Why is mascot horror so popular? A look at Five Nights at Freddy’s and Poppy Playtime
When indie mascot horror game Five Nights at Freddy’s was first developed by Scott Cawthon and released in 2014, it took the world by storm. To this day, it still remains one of the most beloved video game franchises, with a second film adaptation set to release in December 2025. Another mascot horror game, Poppy […]
Crusader Kings 3: The (PC) game that keeps on giving
For a while now, I’ve been throwing my head against the wall in Crusader Kings 3 (CK3), trying to reform the Holy Roman Empire and conquer the entire map. Now, this is already a feat I’ve accomplished on the PlayStation 5 port of the game, but the console port of the game is a far […]
The Dread of Metroid: Fusion
Mission Start The Metroid games have always had horror elements, even if the horror is just a fear of being soft locked and having to start over. In 2021, Metroid fans were promised a true horror experience when Metroid: Dread was released. Even the name promised terror. However, that game’s predecessor Metroid: Fusion was a […]
Alan Wake and the Perils of Writing
From the Steam page for Alan Wake, released Feb. 16, 2012 As an English major, I consider writing one of the most frightening things in the world. Faced with a blank page, I become a miserable idiot. Revising my own writing is an exercise in self-mutilation. A similar fear lies at the heart of Alan […]