Heavy Metal Death Can – Demo Review
I was very lucky to get my hands on an early copy of the Heavy Metal Death Can demo. This was a game that immediately caught my attention after seeing a few early screenshots. A cramped submarine filled with zombies is an ideal location for a survival horror game. Before playing, I thought a submarine was a great setting for survival horror, but I did have some concerns once I started. I worried that the environment might feel too restricted. Thankfully, those concerns quickly disappeared. The level design is excellent the hub and spoke level design is as good as you will find in the Resident Evil Spencer Mansion. If you’d rather see Heavy Metal Death Can in action, watch the video version of this review below! The demo strongly reminds me of early survival horror games, particularly in how there is very clearly a right and a wrong way to progress. It is entirely possible to play for a long time while completely missing the handgun, which I absolutely loved. Survival horror is all about player vulnerability, and it does not get much more vulnerable than being forced to play without a weapon. The introduction to Resident Evil 2 gave players a handgun with just fifteen bullets, but here you start with nothing at all. This is a very brave design choice from the development team, and one I sincerely hope they keep for the final game. Heavy Metal Death Can is unapologetically a survival horror game. The demo offers around one hour of gameplay and acts as a vertical slice of what players can expect from the full release. From what I could tell, all of the core systems are working well. The only feature I was unable to use was saving, as I did not have a tape. Both the menus and the map function extremely well. I found the map especially useful, as it clearly marks which doors have been opened, which are locked, and which I have yet to try, this really helped me when I was lost. I also loved being able to rotate items in the inventory screen. This is not just an aesthetic feature, but one that actively helps with solving puzzles. Another similar gameplay mechanic borrowed from the Resident Evil 1 Remake is a defensive weapon called the KLAS. When carried, it is automatically equipped and can be used to stun enemies. It is not designed for fighting, but instead acts as a tool to help you manoeuvre around enemies when ammunition is low or when you want to conserve resources. This strongly reminded me of the single-use defensive items in the Resident Evil 1 remake. In that game, players had access to daggers, flash grenades, and stun guns, all of which would automatically trigger when grabbed by zombies, allowing you to escape without taking damage. The size of each room and the placement of zombies also brought early Resident Evil titles to mind. At times, you enter a room and are almost immediately confronted by a zombie. In other cases, an enemy may be positioned just off screen, or a sudden ambush catches you by surprise. Some players may find this approach quite claustrophobic, but this is exactly how those classic games felt, and I think the developers have captured that experience perfectly. The demo will be available to the public on the 16th of February, so be sure to wishlist Heavy Metal Death Can on Steam to stay up to date with its release. The full game launches on 28 May 2026.
Flesh Made Fear – Review
When the familiar late 90s survival horror is blended together with stylistic 80s neon grindhouse horror, the yucky gory results would be a pretty accurate description of Flesh Made Fear, the latest title by Tainted Pact games a mostly solo lead studio by Michael Cosio and published by Assemble Entertainment for PC via Steam with console ports currently in development. The premise is familiar for anyone who has played the original Resident Evil, the year is 1992 you choose between two members of an elite black ops unit known only as the Reaper Intervention Platoon or R.I.P for short, (the S.T.A.R.S jab is hilariously obvious), The unit is sent to a rural part of the United States to the small fictional sleepy town of Rotwood (Yes it even the in-game characters joke about its name) to investigate their lost comrade Cole who mysteriously disappeared while hot on the trail of a former leading CIA scientist Victor Ripper who led the MKUltria project into mind control before it was shut down with Victor continuing on with his illegal human mind experimentation. Flesh Made Fear does an interesting job at introducing its characters with some fulfilling the familiar tropes you would expect of a ragtag group of actors and actresses pretending to be an elite military special unit for a cheesy sci-fi horror movie on a direct to video budget. The game clearly knows what it is and it isn’t ashamed to indulge into the 1980s era horror tropes as a sort of mash between the gory horror of Evil Dead with the slashers of Friday the 13th and Halloween. Where the game falls short is in it’s story department, when you pass the introduction sequence and enter the town of Rotwood itself, you’ll rarely have any further interactions with any of the R.I.P team members again until near the end of the game, which is a shame because I would have loved to have seen more character development and their personalities shine more in the dreaded sticky ordeal they all now find themselves in from Victor’s twisted experiments. Gameplay-wise Flesh Made Fear does not try to reinvent the wheel of late 90s/early 00s survival horror, instead of adding in a new original gameplay mechanic or a fancy new take on survival horror, the game just reuses the ideas and styles of the first three original Resident Evils and first two original Silent Hills, to be honest there is really nothing wrong sticking to the old comfort food at your favourite restaurant here. The classic fix camera perspectives, being resourceful with your limited inventory as well as the puzzle solving are all here in the flesh (pun intended). When you boot up Flesh Made Fear you are presented with two characters to choose from, Jack Richards who has more health but a more limited inventory and Natalie Lewis with less health but makes up for it with some more extra inventory slots, whoever you choose the story is still the same, but with some different locations and buildings to explore depending on who you choose. You will need to playthrough each chacater in order to see all the locations the game has to offer, but don’t expect a Leon/A and Claire/B or Claire/A and Leon/B here outside of some plush toys to collect for a bonus unlockable. But speaking of enemies, there are only a few types you will encounter in the entire game with your main being the slow walking zombies, following by a bloater suicide variety and a licker-type fast variety, there would be some flying enemies you will encounter later towards the end of your playthrough, some more creature variety would have been welcomed but either way the game doesn’t overstay its course with each playthrough lasting roughly five to six hours depending how well you struggle against the Ripper’s madness. Regarding difficulty I find Flesh Made Fear to be on the easier side of the survival horror gaming spectrum, even on Hard difficulty which removes the blood bags that restore your character to full health, the removal of your weapon laser sight and even more limited ammo among other changes, the puzzles here are not as hair pulling or brain twisting as some might expect, they are mostly fit the right shape into the right slot or matching the object sequence with the writing of a poem. Flesh Made Fear is a game I can see myself recommending to someone who is new to the tank controls and fixed camera perspectives, it’s a deeply satisfying thrill ride of classic survival horror and 80s grindhouse horror that would please just about anyone who has even the slightest curiosity of the PS1 style creature feature gore and its a must pick for the next Halloween-themed gaming night. Flesh Made Fear is currently available on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3316350/Flesh_Made_Fear/
Carnival Massacre – Review
Carnival Massacre is a short but well made survival horror game inspired by titles such as Silent Hill, Alisa, and Heartworm. You play as Harley, who is searching for her missing sister Chloe in an abandoned carnival. It may not be the best game of 2025, but I enjoyed it enough that I wanted to cover it, especially as I worry it might be overlooked by survival horror fans. There have also been some unfounded plagiarism claims, which I address below. I also think Carnival Massacre could be an excellent introduction to the survival horror genre. I often see people ask, “I’m new to survival horror, what game should I start with?” Until now, I have struggled to give a clear answer. Heartworm is a good option, but it differs slightly from classic Resident Evil and Silent Hill because your primary tool is a camera rather than a traditional weapon. If you’d rather see Carnival Massacre in action, watch the video version of this review below! Carnival Massacre also features a camera, but here it is used to stun enemies. This is honestly one of the best avoidance mechanics I have seen in a survival horror game. It feels quite ingenious. There are also a few traditional weapons to use, including a shotgun, handgun, sniper rifle, and flamethrower Combat is not particularly difficult and can often be avoided altogether. There is a stalker enemy that cannot be killed, which adds some tension, but even this enemy is not too hard to evade. The puzzles are reasonably straightforward. You still need to think about them, but they are never so frustrating that they would put a new player off. Overall, there is nothing here that players should find