Created by indie game development studio Cogwheel Software and published by Daedalic Entertainmant, a studio known for productions likeBarotraumaandFelix the Raper,Hidden Deepis a side-scrolling sci-fi horror title that sees players exploring a network of mine shafts while commanding groups of equipment operators and defending against horrors invading from the depths. Reminiscent of Ridley Scott’sAlienand John Carpenter’sThe Thing, Hidden Deep looks like it may be a diamond in the Early Access rough, and the release trailer just debuted a few days ago.
The two-minute-long trailer is a parody of workplace safety videos, and it showcases the multifaceted gameplay elements on offer inHidden Deep. Much of the video focuses on exploration, showing off some of the gadgets available to prospective spelunkers, with a grappling hook stealing the spotlight. It could potentially fit into a unique niche popularized byhorror-adjacent Metroidvania games likeMetroid DreadandHollow Knight. However, management elements also seem to play a role, as the careful operation of heavy mining machinery and the delineation of the mine’s workers will be a major part of achieving the goal of each campaign mission.
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However, the trailer also highlights an arsenal of weapons and hints at some Cronenbergian horrors lurking in the mine’s lower corridors. Gnat-like flying monsters, a giant tentacle, and an indescribable mass of limbs are just three of the fiends known to inhabit the place, and the pace of the game looks to ramp up rather quickly once these grotesqueries enter the fold. In some ways, the monsters shown call to mind the polygonal phantoms of theBloodbornede-make due out on PC this week.
The art style calls to mind the atmospheric terror of the indie horror darlingDarkwood—though that was a top-down shooter—or perhaps any of the many popular flash-based side-scrolling shooters which dominated browser-based gaming in the 2000s. Though far from the visual feast that was thePS5 and Xbox Series X port of the indie horror titleVisage, less is sometimes more when it comes to smaller-budget productions. Plus, with extremely lax hardware requirements, this may make for a suitable substitute for budget-conscious gamers who don’t have a rig powerful enough to run games likeAlien: IsolationorMetro Exodus.
Having released on Steam in early access on January 24,Hidden Deepcurrently boasts a “mostly positive” rating, with three-quarters of reviewers giving the game a thumbs up. Gamers have praised its innovative concepts and claustrophobic feel, though many seem to be displeased with the amount of content on offer. Fortunately, the developers have a roadmap available that lays out plans for future content. There will also be a co-op mode—which appears totake some cues from the indie horror titleGTFO—coming in the not-too-distant-future which may help to round out the package and increase the replayability of the experience.
Hidden Deepis available now in early access on PC.
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