Featured Image Credit: Hirasaka
Topics: Indie Games, Steam
There are very few genres that seem to strike a chord with gamers as consistently as survival horror releases, and Japan has inarguably been the best source of those over the last few decades.
From Silent Hill to Fatal Frame, and the criminally underrated Clock Tower, Japanese survival horror is simply the best of the best, and that prowess isn't just restricted to the major franchises.
Indeed, Steam is packed full of indie releases that deserve your attention if you're a fan of the genre, and a new one has just dropped a free demo that's well worth downloading and trying before you commit to the full purchase.
Over on Steam, survival horror Kodoku: As the Moon Mourns has just released a free demo, giving players the chance to play through the first stage of the game at no cost.
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So what can you expect if you do decide to play? Well, in the developer's own words, "The protagonist, Urohoshi, a university professor of folklore, journeys deep into the mountains in search of a friend who vanished without a trace, drawn there by a grotesque statue of Kannon. After leaping into a massive jar found at the site, Urohoshi awakens in an otherworld ruled entirely by monsters."
It's admittedly a pretty out there premise but the aesthetic and approach is one that you'll find immediately familiar if you're an experienced fan of the genre.
The first big thing is that you won't be able to kill any of the monsters that you come across in the game, with our protagonist only able to slow their advances or temporarily free them in place.
This sense of powerlessness is one that we have seen employed in other games, but it always works well and it's nice to see it included here.
Throughout each stage, your goal will be to collect souls throughout the world which, in turn, will allow you to escape through a Torii gate, once you have the required number to progress.
The jar you have with you will also quickly become your best friend, allowing you to use it to distract enemies or activate switches that would otherwise be out of reach.
The full game doesn't have a release date just yet, but the demo is available now, so why not jump in and see if it's one that you want to add to your wishlist?