overwhelmingly difficult. If someone does get completely stuck, survival horror may simply not be the genre for them. Before I talk more about the gameplay, I also want to address the plagiarism claims that have been made about the game. Alisa Controversy One of the main and most serious claims about Carnival Massacre is that it supposedly stole assets from Alisa. To be clear, there is no evidence that this happened. Casper Croes himself confirmed this in his Discord group, stating: “Just finished Carnival Massacre, definitely no assets stolen.” He added that “only ideas were somewhat taken over,” referring in particular to the way enemies in Carnival Massacre drop coins which can then be spent on resources or used to save the game. In Alisa, enemies drop tooth wheels which serve a similar purpose. Casper also pointed out that you could argue Resident Evil 4 did this first, with enemies dropping gold. I would also note that the save system is reminiscent of the ink ribbons in the early Resident Evil games. Another claim is that the menus in Carnival Massacre were copied from Alisa. When you place them side by side, the similarities are minimal. The main overlap is in the Alisa shop menu, where red curtains are used. However, red curtains are a common visual motif, and it is not as though Alisa owns the copyright to that idea. If we followed the logic that Carnival Massacre “stole” its red curtains from Alisa, we could just as easily say that Alisa “stole” the framed item displays and font style from Alone in the Dark, which would clearly be unreasonable. Many games share similar menu designs, simply because they draw from the same visual traditions. A related but less serious claim is that Carnival Massacre has been heavily influenced by Alisa. This is true to an extent, but influence is not the same thing as plagiarism. There are countless examples of indie games being openly inspired by earlier titles. In this case, it is simply an indie developer influenced by another indie developer, rather than by a major studio. It is also worth looking at the technical side of the asset theft accusation. Alisa uses pre-rendered backgrounds, which means the 3D assets are not stored in the game files in the same way they would be in a fully 3D game. What you see in-game is an image of the 3D model, rather than the model itself, so these assets cannot simply be ripped out and reused. While 3D character models do exist within the game files, even Casper has said that Carnival Massacre did not copy Alisa. All creative works are influenced by something. Alisa itself was inspired by Alice (1988), the surreal revision of Alice in Wonderland by Jan Švankmajer. Carnival Massacre would not be the game it is today without Alisa, but Alisa would not be what it is without Resident Evil, and Resident Evil owes a great deal to Alone in the Dark (1992). Survival horror continues to evolve because each new game builds on what came before. Demo VS Final Game When I first played the demo of Carnival Massacre my main concern was it would be way too easy to be a true survival horror, ammo was everywhere so there was no real need or reason to avoid the enemes. I was glad to see in the full game the ammo was easily halfed compared to the demo and instead of the ammo the player was given a camera that was probably inspired by Heartworm as mentioned earlier. In the demo, the route to the carnival takes you through a tunnel and then along a long road, where you spend around two minutes walking with very little to see or do. This slows the opening considerably. In the final game, the tunnel is blocked off and you instead follow a path through the forest. This more scenic route is clearly inspired by Heartworm and is a welcome improvement over the demo. It better explains how Harley gains access to the now closed carnival and significantly improves the overall pacing. Another feature I really appreciated was the in-game notepad. I often find it frustrating when a survival horror game expects you to search for a pen
Dead Format – Review
Dead Format is a very unique and well-crafted survival horror that simultaneously retains many core components of the genre, while also creatively bending the rules. It is a unique experience with some meta overtones, combining Survival Horror with Analog Horror in a similar vein to last year’s Among Ashes. It is very fun, but there are a couple places where there is room for improvement. You begin the game by breaking into your brother’s apartment after he had gone missing. You find some mysterious notes and a birthday present – a video tape in GHL format, which is basically VHS but with haunting properties. You pop it into the VCR and suddenly the front door transports you into the universe of the film. You then proceed to find other films, and go back and forth between them solving puzzles, facing enemies, and trying to untangle your brother’s disappearance. The game features a limited inventory, some very solid puzzles, a mixture of both classic Resident Evil combat with a Tyrant-style stalker enemy, lots of backtracking to explore previous areas, optional secrets, and some really cool atmospheres. Every film has a Live Action sequence that you can actually watch on the television before entering its universe, and these are GREAT. This includes: very convincing German Expressionist horror, The Evil Dead type practical effects, a 80’s bright and colorful slasher film… and each world also has a type of filter to make you feel part of that era. The gameplay has a good balance between puzzles, exploration, and combat – though the combat is not really a highlight. There are way too many resources for a very small number of enemies, so I never felt that true scarcity-worry that you expect in this genre. The stalker enemy is very intimidating though, and the game does deliver some very tense encounters despite the imbalance of the combat. The level design is well-built, but there is no map. For the most part, the areas are manageable enough to navigate, but there are definitely times where a map would have enhanced the experience. The puzzles are about 50% simple inventory interactions, but the rest are very clever and unique. The game took me around 8 hours to finish, so I do wish the game was a bit longer and had more films to explore. The ending was also a little abrupt, though I did find a couple things that seem to indicate replayability and perhaps alternate endings. That said, I absolutely recommend this game if you enjoy first person survival horror / survival horror adjacent games like Among Ashes, Resident Evil 7, or Routine. Dead Format is definitely one of the better horror games I’ve played this year. You can buy or wishlist Dead Format on Steam now: steampowered.com/app/3399290/Dead_Format
A.I.L.A – Review
Disclaimer: I received a free review key for A.I.L.A from the publisher. This does not affect my opinions, all thoughts and impressions in this review are my own. A.I.L.A is not a typical survival horror experience, and the developers are upfront about that. The Steam description makes it clear that the game blends multiple horror subgenres, including survival horror, psychological horror, and action horror. It draws from all corners of the horror genre to create something that feels familiar yet unpredictable. Fans of Resident Evil will immediately notice the countless references hidden throughout its levels. However, it is not just Easter eggs. A.I.L.A also borrows from the core gameplay loop of Resident Evil and Alone in the Dark: explore, solve puzzles, fight, repeat. The hub-and-spoke level design reinforces that classic structure, while the constant shifts in tone and setting keep it from feeling derivative. There is plenty of variety too, with environments ranging from a derelict farmhouse to a pirate’s ghost ship, each offering a distinct atmosphere that prevents the experience from becoming stale. If you’d rather see A.I.L.A in action, watch the video version of this review below! If you are here to find out whether A.I.L.A is worth playing, let me save you some time: Yes! I went in with no expectations, having never played Pulsatrix Studios’ earlier title Fobia – St. Dinfna Hotel. Although it took a little time for the game to grow on me, once it did, I could not put it down. In the end, A.I.L.A worked for me because it delivered a completely different kind of horror experience that I did not realise I was missing. The Meta World of A.I.L.A In A.I.L.A, you step into the role of Samuel, a beta tester for a VR project that shares the same title. The experience often felt surreal to me, as I was reviewing a game built around the idea of reviewing a game. Even the process of installing the in-game system is carried out manually, and this idea becomes much more intricate during a later puzzle, the whole game is very meta. Your main hub area is Samuel’s apartment, which might sound like an unexciting location, but there is always something new happening. The space is detailed and changes a lot through the game. The apartment sequences reminded me of Silent Hill 4: The Room, as well as the film 1408, with their sense of being trapped in a room you can’t escape. A large part of the game’s appeal comes from never knowing where you will end up next. Each scenario is set in a different location or time period, and the shifts are dramatic enough that you can never be certain what might be waiting behind the next door. The Many Doors of A.I.L.A There is something iconic about the door animations in the early Resident Evil games, which is why our logo features a red door. You never quite knew what was waiting on the other side which added to the tension that defined classic survival horror. In many ways, A.I.L.A could almost be described as a door-opening