There really is something about clowns that just sets my teeth on edge. I know I'm very much not alone in that fear (so much so that it has its own name - coulrophobia), but whenever a horror game or movie comes along that puts one front and centre, it's bound to generate genuine fear.
The IT reboots were the best examples of that in the movie realm, but games have been sorely lacking a makeup-laden monster to really raise the heart rate.
Not any more, however, thanks to the upcoming arrival of Jester: A Foolish Ritual, a brand new horror that puts the player directly in the path of a murderous clown and it looks like actual hell on earth.
In the developer's own words, "You awaken in an abandoned castle, trapped with no way out. The only path to freedom lies in performing a sacred ritual to banish the monstrous Jester who haunts these halls.
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Each run will be different, you will have to try your best and adapt as you venture through the cursed castle while watching out for lingering traps. The Jester might even leave some of his jack boxes lurking around. If you trigger them... he will come for you!"
The good news is that it is co-op, so you won't have to take on the big scary joke monster alone, and it will make it easier to get everything you need together to complete the ritual that banishes the clown for good.
Essentially the gameplay loop will task you with running around and exploring in the hope of finding the items you need. That means you and a friend can split up to increase your chances of tracking the stuff down, but that has the unfortunate knock on effect of making you feel considerably less safe.
The game now also features the horror game staple of proximity chat, so assuming you do split up, you won't be able to hear each other before long, and that's where the genuine terror should kick in.
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The other caveat is that as soon as you pick up any of the items you need, the Jester will become more aggressive in its quest to track you down and eat you. The horror clown also leaves traps around the place that will alert him to your presence, so you'll need to be on the lookout for those.
The game is set to release in Q4 of this year, with no specific date just yet. That said, you can take advantage of a free download now and get the demo, which should give you a terrifying taste of what's to come.
Topics: Indie Games, Steam