Creepshow scares up interest in August release

• Previews by Jack Allin
• Published:

Official video game adaptation of Shudder’s horror anthology series coming to Steam for PC

Of the 86 bazillion (give or take) horror games that have been released over the years, it's amazing that none so far have tapped into the beloved Creepshow franchise. Well, that's about to change, as the first official video game adaptation of Shudder’s TV series is in the works and already nearly done.

Originally conceived as a 1982 movie written by Stephen King and directed by George Romero, Creepshow has since gone on to spawn a comic adaptation of the film, two sequels, and four seasons of television shows. It's the latter the game is based on, though as an "interactive homage" it promises to be "in the spirit of the show" rather than a direct translation of any of its episodes. As to be expected, it will tell not just one but a "collection of twisted, self-contained tales where the humor is dark, and the endings are... not what you expected." The overarching framing device stars a boy named Danny, who, along with his friends, sets out to search for his missing father. Unfortunately, their "bad day at the mall turns into something much, much worse" when they encounter The Reader, a "mysterious fortune-teller who has a taste for treacherous tales."

Creepshow is a cel-shaded, point-and-click 3D adventure featuring a "stylized comic book" look described as "pulp horror [come] to life." The goal of developer PHL Collective and publisher DreadXP (with "creative direction" from The Mortuary Assistant's Brian Clarke) is to provide an "authentic" series experience that is "equal parts frightening, fun, and devilishly twisted." There will be three distinct stories to play through in total. Along with Danny's tale are two standalone "nightmares," each with its own "characters, horrors, and a fate that you won’t see coming." Throughout all three, players can expect "all the thrills and chills you expect from Shudder's Creepshow," blended with "the blackest of humor." Despite the horrific themes, survival isn't the main focus here, as for the protagonists "death is often the least of their worries." Instead, success will depend on solving puzzles and completing a variety of different "horror mini-games" in keeping with the franchise’s "gleefully gruesome identity."

Perhaps the biggest surprise of all is just how soon the game will be available, as Creepshow is due to launch on Steam sometime in August for Windows PC. 

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