An Outcry [DEMO] is a free horror adventure video game wherein something seems to haunt the residents of a certain apartment building. Developed by Quinn K., this psychological horror story is heavily text-based and relies on creepy subtext rather than constant jumpscares. This version is a demo and the game is in active development. Take note that it has sensitive content, such as fascism, suicidal ideation, transphobia, body horror, and more.

Writing is key

Inspired by games like Space Funeral, OFF, and Ib, An Outcry was made in RPG Maker 2003 and plays out like a visual novel, with dialogue options to choose from. It follows the story of a character only known as The Unnamed—“UN” for short. A bit of a pest to their neighbors, they live quite isolated and the visuals strangely censor their face. The story quickly establishes just what kind of person UN is. 

This game is dominated by the narration and dialogue and much of the horror really comes from the text. It slowly guides you to a scenario that feels like it was born out of the protagonist’s muddled mind. The prologue can be pretty drawn out but it doesn’t feel boring at all, since you can talk to the apartment neighbors for your goal and this easily shows the dynamics between each character. 

As the content warnings caution, however, the game mentions and even depicts several heavy subjects. It also asks you to put your mental well-being first and foremost no matter what, too—and that if the game is making you uncomfortable, then you should stop playing. It really evokes a creepy atmosphere with its fluid and almost-poetic writing, so some parts may really make you squirm.

The mystery awaits

Overall, despite its demo status, An Outcry shows a promising start with its foray into psychological horror. From its gritty-dark 2D pixel art style to its immersive narration, everything fits so well together—even with all of the heavy adult content. Unfortunately, this whole thing is quite short and can definitely leave you wanting for more. Nevertheless, this is a great recommendation for fans of slow horror games.