September 7th

Short horror games are all the rage lately, and September 7th is a new, Christmas-themed entry exploiting that rising interest. The game developer has achieved a cultish reputation for developing short but sweet psychological thrillers. They provide an hour or two of jump-scares, mind games, and other bits and bobs that ultimately leave an impression.

We have no idea what September 7th is about, nor do we understand the date's significance. All we know is that the game is a self-described walking simulator that's turning the Christmas spirit into a dreadful affair. At least September 7th is only a short horror game, so that we can put up with it for under an hour. Let's dive into this bizarre world and uncover its mystery.

Do You Remember the 7th Night of September?

It's hard to explain September 7th without going into vivid narrative details, but we'll try our best here. It's a psychological horror title based on a Christmas tale of elves that appear on the day to spread joy and wonder. Although we're not seeing anything pleasant in this game, evil elves are testing your ability to hold it together.

The scene is set when Dima, a graduate student, moves to a new apartment with his parents. As a Christmas present, he receives a funny-looking elf doll, and everything gets weird. We won't go any farther into the narrative at risk of spoiling everything that unfolds in the short 40-minute playthrough, but we will say that it's not for the squeamish.

We'll go into the details surrounding gameplay instead. Yes, the graphics are excellent, setting the scene for a dark, psychological horror. The mechanics are straightforward, being a walking simulator where all you need to do is collect a few items and solve some puzzles. And is the narrative working towards the benefit of the game? It does, but you could see why the few cheap jumps scares through in would annoy some players.

September 7th seems a small creation to satisfy the cult fans the developer has conjured around the games. The short playtime and higher price will bother players, but if you are looking for a horror-packed, straightforward game, you'll enjoy it. There is also some replayability with Easter eggs spread around the interactive areas.

Always a Cloudy Day

September 7th feels like a portfolio game to those who've spent plenty of time with horror titles. However, it does accomplish its job of being a terrifying game. Other, longer psychological horrors don't hit the mark in a few hours as September 7th does in less than one. Blair Witch is an exceptional example, where gameplay is okay but lacks in the scares.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• A terrifying psychological horror game
• Visuals are very immersive
• The gripping narrative behind the game

Cons:

• Short playtime
• Mechanically, the game is minimal
• Those who don't like horror games won't enjoy it