We’ve finally got our first glimpse of what indie horror game producer Blumhouse Games is working on. In just two minutes, it served up six fascinating titles launching in 2024 and beyond, delivering one of the more impressive showcases at this week’s Summer Game Fest.
Don’t get me wrong, the indie horror scene is alive (and often undead) with titles like Crow Country, Saturnalia, Signalis, Dredge, and this month’s soon-to-land Still Wakes the Deep, but having a dedicated publisher to supercharge a small-studio revolution is a wonderful thing for the industry.
Blumhouse Games, which only launched in February 2023, focuses on indie experiences with budgets under $10 million; this debut line-up shows how far these budgets can go. Across half a dozen titles–four from American studios, plus one each from Spain and Chile–there seems to be something for all tastes.
There’s also a lot of top talent involved, including the designer of all-time great psychological shooter Spec Ops: The Line, the brains behind Immortality, the director of Infinity Pool, and a Nine Inch Nails guitarist. Give it a look; you won’t be disappointed.
Crisol: Theater of Idols
Developer: Vermila Studios
As my personal favorite of the bunch, Crisol: Theater of Idols combines tried-and-tested first-person mechanics with a darkly artistic twist filled with historical influences. In this nightmarish take on its domestic surroundings of Spain, Vermila Studios has imagined an adventure steeped in folklore and religion.
Players explore Tormentosa, a corrupted world filled with legends and rituals, as terrifying saint statues come to life, like even more disturbing versions of the Motorized Patriots of BioShock Infinite. It’s on you to simply survive, using your own blood as ammunition against your enemies. Yikes.
Grave Seasons
Developer: Perfect Garbage
A subversion of classic, isometric pixel-art games, Grave Seasons is a charming take on an established premise: you maintain your farm, explore the town, build relationships, and harvest crops. There’s also a supernatural serial killer that’s transforming people into piles of flesh and bone.
It’s on you to uncover the secrets of Ashenridge, stay ahead of the murderer, and hopefully piece together clues to stop people being killed. Uncanny Stardew Valley, so to speak.
Sleep Awake
Developer: Eyes Out
Sleep Awake, which appears to have the most “classic” horror formula of the six games showcased, is the brainchild of Spec Ops: The Line designer and director Cory Davis and Nine Inch Nails’ Robin Finck. This first-person futuristic psychedelic horror is set on the “last known city on Earth,” but it’s no sanctuary.
It’s got the vibes of A Nightmare on Elm Street: people keep disappearing as they sleep, while “those who remain exist in a crisis of reckless experiments to keep awake.” You take on the role of Katja, who needs to face off against depraved death cults, otherworldly forces, and “the ever-present horror of The HUSH.”
Fear the Spotlight
Developer: Cozy Game Pals
Much like last month’s Crow Country, Fear the Spotlight draws inspiration from the 32-bit era–where survival horror gaming flourished.
Its storyline is knowingly typical, and all the better for it: you sneak into a school at night with your friends Vivian and Amy, botch a seance, then explore the building to uncover “the disturbing mystery behind a school tragedy decades before,” solving puzzles along the way. Trust in the game’s name, too, because you really need to avoid that spotlight.
The Simulation
Developer: Playmestudio
Created by Chilean developer Playmestudio, The Simulation sounds like a meta experience that breaks the fourth wall in new ways, offering real potential for an insidious experience. The crux of the game is that a crime scene only has one piece of evidence–a “never-before-seen horror game”–and you, a retired game designer, are hired to investigate the case.
Soon, you discover a hidden mode within the game that plunges you into a rabbit hole of the unknown, until you struggle to know what’s the game and what’s real life.
Project C
Developer: Half Mermaid Productions
Last and by some means least is Project C, which is nothing more than a couple of pieces of concept art.
Even its title is a code name, but it’s still among the most exciting propositions on this list: the game is being created by Sam Barlow (Her Story, Immortality) and Brandon Cronenberg (Possessor, Infinity Pool). It might be a little thin on the ground, but its claims are huge: Barlow’s studio Half Mermaid claims you’ll “have your mind broken” by its “most twisted vision yet.”
Jason Blum, CEO and founder of Blumhouse, said the new batch of games was reminiscent of his early days in the business. He explained: “In many ways, Blumhouse Games feels like going back to our roots, with a focus on indie horror, pushing boundaries and elevating new, original stories. But this time fans can get in on the action, and immerse themselves in the Blumhouse world.
“I’m proud of the team and we hope this first slate of games will entertain, thrill, and terrify players, and we will have more in store for fans soon.”
Zach Wood, president of Blumhouse Games, said his team were “blown away” by the work of their new partners, and “couldn’t be more proud to partner with strong, independent game creators who are bringing unique ideas to the horror genre.”
He added: “Our upcoming titles represent standout storytelling, inventive play styles, and fresh approaches to scary stories, created by game developers who are deeply passionate about horror. We hope players see our collective love of the genre and indie creativity shine through our partners and our portfolio of games.”
