Ultra-Indie Daily Dose: Blackout

It’s not too often that I get to play a horror game that is both spooky and cute in equal measure. Often, attempts at “cuteness” end up amping up the creepiness factor, or creating jarring juxtapositions which make it feel forced. However, the folks at FRESH managed to strike a perfect balance in a very charming way with their point-and-click style adventure game, Blackout.

Gameplay

The game begins with a scene of your character falling from the roof of a house and landing on the balcony, losing her memory in the process. After figuring a way inside, the player stumbles upon a body and must explore the spooky house for clues as to what is going on. The game utilizes the same point/click/interact mechanics as old school adventure games, with the player clicking on objects in the world to interact with, as well as guiding the character from room to room.

A phenomenal soundtrack, both jaunty and creepy, accompanies this process as the player wanders about the house solving small puzzles and unraveling the mystery. The retro art style ties it all together nicely, and the details in the character’s idling animations, such as her hair moving or her breathing, are a nice touch.    

The Takeaway

Blackout is very short, but highly enjoyable and fun to play. While it isn’t “horror” in the strictest sense of the word, it is spooky enough to whet your appetite and charming enough to keep you engaged. Check out Blackout here on itch.io and be sure to check out the Ultra-Indie Daily Dose for more reviews of great indie horror games.