simulator, although I am fairly sure that is not an actual genre. In the early Resident Evil titles, the loading screens created a real sense of anticipation, and Pulsatrix Studios has taken that concept and reimagined it in a modern way. In the first area, for example, you must navigate a maze of countless doors, never knowing what you will step into next. Rooms can change after you leave them, and sometimes even the moment you turn your back, objects shift or rearrange themselves, keeping you constantly on edge. Mannequins and other objects shift whenever you turn your back on them, creating a constant sense of uncertainty. Not knowing what might be behind you, or what might be waiting through the next door, is when the horror is at its strongest. These moments work because the unknown is always more frightening than what is in front of you. In a later level, you find yourself in a Resident Evil 7 style farmhouse, fighting aliens. These encounters lean far more towards action horror than psychological horror. The change of pace does help to keep things lively, but the alien enemies are among the weakest enemies in the game (there are much better enemy types later). They are more irritating than frightening, and once the action takes over, some of the tension disappears. When you understand exactly what you are dealing with, the fear of the unknown is lost. Although I was not a fan of the alien enemies, I did enjoy the level itself, particularly the visuals of the farmhouse. In fact, the graphical presentation throughout the entire game is impressive, although I will touch more on that later. What made the farmhouse especially engaging was its puzzles. The whole location feels like a large, interconnected puzzle box waiting to be solved, and that sense of discovery is what kept me playing. Puzzle Solving A large portion of your time will be spent solving puzzles, and for me they are pitched at just the right level of difficulty. They are not so easy that they become dull, yet not so challenging that you feel the need to look up the solutions online. There were moments when I was close to giving up, but whenever I stopped and searched a little longer, the clue I needed was usually nearby and often in the very room I was standing in. If you approach the game in the same way you would an early Resident Evil title, you will be fine. By that I mean you should search everything and read every clue. Searching highly detailed environments is one of the reasons I love survival horror games. I recently reviewed Tormented Souls 2, and one of my favourite aspects of that game was exploring its environments. However, when you explore in third-person with a fixed camera that is quite far back, it can be difficult
Greek Tragedy – Review
Greek Tragedy is another Halloween release: a fixed-camera PSX horror game that kind of slipped under the radar. Amidst the release of absolute classics this month – Tormented Souls 2, Flesh Made Fear, and Echoes of the Living – it didn’t really get much notice. Well, now that I have finished it (with 3 of the endings), I can’t really say it is competitive with these other titles – especially not as a survival horror game. It certainly shares some of the hallmark traits of the genre; there are fixed cameras, puzzles, and a sense of vulnerability. But it also subverts so many others, to a point where I don’t even know how to classify it. No map, no inventory management, shoddy combat, linear level design, and an absolutely bizarre plot. The combat is somewhat similar to the developer selewi’s games – which DO feel like survival horror despite only having a singular unbeatable stalker enemy. Here, you only have a taser gun that merely momentarily pauses the hooded enemies that relentlessly chase you. This flimsy combat system makes the enemies feel more like a nuisance than intimidating. The real gameplay here is the puzzles, but unfortunately they are a pretty mixed bag. There are a few that were interesting and clever, but there are many others that are either too simple, bizarrely constructed (in a bad way), or just slightly glorified keys. The overall atmosphere is also a mixed bag; while the art style itself is quite charming, the actual content of the college campus, the characters, the vague fraternity/cult story – I just don’t really understand what the atmosphere is supposed to be. The game took about 2 hours to finish, and it left me feeling a bit… empty. I don’t really understand what the vision was for the developer, on both a mechanical gameplay level or the content and story. Some puzzle fans may enjoy moments of the game, but I really cannot recommend it for classic survival horror fans. Greek Tragedy is available for Steam, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch
Tormented Souls 2 – Review
Disclaimer: I received a free review key for Tormented Souls 2 from the publisher. This does not affect my opinions, all thoughts and impressions in this review are my own. The Chilean development team Dual Effect have a deep understanding of the survival horror genre. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if they spent half their time developing Tormented Souls 2 and the other half reverse-engineering the code of classic survival horrors to understand what truly makes them work. It is easy to label Tormented Souls 2 as just another Residet Evil and Silent Hill like game, but it is far more than that. There have been plenty of excellent indie survival horror games these past couple of years – Heartworm, Post trauma, Hollowbody, Alisa, The Mute House, The Fear Business – the list goes on and on. While all of these titles are well worth checking out if you’re a fan of the genre, none of them quite capture the rich visual atmosphere and unforgiving gameplay of Resident Evil Remake and Resident Evil Zero quite like Tormented Souls 2. Playing Tormented Souls 2 feels like stepping into a world where Capcom never shifted the genre with Resident Evil 4, a world where the classic survival horror style that peaked with Resident Evil Zero continued to evolve instead of giving way to action horror. It’s a world in which fixed camera angles, tank controls, and carefully rationed resources never went out of fashion. Survival horror in this reality continued to refine its focus on rich atmosphere, sound design, puzzle-solving and a sense of vulnerability – instead of transforming into years of fast-paced action horror, quick-time events and mandatory enemies that drop resources. Dual Effect lean into that vision completely. The game invites you to slow down, to absorb every tiny detail and search every room for any scrap of ammo or health you can find. The environments feel like cut content from an unreleased Resident Evil spin-off, with just as much depth – if not more. They are so detailed that they make you want to take your time in every room, simply to soak in the atmosphere. Playing Tormented Souls 2 reminds me what made the genre special in the first place: the constant tension between curiosity and fear, the satisfaction of solving a puzzle, and the constant fear that an enemy might be just around the corner. Never compromise. Not even in the face of Armageddon It should go without saying, but everything has remained as it was in the original game. For many developers, there is a temptation to “fix” the biggest complaints users had with the first title. I am very happy to report that Dual Effect did not cave to this pressure, nor did they seek to cash in by appealing to a wider audience by making the game easier or more “user-friendly”. They set out to deliver a true survival horror experience, and they stayed the course. Health is a resourceAmmo is a resource Saving is a resource I can’t overstate how important it is that these mechanics remain untouched. The whole time I was playing, I found myself asking questions like: “Should I save now or wait a little longer? Could I run past these enemies and save these shotgun bullets for the boss? Should I heal now or wait for one more hit?” This kind of decision-making simply doesn’t occur in action-horror games like Dead Space or Resident Evil 4. and it creates a completely different experience – one I have been searching for since the original Tormented Souls. The combat is a puzzle In true survival horror games, you quickly begin to realize that the combat itself is a puzzle. For example, when I reached the first boss in the Convent (the game’s opening area), I only had two shotgun bullets, one healing item, and a few nails. I quickly realised that I did not possess the resources required to defeat the boss unless I used the hammer (which we can confirm – is possible!). This meant I had to load an older save and run past a bunch of enemies in order to solve the “puzzle” of reaching the boss with more health and ammo. Darkness / Lighter One of the most unique and important “enemies” in the series is darkness itself. If you stand too long in any shadowy areas, you will die instantly. The only way to counter this is by using a dimly lit lighter. But here’s the dilemma: when you’re holding the lighter, you can’t use your weapons or defend yourself in any way – all you can do is run. This leads to some of the most tense enemy encounters I’ve experienced in any horror game, where you have to run and find a candelabra offering small islands of safety to fight from. Survival horror has always been about playing as a vulnerable character who can barely defend themselves, and I can’t think of another series that commits to that vulnerability quite like Tormented Souls. Taking away your ability to fight in the darkness makes these games truly unique. Camera angles Can I just take a moment to appreciate the camera work in Tormented Souls 2? This kind of detail often goes underappreciated, but it deserves recognition. Take this example in the video below – the way the camera snakes through narrow corridors and then follows you seamlessly down the elevator feels almost like the developers are showing off. Achieving that sense of fluid motion and atmosphere takes real precision, and throughout the entire game the camerawork is consistently excellent. Problems / bugs For our review, myself and Pixel Crypt played an early build of the game, and it’s important that we remain fair by mentioning a few bugs we encountered. The tank controls occasionally stick when entering or exiting menus (although the modern controls are unaffected). We also experienced a few crashes, although it’s difficult to say whether these were caused by hardware issues or software bugs. In a
