RECENTLY I glanced through my TikTok account and discovered that indie Filipino horror games are taking the content creation sphere into a frenzy.
It didn't matter if the graphics or gameplay features aren't at par with the likes of Resident Evil or Silent Hill, but it still manages to deliver the scares as there are loads of meme-worthy moments that have left content creators screaming at the top of their lungs.
But it also opens up opportunities for these indie developers to slowly make a name into the scene, as we take a look at these horror entries in Filipino gaming that content creators are digging deep into.
Hapunan
Currently trending on social media, many content creators have been freaked out by its overall premise. Players will take the role of a food vendor, selling balut, duck eggs, and chicharon during the night, and while doing so, someone psychotic will go after the player.
But the overall premise isn't the only thing that has terrorized players as the character designs looked extremely disturbing.
Hapunan may not have the top notch graphics of modern horror video games, but its indie-esque designs are what adds to the overall creepiness of the game. Talking to various NPCs and even looking at the face of the serial killer provide an eerie presence especially since most of the character faces resemble that of real-life people.
But besides the overall design, Hapunan has an intriguing narrative brimming with mystery, adding to its prestige.
Thin Threads
If you love horror films that focus heavily on drama as seen from South Korea's A Tale of Two Sisters, you might want to take a deep look into this Filipino horror game, Thin Threads.
The game is a first-person psychological horror narrative that explores on the life of a financially struggling family. Each family member will have their own respective point-of-views which are worth uncovering as the player progresses.
It also sheds light on the socio-economic status of the Philippines, as a country dealing with immense levels of poverty, and given its overall themes, the game could end up as a depressing experience for players.
And while these two are currently making waves on social media, there are other Filipino indie horror games that are worth exploring.
StranDEAD
Can you imagine how a zombie apocalypse would look like in the Philippines? While we do get a glimpse of it through films like Shake, Rattle, and Roll, or the 2024 post-apocalyptic film, Outside, there has been a game that tackles on that idea.
Enter StranDEAD, where Players take the role of Eduardo, a 'tambay' trying his best to survive an outbreak. Similar to Left 4 Dead, players need to look for weapons and move through corridors, dealing with nonstop waves of zombies.
Given its extremely dark lighting, the game heavily relies on its environment to produce the scares. Zombies even move at lightning speed, which will definitely be an action-oriented experience for players.
And while this game has shown glimpses of its potential, its development is currently placed under a microscope since the game's official creator is currently dealing with a tragedy.
Aswang
Nothing beats the classic Filipino folklore of aswangs and manananggals giving us nightmares during our youth and that experience could once again rekindle with this indie horror game, Aswang.
The premise is simple, players are tasked to explore a dark area while dealing with various mythological creatures in the Philippines.
There are methods to handle these creatures where players need to look for key items that would allow them to combat these entities, ranging from everyday essentials like salt, or even weapons like pistol guns.
However be advised that these creatures wouldn't just go down with a simple swoop so be sure to manage these items well.
And there are plenty more Filipino indie horror games that are worth exploring, further showcasing the talent of our local game developers.
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