Wow, and here I was a few days ago thinking two indie games with horror elements releasing on the same day was a bit much. Today we have a grand total of four, some really good, some really not so. Let’s proceed!
The first item on offer today is Monstrum from Team Junkfish, which we frequently covered and even previewed here on the site. The game is a roguelike title wherein you must escape a ship that is infested with Amnesia-styled monstrosities that want to eat your face. You must find items that open up various escape routes and while exploring you’ll find plenty of notes that add more meat to the story. If you enjoyed the style of horror present in Amnesia: The Dark Descent and Outlast then this is definitely a title worth trying, though the puzzle elements are much easier. The game is out in Early Access for £9.99, $14.99, or €12.50. If you want the finished product, then you only need to wait a few more weeks, but keep in mind that the prices will go up after Early Access had ended.
Second on the list is Zombeer, which is cheating a bit, as the game actually released last year on the Playstation Network. The title is very much a comedy, stating that it’s a homage to “everything kick-ass about zombie movies and drinking beer.” The original PSN version earned itself a Metascore of 32/100 with users rating it an average 44/100, so the reception was negative to say the least. Still, it wouldn’t be the first time that the PC community welcomes a title rejected elsewhere. I recommend looking up footage on YouTube to make sure it’s your kind of humor before purchasing.
Next up is Virus 14, a real-time strategy game that has you command a horde of zombies. The idea does sound appealing, but the trailer posted on the store page mostly shows a group of zombies charging at soldiers that just stand in the open and fire away at them, a scenario I could easily recreate in Garry’s Mod within a few minutes. I sincerely hope the game offers more strategic depth than just selecting everything and sending it towards the enemy. The description does give hope, as it states the campaign will give you lots of freedom, so I may try this one myself. The game is out on Early Access and will remain there for approximately 3 months, which will be used to fully implement features like the special infected, buildings, and campaign. The prices are: $9.99, €8.99, and £6.99, ignoring the week-long 20% discount currently in effect.
Lastly, there is The Lady and frankly I recommend staying away from this one. We reviewed it before the Steam version came out and I don’t think I’ve ever given a lower score. The game is a puzzle title that consists mostly of performing random tasks you are never told or hinted at to do. Level 1? Move to the far end of the screen, then to the other far end, then go back again and there will be a door. A few minutes of this and you are done. A lot of effort is put into pushing the notion that everything is symbolic, but I don’t give indie games a free-pass for pretentious nonsense. $4 is not much for a game, but Steam has 3,536 games that cost less than $5, most of which I would sooner recommend than The Lady.
