Halloween is still four months away, but there is already a plethora of horror games for players to look out for. One such game is T.W.I.R.L. a psychological horror game about dark secrets, hauntings, and self-worth. The title is an anacronym for key aspects of the game: Tiptoe, Wander, Ignore, Return, and Look.
The developer of the game, Genie Boy Games, is an independent studio based in LA and was founded by Ben Escobar. They have a narrative-first vision and T.W.I.R.L. is a prime example of that. The protagonist has kept a deep secret ever since he was 9-years-old. Set in 2006, players journey through the protagonists childhood home through his younger perspective.
They are woken by some supernatural entity or demon in the middle of the night. This “thing” tells the players to enter the room located down the hall and “T.W.I.R.L.” To reach this room, Players must tiptoe their way through the boy’s childhood home and avoid waking people up.
The narrative unfolds through repeated loops, unraveling the very secret the protagonist has kept for so long. This looping narrative element takes inspiration from Hideo Kojima’s P.T., an interactive teaser that was released on PlayStation 4 for the canceled Silent Hills game and is unfortunately unavailable for download.
Genie Boy Game posted the Release Date Trailer on their YouTube Channel today, which highlights the game’s retro graphics and the spirit haunting the home. A ghastly colorless spirit that is shown following the players down the hall, opening a door, and standing menacingly in the player’s path.
The game controls are simple, containing move, interact, and look features. It is in first-person perspective and there are Easter Eggs hidden throughout the game for players to uncover. Currently, a demo is available on Steam for players to explore. T.W.I.R.L will be releasing on PC August 10th with plans to make a console adaptation on a later date.