The new indie titleLook Outsidebrings cosmic horror to the survival RPG genre, offering players a sweat-inducing blend of scares and scavenging mechanics. Since its launch back in March,Look Outsidehas been received incredibly well by players, and for fans of the cosmic horror genre, it could be a great game to dive into.
On the surface,Look Outsideis a pretty straightforward adaptation of its genre. Following a strange event near the lead character’s apartment, anyone who looks out the window is transformed into a horrifying monster. Because of this,Look Outsidefeatures its fair share of strong body horror, but what sets it apart is that it successfully depicts strange and otherworldly creatures in a cartoonish, pixelated setting.
Look Outside Describes the Indescribable in Its Own Unique Way
Since its genesis,Lovecraftian horrorhas focused more on the dread of the unknowable than on giving a clear depiction. However, there have been plenty of stories in the genre that bring the horrors front and center. Whether it’s an adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’sThe Color Out of Spaceor a heavily inspired story likeThe Thing, the author brought forth a genre that can ignite both psychological terror and physical horror.Look Outsidetakes the physical approach by bringing plenty of grotesque beings to life.
Look Outsidehas multiple endings that depend on a player’s in-game choices.
Over the years, manygames have been inspired by Lovercraft, butLook Outsideflips his approach to horror on its head with its pixelated aesthetic. It’s a bold contrast to the terrifying events that are taking place in the game. The decision to use pixel art as a way to depict something that is difficult to fathom adds to the creepiness of its story. According to the game’s official Steam page, players can expect to run into over 150 different cosmic monstrosities. Some look like other humans, at first, while other creatures are downright mind-boggling. The game’s premise is simple: “Scavenge the building to seek food, supplies, and weapons while encountering strange characters - human and otherwise.” It’s a fun tease that any human encountered is bound to bring forth a run-in with an out-of-this-world horror.
Throughout the story ofLook Outside, each encounter can be baffling, and the specific art style used to bring such terrifying concepts to life is a fun change of pace in the genre.Lovecraft’s influence on horrorruns incredibly deep, and it’s exciting to see how body horror translates into an art style that is really difficult to make scary.
Look Outsideis published by Devolver Digital.
After Look Outside, More Cosmic Horror is On the Way
Once horror lovers get ample time withLook Outside, there are still plenty of exciting cosmic horror titles on the way to help fill that Lovecraftian void.Directive 8020offers a space-faring horror tale, whileCronos: The New Dawnblends cosmic terror with time travel. WhileThe Sinking City 2may have yet to announce a release target, it’s one of the most Lovecraft-influenced of the bunch.
Cosmic horror is a tough genre to adapt well, especially with pixel art, butLook Outsidemanages to pull it off. Developer Francis Coulombe really nailed the dread that is so essential to the genre, and for cosmic horror fans who are in search of a game that brings its mysterious horror into the spotlight while also balancing a unique art style,Look Outsidemight be an indie title worth giving a try.
