This year’s summer gaming extravaganza has officially begun, with last night’s Summer Game Fest kicking off the festivities. The presentation showed off over 50 games – but for horror fans like ourselves, the highlight had to be Blumhouse’s reveal of six indie horror games.
While we’ve known for about a year that Blumhouse is entering the video game industry with their division “Blumhouse Games,” yesterday was our first real glimpse into their plans. And they really delivered, showcasing a diverse range of indie horror games spanning a variety of subgenres – from first-person survival horrors to farming simulators with a hint of murder.
Their announcement trailer featured footage from five of the games, and I’ve got to say that the trailer was pretty awesome, so check it out below:
Here are the six games announced that will be published by Blumhouse Games:
- Crisol Theatre of Idols, by Vermila Studios
- Grave Seasons, by Perfect Garbage
- Sleep Awake, by Eyes Out
- Fear the Spotlight, by Cozy Game Pals
- The Simulation, by Playmestudio
- Project C, by Half Mermaid, led by visionary designers Sam Barlow and Brandon Cronenberg
So, let’s dive into each game and see what they’re about!
Crisol Theatre of Idols
Developer: Vermila Studios
Crisol Theatre of Idols is the debut game from Vermila Studios. This is a first-person, survival horror inspired by 20th-century Spanish folklore. The extended trailer on their Steam page features weapons that are powered by your own blood, and glimpses of the twisted creatures you will face.
The Simulation
Developer: Playmestudio
Another stand-out is The Simulation, a mind-bending meta-horror about a games developer who has been called to assist in a murder investigation. The only evidence is a never-before-seen horror game left at the crime scene. Dive into different terrifying digital worlds after discovering a hidden mode in the game.
Grave Seasons
Developer: Perfect Garbage
Perhaps an unexpected horror game for Blumhouse Games’ Summer Game Fest lineup is Grave Seasons, a pixelated farming simulator that blends crop harvesting with human harvesting. Think Stardew Valley, but if there was a supernatural murderer on the loose around town.
Sleep Awake
Developer: Eyes Out
Sleep Awake is a first-person psychedelic horror set in a future where people are disappearing in their sleep. The remaining population resorts to various experiments to stay awake. Blumhouse’s website mentions that players will explore “depraved death cults, otherworldly forces, and the ever-present horror of The HUSH” to survive this futuristic nightmare.
Fear The Spotlight
Developer: Cozy Game Pals
Blumhouse’s debut game will be Fear The Spotlight, coming out later this year. Made by Cozy Game Pals, a husband and wife developer duo, Fear The Spotlight takes heavy inspiration from PS1-era horror games, with a low poly art style. The story follows two girls – Amy and Vivian who sneak into their school to perform a seance. However, Amy is taken by supernatural forces, and Vivian must try to save her. For those who aren’t massive fans of horror games, you’ll be glad to hear that Fear The Spotlight won’t have any jumpscares.
Project C
Developer: Half Mermaid
Finally, Blumhouse announced Project C, a new horror game from the renowned studio Half Mermaid. While details are sparse, we know it involves Sam Barlow, the creator behind Immortality and the English Silent Hill games, and director Brandon Cronenberg, known for last year’s horror movie Infinity Pool starring Mia Goth. Blumhouse teases that players should “prepare to have their mind broken” by Project C.
What is Blumhouse?
Blumhouse is one of the largest horror movie production companies of the modern era, having released a solid lineup of horror films over the past few years. This includes M3gan, the Black Phone, Five Nights at Freddy’s and this year’s Night Swim and Imaginary. Their production credits extend far beyond these releases as well, with hits like Creep, the recent Halloween trilogy, and the Insidious franchise.
Blumhouse also recently merged with James Wan’s Atomic Monster, the studio behind the Conjuring universe.