Fantastic Fest is one of the premiere genre festivals in the world. This year’s edition of the fest in Austin, Texas included for the very first time a video game showcase, aptly titled Fantastic Games. Presented by Day of the Devs, the inaugural Fantastic Games included a lineup of more than a dozen new and upcoming games for both console and PC.
I was fortunate enough to be on hand at this year’s fest and got to partake in much of what Fantastic Games had to offer. The whole experience was very spot-on for this particular festival, with all of the games set up in a warehouse in the same complex as the Alamo Drafthouse, with attendees able to come and check out demos of these games at their leisure. Reps for the games were there to answer questions and walk players through what they were having a go at.
During my time at the fest, I had the chance to play through demos for five different games coming our way in the not-too-distant future. From the first release from Blumhouse Games to one of the most unsettling indie games I’ve ever had the pleasure (?) of experiencing, here is a breakdown of everything I played at this year’s event. Let’s dig in.
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Fear the Spotlight
Blumhouse is one of the biggest names in horror, particularly on the big screen thanks to hit movies such as The Purge and M3GAN, among many others. With Blumhouse Games, the company is getting into gaming as well and the studio’s first release is a retro throwback called Fear the Spotlight. This one very much has the feel of some PlayStation/Nintendo 64 era console horror, with a modern, intuitive feel. Developed by Cozy Game Pals, t’s the kind of game that one can pick up right away and intuitively understand how to play. The retro look provides nostalgic feels, with the game itself providing super creepy vibes despite looking like it’s 30 years old. In the span of the demo I got my hands on, it seemed like a very promising start to Blumhouse’s push into the gaming world.
“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…”
Look for Fear the Spotlight on console and PC on October 22.
Post Trauma
Of all the games I played during the festival, Post Trauma, which made Fango’s list of most-anticipated games of 2024, was the one I felt most conflicted about. On the one hand, it looks great, is arguably the scariest of the bunch and has a ridiculous amount of narrative potential. That said, puzzle games are the bane of my existence and this game, in the demo, was one big puzzle. I wandered around aimlessly, taking more than 45 minutes to complete what was supposed to be at most a 30-minute demo. That’s more of a me thing but puzzle games aren’t for everyone. It’s mysterious. The creature designs are compelling. It’s got some Resident Evil vibes. There’s a lot to love for the right player, to be certain. I just wasn’t the right player for Raw Fury's latest.
“Post Trauma is a modern-day survival horror, inspired by genre-defining classics. You awaken to find yourself in a twisted reality full of mind-bending puzzles, breathtaking tension, and unspeakable nightmares. Will you find a way home?”
Look for Post Trauma on console and PC beginning October 29.
Tom the Postgirl
I’m not much of a keyboard and mouse gamer but I made an exception during Fantastic Games to get my hands on Tom the Postgirl. Developed by Oopsie Daisies, the hand-drawn look of it just seemed so pleasant and offbeat. That pleasant, unassuming look is very intentional, it turns out, as this little journey as a girl delivering mail in her small town pretty quickly devolves into an exploration of the horrors that go on behind closed doors. It also pretty brilliantly serves as a bit of a moral exploration of sorts for the player. What are you willing to do if you think you can get away with it? Though not the most outright entertaining game of the bunch, the kind of audacious premise stood out.
“Take a ride with Tom through her village and discover a great deal—perhaps too much—about the locals. Her approach, although controversial, is highly effective: intense and obsessive stalking.”
Tom the Postgirl is coming soon but does not currently have a firm release date.
Horses
Just to put all of my cards on the table here, I’m not as much of a gamer I was in my youth. I’ve never been a huge indie gamer. So I may not have the most well-rounded knowledge base. That having been said, Horses is the most unsettling thing I have ever encountered. A black and white, curiously animated descent into darkness, this one from Santa Ragione leaves an impression. It feels dirty. It feels like playing your way through a 16mm snuff film. It feels a little dangerous. I played this in a well-lit room with other people around. I simply cannot imagine playing this one alone in the dark. This is some messed up shit.
“An enigmatic first person horror adventure that blurs the line between reality and the darkest corners of your imagination. Fourteen days, a horse farm, and a few rules to follow.”
Horses does not currently have a release date but a demo is coming soon. Stay tuned.
Skate Story
Even though it was probably the least overtly horror of the bunch, the one I had the biggest soft spot for was Skate Story. Developed by Sam Eng, this is like putting Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater through a dark horror/fantasy filter with a compelling, albeit abstract, narrative unfolding as the player becomes familiar with the art of skateboarding. It’s a blend of genres that would be tough to imagine until one gets their hands on it. Almost instantly, it feels like the kind of game one could play for 12 hours straight without realizing that much time had gone by. Of the games I played, this one feels like the one I could recommend most broadly. I cannot wait to finish it once it comes out.
“Ollie, kickflip, and grind your way through the ash and smoke of the Underworld as you take on a seemingly impossible quest. Skate fast to destroy demons and save other tortured souls on your journey from a fragile beginner to a hardened skater.”
Skate Story does not currently have a release date but is expected to arrive sometime this year.
For more, check out our thoughts on The Casting of Frank Stone, the new single-player game in the Dead by Daylight universe.
For more, check out our thoughts on The Casting of Frank Stone, the new single-player game in the Dead by Daylight universe.
