Parents' Guide to Bendy and the Ink Machine

Though it's initially cute, this adventure game quickly becomes a freaky test of your reflexes, your problem solving abilities, and your heart's ability to keep beating. In Bendy and the Ink Machine, you return to the animation studio where you used to work, only to find there's something really creepy going on. Played from the first-person perspective, you have to solve situational puzzles while also fighting off ink monsters, all in an attempt to figure out what's going on. Everything happens in locations where moody lighting and eerie atmospheric sounds put you on edge, and things jump out at you at disturbing moments. It's not just the scary monsters and super creeps, either; the cardboard stand-ups of Bendy are downright frightening when they pop out at you unexpectedly. Originally released as separate episodes on PC and Mac, this collected edition presents the entire game, and brings it to game consoles as well.

But while this game does a great job of creating and maintaining a creepy vibe, and challenging your ability to think straight while being scared silly, the gameplay does have some issues. For starters, your character doesn't move very fast, even when he's being chased and you try to get him to run. He also forgot his flashlight, and doesn't seem to get why he should pick up a candle, even though the place is dark and some illumination might help him get around. But these are not so much mistakes as they are creative choices to keep you scared and engaged in the gameplay. That's why fans of escape rooms, haunted houses, and those who think old cartoons are creepy will have a frightening good time with Bendy and the Ink Machine.