for the title, but some did mention the developers answered total of 5 chapters during a live stream.
Who’s at the door? Spiel Pt. 2
Who’s at the door? shows what is possible with AI generated contents in Exit 8-likes, and to discuss how the game used the AI contents, it’s bound to touch on some of the spoiler territories. If you want a spoiler-free review, there is a separate piece for it. This one, on the other hand, I wanted to discuss some of the plot-related elements, especially the ones near the end of its plot.
Who’s at the door? Spiel
After I had played the demo version of Who’s at the door?, I wanted to see for myself how much more could the game offer for an indie horror game. The demo, the decision which I personally appreciate not to abuse Early Access on Steam, had shown different take on Exit 8-likes as a horror-centric game.
The Cabin Factory Spiel
I had been waiting for The Cabin Factory and other The Exit 8-likes for console release, as many indie games have made it over to consoles; small developers working on console release sound impossible, but it is the new norm. But I thought to jump aboard early from the traditional Steam side, as there were some interesting tidbits.
Exit 8-Likes and Optimizations in Lores
The Exit 8 has opened the new subgenre of horror games, which I would dub as Exit 8-like. These new indie horror games share the same gameplay principle: a. the player is in a looping environment, b. if there is an anomaly (e.g. jump scares, out of place objects, etc.), act according to the game’s manual, c. the anomalies are often unsettling changes to otherwise normal, day-to-day environment. One could argue this is a take on Papers, Please but with horror and 3D graphics. And I’m inclined to agree with the sentiment; 3D assets are easily available on the store…
Poppy Playtime: Chapter 4 Spiel
Poppy Playtime: Chapter 4 is finally available for consoles. I had assumed the franchise has gained enough traction to release day-one cross platform, and I stand corrected. It does appear the developers wishes to err on the side of indie; irregardless of how big it has become since the Chapter 1. Due to the nature of episodic release, the review may contain some spoilers. Please do refer to Chapter 1-3 review first, if you haven’t given it a read.
Still Wakes the Deep: Siren’s Rest Spiel
The lovecraftian horror game from yesteryear has a story DLC set in 1986, 11 years past since the events of the Still Wakes the Deep. Because of the time it is set in, this piece will inevitably have some spoilers, though I’ll try my best to avoid it. In Siren’s Rest, you are playing as Mhairi, a diver, seeking to find the answers behind what had happened on the faithful day of Christmas in 1975.
Alone in the Dark (2024) Spiel
As I have said about other classical franchises, the reboot of the franchise offers a great opportunity for newcomers to join. Alone in the Dark was a franchise I have only heard of and read of, and haven’t dared to try to play it. Even after the announcement of the reboot, I had thought only of the actor, David Harbour, playing as Edward Carnby, not much else. Aside from it being a horror game, I didn’t have much else to go on as a newcomer.
Home Safety Hotline Spiel
There is a saying, I was told, in horror community, nobody cares if it’s a mystery, a thriller, a supernatural — they are all scary, therefore horror. I am reminded of it once again, as I found the Home Safety Hotline was labeled a horror and puzzle game; latter of which is certainly true. Home Safety Hotline is as much a horror as legends and mythologies can be, including the German varieties.
Poppy Playtime: Chapter 1-3 Spiel
Poppy Playtime as an indie horror game has a special place in many PC gamers’ heart. There is no doubt it has a special place in my heart as well, only that place doesn’t happen to coincide with “great” in “great-ok-fail” scale. Chapter 1 went viral as a new IP in horror with its focus on intense chase sequence. Its survival horror predecessors built chase sequences around the stealth mechanics, whereas the new comer created a almost film-like, action oriented sequence that is still true to the tone of the horror while providing smooth transition in each moment of desperation.
Still Wakes the Deep Spiel
A lengthy name must be a thing for a horror game this year. Still Wakes the Deep, released only few days prior to the Elden Ring DLC, is set on an oil rig in the North Sea, on the Christmas of 1975. Stars were quite aligned for this moment. Starring Scottish characters in Lovecraftian horror, the game could not be released at better time for gamers in South Korea.