Tormented Souls 2 – All Puzzle Solutions
Tormented Souls 2 brings back classic survival horror puzzle-solving and along with it a lot of head-scratching moments. If you’ve found yourself stuck on one of the game’s many puzzles, this complete guide will help you through every step. Below you’ll find all puzzle solutions in Tormented Souls 2, including the required items, where to find them, and screenshots showing each puzzle. Need extra help or want to share your own discoveries? Join our Discord community, where players share hints, theories, and screenshots in real time.Also if you would like a video walkthrough that is time stamped for every puzzle please check our the series below. Flower lock Location: Convent – Infirmary Items needed: Christ book, Thumbtack Solution: Combine the thumb tack with the Christ bookNotes: The thumb tack can be found on the cork board, the Christ book is found next to the stretcher nearest the lock Lighter in corpse Location: Convent – Bell Tower (bottom) Items needed: Pliers Solution: Use the pliers on the cage of the corpse to obtain the lighterNotes: Pliers can be found in the Staff Room on F1 Elevator power Location: Convent – North CorridorItems needed: Test item1, test item 2 Solution: Find the power box opposite the door to the Lady Chapel Padlocked door to Courtyard Location: Convent – North Corridor Items needed: Hammer Solution: Interact with the padlock then use the hammer to break itNotes: The hammer is obtained from the Crematorium in the basement Bell Tower glass (Shotgun) Location: Convent – Bell Tower (top) Items needed: Hammer Solution: Hit the bells in order to smash the glass casing and allow the player to obtain the shotgun:3 (third largest)1 (largest)4 (smallest)2 (second largest)Notes: The hint is found by interacting with the plaque below the glass casing. The hammer is found in the crematorium Gallows Location: Convent – CourtyardItems needed: Pliers Solution: Use the lever next to the gallows to drop the torso down, then use the pliers to remove the saw bladeNotes: Pliers can be found in the Staff Room on F1 Frozen hand Location: Convent – KitchenItems needed: Saw blade – Saw handle Solution: Combine saw blade parts and use handsaw on the frozen handNotes: Saw blade can be found in the Courtyard, saw handle can be found in the refectory behind a hidden entrance – find it by moving the moveable shelves Melting the frozen hand Location: Convent – KitchenItems needed: Lighter Solution: Locate the cooker and open the oven door by selecting it, then use the lighter on the wood to start a fire. Place the frozen hand on top of the stove to melt it and release the Cryptex Cryptex Location: Convent – KitchenItems needed: Chess Paper Solution: Examine the back of the chess paper and locate the black lines. The lines show the movements of chess pieces on a board. Use these to turn each section of the cryptex to the corresponding chess piece i.e. L shape is a Castle, Y is a Rook etc.Notes: The chess paper is found in the Calefactory room. Solving the Cryptex gives the crown key for the locked door in the basement Crown lock Location: Convent – BasementItems needed: Crown key Solution: Obtained by completing the Cryptex. Unlocking the door leads to the Prison areas Prison cell power Location: Convent – PrisonItems needed: Pliers Solution: Use the pliers on the wire to open the fuse box then turn the dials so that they point to the symbols that fit inside the shape shown./ \ \ \ /Go through to the other room where the cells are found and use the lever on the platform to power them.Notes: The paper hint is found in one of the cells in the Prison Cursed book Location: Convent – PrisonItems needed: Christ book Solution: Swap the cursed book with the bible, then deliver the cursed book to Joseph in the Crematorium Museum door Location: Convent – MuseumItems needed: Museum Key Solution: Use the key on the three star bolts going from middle to right to left, then select the handle to slide it awayNotes: The museum key is obtained by delivering the cursed book to Joseph Telephone / Jade disc Location: Convent – LibraryItems needed: Old telephone dial – Yellow page Solution: Attach the dial to the telephone base in the library then enter the code 3890*. The jade disc will then be revealed behind a nearby paintingNotes: The solution can be found by flipping the yellow page paper and using the lines on both sides to create the numbers. The rotary dial is found in the basement, accessed via the torture museum. The yellow page is found in the last prison cell. Jade cross Location: Convent – Calefactory RoomItems needed: Cross Disk Solution: Combine the jade disc with the jade cross and use the buttons to spin the discs to create a closed circuit of lines and make a square. Press the arrows in the following order: RIGHT-DOWN-LEFT-RIGHT-RIGHTUse this on the Chapter House door to unlock it.Notes: The jade cross can be found in the lower area of the museum behind the stairs. Obtain from the jade disc from the library by completing the phone puzzle. Padlocked door in Torture Chamber Location: Convent – Torture MuseumItems needed: Hammer Solution: Interact with the padlock then use the hammer to break it Teleport mirror Location: Convent – Torture MuseumItems needed: Lighter – Hammer Solution: Use the hammer to break the padlock, then use the lighter to light candles around the mirror: bottom left, top left, middle 2 right, bottom rightX0000 X0 XX XNotes: The hint for the mirror can be found in the museum – there is a portrait of a woman looking into a mirror that shows the order in which the candles should be lit Torture Chamber stretcher Location: Convent – Torture Museum (Other side) Solution: Use the lighter to light candles on the mirror to go through to the ‘hell world’. Locate the stretcher and use the turn handle to rip open
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/
Echoes of the Living Exclusive Gameplay
Exclusive First Look at the Upcoming Survival Horror Experience We’re excited to bring you something special today, exclusive gameplay footage of Echoes of the Living shared directly with SurvivalHorrors.com. This upcoming survival horror title is heavily inspired by 90s classics like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, blending fixed camera angles, puzzles, and limited resources with stunning modern 3D visuals. If you’ve been craving a return to the golden age of survival horror, this is a game you’ll want on your radar. Echoes of the Living will be coming soon to Early Access, giving players their first chance to step into its zombie filled world. The Early Access release will feature Liam’s campaign, a 12+ hour survival experience filled with unlockables, multiple paths, and a brutal “Survivor” difficulty. Liam’s story will offer players five unique endings, rewarding replayability. When the game reaches full release, players will also gain access to Laurel’s campaign, which mirrors Liam’s in length, challenge, and content. Both campaigns are designed to provide a complete and deeply engaging survival horror experience, capturing the tension and atmosphere fans of the genre love. The developers (DevMoonGlint & KurauAmami) have also confirmed that future content and expansions will depend on the game’s success in Early Access, meaning fan support will directly influence how this game grows. If the reception is strong, Echoes of the Living could evolve into one of the most content-rich survival horror experiences in years. Don’t miss out on this first look at the horrors to come — watch the exclusive gameplay below and prepare yourself for the return of true survival horror. Echoes of the Living is avalible to wishlist on Steam now: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2173460/Echoes_of_the_Living/
Heartworm: Review
