Heliophobia is the fear of the sun or bright light, which is not what you would expect when it comes to horror, as most scary things tend to like the darkness. Although this switch around of standard horror tropes is perfectly suited for a game such as Heliophobia an upcoming first-person horror/mystery adventure developed and published by Glass Knuckle Games, heading to itch.io and Steam on October 18th.
The Heliophobia release trailer can be found below
If you’re looking for gameplay similar to SOMA or Outlast with narratives reminiscent of Mulholland Drive or Memento then Heliophobia might just hit those notes. As you play, an oppressive unsettling atmosphere starts to build, with the tension and horror increasing.
The Heliophobia gameplay is a mash of several different segments such as monster/prey stealth sections, puzzle-solving, exploration, and a brain-crushing amount of distorted surrealistic imagery.
You awaken on an empty plane, with the knowledge you need to kill J.R, whoever he or she is. Everything else is a blur. Grotesque humanoid creatures pursue you at every turn. Crime syndicates and shadowy organizations plot behind closed doors. On top of it all, your mind keeps slipping in to unexplainable waking nightmares. With only your rapidly fading senses about you, what will you discover – before it’s too late?
Sneak, hide, and run from a verity or bizarre and horrific monsters. Explore each and every weird location, as you piece together the story and the fragments of your memory. The large and labyrinthian city is yours to explore, complete with dark alleyways, broken down buildings and tunnelways. You never know when the next high-anxiety encounter will be, but it won’t stay calm and quiet for too long.
Heliophobia Features
Surreal Horror – Monsters and nefarious humans are not the only things to fear. The entire world feels just a few degrees off from “normal”.
Non-Linear Mystery – Segments of the story branch off and unlock in non-chronological order. Any completed section can be returned to for further investigation.
Glitch Senses – Heavy glitch effects serve as both visual flair and a “sixth sense” for nearby dangers. Use them to your advantage, or disable the effects entirely.
Survive On Your Terms – Despite the claustrophobic setting, many levels feature multiple routes or varied solutions to puzzles.
No Cheap Jump Scares – Building atmosphere and dread are central to the overall experience. While some moments may be surprising, none are played just for an empty reaction.
Outside The Comfort Zone – Each challenge is presented with a new setting, format, or set of rules. No two sections should feel exactly the same, leading to a feeling of gnawing unease.
Heliophobia will be released on the 18th October on itch.io and Steam, stay local to thezombiechimp.com for more info, or head over to the official Heliophobia site for more information.
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Jim Franklin
Jim Franklin is a freelance writer, living in Derby UK with his wife and his player 3. When time allows he likes nothing more than losing himself in a multi-hour gaming session. He likes most games and will play anything but prefers MMO's, and sandbox RPG's.
