Developer: Kotake Create
Steam Deck Compatibility?: Playable
Rrp: £3.39
Now this is a genre I’ve not come across before, anomaly hunting. It feels like it’s an offshoot from walking simulators since strictly speaking the only thing you do is walk. The thing is, that’s a bit of an unfair statement. You see, in this game genre, you may interact with the game world by walking around but the game itself requires you to be observant and detail oriented.
In The Exit 8 you are stuck in an endlessly repeating passageway for what seems like a train station. If you see an anomaly you’re supposed to walk back the way you came, otherwise continue on. Each time you do this you’ll pass a large yellow exit sign, if you were right about there being an anomaly or not the number on that sign goes up, but if you’re wrong it reduces down to zero. The aim of the game is to get that sign to eight and finally exit the passageway.
The anomalies vary wildly, sometimes they’re very obvious but often they’re some kind of hidden detail such as a missing doorknob or a strange stain on the ceiling.
I absolutely loved this game, I’ve always enjoyed playing ‘spot the difference’ as a kid and this game gives the same sense of satisfaction that those did. It’s just in this case there’s also a sense of liminal horror as well, but don’t worry there aren’t any jumpscares.
