Steam gains 9/10 free indie horror with ambitious AAA visuals

Just because a game is free, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s worth playing, but The Lure is one you should definitely consider downloading this upcoming weekend.

Developed by Roger Entertainment, The Lure is a new free psychological horror game played from a third-person perspective available on PC storefront Steam.

While it’s made by an indie studio, it boasts incredibly ambitious AAA visuals which easily ramp up the horror with their crisp realism.

The game sees you step into the shoes of John, a detective who’s looking for a missing colleague.

That search results in him getting trapped in a mysterious time loop where “reality constantly changes”.

Players will need to explore “eerie environments”, unearth clues, and discover the truth whilst, of course, trying not to get scared out of their minds.

The Lure is focused more on tension, narrative, and exploration than, say, combat, so you won’t exactly be fending off any grisly horrors in this particular experience.

“Progress through loops within a living environment and interact with clues inside the stomach of a mimic that tries to devour you by replicating a familiar atmosphere,” the synopsis teases.

“Trapped in an endless cycle, engage with the corruption that plagues the place, confront unanswered questions, and try to escape.”

Roger Entertainment

Just because there aren’t any weapons to fight off horrors, it doesn’t mean the game is free of scares.

Instead, you’re encouraged to “face fears with your bravery” as you remain “wary of what lurks”. Chilling.

There are plenty of clues to interact with as you piece together precisely what happened to your missing colleague.

In addition to the realistic graphics, the game also boasts minimal UI to really immerse you in the experience as well as “moody ambience, music, and sound design”.

The graphics are pretty demanding, so it’s perhaps wise that you check out the game’s description on Steam to see the recommended PC specs.

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The Lure can be completed in a single sitting, so it won’t harm your backlog

At the time of writing, the free game has a rating of 90% on Steam with ‘Positive’ reviews from players.

“I just beat the game, a cool horror game where you journey through a flesh-infested house experiencing pain as you begin to mutate. Interesting story and cool trippy gameplay,” read one review.

“Umm, WOW. What an amazing short game. The graphics were awesome, the lighting, the animations of the character were stunning, the atnosphere was good, the sounds were very good along with the ambience sounds and the level design is simply amazing,” added another.

Someone said, “You got a banger.”

Interestingly, The Lure only lasts for around 20 to 30 minutes, so it won’t take you long to complete, which is great if you’re trying not to add too much extra pressure to your backlog.

Despite its brevity, The Lure clearly packs a punch, though, making it a must-play free offering.