Disclaimer: I received a free review key for Heartworm from the publisher. This does not affect my opinions — all thoughts and impressions in this review are my own. Heartworm isn’t just an indie survival horror game, it’s a deeply personal work, built from the streets, buildings, and small details of Vincent Adinolfi’s own life. It’s rare to see something so steeped in personal history, where every location feels lifted straight from a lived memory. The result is an experience where the environments feel authentic. You’re not wandering through generic level design, you’re navigating spaces that have been lived in, remembered, and reimagined, making Heartworm all the more immersive and rewarding to explore. I was reminded of Hollowbody, which also features a stretch of suburban streets inspired by the developer Nate’s own background in the UK. But the streets there feel distant, abandoned, unreachable, partly because you can only pass by the houses, never step inside. Compared to Heartworm’s intimate spaces, it’s a colder kind of personal. Another source of Heartworm’s warmth comes from its protagonist, Sam, voiced by M in their very first voice acting role. The game is filled with monologues that breathe life into Sam, offering not just exposition but a direct line into her thoughts and emotions. They’re both well written and beautifully delivered, authentic, intimate, and free from the kind of cheesy dialogue that made Resident Evil 1 so charmingly clunky. Gameplay & Variety At the start of the game, you’re given a welcome set of options: graphics can be retro (pixelated) or modern; movement can be tank-style (player-relative) or modern; and aiming can be tank-style (camera-relative) or modern (over-the-shoulder). It’s a smart touch that caters to a wide range of players, as tank controls can be quite divisive. When I played the demo, I opted for tank movement with modern aiming, but found the switch from fixed camera angles to an over-the-shoulder view a little disorientating, it took me some time to get my bearings. For the full game, I switched to both tank movement and tank aiming, and I’m glad I did: it made the combat feel far closer to classic Resident Evil games. Environments Survival horror locations are traditionally dark, grimy, and designed to make you feel uneasy. But Heartworm took one look at that and said, ‘Nah, we’re going to be beautiful.’ I don’t think I’ve ever played a more beautiful horror game, some of the environments are so gorgeous, I actually forgot I was playing a horror game. Before it’s release, I interviewed Michael Jentsch about the enviroments in Heartworm. I learned a lot about how the game was made, but Michael stayed very quiet about some of its best areas — and I’m glad he did. I was genuinely impressed by the scale and variety of the locations. During my playthrough, I explored an abandoned house, a quiet neighborhood, foggy small-town streets, a warehouse, wilderness, a clock tower, a school, a hospital, a subway station, and an office building and that’s just to name a few. With so many locations to explore, it’s no surprise that Heartworm’s development took around five years to complete and required a small team of dedicated developers. Speaking of which, shout out to the small but passionate indie team behind the game: Vincent Adinolfi, Michael Jentsch, Carlos Lizarraga, Leonardo Esteban Montes, Michael “Goba” Tomczak, Jakub Graczyk, Yves Searle, M. Hart, and Suzi Hunter. Enemies & Combat Feedback for Heartworm is generally very positive, but one area where I’ve seen some criticism is the combat and difficulty. Like Hollowbody, most enemies can be easily avoided. However, this didn’t surprise me, as both Hollowbody and Heartworm are influenced by Silent Hill 2, a game where enemies are easy to avoid and combat is not the focus. Earlier this year, I also reviewed Post Trauma, another Silent Hill 2-inspired game, and it actually has far less combat than Heartworm. In fact, I thought the variety and number of enemies in Heartworm was very good. There are the bright, TV-like glowing copies of Sam that use a slow-motion attack, the dogs in the Wilderness, the stone statues that come to life with unique stone attacks, mannequin-style enemies, and licker-type creatures that leap from the ceiling. For an indie game, I was impressed by the enemy variety. There are plans to include an increased difficulty mode, but that’s not something I’m particularly interested in when playing a survival horror game. If I wanted really challenging combat mechanics, I’d play a Souls-like game (and I do quite often!). By the end of my playthrough, I had nine health packs and over 100 camera shots, but I think this is because Heartworm went for the Silent Hill-style approach, with enemies that are easier to avoid. In Resident Evil games, you’re often in narrow corridors, so avoiding enemies isn’t always a practical option. Heartworm, on the other hand, takes place in big, open areas and is mostly set outdoors. I didn’t fight any enemies I didn’t have to, which meant I ended up hoarding resources. Wow, what a mansion! When I first found out about Heartworm, I made the same mistake a lot of people did assuming the gameplay and influences would be similar to Fatal Frame. Having now played the full game, I can safely say the gameplay is nothing like Fatal Frame, especially when you’re using tank controls and tank aiming, as I mentioned earlier. I think when you see a camera being used in a horror game, it’s hard not to make the Fatal Frame connection. However, in Heartworm, the camera feels more like a pistol in Resident Evil. It’s far more accurate to say that Heartworm is influenced by Resident Evil and Silent Hill. The Resident Evil 1 influence is hard to miss the Clocktower section toward the end of the game feels like stepping right into the Spencer Mansion, complete with a replica of one of its staircases and hallways. I love seeing references and Easter
Survival Horror: How Much Action Is Too Much?
How much action is too much in a survival horror game? That’s the question I hope to explore with my Survival Horror Spectrum, a visual guide that maps where different games fall along a scale from pure action to pure survival. At one end of the spectrum (position 1), you’ll find action-heavy games with little or no survival horror elements. As you move up the scale, the action decreases and survival becomes the focus often with limited combat or no combat at all. While most of us can agree on the core characteristics of survival horror, we each have our own personal threshold. At some point, too much action erodes the tension, resource scarcity, and vulnerability that define the genre. When that balance tips, the game doesn’t just lose its survival horror identity it transforms into something else entirely: action horror. There are many factors that contribute to a game’s classification as survival horror, which can make the genre difficult to define. But too much action is often the clearest and most measurable disqualifier. At some point, when combat dominates every moment and tension gives way to constant gunplay, the game crosses a line. This isn’t a matter of personal taste or opinion; it’s a structural shift in both design and gameplay mechanics. If tension, and vulnerability are no longer central to the experience, then the game no longer fits the survival horror genre. True survival horror relies on elements like resource scarcity, player vulnerability, and the meaningful option to avoid enemies. In some horror games such as Resident Evil 4, Dead Space, and The Evil Within enemies frequently drop ammo, health, and other resources. This not only reduces scarcity but also actively encourages players to engage in every fight, removing any real incentive to avoid combat. Take Resident Evil 2 Remake, for example. Zombies are tough to kill, but relatively easy to avoid. Choosing to avoid them conserves ammo and reinforces the survival tone, even though combat is still present. If, however, those zombies dropped health and ammunition upon defeat, the game would shift to position 4 on my spectrum below the survival horror cut-off point pushing it into the realm of action horror. So, the main question becomes: Where is the line? Let’s start at the bottom of the spectrum with BioShock and Left 4 Dead two of my favorite games of all time. First, let me make one thing clear: placement on the spectrum has nothing to do with quality. The games are ranked purely based on survival horror elements, not how good they are. While it’s true that in both games you’re technically fighting for your survival, the same could be said of almost any shooter. There has to be something more that sets survival horror apart from other genres something beyond simply surviving. The main reason Left 4 Dead sits at the bottom of the spectrum is because of its relentless, unbroken combat. The zombie hordes are so frequent that there’s barely a moment when your finger isn’t holding down the trigger. As mentioned earlier, survival horror does include action, but it’s all about balance. Take Resident Evil 1 Remake (2002) its gameplay alternates between exploration, puzzle-solving, and sudden, tense combat encounters. The action isn’t constant or overwhelming it comes in bursts, often catching you off guard. That’s in stark contrast to Dead Space 3 (2013). Side by side, I don’t think you could find two games more polar opposite in terms of gameplay and how you interact with enemies. As you can see in the footage below, there are moments in Resident Evil 1 Remake where you might encounter just a single zombie. In those situations, it’s often smarter to avoid the enemy and conserve your ammunition for tougher sections or boss fights. That kind of critical decision-making simply isn’t necessary in Dead Space 3, where you can mindlessly gun down every enemy in your path and there are plenty to deal with. It’s not uncommon for the game to throw over 30 enemies at you in a single encounter, and avoidance isn’t even an option. They must be killed to progress, and they also drop health and ammo, giving you no incentive to avoid them. The meme below reads, “They’re the same genre,” which should obviously be taken as satire. Even based on these five-second side-by-side clips, it’s clear that these two games do not play the same way and shouldn’t be classified under the same genre label. Survival horror cut off point After the success of Resident Evil 4 (2005), there was a noticeable decline in traditional survival horror games and a sharp rise in action horror titles. Following its release, the Resident Evil series leaned further and further into action, which is why Resident Evil 5 and 6 fall lower down the spectrum. It’s undeniable that the shift toward action horror became most apparent with Resident Evil 4—but what many people (including Wikipedia) don’t seem to agree on is whether Resident Evil 4 itself should be considered action horror. To be honest, I’d need to write a separate article to fully explain why I believe it is. There isn’t a single element that defines Resident Evil 4 as action horror, but rather a combination of factors that stack up over time. It’s the classic “straw that broke the camel’s back” scenario we just have to decide how much straw (or in this case, how many action elements) it takes to tip the balance. Resident Evil 4 Remake does include more survival horror elements than the original such as stealth, enemy evasion, and Crimson Head–style enemies. In the remake, some enemies can transform if not dealt with quickly, much like the Crimson Heads in Resident Evil 1. In general, enemies also feel more robust and less predictable, much like the zombies in the Resident Evil 2 Remake. In the original Resident Evil 4, if you shot an enemy in the knee, they would almost always fall, allowing you to follow up
