Suffer the Night [PC] | REVIEW

I like a horror game that tries to do something a little different, and believe me, Suffer the Night certainly does some unusual things. Whilst it starts off as your typical horror escapade, it soon introduces plenty of quirky little ideas that ensure it’ll keep players on the edge of their seat when playing.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Suffer the Night kicks off its adventure in an eerie horror movie-style, with players taking on the role of Stacy as she spends the night alone in the midst of a storm with her power cut. Oh, she also just so happens to live in an isolated cabin, which is always a no-no in a situation like this. Things get worse when a sinister looking man appears with a creepy pale face, though Stacy has to do one thing to get rid of him: complete his video game that she is given on a floppy disk. It’s 1989, games came on floppy disks then…

What follows is a horror escapade that takes plenty of little twists-and-turns as Stacy looks to complete the game. Sure, it can be predictable, whilst it can also lean into some cliches expected of the genre, but it also does plenty of fun things that make it feel different to a lot of similar releases available right now. Some of the tonal shifts can be a bit over-the-top, but it always kept me entertained.

So what does the gameplay consist of? Well, Suffer the Night mixes a few ideas together, with the whole ‘playing a game within a game’ idea utilised in a clever way. See, whilst you’ll have to explore your surroundings from a first-person perspective, find items, and complete puzzles, you’ll also have to play a text adventure in order to progress through the game (which also gives you the option to check over your shoulder which makes for some unnerving moments). It’s a neat idea that gives Suffer the Night a cool little twist, even if players shouldn’t expect too much depth from the text-based experience.

“I expected a walking simulator-style experience throughout, but nope, you’ll be evading zany traps (some of which can feel a little silly) and even battling a bunch of different baddies that are after you by using guns and a crowbar.”

You’ll eventually venture out of your cabin and into a more trap-strewn area that changes up how Suffer the Night feels to play completely. I expected a walking simulator-style experience throughout, but nope, you’ll be evading zany traps (some of which can feel a little silly) and even battling a bunch of different baddies that are after you by using guns and a crowbar. Heck, there are even boss fights, though they’re not the most exciting of showdowns. Nevertheless, these sections of the game are intriguing to play through, with the evasion of traps requiring some quick reactions and smart timing in order to survive.

I really liked the puzzles of the game, even IF they could be a little bit simple. They were satisfying to solve and never forced players to venture too far away to find the clues to figure them out, with each one feeling very old-school in design. The game even introduces some interesting mechanics by having you use a scanner to find objects around you that are pivotal to your success, which ensures there’s always something a little bit different to do as you progress.

That being said, you might simply have to use the scanner to find your way around, because Suffer the Night is one hell of a dark game and can make items hard to see. I know, I know, horror titles are meant to be dark and gloomy, but there were times when playing that I almost found myself tempted to smash the brightness and contrast of my screen up just to actually be able to make things out. I’m exaggerating a little bit, but there were some frustrating moments where I wasn’t quite sure what I needed to do next purely because I couldn’t find the item I needed.

Check out some screenshots down below:

It’s a minor flaw in what is otherwise a cool experience though, with Suffer the Night’s blend of exploration, puzzling, and combat sure to keep horror fans entertained. The game can be beaten in under five hours too, which feels like the perfect length so that it doesn’t start to run out of ideas. It’s got plenty of scary moments, and whilst some of the frights can get a little bit over-the-top (you’ve just got to look at some of the enemies and traps you encounter to realise that), there’s an unnerving tension throughout the game that’ll keep players on the edge of their seat.

Developer: Tainted Pact
Publisher: Assemble Entertainment
Platform(s): PC
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2176850/Suffer_The_Night/