Blumhouse Games Execs Lay Out Plans to Scare You — But in a Cozy Way, If Horror Isn’t Your Thing
During gaming industry expo Summer Game Fest last month, Jason Blum took the stage to unveil the inaugural slate of titles for his Blumhouse Games division, which launched in February 2023.
While the through line for the six indie games was of course horror (we’d expect nothing less from the producers of “Halloween,” “The Purge,” “Paranormal Activity,” “M3GAN” and “Five Nights at Freddy’s” film franchises), the fear factor varied wildly from an adorable farming and town sim with a murder-element to a first-person adventure where folklore mixes with religion in a nightmarish version of Spain.
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The significant differences among the offerings showcase Blumhouse Games commitment to scare you in typical Blumhouse fashion, but also appeal to the many different kinds of gamers across the market: those who like “cozy” games, those who like intense first-person shooters and everyone in between.
“We’ll exist in the horror space. I think the incredible thing about horror is it’s so vast,” Blumhouse Games creative lead Louise Blain told Variety. “There are so many different sub genres, like supernatural. And with Blumhouse shows or movies, they go across the gamut of horror and that’s really what we want to embrace: horror in all of its forms. And that means that what you’re looking at on the slate is twisted and weird games, and then playing a pixelated cozy agriculture game with murder. The scope is very, very large, as long as you’re playing in the giant format that is horror and the unknown, it can feel like jumpscares, it can feel like exploring a dark corner in a haunted home, and can also feel like, why are the farmers dying in this cute town? The thing is, you could actually really enjoy a horror game, you just didn’t know which one you want to play.”
While the majority of Blumhouse Games’ upcoming titles are still in the development stage and don’t yet have release dates, “Fear the Spotlight” is targeting a launch later this year. From indie developer Cozy Pal Games (see, “cozy” is a vibe Blumhouse is here for), the game is described as “a creepy love letter to classic ’90s teen horror stories” that follows friends Vivian and Amy who sneak into school after hours and survive a seance gone wrong and attempt to uncover the disturbing mystery behind a school tragedy decades before.
And for this current lineup of initial titles, Blumhouse will not utilize any microtransaction models. “We’re not doing any sort of in-game monetization at all,” Blumhouse Games president Zach Wood said. “We’re starting with single-player experiences small in scope with premium pricing. But because of the scope of the game it will be in the $10 to $30 price points, roughly.”
Of course, the games could become bigger in the future, and Wood says Blumhouse is interested in, at some point, capitalizing on its own IP and creating games based on its successful film and TV horror franchises.
“We’re interested in the fresh ideas in horror,” Wood said. “And that doesn’t mean that we won’t be making games based on existing Blumhouse IP in the future — we certainly would like to. But a lot of that is just the right timing. It’s the right idea, it’s the right creative team. And those things need to align the right way, because it’s meaningful for us that we do right by the IP and really make great games the fans expect. It’s a lot of work, so we want to be very careful about that.”
See Blumhouse Games’ initial slate of video games below.
“Fear the Spotlight”
Developer: Cozy Game Pals
Based in: Los Angeles, Calif.
A creepy love letter to classic 90s teen horror stories, Fear the Spotlight is 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. Fear the Spotlight will be launching later this year, and fans can wishlist the game here.
“SLEEP AWAKE”
Developer: EYES OUT
Based in: Los Angeles, Calif.
From Cory Davis (Spec Ops: The Line) and Robin Finck (Nine Inch Nails) comes a first-person psychedelic horror set in the far future. In the last known city on Earth, people are disappearing in their sleep. Those who remain exist in a crisis of reckless experiments to keep awake. Katja must navigate depraved death cults, otherworldly forces, and the ever-present horror of The HUSH, to save herself and those who rely upon her.
“Crisol: Theater of Idols”
Developer: Vermila Studios
Based in: Madrid, Spain
Dive into 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, the player must sacrifice their own blood to use as ammunition against the horrors that lurk around every corner.
“The Simulation”
Developer: Playmestudio
Based in: Santiago, Chile
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 mode 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 deep into terrifying truths that transcend their own reality…
“Grave Seasons”
Developer: Perfect Garbage
Based in: Chicago, Ill.
A charming pixelated farming and town simulation game where, amidst all the relationship building and crop harvesting, players must figure out which of the townsfolk is a supernatural serial killer. Uncover the hidden secrets of Ashenridge, find a way to stay one step ahead of the murderer… and maybe save the next victim.
“Code Name: Project C”
Developer: Half Mermaid Productions
Based in: New York City, N.Y.
An ambitious game from the minds of Sam Barlow (Her Story, IMMORTALITY) and Brandon Cronenberg (Possessor, Infinity Pool). Prepare to have your mind broken by Half Mermaid’s most twisted vision yet.
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