Exclusive: Heartworm’s Michael Jentsch on Making PS1-Style Horror
Ever wondered how to create a PS1-style horror game? Then this interview is for you. Michael Jentsch, an environment artist working on the upcoming indie horror title Heartworm, was kind enough to give us a behind-the-scenes look at his creative process, including how he builds lo-fi environments that capture the essence of classic survival horror.
Survival Horror vs Action Horror
Over the past year and a half, I’ve been cataloguing every survival horror game I can find, with the goal of creating the most comprehensive list of survival horror titles to date. During my research…
Departure of Darkness – Interview
With Departure of Darkness, Red Vault Interactive aims to resurrect the magic of classic survival horror, think the fixed-camera tension of Resident Evil 2 in a new setting: a labyrinthine airport in 2005. I caught up with the developers to talk about their biggest inspirations, how they designed the game’s branching puzzles, and why your every action could turn desperate survivors into your worst nightmare. Q: Departure of Darkness clearly draws inspiration from classic Resident Evil. What specific elements of RE2 did you want to emulate, and where did you deliberately diverge? Our team has a deep connection to the look and feel of the classic Resident Evil games, and we wanted to honor that. We especially loved the pre-rendered backgrounds from Resident Evil 2 , fixed camera angles, and its tight survival horror gameplay loop. The police station setting and its narrative pacing really resonated with us, so capturing that same sense of dread and exploration was a core goal. However, we knew we wanted to push combat further. With modern technology, we can implement precise body-hit detection, so damage depends on where enemies are struck, and a laser sight for more skill-based shooting. On top of that, our narrative introduces various NPCs whose survival depends on the player’s actions, adding weight to every decision. Q: Why did you choose an airport in 2005 as the setting? What about that location and time period made it compelling for horror? Airports are strangely underused in horror games, despite being familiar spaces for so many people. We liked the idea of taking a place everyone knows, check-in counters, security lines, duty-free shops, and twisting it into something deeply unsettling when things go wrong. We chose 2005 because it’s a fascinating time: it was a period when airport security became much tighter worldwide. It also lets us play with technology that feels nostalgic and more analog than today’s always-connected devices. There’s something eerie about an era just before smartphones took over. Q: How do the branching puzzles work, and can you share an example of how player decisions might lead to different outcomes? A core design pillar for us is player agency. Many puzzles have multiple solutions, or can even be skipped entirely if the player prefers to tackle challenges differently. For example, if you don’t want to solve a particular puzzle, you might need to venture deeper into the airport to find an alternate, riskier route. Sometimes that path might expose you to tougher enemies or hidden story bits. We want players to feel clever for how they choose to progress. Q: I noticed in the demo there is a map on the wall, in the final game would you consider letting the player take the map with them? Absolutely. We’ve heard that feedback loud and clear! We’re exploring whether to let players collect and keep maps, or at the very least ensure they’re distributed well enough so players aren’t too lost. Exploration is key for us, and maps are part of rewarding that curiosity. Q: What are some “modern mechanics” you’ve introduced, and how do they complement the retro design? One example is our light RPG system: players can find passport stamps that upgrade Emma’s abilities, tying progression to exploration in a way that fits the airport theme. Our zombies are infected with a parasite that reacts to noise, so players need to manage sound carefully. Finding silencers or opting for melee weapons becomes critical for survival.We’ve also made movement, aiming, and camera transitions more fluid than old-school titles, while keeping the tense, deliberate pace fans expect. Q: What have you learned from being part of Science Park Skövde and CDG-Booster? How have those programs influenced your development approach? These programs have been invaluable. They’ve connected us with mentors, other developers, and business coaches who’ve helped us navigate everything from funding to marketing. The networking opportunities alone have been worth it, we’ve met so many people who genuinely want to see us succeed. Q: How involved is the survivor-rescue mechanic? Will those characters affect gameplay meaningfully, or are they more narrative-driven? They’re very much part of the gameplay. Survivors can help solve puzzles and grant access to areas. But if the player fails to protect them, they’ll mutate into tougher, more aggressive enemies. Your choices have direct consequences, so be kind to the survivors. Q: Is replayability a core goal? If so, how do branching puzzles and survivor outcomes feed into that? Absolutely. Replayability is essential for a great survival horror experience. We’re including all the staples, clear times, grades, alternate endings based on who survives, and so on. But we’re also working on a Resident Evil 3 style “Mercenary Mode”, random item placements, and higher difficulties designed for players who want a real challenge. We want each run to feel fresh and test your mastery of the game. Q: You’re aiming for a mid-2026 release. What does your roadmap look like between now and then? Our focus is on expanding every aspect of the game, more areas, more enemies, more puzzles, adding boss fights. We’re also continuing to polish our core mechanics and narrative systems based on feedback. Expect consistent progress updates as we refine and expand the experience on social media. Q: What kind of feedback have you received on the demo so far, and how has it shaped your roadmap? Are you planning future demos or playtests to involve the community? The response has been amazing, we’ve loved seeing players pick up on the Resident Evil references and embrace the retro look. People have also given us tons of useful feedback on what they like and their main problems. We’re working hard to improve on the experience and really nail the classical feeling whilst minimizing frustration. We’re planning to host regular playtests through our Discord, especially as new areas come online. If you haven’t joined yet, hop in and try the demo on itch.io, we’d love your feedback. If you’re intrigued by what you’ve seen so
Niraya of ■■: Helpless Horror
You cannot fight. Yet, you must confront your fears. Set to release in late October, Niraya of ■■ is a Japanese horror game with Buddhist aesthetics. Developed primarily by Yuya Yamaguchi, whose past work includes Silent Hill: The Short Message, MGS Snake Eater 3D, and Final Fantasy Type-0 HD. Although largely developed by Yuya Yamaguchi, the game is supported by a team providing art, music, localization, QA, and marketing. His impressive resume includes collaborations on major Japanese titles. Not Classic Survival Horror Niraya of ■■ is not classic survival horror, instead it is what I would class as “Helpless Horror” or “run and hide survival horror” it diverges sharply from titles like Resident Evil. There’s no combat, Instead it takes inspiration from games like Clock Tower and Haunting Ground, where avoidance, timing, and vulnerability are at the core of survival. The game’s tagline, “You cannot fight. Yet, you must confront your fears,” captures its spirit perfectly. You play as Yuni, a defenseless child abandoned in a haunted world. Powerless to fight back, she must learn enemy patterns, manage her stamina, and rely on premonitions to avoid capture. It’s a minimalist experience that builds tension not through firepower, but through sheer helplessness. Inspirations Behind Niraya of ■■ While Western horror often leans on gore or ruined worlds, Niraya of ■■ draws from more cerebral and cultural roots. “Kuon was a big influence,” says Yamaguchi, referring to FromSoftware’s 2004 cult classic set in Heian-era Japan. The game invites players to experience fear from the viewpoint of an ineffectual child—a motif that places it closer to psychological horror, but with the survival mechanics to back it up. The Premonition and Stamina Systems Niraya of ■■ builds tension not through fast-paced action or violence, but through strategic evasion and resource management. Central to this is a dual mechanic: the premonition system and a strict stamina gauge that governs your ability to flee. Before a threat strikes, Yuni receives a premonition—a moment of foresight that reveals the enemy’s next move. This warning gives you a brief window to react, but reacting blindly can be just as dangerous. Every step Yuni takes depletes her stamina, and once exhausted, she’s left completely vulnerable. Enemies don’t simply chase you—they follow patterns. Survival means observation: learning how enemies move, memorizing escape routes, and finding the right timing to rest, hide, or run. Panic leads to mistakes. Calculated movement leads to survival. “The stamina limit is quite strict,” says Yamaguchi, “but it doubles the sense of accomplishment.” The result is a slow-burning horror experience where every encounter feels tense, every escape earned. You’re not solving combat puzzles—you’re surviving them by outthinking the threat. Coming This Halloween At 70% completion, the game is slated for a late October 2025 release, just in time for Halloween. Yamaguchi promises: “It’s a bit eccentric, but just the right game for horror fans—especially those who prefer unknown experiences.” My final question for Yamaguchi was about the cryptic symbols ■■ in the game’s title: “You can find out the meaning behind the ■■ after watching the whole story of the game!” If you’re intrigued by what you’ve seen so far, be sure to wishlist Niraya of ■■ on Steam to stay updated on its release. You can also follow Niraya of ■■ on Twitter/X for development updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more.
