UNFOLLOW

UNFOLLOW is a disturbing first-person horror game that will leave players unsettled long after the credits roll. You play as Anne, a young woman haunted by past trauma and navigating a surreal nightmare world. Rookie developers Serafini Productions pull no punches in their examination of bullying, mental health, and the dark side of social media.

In many ways, UNFOLLOW pays homage to classic psychological horror titles like Silent Hill. The game world is shrouded in ominous fog, full of bizarre imagery and pixelated, faceless specters.

However, UNFOLLOW stands out with its hyperrealistic visuals and emphasis on modern technology. Anne's smartphone is a central gameplay mechanic, used to uncover clues, read disturbing text conversations, and snap photos to document anomalies. This focus on tech aptly reflects the game's core themes.

Descent into Madness

UNFOLLOW excels at gradually building tension, then shocking the player with moments of abject terror. The early hours spent wandering the empty town lull you into a false sense of security. However, once the repulsive monsters appear, Anne's safety becomes precarious. Each creature symbolizes a different trauma from her past, confronting her with painful memories.

Each encounter with these creatures becomes a tense confrontation with Anne's inner demons, making you reflect on the profound psychological struggles she faces. The game's ability to manifest these abstract concepts into tangible horrors is nothing short of impressive.

Evading these vile beings requires stealth, quick reflexes, and cunning use of distractions. UNFOLLOW balances these panicked chase sequences with quieter environmental storytelling. Reading text logs and flipping through photos on the phone unravels the truth behind Anne’s suffering.

The Horrors of Bullying

Central to UNFOLLOW's narrative is the devastating impact of bullying, both online and off. Through flashbacks and conversations with strange doppelgangers, players learn of the relentless harassment Anne endured in high school. Her classmates spread demeaning rumors, sent threatening messages, and left traumatizing comments on social media.

This facet of the story is visceral and disturbing, but critical to understanding Anne's fractured mental state. The developers draw from real-world cases of cyberbullying and its consequences. While excessive at times, the game succeeds in generating empathy for victims of such abuse. At least, the game seems to be more "in touch" with its main character than Bloober Team's The Medium.

Delving into the Subconscious

UNFOLLOW's most terrifying moments come when navigation glitches catapult Anne into abstract realms. Falls from the sky lead to endless black voids. Mirrored recursion tricks the senses. These segments abandon logic in favor of representations of a disturbed mind.

The game strikes a delicate balance between stealth and combat, adding an extra layer of tension to the gameplay. While stealth sections are reminiscent of the tension found in Visage, combat sequences, though infrequent, offer a satisfying catharsis. However, some players might find the combat system slightly clunky compared to dedicated action-horror titles.

Pros

• Evocative creature design and tense chase scenes
• Unsettling depictions of bullying and trauma
• Strong atmosphere and eerie setting

Cons

• The Story can feel heavy-handed at times

UNFOLLOW is a horror adventure that will show you social networks from a completely different side. Anna wakes up in a mysterious place that smells of rot and decay, and behind the flimsy ancient doors wanders an unknown creature that is clearly not in the mood for conversation over a cup of tea. Explore the strange space and look for clues along with the famous streamer that Anna loved so much. Escape from danger and gradually uncover the reasons that brought Anna to this mysterious place.

Pros of the game:

• At least ten YouTube celebrities participated in the creation of the game
• Realistic graphics will make you forget that you are inside the game
• Lots of interesting riddles and Easter hints