Pinnacle Point – Playtest
Pinnacle Point is an upcoming survival horror game that blends modern sensibilities with a classic presentation. You play as Aron, a man searching for his brother on an island while solving puzzles and fighting enemies. The recent playtest we had the privilege of previewing shows promise, though it’s not without flaws. However, the developer, (Ready2RunGames), has assured us that player feedback will be incorporated into the upcoming public demo. The game is in third person with an over-the-shoulder camera and free non-tank movement, so it definitely is open to modern players who don’t love the classic style. That said, it still has some very obtuse riddles that even I found to be a bit illogical – getting stuck on multiple times. In each case though it seems to be an issue of missing a crucial clue, which the dev said he would work on. There is also no map (also supposedly to be added), and I just found the enemy design and combat to be pretty underwhelming. Think Alan Wake 1, with a black silhouette enemy that you weaken with a beam of light before shooting it until it dissolves. Still, it definitely shows some potential. The boss fight at the end of the demo was very reminiscent of classic, shoot-the-eyeballs Resident Evil. The set design was eye-catching and there’s a few nice cinematic set pieces. With player feedback, I think it could end up being a great game that is accessible to both retro and modern survival horror fans. You can whishlist Pinnacle Point on Steam, and if you want to keep up with the developer visit Ready2RunGames.com or follow on Twitter/X or Bluesky.
The Third Pig – Review
The Third Pig is a proof-of-concept game that falls into what I’d call the “run-and-hide” style of survival horror. Inspired by The Three Little Pigs, you play as the third pig, the last surviving sibling after Mr. Wolf and his mysterious accomplice kill your brothers. Your role is to escape your own home, which has become a trap, using your wits to solve various puzzles. Drawing from the golden age of the genre, The Third Pig embraces fixed camera angles, tank controls, and a Silent Hill inspired inventory system. Its black-and-white aesthetic isn’t just for style, it cleverly makes key interactive objects stand out. It’s a subtle but effective touch that ensures players never miss a crucial item while still demanding keen observation to solve its puzzles. The game strikes a great balance, challenging but fair, never holding your hand, yet rewarding those who pay attention. At first, I thought the wolf-stalker dynamic was inspired by Clock Tower or Haunting Ground, but it turns out that PopsArcade was actually influenced by Tomás Esconjaureguy, the developer behind Cannibal Abduction. That said, this mechanic isn’t quite as fleshed out as in the games I initially mentioned. Escaping from Mr. Wolf is as simple as hiding in an outhouse or the upstairs attic. Strangely, he won’t huff, puff, or blow the outhouse down instead, after a few seconds, he simply loses interest and walks away. In some respects, this makes him feel less like a true threat. However, if he traps you in a corner, escaping becomes nearly impossible, effectively turning it into an instant death scenario that forces you to restart from the beginning. With an estimated playtime of 30-60 minutes, The Third Pig is a short but effective way for the developer to cut their teeth. I really enjoyed the voice acting at the beginning, and there’s even a cameo from eurothug4000, which I wasn’t expecting but absolutely loved. I’d love to hear more of them in a sequel. Now that the groundwork is laid, I’m keen to see what they do next. Keep an eye on them for future updates: @popsarcade.bsky.social If anyone wants a copy of The Third Pig I will personally buy it for you (it’s free): https://store.steampowered.com/app/3316090/The_Third_Pig/
PHASE ZERO: Survival Horror Revival
The golden era of survival horror is about to make a return with PHASE ZERO, a brand-new indie title that promises to pay homage to the classics while integrating modern quality-of-life improvements. Developed by SPINA Studio, a team of seasoned developers who worked on SUPERHOT, Dying Light, and Cyberpunk 2077, PHASE ZERO promises to capture the essence of 90s horror gaming and bring it to modern audiences. A Desperate Fight for Survival in Flint Peak Set in the desolate, snow-covered harbor town of Flint Peak in 1994, players will navigate a nightmarish outbreak that has left most of the town’s residents grotesquely transformed. With pre-rendered backgrounds, fixed camera angles, and cinematic storytelling, PHASE ZERO promises to deliver an immersive, atmospheric horror experience that fans of the genre will adore. At the heart of this nightmare are two unlikely protagonists: Mary, a newly arrived reporter, and Guy, an injured engineer. Trapped in a town spiraling into chaos, they will need to scavenge for resources, navigate horrifying environments, and uncover the truth behind the mysterious illness before dawn breaks. Terrifying Creatures and Cinematic Horror The streets of Flint Peak are overrun with mutated, grotesque monstrosities. Tissue overgrows buildings, flesh bursts through pipes, and hollow human husks fill the alleys, making every step a gamble. The game’s meticulously designed camera angles and immersive 3D environments promise to enhance the tension, creating a cinematic horror experience that will rival its classic inspirations. PHASE ZERO at a Glance: You can whishlist PHASE ZERO on Steam, and if you want to keep up with the developer follow SPINA Studio on X.
