Monstrum

This is a straightforward survival horror game that pulls off a thrilling -- and frightening -- experience. It's not a long game, nor does it offer a lot of items or monsters and such, but Monstrum packs a lot of nervous tension into a single-player adventure that plays differently every time you die and must start again -- until you get it right. Imagine dropping your flashlight over the edge of the ship's deck into the water -- the flashlight you so desperately need. Or being forced to crouch behind an object because you accidentally triggered a loud alarm. It's scary. Plus, it's game over if you die, which adds to the fear factor. You'll find yourself carrying items you don't think are going to help you much at all -- such as a coffee cup -- but they might be used to distract the creatures. Bolt cutters are likely more obvious, as you can break chained off areas to enter, and weapons may help you during a skirmish with a slimy monster that decides to break out of a hallway wall beside you.

You'll cycle through your limited inventory at the top of the screen in order to select and use it. But what helps this game remain engaging and intense is the atmospheric lighting, mostly tight and confined spaces, creepy music, and sound effects. There isn't much to complain about in Monstrum, but don't expect a ton of depth, thoughtful puzzles, or a huge variety of monsters. A multiplayer mode would have been great -- where one person plays the hunter and the other plays the hunted -- but even as a relatively short single-player experience, this game delivers the goods, and some chills, too.