Them comes to us on Steam for Windows PC

• Announcements by Jack Allin
• Published:

Demo also available for blend of first-person 3D horror and retro 2D platforming from the creator of Silence Channel

Who says the time kids spend playing video games will do them no good at all in real life? As evidence to the contrary, we present Them, a newly released genre-bending horror game from the creators of the Silence Channel series, in which your ability at the game-within-the-game is crucial to your success in the real world. 

Of course, it might depend on what you consider "success." You play as nine-year-old Tommy, who awakens alone at night in a "mysterious video game club" as a terrible storm rages outside. A knock and an ominous male voice beckon you to another room with a working TV and a door that promises freedom. To open it, however, the voice says you'll need to play the "video game of unknown origin" called Taskelvania that's hooked up to the TV in order to get a keycard. Finding it in there magically manifests it in the real world as well, finally putting you face to face with the unseen speaker. Or it would if he had a face. Appearing only as a demonic pair of glowing eyes in the dark at first, he tells you he's been trapped there for a long time and can help you both escape if you find him the further items he needs in the game. But should you? Each time you accomplish a task for him, the figure begins materializing before you into "something far beyond what young Tommy has ever imagined or expected."

At first glance, Them looks much like developer Lexip Games' earlier (unrelated) titles, as it starts out a free-roaming, first-person 3D adventure set in a dark, spooky location. But that's where the similarities end, as this game splits off into a mix of horror sequences and 2D retro-style platforming in a deadly dungeon, playable with either a keyboard or gamepad. The platforming segments, complete with life hearts, coins, hidden items, traps and enemies to avoid or defeat, are each relatively short as you can only progress so far until you've upgraded your abilities. This happens whenever the mysterious figure grants you new ones, along with your next quest. As you acquire moves like double jumps and dashes, you'll be able to proceed further through the dungeon, and though these don't carry over to the real world, you will unlock new areas with additional challenges there. You'll also need to be observant for relevant clues in the environment that will help you solve puzzles along the way. This back-and-forth gameplay loop between the two realities continues through a story with "unexpected twists" towards one of "multiple surprising endings" you can get.

When can you play Them? Well, in the immortal words of the kid from Poltergeist, they're heeeeeere.... On Steam, to be precise, where the game has just launched for Windows PC. For those who'd like to take a tentative first jump, a demo is also available to try out before committing, either on Steam or itch.io.