Fear of the dark is one of the most common buttons for horror to push. Even if there aren’t many stories specifically about that particular fear, darkness is used across all kinds of horror games and movies to conceal threats, hide the path to safety, and separate characters from one another. But in the right hands, the light can be just as terrifying as the dark, leaving you with nowhere to hide and making it clear that you’re being watched, whether you like it or not. Fear the Spotlight explores that second, far less common form of horror, and until October 30, it’s free to claim on the Epic Games Store.
Released just before Halloween of 2024, Fear the Spotlight is the first game published by horror movie studio Blumhouse. It follows Vivian and Amy, two high school girls drawn into the worst night of their lives after performing a seance. As the game opens, the two friends sneak into their high school’s library to play with a spirit board, attempting to contact a ghost that Amy thinks has been following her around. As it turns out, Amy was more right than she imagined, and playing as Vivian, you end up puzzling your way through an alternate version of the school to find your missing friend.
