Whether you’ve heard of them or not, the Japanese studio Serafini Productions has managed to stir up some buzz over the past year due to the style of games they’ve produced. While they haven’t released many, they have focused on showcasing some of the struggles many people deal with daily, but from a different and terrifying perspective. The BrokenLore series currently consists of four titles: LOW, which launched on February 20 of this year and already has many positive reviews on Steam, DON’T WATCH, scheduled for release on April 24, UNFOLLOW, and FOLLOW, both also planned for this year, though their release dates have yet to be announced.
Like other Serafini Productions titles, BrokenLore: DON’T WATCH is a first-person horror adventure. In this particular case, the player steps into the shoes of Shinji, a young hikikomori, a Japanese term used to describe a person who socially isolates themselves. The graphical style chosen for this installment features a retro pixel-art aesthetic from a first-person perspective, which undoubtedly heightens the player’s tension as they navigate through dark environments while either confronting or avoiding nightmarish creatures that essentially embody the protagonist’s fears and traumas.
Social Isolation from Another Perspective
“Shinji is a young hikikomori, trapped in his small Tokyo apartment. With unpaid rent, piling bills, and a family that doesn’t understand him, he feels isolated from the world and from himself.”
If this story sounds familiar, it’s because it could easily be the reality of people you know, or even your own. Social isolation is a real issue, and while its causes and background may vary greatly from case to case, those experiencing it endure a heavy internal process. This process includes factors such as anxiety, loneliness, fear, panic, stress, and many more.
Shinji, the protagonist, feels trapped in his small space, overwhelmed by life’s circumstances, which, when added together, become unbearably crushing. In this game, the player must explore Shinji’s mind as it unravels, dealing with everything mentioned above. As if that weren’t enough, they must also evade Hyakume, a malevolent entity with a hundred eyes that is always watching, waiting for the right moment to strike without mercy.
In this scenario, Shinji’s only escape is his PC, where he plays video games. But even in that environment, safety is nothing more than an illusion, one that can easily collapse under the weight of his own anxiety. Is Shinji truly being hunted by a real paranormal entity? Or are his own fears taking on a relentless, monstrous form? It’s up to the player to survive and uncover the mystery.
Beyond the BrokenLore series, the developers have two other games in progress, at least one of which also addresses real-world issues that many people around us, or even we ourselves, face. The themes explored in Serafini Productions’ games include alcoholism, harassment, bullying, suicidal tendencies, anxiety, panic, shame, self-acceptance, worthlessness, claustrophobia, and many more triggered by the presence of social media in everyday life.
There’s no doubt that telling stories from this terrifying first-person perspective is something Serafini Productions excels at. BrokenLore: DON’T WATCH is a psychological horror adventure arriving on April 24, and you can already add it to your Steam Wishlist. As if that weren’t enough, you can also download its free demo! If you want to see more of the studio’s work, visit their Steam page HERE and check out their other titles, many of which also have free demos available!
And once you’ve done your homework, come back here, drop a comment, and tell us what you think about this original concept. Or, if you prefer, share your thoughts on this highly relevant topic tackled by Serafini Productions. You know gamer, we’ll be reading you! 🙂
Images Source: GameTrailers Official YouTube Channel, BrokenLore: DON’T WATCH on Steam
