Fragile Reflection – Review
Definitely one of the best survival horror games of the year, despite its obvious flaws. At its core Fragile Reflection feels like Silent Hill f – PS1 edition. It takes place in a Japan-like world, as you explore a village, a sanitarium, mines, and a dream-like otherworld. It is super inspired by Silent Hill 1 and 2, just with modern over the shoulder camera and controls. The music and voice acting are peak, so authentically PSX. The atmosphere and enemy designs are a little janky but also fantastic. The biggest drawback lies in the technical execution. Animations, hitboxes, and controls can feel clunky, sometimes resembling something held together with duct tape. Character movement and animations in particular look like they came from a first-year animation project. But for me – it is not breaking the magic of the game literally AT ALL. And this is coming from someone who noticed the jank in the demo and had extremely low expectations for the full game. Overall, this game is far more absorbing and charming than I expected. It feels very authentic and nails the atmosphere and gameplay. You will know if you are the type of player that can tolerate a bit of jank in exchange for tons of charm and classic survival horror magic. If not, don’t buy. If yes, buy it immediately. Fragile Refection is avalible now on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3088670/Fragile_Reflection/
Seek – Survival Horror Game Review
I had very low expectations going into Seek. There was barely any press leading up to it, and when it popped up as a recent release, I was pretty ambivalent about its art style. I assumed it would just be another RPG Maker game masquerading as survival horror, with its 2D anime isometric art style. But thankfully, this is a very well crafted true survival horror game that stands alongside classics such as Signalis, Evil Tonight and Viviette. The game is very understated in its presentation, but effective. You wander the halls of a dimly lit orphanage with only your flashlight to guide the way. Its themes are dark and disturbing, with bits of lore that feel plucked out of a Silent Hill game. The sound design really delves deep into the psychological horror aspect as well. The gameplay is a nearly perfect mix of Silent Hill and Resident Evil– with the ambience of the former and the snappy exploration of the latter. The map is particularly impressive as it marks every little interactive element you find in great detail. You spend your time unlocking doors, solving puzzles, and deciding whether to use your bullets or save them. It has limited inventory/item boxes as well and well-paced backtracking – and even multiple endings! It took me about 8 hours of in-game time to finally reach the end, and for only $6 it’s one of the better deals I’ve found on Steam. While it’s not the most original or richly detailed game, it absolutely nails all the fundamentals of what survival horror fans look for. As this seems to be the developer’s first published game, I am excited to see what they pull off for their sophomore effort If you’re a fan 2D survival horror games Seek 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 cloud_li13.
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.
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/
Blood Typers – Typing Survival Horror
Blood Typers is a unique, fast-paced typing game that takes a stab at the survival horror genre. It’s really hard to picture what this means without giving it a try, but the execution of this idea really took me by surprise. The moment-to-moment gameplay is shockingly just as intense as the best of the genre. But after playing for a few hours, I realized that it’s aimed at a completely different player base than myself, given its focus on multiplayer and randomized replayability. Does the game truly deserve the survival horror label? Yes and no. It does have limited saves (really more like checkpoints), inventory management, tense combat, keys and backtracking, a map, and even zombies! But what it doesn’t have ended up slowly but surely eroding my enjoyment. There are no puzzles, barely any lore or story, and worst of all… the level design is procedurally generated. I was having a much better time until I realized the last point. I had gotten killed, reloaded the game, looked around, and noticed that the map had completely changed. This is obviously implemented for fans of the roguelite genre, as you can do as many runs as you want and never totally learn the map. But for me, it ends up just making the whole game feel pointless. I want to know that my experience is hand crafted by a human, otherwise I just don’t see the point (much like viewing AI generated artwork). So ultimately, I did have my fun with its well executed typing gameplay mechanic. Its extremely unique blend of typing with survival horror is one-of-a-kind. But once I try a roguelite game, it’s only a matter of time before I lose all interest. Interested in trying Blood Typers? Buy or wishlist it on Steam here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2790330/Blood_Typers/
The Mute House – Review
Disclaimer: We were fortunate to gain early access to The Mute House. The impressions shared in this article are based on that pre-release version. The Mute House is a brand new fixed-camera third person classic survival horror game from solo developer December Blues Games. It is an impressive debut effort, with rich detailed graphics akin to games like Tormented Souls, and some seriously terrifying moments. But what makes the game stand out most is its hauntingly somber tone and some very challenging (but fair) puzzles. What immediately struck me – and only continued to impress – is the game’s atmosphere. It is legitimately terrifying at certain moments, and there’s a noticeable shift in energy as you progress through the game. Its use of shadows often let my imagination run wild, spurred on by some seriously creepy sound work that I can only compare to the recent Silent Hill 2 remake. The game takes its horror very seriously, and you won’t find much Resident Evil b-movie corniness here. The gameplay itself is somewhat of a mixed bag. At times it can feel a little bit walking sim-esque, similar to last year’s Hollowbody. There’s lots of non-interactive square footage, and a