Tormented Souls 2 Demo Now Live
New Look, New Nightmare, and a Return to Classic Survival Horror Roots Grab your nailer and lighter: survival horror fans can now step back into the shadows as Tormented Souls 2 unleashes its brand-new Steam demo, a new story teaser trailer, and a revamped look for returning protagonist Caroline Walker. Tormented Souls 2 promises to improve on the original in every way, offering a longer campaign, upgraded visuals via Unreal Engine 5, and a fresh take on classic survival horror gameplay that fans of the genre will immediately recognise. Play the Demo Now The newly released Steam demo offers players their first hands-on with the sequel, featuring roughly 60 minutes of gameplay that sets the stage for the full story. Caroline and her sister Anna journey to Villa Hess, a secluded town in the Chilean mountains, hoping to find answers to Anna’s increasingly disturbing visions. But peace is short-lived, and players are soon thrust into a fresh nightmare involving shadowy convents, hidden passageways, and a sinister sisterhood with ties to the past. Play the demo here Caroline Walker Returns with a New Look In a nod to the series’ retro influences, Caroline’s design in Tormented Souls 2 has been reimagined to blend nostalgia with maturity. Dual Effect, the developers, describe the new look as a natural evolution, drawing inspiration from survival horror icons like Claire Redfield and Aya Brea. Caroline’s blood-red dress, worn leather jacket, and signature floral motifs combine to reflect her new role: no longer a lone survivor, but a protective sister and fierce fighter. “We wanted to ensure she still felt familiar to returning players, while showing that she’s grown from her past trauma,” said the team. “This is very much her BIG SISTER era.” Watch the ‘Sisterhood’ Story Teaser Trailer Set roughly six months after the original game, Tormented Souls 2 plunges players into a terrifying new narrative. After arriving at a clinic recommended by Caroline’s psychiatrist, Isabella, things take a dark turn when Anna is abducted. Caroline awakens in the convent infirmary and must now navigate a labyrinth of fear to save her sister and uncover the twisted legacy of their family’s past. What’s New in Tormented Souls 2 Tormented Souls 2 will launch later in 2025 on Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Epic Games Store, and GOG.com. A PlayStation 5 physical edition is also available for pre-order. Watch the Demo in Action Curious to see how Tormented Souls 2 plays firsthand? I’ve started a full playthrough of the Steam demo, exploring the eerie halls of Villa Hess, solving puzzles, and backtracking for an optional shotgun. Check it out to see the new mechanics, Caroline’s updated look, and some of the game’s early moments in action.
Vampire Huntress – Lament of the Sun – Interview
Vampire Huntress – Lament of the Sun just dropped a brand-new trailer, and with a demo in the works, we thought it was the perfect time to catch up with the developer to see what he’s been cooking up. After all, it’s not every day you see a survival horror game where the monsters are vampires—especially one that draws inspiration from classics like Resident Evil and Koudelka. In this interview, Borealis shares his journey into game development, the influences behind Vampire Huntress, and what players can expect when they step into this blood-soaked world. Q: To start things off, could you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background in game development? (no need to use your real name) I’m Borealis. I’ve been working with games for most of my life. When I was a kid, I got Final Fantasy 8 randomly as a Christmas present, not knowing what that game was or what genre it even was, it changed my world completely, and I have wanted to make games ever since. I started with making levels for Tenchu 2 on the PS1, later moving on to RPG Maker, making my first full game when I was 17. Later I studied programming and 3D art and ended up working as a 3D artist and level designer for several companies, even winning some awards while doing so. I’ve been wanting to work as an indie developer for many years now, but haven’t had the chance to really dive into it until now. Q: Not many survival horror games focus on vampires — the only ones that come to mind are Vampire Hunter D and Countdown Vampires. What influenced you to focus on vampires? I’ve been wanting to make a vampire themed game for a long time. I did my first designs for such a project in 2016, and it was a side-scrolling metroidvania style game, but it never got past prototype phases. I was busy with other things at the time and couldn’t really commit to it. But that idea of a vampire hunting vampires game has been in the back of my mind since, waiting for its time to rise once more. And that time is now. Q: Vampire Huntress is inspired by the original Resident Evil and Koudelka. The Resident Evil influence is clear, but how did Koudelka shape your vision for the game? So yes, originally the idea for Vampire Huntress was “What if Resident Evil 1 had vampires in it?”, but I like to have multiple influences that then help to find that ‘original angle’. The game was originally more influenced by Koudelka, with RPG elements, but I decided to cut those pretty early on as the scope of the game was getting bigger, and I didn’t manage to make the RPG stats and such work well in the framework of a RE1 style gameplay. Ultimately, I think the Koudelka influence can be seen more in the main character (who was heavily influenced by Koudelka’s design herself), as well as the overall tone and mood of the game. Q: Can you talk about the decision to offer both modern and tank controls? So personally, I highly prefer tank controls, as they are really comfortable with fixed camera angles. However, the reality is that there are a lot of people who just don’t like to use them, and I get that. For this reason, I decided to offer both, just like in the Resident Evil 1 remake. Q: Can you avoid combat in VH or will most enemies need to be dealt with? We’re trying to strike a balance where you need to make that choice of whether taking out an enemy is worth the resources, or if you should risk getting past. Of course, dispatching an enemy makes it significantly easier to explore the areas. The enemies in Vampire Huntress are also quite fast, making exploring an area with enemies around that much more difficult. So yes, it is possible to avoid combat, and sometimes it can be the correct choice to make as well, but Luna is a huntress, and the job of a huntress is to hunt! Q: What core survival horror elements do you feel firmly ground VH in the genre, as opposed to more action-heavy horror titles? Open-ended exploration, limited inventory and resource management I think are the strongest pillars between Vampire Huntress and the genre. I want the player to be able to explore a larger area, and complete tasks in a semi-open-ended approach. The game isn’t open world or anything, but it’s not fully linear either. But ultimately you will have to do X to progress further in the game. Ammo is scarce and healing items don’t stack, so it is extremely important for the player to manage their resources efficiently. There is of course a safe box to store all your items, and there are even difficulty options that make the inventory management initially a little easier. Q: There’s been a surge of retro-inspired horror games lately—where do you feel VH distinguishes itself from others in that space? When I started working on Vampire Huntress – Lament of the Sun, I did my research for other indie titles in the genre and there weren’t many at the time. I remember seeing Heartworm, Lake Haven, Alisa, and a few others, but that was about it. The surge started happening shortly after I was already going full steam ahead with Vampire Huntress. However, with Vampire Huntress, I aim to create a full package and an original story. A game that does pay homage to the classics of the genre, but doesn’t dwell on them, and confidently stands on its own two legs. I hope that the final product will feel like a AAA survival horror game that was released 25 years late. Q: Do you have any plans for demo? If yes when can we expect it? The demo is coming! We have been working on the demo for quite
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.
