Steam 94% rated ‘cozy horror’ brings nostalgic PS1 charm to modern gaming

If you're looking for something to give you the chills, Steam's horror section is bulging with boogeymen and things that go bump in the night. Others are quite happy to have a fright but also want to unwind after a long day in the office, meaning the idea of 'cosy horror' is bigger than ever.

This is where Revira Interactive's Photomaly is already proving to be a hit as a not-so-adorable indie that brings together the mindlessness of a job sim with all the scares of a good horror. Imagine the Robin Williams-led One Hour Photo with a dash of Smile and a sprinkling of Backrooms.

Photomaly is already a hit on Steam

There's been a boom in Backrooms-inspired video games, with Photomaly being no different over on Steam.

Following the tragic passing of your father, you take over his photography studio and have to deal with the various comings and goings of increasingly bizarre customers. Whether that be girls who claim they can't be captured on film, or guys with pixelated faces, this isn't your average day at the Kodak shop.

More than just pressing the shutter, you need to find the right angle and develop negatives under the right conditions or face the wrath of your irate patrons.

Process the bizarre requests of your customers and keep a lookout for anomalies, as the gameplay loop slowly descends into terror.

In terms of the cosy horror elements, you can use your hard-earned profits to upgrade and decorate your studio, so why not show off your snaps to entire new set of customers or even put them off?

Mundane chores like sweeping up, developing photographs, and locking the shop slowly become more unsettling as Photomaly really hits its stride toward the second half of its two-hour(ish) runtime.

More than just being a throwback to the original era of the PS1, Photomaly reminds us that photography studios used to be a thing before everyone used an iPhone to document every moment of their waking lives.

Still, there's a retro dose of '90s nostalgia here that we're sure you'll enjoy.

Better yet, due to Photomaly's recent debut, it's currently 20% off, meaning it costs just $5.59/£4.79 to try it for yourselves.

READ MORE: 18 horror games coming in 2026 and beyond that we already can't wait to play

YouTuber Hayden Green claims Photomaly kept him up all night, and while we're sure different horror hounds will have different opinions, the Steam reviews speak for themselves.

Based on 180 reviews, Photomaly currently has a 94% rating on the Steam storefront.

One glowing review read: "I am a sucker for 'cosy horror' and especially ones styled in a PS1-Esque style, this is no exception. A very fun, creepy and intriguing game with great scares and some really funny (yet unnerving!) moments that fit into the paranormal aspect. The playstyle loop is easy to learn, and the camera system is fun."

Another cheered: "This anomaly horror game is truly extraordinary. It deserves to be one of my favourite horror games of the year, right alongside Fears to Fathom Scratch Creek.”

A third said, "The way the lights flicker and how the customers move, it feels creepy, and the repetition is beautifully done. There's always something that feels wrong, and as it goes on, you notice it more and more. I highly recommend this game. I haven't finished it yet because I am a coward who thought it would be a good idea to play this at 4 am after being unable to sleep."

If Photomaly sounds like it's one for you, shutterbugs can find it now on Steam.