Don't Play This

I had high expectations going into Don’t Play This. I played the demo not long ago, and while I liked it, it honestly didn’t even come close to doing the full game justice. The full release? Easily one of the better horror games I’ve played recently.

The setup is simple but effective. You start in your character’s bedroom, hop onto your computer, and find an email from a friend talking about some deeply unsettling videos they found on the dark web. Naturally, they’ve attached five of them for you to watch...because what could possibly go wrong? But instead of just watching them, the game pulls you into the footage. You become the person behind the camera, and that’s where things get really interesting. It’s a super clever twist on the found footage style, and it works really well.

Each video drops you into a completely different environment, with its own mechanics, threats, and flavor of terror. And somehow, every single one manages to feel fresh. New settings, new monsters, new ways to make you regret hitting “play” in the first place.

And let’s talk about the real MVP here: the sound design and atmosphere. Absolute. Chef’s. Kiss.

There were multiple moments where my brain genuinely did not know how to react...which is saying a lot, because I’ve played enough horror at this point to feel pretty desensitized. This game said, “Oh, you think you’re numb to this?” and immediately proved me wrong. The audio is incredibly well done...everything feels close, intentional, and uncomfortably real in a way that keeps you constantly on edge.

I also really appreciated the environments themselves. These weren’t your typical overused indie horror locations. Each one felt distinct, and even when I recognized the house from Rose and Cross, it didn’t feel recycled. The changes to the mechanics, scares, and overall experience made it feel fresh all over again.

Performance-wise, the game ran smoothly the entire time. I didn’t run into any bugs, which is always a win. It took me about two hours to finish on stream but that includes actively engaging with chat and, let’s be honest, a fair amount of stalling when I knew something was about to happen. If you’re playing straight through, you could easily finish it in around an hour or so.

I loved this game. The concept is unique, the execution is solid, and the way it immerses you into each video makes it feel like you’re playing five different short horror experiences in one. It’s tense, creative, and genuinely scary in a way that sneaks up on you. And for the price? You really can’t beat it.

This is easily one of my favorite horror games I’ve played so far this year and I really hope the dev's keep building on this, because they’ve got something special here.