Not all horror games aim to scare us in the same way or for the same reasons. Whether they do so through jump scares, eerie settings, or by putting us in helpless situations depends on the type of horror game we’re dealing with. Similarly, it’s not the same if the game wants to scare us just for the sake of it or if it adds an extra layer—ending the game instantly if we scream.
Shhh is a game by 616 GAMES with a premise as simple as it is effective: we have to explore a house where sinister things happen, and if we get scared enough to scream, the game ends automatically. Thus, the idea is to keep calm, stay level-headed, and avoid getting frightened—a quite challenging task due to its VHS aesthetic, a very eerie atmosphere, and more than just relying on jump scares.
Even though it currently has only one setting—a house seemingly inhabited by horrors we’d rather not acknowledge—616’s developers have promised to add more in the future through free updates. This promises great replay value for the game in the long run.
Of course, this isn’t something entirely new as many current horror games have been leveraging the possibilities of microphones. In games like Phasmophobia and Lethal Company, monsters can locate you based on the sounds you make in real life. And in Don’t Scream, much like in Shhh, the game ends the moment you scream. Although the 616 GAMES’ game seems to do it with a lot more flair than Joure & Joe’s game.
Shhh is available for purchase on both Steam and Itch.io. And, as expected, it requires a microphone to play.
