Demo Duesday #2: White Knuckle, BrokenLore: DON'T WATCH, 散歩-Walk
This week's picks promise vertical challenges, supernatural tension, and mythical storytelling.
1. White Knuckle
Developer: Dark Machine Games
Available On: Steam
Release Date: Later this year (Early Access)
First Impressions
White Knuckle is a first-person roguelite speed-climbing game that challenges players to ascend through the guts of SUB-STRUCTURE 17 using precision movement mechanics.
How It Plays
The demo plunges you into a gritty, decaying world where every grip matters. The climbing mechanics feel intuitive yet challenging, requiring sharp reflexes and smart resource management. The constant pursuit by "The Mass," a sludge emerging from the depths, adds a thrilling sense of urgency to your ascent.
What Stands Out
White Knuckle's unique blend of speed-climbing and horror elements creates a tense, adrenaline-fueled experience. The game's roguelite structure, with randomized level sequences and slight room variations, promises high replayability. The gritty, low-res graphics contribute to the game's unsettling atmosphere. While the demo showcases solid core gameplay, it remains to be seen how varied the full game's environments and challenges will be.
2. BrokenLore: DON'T WATCH
Developer: Serafini Productions
Available On: Steam
Release Date: 2025
First Impressions
BrokenLore: DON'T WATCH immerses players in the haunting world of Shinji, a young hikikomori trapped in his Tokyo apartment, as he confronts a malevolent entity watching from the shadows.
How It Plays
The demo starts in the claustrophobic confines of Shinji's apartment, which serves as both a physical and mental prison. As you explore, the boundaries between reality and Shinji's deteriorating mental state blur.
What Stands Out
BrokenLore: DON'T WATCH excels in creating a deeply unsettling psychological horror experience. The game's unique setting, blending a small Tokyo apartment with the vast landscape of an unraveling mind, offers a fresh take on the genre. The intense psychological elements and atmospheric tension are likely to appeal to fans of mind-bending narratives. However, those seeking more action-oriented horror might find the pacing slow.
3. 散歩 - Walk
Developer: Kazumi Games Studios
Available On: Itch.io (Haunted PS1 Demo Disc 2021)
Release Date: TBA
First Impressions
散歩 - Walk is a Japanese-style horror adventure game featuring low-polygon graphics reminiscent of PS1-era titles. Players control an elementary school girl exploring eerie Japanese residential areas while trying to get home before nightfall.
How It Plays
The demo drops you into a seemingly deserted suburban neighborhood, with an unsettling atmosphere enhanced by grainy, videotape-like visuals. Movement is free in all directions, eschewing the tank controls often associated with PS1-era horror. The gameplay revolves around collecting items, solving puzzles, and staying hidden from a terrifying creature with a grinning white face.
What Stands Out
散歩 - Walk’s unique blend of low-poly graphics and photographic backgrounds creates a distinctive, nostalgic yet unsettling aesthetic. The fixed camera angles and stealth elements evoke classics like Silent Hill and Resident Evil. The demo's short length (about 30 minutes) leaves players eager for more, with plans for added features like inventory management and spoken dialogue in the full release. The game's ability to create tension without relying on jump scares is particularly noteworthy.
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Watch the Gameplay Video
Watch my playthrough of these three chilling demos