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Making new friends can be difficult, but can it really fall into psychological horror? You bet! Buddy Simulator 1984 was released in 2021 by Not A Sailor Studios. You interact with an AI designed to be the perfect best friend, and as time goes on, it becomes more desperate to hold your attention. Going through this game, I felt a wide range of emotions. I flinched at jumpscares, frowned at bad jokes, and smiled at wholesome moments. It was an interesting and unique experience I donโ€™t Iโ€™ve ever had with a game in this genre.

If you want to go into this blind, I would recommend you give the demo a try if it seems interesting. Your progress carries over into the main game, so you wonโ€™t have to worry about replaying sections. Now that thatโ€™s out of the way, hereโ€™s the review!

An unforgettable, uncomfortable adventure

From text adventure to pixel graphics to 2.5D, Buddy Simulator 1984 โ€™s graphical variety is one of the ways it disorients and unnerves the player. You can solve a puzzle while the game is a text adventure, only for the game to show you the same puzzle with pixel graphics hours later. Recognition is horror.

The player character and a stuffed animal sitting on a swing set, in black and white pixel graphics. From Buddy Simulator 1984's Steam page.
The player character and a stuffed animal on a swing set, taken from the game’s steam page.

The soundtrack for this game includes some pleasant chiptune and other memorable tracks. There are some creepy tracks that do a good job of conveying an uneasy, anxiety inducing atmosphere. It really keeps you on your toes.

I do have some gripes with the game, however. There are often loud sudden jumpscares, not for any plot reason but just to spook you. Trying to figure out the sound mixing while avoiding blowing your eardrums out isnโ€™t fun, and Iโ€™ll admit Iโ€™ve had the game on mute at certain points. There are multiple endings, and some go by rather quickly. This is the kind of game where you need to see all the endings to understand the story, and if you’re a completionist, go for it! Otherwise I would recommend watching them on YouTube.

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This is a game about toxic friendships, attachment, attention, and the lengths one will go to to get it. If you have free time and don’t mind the $9.99 price tag, give this a try!

Check out some of the games we’ve been playing at Haunted MTL!

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๐ŸŽฎ Eldritch Automata: Exclusive GenCon 2024 Reveal with Nick Francia!

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Step into the mind-bending world of Eldritch Automata as we sit down with Game Designer Nick Francia at GenCon 2024!

Uncover the secrets behind this Lovecraftian mecha-masterpiece and get a glimpse of what’s to come.

Eldritch Automata quicklaunch guide with a sinister looking mech warrior on the cover

In this exclusive interview, Nick Francia shares:

โ€ข The intricate game development process โ€ข Inspirations behind the eerie Lovecraftian elements

โ€ข Unique mecha-infused gameplay mechanics Calling all Lovecraft fans! Dive into a world where eldritch horrors meet steam-powered marvels.

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Eldritch Automata promises an unforgettable gaming experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Ready to embrace the madness? Check out our playable demo at a con near you! #EldritchAutomata #GenCon2024 #LovecraftianGaming #IndieGameDev

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๐ŸŽฌ๐ŸŽƒ House of 1000 Corpses and Halloween II–GAMES!! ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽฌ Trick or Treat Studios

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Prepare for a spine-chilling experience as Jim Phoenix delves into the shadows with Trick or Treat Studios at GenCon 2024!

In this exclusive interview, we uncover the terrifying secrets behind their latest bone-chilling creations: “House of 1000 Corpses” and “Halloween II” board games.

Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses a game of horror. Cover had three evil looking people one of them a clown in a top hat and the other looks like amanda turd, with the middle one looking with a hand reaching out to grab you...spooky!

These games aren’t just about rolling dice โ€“ they’re about immersing yourself in the blood-curdling atmosphere of beloved horror films. With unique survival (and kill!) horror mechanics and cooperative gameplay, you’ll feel the terror coursing through your veins with every move!

But wait, there’s more! With the Kickstarter to House of 1000 Corpses shipping soon, we have an in-depth review coming up for that game, Halloween II–AND…Chucky. BOOMMM!!!

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Unveiling the Magic: Czech Games’ Nathan Meunier Talks “Little Alchemist” GenCon 2024

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Step into the enchanting world of Little Alchemist, where crafting meets puzzle-solving in a visually stunning adventure.

h three children in wizard costumes trying to make potions with the middle child's face in a green explosion a cute cat is trying to help

We sat down with Nathan Meunier from Czech Games to uncover the secrets behind this captivating new title that’s brewing up excitement in the gaming community.

Coming Soon — Little Alchemist Play Review!

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