Stuck in a lighthouse where strange things are happening at sea means you have plenty on your mind. Not only are they causing passing ships to go through hell, the local town is also struggling with something weird happening. Static Dread: 15 Nights at the Old Lighthouse is everything I want from an indie horror. It tries something different within the genre. The brain is tickled with tough decisions as the need to prevent a monstrous disaster forever looms.
While I didn’t get to see a lot, I got a great idea of what to expect. The job at hand is to man a lighthouse. Navigate passing ships to port. Keeping the power on. Turning the radio back on after it breaks down. Answering the door to strangers and townsfolk. The tasks never slow down and things only get more weirder. It’s inspired by the works of Lovecraft by way of Papers, Please, making a unique horror where anything can happen…and does.
On top of managing the lighthouse, your character’s energy levels drop. Buying fish from the local fisherman keeps you from falling asleep during the shift. There’s also a regular supply drop that gets delivered on certain mornings. Despite getting what you need, it never seems like a given. Survival is important, but the constant messages from cargo ships, freighters, and sailboats almost make you forget about your own basic needs.
Checking for incoming messages is a regular occurrence. After receiving a transmission from a ship, you must direct them to a particular location. However, instructions from the chief keep you from either doing the right thing or defying the boss. One ship might have a suspicious entity on, while others could have someone important on. If you go against these rules, a fine is faxed through that depletes the funds used to buy what’s needed to keep energy levels up.
Transmissions come through thick and fast, and at times something sinister beeps through. There is an evil lurking out there, and it builds tension with every passing day. Static Dread: 15 Nights at the Old Lighthouse can be nerve-wracking. It’s also rather fascinating. I loved the way it builds tension, but there are also many different mini stories playing out. The option to listen for random broadcasts build a bigger picture of what is going on in-between doing your job. Then the night comes and things get even weirder.
Visually, it feels like a touch retro. Thankfully, it doesn’t suffer because of it. The grainy lighthouse and the static animations of the characters that knock at your door (remember, never let them in!) add to the creepiness. Tension is built at a perfect pace. Through the interesting aesthetic, slow-building dread, and engaging gameplay, Static Dread: 15 Nights at the Old Lighthouse shows a lot of promise.
Although my time was relatively short, I got a good idea of what to expect. It’s steeped in mystery and terror. Managing the lighthouse keeps you busy, and unlocking small pieces of the overarching puzzle highlights the interesting story at its core. Static Dread: 15 Nights at the Old Lighthouse is something different within the horror genre, with some cool ideas and plenty of story beats that keep you guessing as to what the hell is going on.
Static Dread: 15 Nights at the Old Lighthouse is coming to PC soon.