number of rooms that offer only a bit of ammo or an optional note. But when the game does have a puzzle, it’s almost always expertly crafted. If you remember the piano puzzle in Silent Hill 1– this has its own rendition, but is actually logical and a blast to figure out. I do have some gripes with it though. In the pre-release state, it had no map and no notes – you’re truly on your own. If you have a photographic memory then you’re in luck, but for us plebeians – I encourage you to take detailed notes and even draw your own map like the good old days. A significant drawback is that the item storage boxes are not interconnected, forcing you to constantly remember where you’ve placed each item. I have a suspicion when more players offer feedback, this will get addressed. Aside from those minor gripes, it’s a really impressive debut from the developer. The tank controls are snappy, the combat is simple but effective, and the core exploration gameplay is top notch. If it was just a little bit denser in the gameplay department, and addressed the map/inventory issues – I could easily see this being in my notes for a GOTY contender. But without a doubt, it’s definitely the best survival horror game I’ve played this year and I’m eager for what’s next from the developer. Use this link to buy or wishlist The Mute House! https://store.steampowered.com/app/2219890/THE_MUTE_HOUSE/
Dead of Darkness – Review
Disclaimer: We were fortunate to gain early access to Dead of Darkness. The impressions shared in this article are based on that pre-release version. Dead of Darkness is the latest addition to the extremely slim selection of 2D survival horror games, joining ranks with Evil Tonight, Viviette and Lone Survivor. It follows the story of Miles Windham, an ex-cop floating through life after the mysterious death of his wife and daughter. He gets a letter in the mail inviting him to a clinic on Velvet Island, which is the ominous setting for the entire game. The game is massive, my playthrough clocked in at 23 hours. Along the journey, you will be exploring a mansion, hospital, houses, underground tunnels and a tower of traps. You know the drill: solve puzzles, dodge enemies and unlock shortcuts. The level design is pretty good, but it’s definitely a bit padded. Many rooms only have a single health item and the decorum is often just repeated sprites and descriptions you’ve seen a few times before. The puzzles are pretty simple Resident Evil “use X item on X” style. There is a unique system in the way the game handles clues. When you encounter helpful information in a note, it gets stored as a clue in the inventory, which is a separate tab from the files. What makes it interesting is that clues are used similarly to inventory items – you can combine clues together, use them on items, or use them on the environments. The best puzzles in the game used this system. The game rewards keen observation in other ways too, with optional upgrades and items sprinkled throughout. At the time of playing, there is definitely some roughness to the overall balancing though. On normal difficulty, the first hour is very tough (but fun), but if you play conservatively then you will run out of space in your stash box by the end of the game. This is starkly contrasted by the time spent playing as a second character, where I never had any items and just barely scraped by. Hopefully this will get balanced out better, but it was probably the biggest issue I had. ***Addendum: from what I’ve heard, other players with less experience actually had to drop the difficulty to easy just to survive, so choose your campaign based on your experience level. The writing is graphic, and I liked how unabashedly it would describe (or imply) absolutely horrific scenarios. The voice acting is very professionally done, and the character portraits (especially the body horror ones) were a treat. The pixel artwork though feels pretty basic – it’s about at the level you can see in the trailer throughout. Overall, the game just suffers from some pacing and balancing issues. The long playthrough time doesn’t feel justified by the amount of puzzles or set pieces, it feels bloated and towards the end it drags. If it was refined, worked in with new puzzles, unique decorum in each room, etc. then it would be a pretty satisfying experience. I would have loved way more clue system puzzles- these were great. I had a good time though, especially in some key areas – the mansion, the House of Always, and Graham Memorial Hospital come to mind. These areas show the best the game has to offer with fun strategic combat, clever puzzles, fun weaving level design, and horrific graphic bits of lore. Having played an early build of this 2D survival horror game, I can say it’s shaping up to be an excellent experience. With some patches to refine the rough edges and streamline a few aspects, it has the potential to truly shine. Dead of Darkness will release on the 23rd of January 2025, use this link to buy or wishlist! https://store.steampowered.com/app/2157210/Dead_of_Darkness
The Evil’s Nest Demo
The Evil’s Nest is an upcoming classic survival horror game with a modern sheen. It fits neatly into a subgenre I call “cozy survival horror”- games with a lot of atmosphere, slower paced gameplay, puzzles, and brief but not too uncomfortable moments of terror. If you enjoy games like the 2002 Resident Evil remake or Crow Country, you’ll feel right at home. It has everything to scratch your nostalgia itch – cinematic camera angles, riddles, save room music, and even door animations (though much quicker and snappier). There is a lot of attention to detail too, such as your character portrait in the inventory screen lighting up when you equip the lantern or dripping blood when you’ve taken a hit. The demo did a great job of checking pretty much every box of the genre for me. There were fun little horror surprises (think carnival haunted house rides), and the combat rewarded careful headshot aiming and quick reflexes. It’s got me very excited for the final release, hopefully out sometime soon this year. The Evil’s Nest demo is now available at: https://lostbullet.itch.io/the-evils-nest Are you excited about The Evil’s Nest? Wishlist it on Steam now and be the first to know when it’s available! https://store.steampowered.com/The_Evils_Nest
