M.Stain is a free horror game by developer Impostersyndrome. This eerie adventure puts you in the shoes of a nameless protagonist looking for a job in the big city. M.Stain, a mysterious businessman, offers you a high-salary job but things take a bizarre turn once you sign the contract. 

The game is presented in PS1 graphics, like the survival horror Babysitter Bloodbath. However, it doesn’t follow conventional horror gameplay mechanics. The game is filled with bizarre characters with equally bizarre dialogue. There are multiple endings and they’re dependent on the decisions you make throughout the game

Gameplay and atmosphere

M.Stain is a weird horror game by design. It doesn’t scare players through jump scares or shocking imagery. Instead, it puts players in a strange world filled with strange characters, the strangest among them is the titular character. The PS1 visuals excellently fit the theme —  the characters don’t look terrifying but they look incredibly bizarre. You won’t soil your pants playing this game, but you’ll surely be creeped out. 

The game thrusts you into a series of surreal situations, most of which you don’t know what the outcome will be. Some gore and nudity are depicted and they make situations a bit disturbing yet they’re subtle enough not to feel tacked on. Each segment will leave you clueless as to what to expect, making the following events surprising and the game more interesting. 

You will receive a ranking upon finishing the game. This ranking depends on your clear time, how much money you accumulated, how many people you killed, and how many items you found. If you want to get the highest score, this game will be highly replayable. However, those who only intend to play it once will find the game short as it can be finished in under 30 minutes.

A trippy experience

M.Stain feels like a fever dream. You won’t be able to predict what’s going to happen next because everything that happens is outlandish. It’s not a traditional horror game, and it’s not trying to be. It intends to give players a surreal and a bit disturbing experience that they are sure to remember. It’s a bite-sized game that is well worth your time.