Earlier this week, Blumhouse teased its entry into the video game realm, and on Friday, it made good on that promise by unveiling a full slate of games during Summer Game Fest. During the live event, Blumhouse Games announced six titles, with Blumhouse CEO and Founder Jason Blum and Louise Blain, the Creative Lead at Blumhouse Games, on hand.
“Horror, to my great relief, is getting more and more popular,” said Blum while live on stage at the event. “Our movies are working, it’s working on streaming, it’s working on live events, and we wanted to take our approach to movies and apply it to games.”
Blumhouse Games is partnering with independent developers worldwide to create a diverse slate of weird, unique, and terrifying content that pushes the limits of what is possible in scary storytelling.
Of the six titles revealed, only one will be released this year, and it’s a game called “Fear the Spotlight.” Developed by Cozy Game Pals, “Fear The Spotlight” is a creepy love letter to 90s teen horror designed for a modern audience. Sneak into a school after hours with Vivian and Amy, survive a seance gone wrong, solve tactile puzzles, and uncover the disturbing mystery behind a school tragedy decades before. And, whatever you do, stay out of the spotlight.
“It really hits our mission statement,” said Blain of “Fear the Spotlight.” “It’s an amazing 90s horror experience. It’s got great characters, a compelling narrative; it’s also super creepy. And I think people will be big fans of it even if you’re not normally into horror.”
The first trailer for “Fear The Spotlight” premiered during Summer Game Fest’s Day of the Dev showcase.
Other titles announced during the event, all of which are currently in development, were “Crisol: Theater of the Idols” from Vermila Studios, “Grave Seasons” from Perfect Garbage, “Project C” from Half Mermaid Productions, “Sleep Awake” from Eyes Out, and “The Simulation” from Playmestudio.
“Crisol: Theater of Idols” is a unique first-person horror adventure where folklore and religion intertwine in a nightmarish version of Spain. Players will navigate a world steeped in eerie legends and sacred rituals, facing terrifying statues of saints that come to life. In a desperate fight for survival, players must sacrifice their blood to use as ammunition against the horrors lurking around every corner.
“Grave Seasons” is a spooky farming and town sim in which, amidst relationship building and crop harvesting, players must figure out which of the townsfolk is a supernatural serial killer. Uncover Ashenridge’s hidden secrets, find a way to stay one step ahead of the murderer, and maybe save the next victim.
“Sleep Awake” helms from Cory Davis (“Spec Ops: The Line) and Robin Finck (Nine Inch Nails) and is a first-person psychedelic horror set in the far future. People are disappearing in their sleep in the last known city on Earth. Those who remain exist in a crisis of reckless experiments to stay awake. Players take on the role of Katja, who must navigate depraved death cults, otherworldly forces, and the ever-present horror of The HUSH to save herself and those who rely on her.
In “The Simulation,” a never-before-seen horror game is the only evidence found at a crime scene. As a retired game designer hired to investigate the case, you find a hidden ode that plunges you into a rabbit hole of the unknown. As more obscure games are uncovered, cross the fourth wall of their worlds and delve into terrifying truths that transcend their own reality.
Finally, “Project C” is an ambitious game from the minds of Sam Barlow (“Her Story”) and Brandon Cronenberg (“Possessor”). Little has been shared about the game, but the Blumhouse website warns, “Prepare to have your mind broken by Half Mermaid’s most twisted vision yet.”
More news about Blumhouse’s slate of games will be coming in the coming days, weeks, and months. Blum shared during the event that players can look forward to seeing Blumhouse games on both PC and consoles.
