Arruyo is a free-to-play puzzle game from the DigiPen Institute of Technology. This first-person survival horror game draws inspiration from Spanish history, particularly the Civil War. The game combines it with the timeless works of Francisco de Goya, a legendary painter who immortalized events through his artworks.

The puzzles were underperforming and the horror came across as cliche though, but Arruyo perfectly captures the nuances of art and the effects of wartime on people. Premise-wise, it feels like the psychological horror that is the Call of Cthulhu although overall, the Spanish influences and premise are closer to ROJO.

Explore the darkness of the human soul

It is important to note that Arruyo combines two pivotal points in Spanish history. The first is the Civil War, which ran from 1936 to 1939, and sets the tone for the game set in the 1950s. Your main character, Francisco, is the namesake of the artist Francisco Goya, who was responsible for haunting artworks such as the “Black Paintings” and “The Disasters of War” series.

After the historical and artistic influences are laid down, it is easier to appreciate where the horror appeal comes from and where it is intended. It fuses these grounded references to create an otherworldly and Lovecraftian vibe throughout. What feels like an average horror house experience turns into a cosmic-scale horror, similar to how the film Cabin in the Woods plays out.

With that said, it still suffers from a number of execution issues. For starters, most attempts at jumpscares can be seen from a mile away, eliminating any hope of surprise. Also, as a puzzle-based game, riddles and challenges are required to progress the story. However, these challenges often require minimal effort. These shortcomings are made worse by a number of in-game bugs, such as assets not loading properly.

A great premise lacking in execution

Overall, Arruyo works as an art form, but not so much as a video game. Its heavy references to two distinct periods in Spanish history are fascinating in themselves, inspiring even casual players to know more and creating an additional appreciation for the game. However, it leaves much to be desired in terms of execution, with its attempts at scaring or confusing the player often coming up short.