In terms of populator video game genre combinations, the mixture proposed by the new game, Hoarder, is among the most unexpected. The trailer and Steam page advertise the game as both a cleaning simulator and a horror game, the fans of which have less overlap than those of more typical genre mashups. It is perhaps for this reason that the announcement trailer has shocked and interested many potential fans. Developed by byzel and published by Awaken Realms, the game seems to toy with player’s expectations, throwing them into seemingly suspenseful situations only to present no danger and vice-versa.
The trailer begins with an eerie drive through a desolate forest before coming to an abandoned house that once belonged to an obsessive hoarder. The entire setup evokes feelings associated with many horror title before it. The tone immediately shifts when the day starts and the main character sets to work clearing out the various items scattered throughout the house. On the top left portion of the screen, objectives related to collecting and cleaning can be found, leading into the assumption that Hoarder is simply a cleaning game with a sense of humor.
This feeling doesn’t last as a haunting apparition flashes on the screen around halfway through the trailer, leading into the final section of the promised gameplay. Players will gain command of a submarine on a mission to explore the depths of the hoard and find answers to the strange things happening around the house. This section seems to marry the two distinct genres built up thus far by giving players the chance to collect items found on the lightless ocean floor and determine what is worth keeping and what should be discarded.
Sometimes the games that no one expected can be the most memorable. While the varied nature of the announcement trailer makes it difficult to get a sure idea of what the final game will look like, Hoarder has promised a unique combination of elements. It is set to release on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC with the release date to be announced.