October is the perfect month to dive into some great horror games, be it playing them yourself or watching a Let’s Play from the comfort of your pillow fort. Halloween is all about the spookies, after all, and I wanted to draw attention to some of my favorite lesser-knowns in the genre to help spread the holiday… cheer? Yay for murder, I guess?
Anyway, this is where Holiday Horrors comes in! These will be short little posts that serve as an introduction of sorts and will hopefully give you a decent idea of what to expect, should you decide to take the plunge for yourself.
Today’s game is my absolute favorite indie horror title, Detention. This one comes to us by way of Taiwan’s Red Candle Games and is currently available on all major platforms for $12.99 USD.
Detention is a 2D horror game that takes place in 1960s Taiwan during what’s known as the White Terror period, which, until 2011, was the longest period of martial law in the world and saw the execution of up to 4,000 citizens. And if real-world events aren’t scary enough, you play as high school students who wake up in an otherworldly version of their campus.
The monsters that inhabit Detention are heavily rooted in Taiwanese folklore, which makes for an interesting learning experience. There aren’t a ton of encounters with the “lingered,” but each of them has to be avoided in specific ways (like holding your breath). This is one of those horror games that are free of combat, focusing instead on running and hiding while digging deep into the disturbing narrative and solving puzzles. If that’s not usually your cup of tea, but you’re still a fan of horror, then I highly encourage you to give it a chance.
This is one of the most atmospheric horror titles with an incredibly twisted mind-fuck of a story that I never saw coming. Learning about the secret lives of your fellow students, the miserable White Terror period, and all the things that go bump in the night is an absolute treat.
If you’re not interested in playing this one yourself, then I’d suggest watching Cryaotic’s Let’s Play over on his YouTube channel. He’s thorough, incredibly entertaining, and really grows to appreciate what Detention has to offer.
Have you played or watched someone experience Detention before? If so, what did you think?
Whenever someone is looking for suggestions on new horror games to play, this is the first one to come out of my mouth. It’s largely overlooked, relatively cheap, and can be completed in a day or two, making it the perfect game to play through with company around.
I loved this game- and it was thanks to listening to you about it! Now, I’ve got friends playing it this Halloween season who are loving the tone and the feel of the game and messaging me every so often about how great it’s been. It’s definitely a contender for some top horror gaming experiences!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad more people are checking it out! We have to spread the good word lol. I never got to play their 2nd game before it was pulled from Steam (Devotion).
LikeLike
I was gutted that I heard about Devotion too late, I only got to experience it on YouTube. I hope we get more from Red Candle, they know their horror!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They really do. I hope they eventually release it again later. I’d hate all that hard work to go to waste.
LikeLike
I hope so too. Red Candle and SadSquare are the two I think of if someone says ‘good horror.’
LikeLiked by 1 person
I watched Cry’s LP of Detention (based on your rec actually hehe) and it was fantastic. I might actually watch it again because I forgot some key aspects of the narrative, but I remember how good it was. Games where you can’t fight back but can only run/hide add a special and more realistic aspect to the horror re: Little Nightmares and of course SOMA.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yesss! Have you tried watching the Five Nights at Freddy’s stuff? There’s some strange lore in those games. I watch Markiplier play through all of them at least once per year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
YES. OMG FNAF is so messed up. I watched a bunch of them and then watched all of Game Theorists stuff, too lol. I added the books to my read list and have watched a bunch of other videos about it. Soooo messed up and creepy. I think I watched CJUGames play them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I figured that would be in your wheelhouse!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had to stop watching it and stuff about it night because I’m a scaredy pants lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person