A new development studio, Genius Slackers, has announced their debut game,What Happened, afirst-person, horror titlethat takes place inside of a seemingly haunted high school. The game promises to take players through the mind of high school student Stiles as he struggles with his own personal demons following a mystery that has spawned the horrors experienced throughout the game.
The game itself comes in collaboration with publishers Katnappe and Sourena Games, both of which are also fairly new, similar to Genius Slackers. However, Sourena Games has previously published titles such asTrivian.What Happeneddoes seem to be both the developer’s and publishers' first attempt at tackling the horror genre.What Happenedis coming to Steam in July, joining the current golden age of horror brought on by games like therecent Resident Evil titles and remakes.
RELATED:Resident Evil 3 Pre-Order Bonuses Going on Sale Soon
Right out the gate,What Happenedseems to be fairly upfront about the nature of the game, having the player delve into the psychological horror of teenage protagonist Stiles' mind. This psychological approach at horror has often made for some of thebest horror titles in past games, as the medium is often fairly well suited to an untrustworthy narrator. To take those themes even further, the game also boasts that it will subtly respond to any sort of empathy that the player shows Stiles on his way through the twisted corridors of his mind.
Of course, being a horror game,What Happenedwill still havechallenging and horrifying puzzlesthat are a staple for the genre. It’s difficult to say from the trailer exactly what these puzzles will entail, but from what little is shown, it does seem like sneaking through the halls of Stiles' high school will be a primary mechanic for surviving the horrors of his mind. At the moment, the game looks fairly promising, with some terrifying design and the tight corridors of the high school adding to a feeling of confinement and lack of control for players to slowly make their way through.
Seeing as how this is Genius Slackers' debut title, the young development studio has a lot riding onWhat Happened. Players will have to keep an eye out for this game’s development leading up to its planned release this Summer. In theever-changing horror landscape, it’s quite the task to make a memorable horror experience, but hopefully, Genius Slackers will be able to hit the mark and make its claims to the genre with the title.
What Happenedis set to release in July 2020 for PC.
MORE:Resident Evil 3: 10 Best Items To Buy From The Shop (& How Much They Cost)