10 Survival Horror Games Coming in 2025
2025 Is Shaping Up to Be a Landmark Year for Survival Horror There’s never been a better time to be a survival horror fan. In recent years, the genre has seen a huge resurgence, but 2025 is taking things to a whole new level. With a staggering number of titles slated for release, it’s clear that survival horror is not only back, but thriving. In this article, I’ve highlighted 10 of the most exciting survival horror games currently scheduled to launch in 2025. These are just the standouts, there are even more on the way. In fact, by the time of writing, five survival horror games have already been released this year. Dead of Darkness, THE MUTE HOUSE, Blood Typers, Mansion of the Dead and Post Trauma. If you want to see the full list of upcoming survival horror games, be sure to visit our upcoming page. You’ll also find Steam links for every game mentioned in this article, so you can wishlist your favorites with ease. 1. Tormented Souls II The orignal Tormented Souls (2021) came closer than any other game to capturing the feel of a modern Resident Evil remake. The main difference being Tormented Souls ditched pre-rendered backgrounds in favor of fully 3D environments, giving the game a modern edge while still honoring classic survival horror roots. Details on the sequel have been sparse, the developer Dual Effect is notoriously tight-lipped, but the publisher PQube did share some teaser information on social media leading up to Christmas 2024. Here are the highlights: If Tormented Souls II is anywhere near as good as the original, it could easily be my survival horror game of the year. But honestly, judging by what we’ve seen so far, it looks like it might be even better. Wishlist Tormented Souls II now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/Tormented_Souls_2 2. Tenebris Somnia 2D survival horror games are few and far between. In fact, some purists would argue that if a game doesn’t check the Resident Evil boxes (3D environments, fixed cameras, tank controls) it doesn’t qualify as true survival horror. I’m not quite that rigid, which is why I’m genuinely excited for Tenebris Somnia. After playing the demo, it felt like a lost NES survival horror gem except, of course, for the addition of live-action cutscenes. Created by Argentine developer Andrés Borghesi in association with Sabot Studios and published by New Blood Interactive, Tenebris Somnia blends classic survival horror gameplay, limited resources, and environmental puzzles, and just enough combat to keep you tense. At key moments, the pixel art gives way to full-motion video scenes featuring real actors, directed by an award-winning film crew. It’s strange, immersive, and unlike anything I’ve seen in the genre.Here are some of the key features: Wishlist Tenebris Somnia now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/Tenebris_Somnia 3. Heartworm Heartworm is shaping up to be a unique blend of Resident Evil and Silent Hill, capturing the best of classic survival horror while carving out its own identity. Like Resident Evil, it features fixed camera angles, retro-style visuals (with optional PS1-inspired filters), exploration-heavy gameplay, and puzzles. But instead of a handgun, your weapon is a camera similar to the mechanics of Fatal Frame. Visually, Heartworm isn’t just another “RE clone.” Its surreal, dreamlike environments stand out immediately, evoking the tone and atmosphere of Alone in the Dark (1992) with a distinctly Lovecraftian flair. I’m especially excited to explore these bizarre locations, which promise to be more than just backdrops, they seem designed to reflect the protagonist’s inner turmoil. Voice acting can be hit or miss in indie games, but from what I’ve heard in the trailer (Video above), Heartworm is delivering something special. Sam, the protagonist, is voiced by M, and their performance already adds emotional depth to the character. If the full game maintains this level of quality, it could be one of the rare indie horror titles that truly connects with players on a psychological and emotional level.You can follow Sam’s voice actor, M, on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mmmdesu.bsky.socialWishlist Heartworm now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/Heartworm 4. Fragile Reflection Of all the games on this list, Fragile Reflection may be the most obscure and the most intriguing. A new demo just dropped on Steam, and I highly recommend checking it out (and wishlisting it while you’re there). Set in a rural Japanese village warped by supernatural forces, the game follows Kario Ito as she returns home only to find her town swallowed by otherworldly horror, twisted Noh masks, and a haunting realm known as “Reflection.” What really caught my attention first, though, wasn’t the gameplay, it was the music (Trailer above). The soundtrack, composed by underground trip-hop/psy-trip artist Mad Jha, is unlike anything I’ve heard in a horror game. I wasn’t even familiar with the genre, but I’ve had it on loop since discovering the demo. It’s dark, textured, and fits Fragile Reflection’s visuals perfectly. The full soundtrack will be available for purchase when the game launches, and honestly, I’m just as excited to buy the music as the game itself. As for the gameplay, this is very much a throwback to classic late-’90s survival horror: limited resources, dimension-hopping puzzle mechanics, and monsters that lurk in both worlds. You’ll explore a cursed town, piece together clues, and use a mysterious supernatural power to shift between reality and the realm of Reflection.Wishlist Fragile Reflection now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/Fragile_Reflection 5. SSR Wives: The Murder Of My Winter Crush Like Fragile Reflection, I was instantly hooked on SSR Wives: The Murder Of My Winter Crush the moment I saw its trailer and more specifically, heard its trailer music (Video below). I’ve had it on repeat ever since. Mysterious and dreamlike, it perfectly matches the game’s offbeat horror tone. I haven’t been able to identify the track or artist yet, but I’ve been told a demo is on the way soon. When it drops, I plan to interview the developer, one of the first questions I will ask is who created the music and can we expect to hear more! As for the game itself, SSR Wives is shaping up to be a mix of classic survival horror and visual novel storytelling. You’ll explore a mystery narrative that’s packed with player