Iron Lung is a paid adventure game that puts you in control of a small submarine. This exploration game, however, doesn’t take place in the average ocean deep. Instead, you try to find your way across an ocean of blood sitting on top of an alien moon. This slow-burn game manages to deliver a branching story that ends in multiple scenarios, depending on your choice—most of them frightening in their own ways.

The game uses a pixelated design choice, making it similar to Doom 95 or Dusk. However, its brand of horror is reminiscent of indie games First Land or CorpseOcean.

Be a submariner in an alien world

As mentioned earlier, Iron Lung adopts a pixelated visual, which is matched by its audio choices. Pixelated visuals plus its use of eerie and echoing sound effects both add to the uneasy, restricting feeling you get. You can walk around your tiny sub and interact with equipment, or check your map to see your location. Limiting your action and your vision also helps in setting the mood.

Also as a slow-burn game, you’re free to explore the alien territory and try to understand the game mechanics. You can check bearings and coordinates as you go around. However, if you have no experience reading maps or plotting coordinates, the game can start out slow and boring—until you make your first encounter. The game offers multiple endings depending on your discoveries.

As mentioned, basic navigation is a good help in this game. It is a part of the game’s learning curve, which also involves making routine checks depending on where you go. For example, the submarine porthole has to be closed properly when submerging, or else blood will come flooding. You’d also need to check the map, your sensors, and even the audio for signs of discovery or danger.

Retro, otherworldly, and scary

Overall, Iron Lung is a fun and challenging game that combines exploration with slow-burn horror. Its use of an alien setting, plus the familiar fear of being in a cramped space and the crushing pressure of the fluid around you, all contribute to setting the game mood. Additionally, there are different endings and in-game items for you to discover. As a retro horror, it rarely gets better than this.