Mansion of the Dead – Review
I went into this game with extremely low expectations. The cheap price tag, unimaginative capsule art, and basic screenshots seemed a bit uninspired. But what I found was a super fun 90 minute survival horror thrill ride that balances cheesy jumpscares with genuine terror and clever puzzles as well. You start off in a pitch black room, confusingly stumbling around until you find a table lamp. You’re then introduced through letters to the main villain (hilariously named Will Smith). Then begins the main gameplay loop – look for key-like items, discover some bizarre set piece that will scare you or make you laugh, and keep descending deeper into the mansion. There is actually some very brief but surprisingly good combat, and the puzzles continuously get more interesting as well. And just as you’re starting to fall in love with the game – it’s over. But for $2-3, it was absolutely worth it. If you’re a fan of bite-sized survival horror experiences, Mansion of the Dead is absolutely worth checking out. You can grab it on Steam for just a few dollars, and if you want to keep up with the developer’s future projects, follow Caicai Studio on X.
Somnifuge – Review
Somnifuge is a unique, gritty, PSX inspired horror game. It’s not exactly survival horror, more of a psychological horror game with lots of puzzles, but it does have a survival horror “vibe”. I was very excited for it, having played the demo only a week prior. It immediately reminded me of The Tartarus Key, another game that feels like survival horror despite being purely puzzle-based. To an extent that’s what I got, though I’d say it’s a little rougher around the edges and WAY more “out there”. The puzzles are good but a bit of a mixed bag, generally challenging and fun, though some feel a little clunky. There’s no map, so navigating the mansion and its ever-changing environments can be disorienting (and occasionally tedious). Often, this feels intentional – the game definitely loves to disorient you and catch you off guard. More often than not it was well designed, and definitely interesting. The game has a dreamlike, surreal logic to it, it kind of just goes wherever it wants. I had no clue what anything meant or what the context is, but it was certainly entertaining. If I had my way, I would’ve loved a bit more focus on puzzles (sometimes it felt a bit walking sim-esque), some polish and refinement, and a map. But it’s a unique game and if you’re into dream-like psychological horror puzzle games DRIPPING in 90’s survival horror aesthetic – don’t miss this one. Interested in trying Somnifuge? Buy or wishlist it on Steam here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2957970/SOMNIFUGE/
Zero Protocol – Review
Zero Protocol is a retro FPS survival horror game taking place in a scientific facility, where you play as an amnesiac newly-hired head of security – trying to piece together what happened amidst a sudden emergency lockdown. In its short and sweet 6 hour runtime, it manages to keep its simple gameplay loop interesting and offers a unique take on the genre. It is definitely a classic survival horror game, but in a first person perspective. Slowly, you make your way from floor to floor, solving puzzles to unlock doors while killing your infected colleagues. It has a nice and blocky pixelated 3D look, which is very tastefully done. The map is great, marking details such as locked doors and allowing you to place limitless custom markers. The puzzles are very creative and manage to challenge, despite basically being a rinse and repeat of finding keys to unlock doors (I actually appreciated the shamelessness). The story too is simple but intriguing. When I originally tried the 1.0 release, combat was nearly impossible and I ended up soft locked with no way to proceed. In the newest update, I actually had too many resources… so maybe there needs to be a happy medium. Regardless, the enemy encounters have sufficient variety and require strategic bullet use and quick reflexes depending on the enemy type. Overall, it’s just a short and sweet survival horror experience that left me completely satisfied. The game is finished in about 5-6 hours, and I found the simplicity refreshing and a unique take on the genre. It’s not the most ambitious fleshed-out horror game ever (nor is it trying to be), but it’s a very well crafted experience that fans of the genre will appreciate. Interested in trying ZERO PROTOCOL? Buy or wishlist it on Steam here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2840250/ZERO_PROTOCOL/
