Fear the Spotlight

Fear the Spotlight is a fantastic return to horror games of the past. With brilliant visuals, great gameplay, and a twisted story, Fear the Spotlight is a great game to play the Halloween season and one of our favorite indie games of the year!

90%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

music, grinding

98% User Score Based on 398 reviews

Critic Score 82%Based on 23 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Fear the Spotlight" is a third-person horror adventure set in the ominous Sunnyside High. When Vivian is left alone during a séance, she must avoid the monster prowling the halls, find her friend Amy, and uncover the dark truth behind a tragic history. The game features tense stealth sequences, atmospheric exploration, and tactile puzzles, making it a thrilling introduction to the narrative horror genre.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 421 reviews

story116 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

Fear the Spotlight is a nostalgic homage to classic PS1 horror games, successfully capturing the eerie atmosphere and tension of the genre.
The game features engaging puzzles that are satisfying to solve, with a tactile interaction system that enhances the gameplay experience.
The story is compelling, with well-developed characters and a heartfelt narrative that resonates with players, particularly those who appreciate LGBTQ+ representation.

The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 2-3 hours, which may leave some players wanting more content.
Some players found the puzzles to be too easy, lacking the challenge that seasoned horror game fans might expect.
The main antagonist's design and mechanics were considered less frightening compared to the overall atmosphere, which could diminish the horror experience for some.

story
263 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
54%
2%
The story of "Fear the Spotlight" is widely praised for its engaging narrative, which intertwines themes of personal growth, trauma, and a haunting school mystery. Players appreciate the well-developed characters, particularly the relationship between the two protagonists, and the atmospheric storytelling that unfolds through exploration and environmental details. While some reviewers noted a desire for deeper explanations and more complexity, the overall consensus highlights the story's charm, emotional depth, and effective pacing, making it a compelling experience for fans of horror and narrative-driven games.
- “The story is captivating, the voice work is perfect, the visuals are charming yet creepy, and the pacing is perfect.”
- “The story is surprisingly coherent and unfolds at a great pace, it doesn't rush any reveals and gives enough time for you to try and put things together yourself along the way.”
- “The story is heart-breaking and heart-warming at the same time, but the horror was really well done.”
- “The story is surprisingly coherent and unfolds at a great pace; it doesn't rush any reveals and gives enough time for you to try and put things together yourself along the way.”
- “The story may seem basic or cliched, but it is serviceable and there are good character moments across the game.”
- “The story felt a little long-winded, but not difficult to follow, and some of the puzzles were a little challenging, but not overly difficult to complete.”
graphics
99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
56%
3%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their nostalgic low-poly aesthetic reminiscent of PS1-era titles, effectively enhancing the horror atmosphere and engaging storytelling. Reviewers appreciate the sharp retro visuals, which, combined with modern lighting effects, create a rich and immersive experience that allows players' imaginations to fill in the gaps. Overall, the art style is seen as a charming and effective choice that complements the game's eerie ambiance and gameplay mechanics.
- “The graphics truly understood the value of the low-poly aesthetic, by providing just enough visual information to insinuate gruesome or tragic details while leaving the rest to the player's imagination.”
- “They've nailed the atmosphere; this sort of graphics coupled with the soundtrack and how they've designed the derelict environments makes for a rich visual experience.”
- “The ps1 style graphics have some modern flourishes - it’s grainy, wobbly, gritty.”
- “They didn't have graphics to rely on to scare the shit out of you.”
- “How it used to be, before you could use graphics as a crutch and selling point.”
- “It's unclear whether you are hidden or not as it's not really based off visuals.”
atmosphere
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
28%
3%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively building tension without relying on cheap jump scares. Players appreciate the combination of retro graphics, sound design, and storytelling that creates a captivating and unsettling environment, reminiscent of classic horror titles like Silent Hill. Overall, the game excels in crafting a rich atmospheric experience that keeps players engaged and on edge throughout their journey.
- “The atmosphere is top notch; it really nails that feeling of genuine helplessness that survival horror needs.”
- “The game also delivers an excellent eerie atmosphere, with the constant hum of white noise in the background and the dark, shadowy school hallways creating a palpable tension, making you feel like something could be lurking around every corner.”
- “It masterfully builds an eerie atmosphere and sustains spine-tingling tension throughout, leaving me genuinely on edge without resorting to gimmicks.”
- “The atmosphere set up by the lighting, music/sounds, and the 'things' lurking keep you on edge but don't make you want to quit from being too frightened.”
- “The atmosphere is done pretty well, but the game isn't all that scary and there's a bit too much fetch questing.”
- “It does have a very tense atmosphere and final boss battle.”
gameplay
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
57%
8%
The gameplay in "Fear the Spotlight" is characterized by a straightforward yet engaging loop of exploration, puzzle-solving, and stealth mechanics, reminiscent of classic horror titles. While some players found the mechanics a bit clunky and simplistic, many appreciated the unique puzzles and immersive atmosphere that kept them invested in the story. