Not long ago we talked here about some genre combinations you’d least expect to find in a single video game. Specifically, we discussed Out Fishing, a fishing simulator with horror elements, and you can check out the full article by CLICKING HERE. Today it’s time for another one of those weird mashups, that, at least personally, I wouldn’t have expected to find in a single game: This is HELLMART, by the indie developer GAZE IN GAMES, which offers us a supermarket simulator… during the day, and a terrifying survival horror at night!
What were you expecting? That the main character would put on a cape and fight crime? Not in this game my friend. Here, you’re an employee at a convenience store in the far north, open 24/7. But here, very different things happen depending on the time of day, so much so that, even if you manage to feel like a successful shift supervisor during business hours, once the sun goes down you’ll feel like a helpless victim fearing for your life, hiding from nightmare creatures that won’t give you a single minute of peace!… If you want to get an idea of what we’re talking about, right below you can check out the Official Announcement Trailer for HELLMART, courtesy of IGN:
Horror in Aisle 3!
You came up north looking for a modest job, easy money, and to get away from people. You found a tiny shop, with barely any customers, in a quiet town. What could possibly go worng? In this strange simulator, you’re in charge of a supermarket like any other, where you try to hit your sales goals and keep your customers happy. That includes, of course, keeping the place clean and the shelves stocked, being polite and always keeping an eye on the cash register. So far, so normal.
In the afternoon, you’ll start to feel the pressure, the strange looks, the sinister smiles. That person staring at you from across the counter doesn’t seem entirely normal, does he? Ah, but it’s not just one, there’s a kind of psychotic vibe in the air, for some reason everyone is behaving a bit strangely. Almost normal, but strange. You feel it, right?
Now you have to monitor the generator, check the security cameras, buy supplies, barricade the doors… all pretty normal… Wait, barricade the doors? Yup, among other things, in the afternoon you’ll not only be restocking the business, but also securing it and upgrading it if you really want to survive what’s coming. The real trouble shows up during the night shift, when you’ll have to choose wisely who to let in and who not to, and avoid at all costs letting evil into the store!
Those customers who felt “strange” in the afternoon now feel extremely strange, with expressions on their faces that barely look human, and behavior that’s completely out of place. But that’s not even the worst part! At night you start to be stalked by strange nightmare creatures that turn your great idea of a peaceful and modest job into the worst idea of your life. It’s up to you to fight back, survive, or die. Do you think you’ve got what it takes for this job?
Some highlighted features by its developers:
- A mix of supermarket simulator and horror where daily routine slowly turns into a nightmare.
- Dynamic customer behavior and horror systems that adapt to your playstyle, there aren’t any two identical shifts.
- Realistic graphics that capture the unsettling atmosphere of a roadside shop surrounded by snowy woods.
- Evil lurks at night and can mimic any customer.
- Your actions matter, the fate of your customers and the story’s ending depend on the choices you make during the game.
So…
First off, just so you know, in this game you can expect adult content, or certain aggressive or inappropriate sexual behavior, as well as representations of tobacco use, not to mention the buying and selling of these products. Because of all this, it obviously won’t be a title for all audiences, you’ve been warned. That said, the official release of HELLMART hasn’t been set yet, although it’s expected to be announced soon. Obviously, you can visit its Steam page and add it to your Wishlist through the link we left down there. In the meantime, swing by aisle 1, drop your opinion in the tip jar, and for the love of everything, avoid being here when night falls! You know gamer, we’ll be reading you! 😉
Images Source: IGN Official YouTube Channel, HELLMART on Steam
