The premise couldn’t be more direct: if you scream, you lose the game. This is the original idea on which Don’t Scream is based, a horror video game for PC created only by two people and which for a few days has been the new viral phenomenon among content creators.
The goal is to walk through a forest for 18 minutes without startling or making noises, something that the game recognizes instantly since it requires the use of a microphone. And it’s not easy, since the images, which imitate the VHS aesthetic of films like The Blair Witch, are as realistic as they are disturbing.
Independent developers Joe Henson and Joure Visser are responsible for Don’t Scream, which they define as a “horror simulator.” As soon as you start, the title prompts the player to set the sensitivity of their microphone, since any sound louder than a whisper means the end of the game.
Its creators also recommend playing with headphones and in the dark for a more immersive experience. All this with the objective of wandering through a terrifying forest for 18 minutes, a time that only advances when the player is moving.
Obviously, the experience does not lack jumpscares and scares, so it is not a title recommended for sensitive people.
The game was released on the Steam platform on October 27 and, at the moment, it is available in early access, which means that it is not yet finished but it can now be purchased (it costs around 9 euros) and played from start to finish. .
Its creators have promised that over the coming months they will continue updating it to add new situations, expand its story and visual improvements.
Beyond its original game dynamics, one of the most striking characteristics of the title is its found footage aesthetics and the realism of its images, which probably have a lot to do with the use of the powerful Unreal Engine 5 graphics engine.
Horror video games are one of the genres that allow greater creativity for independent creators, and this is demonstrated by this Don’t Scream.
