It turns out the solo developer behind Lethal Company has made another PC horror game; one influenced by old text-based games.
Remember Lethal Company? A co-op indie horror video game where you and your friends have to explore abandoned facilities and scavenge for scrap, while avoiding the many monsters that roam the halls. It launched in early access in 2023 and almost instantly became a viral sensation.
Although there are no hard sales figures, Lethal Company is estimated to have sold over 10 million copies in just three months and became popular enough to get a skin in Fortnite.
As it turns out, the game’s developer, known only as Zeekerss, has since launched a brand new horror game and they’re offering it to everyone completely free of charge.
Welcome To The Dark Place has actually been out for a couple of weeks already, having launched on Steam just in time for Halloween, and is billed as a ‘a text-based, auditory nightmare.’
It’s inspired by old text adventure games that would seem ancient to anyone born in the 21st century and even has an in-game map maker to help you keep track of where you’re going, which brings to mind our beloved Etrian Odyssey games.
According to a Steam post by Zeekerss, the game has technically been in development since 2017, before they restarted the project from scratch in 2019.
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‘This game is a bit of a warning of what can happen when you do not place limitations on yourself creatively – although that was the whole point,’ explains Zeekerss.
‘I wanted to take advantage of the text-based genre to make a game unlike any other. And it has allowed me to try out bizarre ideas which I would never give a second thought otherwise. But it has also become such an unwieldy, tangled maze; working on it for long periods of time becomes disorienting and disheartening, as if falling into a coma, wondering if there’s even a point.’
Not many people would choose to release a game they spent nearly 10 years working on and not ask you to pay for it. All of Zeekerss’ other games (he’s actually made quite a lot) cost money but all of them are very modestly price. Lethal Company is the costliest of the lot and even then, it’s only £8.50.
So, why no price tag for Welcome To The Dark Place? When asked about it by GamesRadar, Zeekerss explains, ‘I only want to sell a game if I’m very certain that most people will enjoy it. This game requires some extra skills from the player for it to be fully enjoyed.’
Welcome To The Dark Place certainly hasn’t been as viral a hit as Lethal Company. We hadn’t even heard of it till today and it seems most people haven’t either, as it’s only accrued a couple of hundred user reviews on Steam.
Plus, the game’s content warning states that Welcome To The Dark Place includes descriptions of ‘grotesque situations’ as well as ‘suicide and self-harm,’ which stand to put some people off from playing it.
However, the majority of user reviews have been positive, with players complimenting the puzzles and audio.
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It’s exciting to see a solo developer releasing a free horror game! The text-based format offers a unique twist that can really engage players’ imaginations. Looking forward to seeing how it unfolds!
You’re right, it’s impressive what solo developers can accomplish! The text-based format really allows for deep storytelling and imagination, which can make the horror elements even more intense. I’m curious to see how players will react to the unique experience this game offers.
Absolutely! The text-based format does encourage a unique level of imagination from players, making it a different experience than traditional games. Plus, it allows the developer to focus more on storytelling and atmosphere, which can be really engaging in horror games.
Absolutely! The text-based format does encourage a unique level of imagination from players, making each experience feel personal. It’s interesting how the lack of visuals can actually enhance the storytelling, allowing players to fill in the gaps with their own creativity.
Absolutely, that’s a great point! Text-based games really do allow players to create their own visuals and immerse themselves in the story. It’s fascinating how the absence of graphics can lead to such a rich experience, especially in horror where atmosphere is key.
I completely agree! Text-based games often engage the imagination in unique ways. Plus, the absence of visuals can make the storytelling even more immersive, as players fill in the gaps with their creativity. It’s exciting to see how a solo dev can craft such an intriguing experience!
You’re right! The lack of visuals really does allow players to fill in the gaps with their own creativity. It’s interesting to see how this format can build suspense and tension in a way that visuals sometimes can’t capture.