A selection of free indie horror games – a body horror about a fish factory, power towers from the underworld, and a food chain at the bottom of the sea

Contents:

• Perfect Vermin
• Swallow the Sea
• Pit of Babel
• How Fish is Made
• Pylons

Skillbox Media's Gamedev team continues its review of free games on Steam and itch.io. In the previous issue, we featured a variety of surreal adventures and a short cooking simulator. This time, we'll focus on horror, including the body horror genre. These games offer a unique experience and immersion into a world of fear and unusual visual solutions. Don't miss the opportunity to discover interesting and unusual projects that you can download at no cost.

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Perfect Vermin

Perfect Vermin begins in a bright office building, where without explanation you pick up a sledgehammer and begin destroying desks and computers. Luckily, you're alone in the room: it looks like the workday is over, and the office will be closing soon. Destroying furniture brings satisfaction and joy, but there may be more lurking beyond the broken wood and plastic. Is there really no one else in the building?

You'll soon be tempted to leave, but in reality, you won't be allowed to go. Instead, you'll be given new instructions. You never know when a news anchor will appear, demanding you act more efficiently and quickly. This is strategic pressure that is imposed on you under limited time.

The main character is not you, but the news anchor. He croaks, his voice sounds unnatural, and with each passing day he decays further due to the cancer cells that have managed to take root. In his dying attempts, he strives to leave a mark on history by filming a significant report about you, otherwise his existence will be prematurely forgotten.

Your office is undergoing a parasite extermination, and with each new level, the presenter becomes more and more disgusting, turning into a horrific mess of rot and blisters. The final, perfect parasite is impossible to get rid of. Effective pest control in office spaces requires a comprehensive approach to prevent their reappearance and ensure a comfortable working environment.

Swallow the Sea

Swallow the Sea is the latest project from Talia Mair, known for her game Perfect Vermin. After releasing two games, it's clear that her signature style has developed a unique, instantly recognizable style. Her work is dominated by exaggerated body elements, flesh, and bone, accompanied by slurping sounds and unusual fusions of pulsating forms. This unusual approach creates a captivating and unforgettable atmosphere that immerses players in a unique world.

Swallow the Sea centers on an egg cell struggling to survive in the underwater depths. It consumes weak organisms and evades dangerous predators. By consuming living matter, the egg cell grows and transforms into an embryo, gradually becoming a predator that even the largest sea creatures cannot resist. Your goal is to survive and dominate the food chain on the seafloor, even if it means devouring other eggs that can't keep up with your growth. The game offers a unique experience interacting with the ocean ecosystem, where every decision matters for survival.

Dark and claustrophobic tunnels, dangerous worms with sharp jaws reminiscent of meat grinders, and something huge crawling in the depths that is best left in the dark.

Pit of Babel

Pit of Babel is a unique game that resembles a puzzle consisting of fragments of a story with clear influences of Lovecraftian aesthetics. This creation is designed by Talia Mair, who has previously established herself in the games industry. Scotty Supple of Teebowah Games also participated in the creation of Pit of Babel. An intriguing storyline and atmospheric elements make this game a must-play for fans of the genre.

The project is a simple game jam title, created in one night, according to the itch.io page. The gameplay mechanics are reminiscent of Tetris: the player must stack blocks to form a tower to reach certain heights, which unlock new story fragments. Near the base of the tower are meat creatures that can be processed in an ancient pulsating machine, generating new blocks. This unique element adds strategic depth and variety to the gameplay, making it more engaging and interactive.

History recalls the Tower of Babel, which, according to biblical tradition, was built by people after the Great Flood. At that time, humanity was united and spoke one language. Traveling east, people arrived in the land of Shinar, where they decided to build a city and a tower, seeking to rise and perpetuate their name. However, God's intervention led to the division of human language into many variants, which made communication between people impossible and led to their dispersal throughout the earth. This story serves as a lesson about the importance of unity and the consequences of pride. In the story of the Pit of Babel, instead of a traditional tower, we see a huge pit filled with sticky black sand, reminiscent of a mixture of resin and tar. The path down this endless spiral is a metaphor for the loss of individuality. At the bottom of the pit lies a void that is simultaneously everything—the final point where the thoughts, memories, and lives of thousands of people swallowed by the sand merge. They all speak a single language, breathe and feel as a single organism, as if buried alive, striving for a divine state. This situation symbolizes profound philosophical reflections on the fate of humanity, unity, and the pursuit of higher goals.

