A fresh indie horror title on Steam offers one of the most hair-raising experiences in recent memory – and it’s priced at only $5.
These days, everything in the horror category on Steam appears stagnant: perpetually the same clichés, perpetually the same cheap jump scares, perpetually abandoned buildings, shadowy hallways, and flickering lights. When an original success like Exit 8 or the Backrooms games emerges, the gameplay is duplicated countless times in a very short span.
As someone who frequently navigates through the deluge of indie horror titles, my expectations are understandably modest. But then Dread Flats arrived. And suddenly, there it was again—a sensation I hadn’t felt since encountering Voices of the Void: true discomfort, real tension.
And a moment etched deeply into my memory. No boisterous jump scares, no geysers of blood, only subtle psychological horror that seeps under your skin. All this for just 5 euros.
A scene I will forever remember
What’s it about? Dread Flats puts you in the shoes of a vlogger investigating a mysterious skyscraper in China at the behest of a fan. The reason: someone dear to him has vanished within, and the police appear powerless. Thus, the only choice is to venture into the concrete nightmare, armed with a camera and flashlight.
What follows is a blend of exploration, puzzle-solving, and narrative pieces that gradually form a disturbing image. The game mostly shuns the typical jump scare tricks. The horror in Dread Flats approaches you insidiously. And that’s precisely what makes it so effective.
Spoiler alert! Detailed descriptions of a particularly impactful key scene from Dread Flats are coming up.
If you wish to experience the game firsthand without any spoilers, you should cease reading now.
Spoiler alert! The following includes detailed descriptions of a key scene from Dread Flats that is particularly impactful.
Initially, all remains silent. Only the soft whir of the camera can be heard. But then it occurs: the wardrobe creaks open. An emaciated, elderly woman emerges and hurls the camera to the ground. The view is now obstructed, the image is distorted – yet it continues to run.
What follows is sheer psychological horror. The old woman simply stands there. Right beside the bed. For minutes, she gazes down at the sleeping protagonist without a hint of movement. No music, no effects, just this uncanny stillness. And at last, she slowly crawls under the bed—and remains there.
The notion that something is lurking directly beneath the player character while control is regained is as unsettling as it is brilliant.
The whole situation reminded me of a film: Lost Highway by David Lynch. It begins with a married couple receiving mysterious videotapes. They show footage of their own home, filmed from a first-person viewpoint. Initially from the exterior, then inside, and eventually even of the couple sleeping in their bedroom. No one knows who filmed the footage or how the intruder accessed the house.
However, I also have to mention that the remainder of the game doesn’t quite sustain this standard. After the spectacular camera scene, the narrative shifts to a much more traditional tone. You conceal yourself from the eerie old lady, creep through the building, and search for an exit.
It’s all well-executed, but there’s nothing you haven’t encountered in numerous other indie horror games. The pacing accelerates, but regrettably, the psychological horror must yield to a tangible adversary.
Yet even if the latter half doesn’t quite measure up, the game redeems itself towards the end. The finale features one final clever scare moment that left me feeling both satisfied and uneasy. Naturally, I won’t divulge what transpires.
And since Dread Flats can be completed in just over an hour, you’re left with the impression of having undergone a compact but highly effective horror experience. For only five euros, you receive one of the most intense frights in recent times.
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