Nostalgia is a very powerful thing, and many modern developers are using their nostalgia for the PS1 era of survival horror to create innovative, thrilling new games that pay homage while offering something new. The last few years have seen a plethora of PS1-inspired horror games released, such as Night of the Nun, Bloodwash, and this year's Crow Country. And now, it's time for fans of retro survival horror to turn their attention towards Fear the Spotlight.
Set to release on October 22, Fear the Spotlight is currently in development at Indie studio Cozy Game Pals, and it's turned a lot of heads thanks to its recent showing at Sony's State of Play. With throwback graphics and gameplay, Fear the Spotlight should be on every retro horror fan's radar, and there's even the potential for it to become this Halloween's breakout Indie hit.
Fear the Spotlight Hands-on Preview: This is Why You Don't Mess with Ouija Boards
Blumhouse Games and Cozy Game Pals team up for an improved horror game in Fear the Spotlight, and a brief demo left my heart racing.
Fear The Spotlight Could Be the Sleeper Hit of Halloween 2024
Fear The Spotlight Wears Its Retro Influences on its Sleeve
As shown in its latest State of Play gameplay trailer, Fear the Spotlight wears its PS1-era influences on its sleeve, with its art style being a clear homage to classics like Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Character models appear deliberately low-res and polygonal, imitating the 3D graphics of 1990s consoles. Fear the Spotlight's lighting is also very reminiscent of PS1-era horror games, with darkness and dim light playing a key role in building the game's spooky atmosphere. A film grain-like filter has also been layered over the top of Fear the Spotlight, imitating the look of a game running on an old CRT TV.
That throwback art style blends nicely with Fear the Spotlight's seemingly simplistic gameplay. Based on the recent trailer, it seems as though Fear the Spotlight will have players slowly sneaking their way through a creepy abandoned school, using their trusty torch to light the way, and solving environmental puzzles to progress. Players will also need to avoid the eponymous spotlight-headed monster that stalks the eerie halls.
Fear The Spotlight is Leading The Charge for Blumhouse Games
Back at Summer Game Fest, Blumhouse Games took center stage to unveil its first slate of upcoming releases. Blumhouse announced six games at once, each one being an experimental, smaller-scope horror game with a strong sense of art and game direction. Fear the Spotlight was one of the six games announced, and it's the first one out of the gate for Blumhouse Games.
While there's still quite a bit riding on Fear the Spotlight – with it being the first project to release under the Blumhouse Games banner – the game has already received some buzz. Fear the Spotlight was originally released back in 2022 on Steam, where early adopters gave the game a "Very Positive" rating. When Blumhouse approached the developers to turn it into a larger project, they pulled the game from Steam, and they're now getting ready to release Fear the Spotlight in its fully-fledged form.
Though there are currently no release windows for any of Blumhouse's other upcoming horror titles, they're all worth watching for fans of the genre. From the farming simulator-turned-murder mystery Grave Seasons to the Sam Barlow and Brandon Cronenberg collaboration Project C, Blumhouse has some exciting games in development right now, and Fear the Spotlight will hopefully set the gold standard for the rest of them to follow.
Fear the Spotlight
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
- Released
- September 15, 2023
- ESRB
- Teen // Violence
- Developer(s)
- Cozy Game Pals
- Publisher(s)
- Blumhouse Games
WHERE TO PLAY
Fear the Spotlight is an atmospheric third-person horror adventure with a disturbing mystery to unravel. Sneak into school after hours with Vivian and Amy, survive a séance gone wrong, solve tactile puzzles, and, whatever you do, stay out of the spotlight…
Sunnyside High has a dark history. When Vivian enters the deserted corridors for a seance with the rebellious Amy, she suddenly ends up alone, and at the mercy of the monster who wanders the halls. Vivian must avoid its gaze, find her friend, and uncover the disturbing, murderous truth of a decades old tragedy. Fear the Spotlight is a creepy love letter to classic 90s horror experiences with a focus of rich storytelling, puzzle solving, and a tense atmosphere. This is a perfect narrative horror game for those new to the genre.
- Engine
- Unity
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