At the end of the game, when the Tetris tower is fully built, players are given the opportunity to immortalize their name on its walls. This feature was previously available, adding an element of personalization and interaction to the game. The ability to leave your mark on the game makes it more engaging and memorable for users.

How Fish is Made

Does Fish Hell exist? Yes, it does, and its appearance resembles the inside of a giant machine that processes fish bones. This grotesque creature, whose body is an alloy of iron and organic materials, filled with bodily fluids and oil, is surrounded by eternally rotating gears and debris. Every fish in this world faces a choice - the path up or the path down. By the end of this path, a decision must be made, even if the outcome remains uncertain.

How Fish is Made is a game that explores the theme of decision-making and confidence in your beliefs. In this game, players encounter a variety of characters, each representing a unique approach to choice. Some fish have already made their choice and confidently follow it, while others are afraid of making a mistake and ask players to decide for them. There are also those who try to avoid making a decision, and those who strive to find a deeper meaning in their existence. This game is not only entertaining, but also makes you think about the influence of external factors on our decision-making and the importance of staying true to your beliefs. The choice of direction—up or down—is often based on intuition. From the very beginning, you are offered a choice, and the first decision is entirely yours. However, imagine that you learned the statistics: twice as many people choose the path down. What if your loved ones, like family or best friends, are divided, and your choice entails following one of them? Which of the questions "What if...?" could influence your decision?

How Fish is Made is a unique experimental project that was created in a student environment. The game invites players to immerse themselves in an absurd and disgusting world, where every element causes discomfort and makes them think about what is happening. Nevertheless, despite all its strangeness, the project can leave the viewer with many questions and emotions, forcing them to reflect on the essence of the game. However, for some users this may be too much, and they will decide to leave the game, not wanting to continue interacting with its provocative content.

A new chapter, "The Last One and Then Another," was recently released, which apparently touches on issues of individual integrity and the desire to follow others. This text provokes reflection on the importance of maintaining one's identity in the face of peer pressure. Pay attention to this chapter if you are interested in the topics of self-determination and the influence of society on personality.

Pylons

Playing near power lines can lead to tragic consequences. A kite can get caught on the wires, and a Frisbee can get stuck between the bars of a tower. Adults in small towns constantly remind children about the need to follow safety rules, but many of them do not take this advice seriously. The result can be not only serious injury, but also the risk of death, which will then be written about in the local newspaper. Safety must come first, especially near dangerous objects.

Adults disappear, and the number of power towers continues to grow, creating an increasingly loud hum of high voltage that interferes with normal sleep. Shadows move between the trees, and ritual stones can be found in the forest. A power line repairman, with a manic smile, claims that the towers are content with their existence.

Pylons bears a resemblance to Faith: The Unholy Trinity, which is a significant compliment. Both games share 8-bit graphics and a general mood that creates a sense of emptiness and oppressive atmosphere. The simple environment in Pylons allows the imagination to fill in ominous and supernatural elements, heightening the immersion. This creates a unique experience where every detail plays a vital role in shaping the overall picture.

We present to your attention a few more small games that were not included in the main list. These mini-games can be a great addition to your gaming experience and give a lot of positive emotions. They will add variety to your leisure time and are suitable for both short breaks and longer gaming sessions. Don't miss the opportunity to check them out and find something interesting for yourself.

• Slide in the woods. They say there's a children's slide in a PS1-style forest wasteland, and every time you slide down its tube, something outside changes. They say you can even enter another reality through it.
• Therapy with Dr. Albert Krueger. A pleasant psychotherapy session, at the end of which you can lose your soul or body.
• The Domovoi. A text adventure based on Slavic mythology. The light is on in the hut, the hostess tells a dark tale - and you decide how it ends.
• To Do List. A story about the ordinary life of a man who lives in a small house, grows vegetables in the garden, mows the lawn, and paints pictures - harmless, but only at first glance. By the end of the week, the to-do list gets increasingly cluttered.