
2016 · MyMadnessWorks · Adventure · Horror
Imscared
"I need a heart in order to open it."
- Released
- 31 January 2016
- Platforms
- AndroidWindows
- Genres
- AdventureHorrorIndiePuzzle
- Developers
- MyMadnessWorks
- Publishers
- MyMadnessWorks
- Modes
- Single-player
- Perspective
- First person
- Themes
- ActionHorror
- Engine
- GameMaker, GameMaker Studio 2
About
Imscared (stylized as IMSCARED) is an independent meta-horror game, with pixelated graphics, created by Italian developer Ivan Zanotti. In the game, the player explores dark environments, solving puzzles, while being stalked by an entity known as White Face, a being capable of manipulating the player's computer.
It was initially released as freeware in 2012, with the title "Imscared – A Pixelated Nightmare". On January 31, 2016, a full commercial version was released on Steam, with new content and longer gameplay.
Keywords
- steam
- steam achievements
- digital distribution
- suicide
Media
The articlegameplay, story, development, reception
Gameplay
Imscared is a first-person exploration game with horror elements. The player uses simple commands to walk around the environments, which include small rooms and narrow corridors. In order to progress, they have to look for certain items (often keys), solve puzzles and uncover hidden paths.
The game's primary threat is an entity known as White Face. Over the course of the game, it can appear multiple times and cause apparent game crashes when it makes contact with the player character. Similar to White Face, HER also pursues the player.
Story
It starts off with a small tutorial, including the remark that "The game will try to deceive you as many times as it can". The initial goal is exiting a room, which requires a heart. Upon acquiring it, the player is met by a strange floating face and the game apparently crashes.
The initial section is kept, from searching for a heart to getting a crash after meeting White Face. The player enters the entity's name when asked and starts being chased by it. After escaping, the player is able to go back to the first room and exit the door. The game seemingly ends.
Development
Zanotti expressed interest in raising money for a new Imscared experience, on October 2, 2013. His Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign was meant to allow a version with new areas, fourth-wall breaking events and Oculus Rift support. On December 17, 2013, he claimed the campaign had "failed a bit", but that the money obtained would be saved for the future.
On October 12, 2022, Zanotti announced and released a new version of Imscared, calling it a remaster of the original game. According to him, it was made with the latest Game Maker version at the time. Several changes were listed, including an Options menu, Steam cards and graphic improvements. The developer described the 2022 edition as "picking the best" from the original 2012 version and the 2016 version.
Reception
The game received positive reviews from critics, who praised its old-fashioned graphics and sound design, as well as meta horror elements.
Rock Paper Shotgun praised its retro graphics and its scares. In 2012, PC Gamer praised the 2012 release for the psychological horror and its "devious tricks up its sleeve". In 2014, Polygon praised the 2012 release for its puzzles, and for being terrifying throughout. In 2022, IGN rated the game's 2016 release one of the twelve best horror games for PC.
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Collections1 collection
Genres
- Horror gamesList
Description adapted from its source, CC BY-SA 4.0.

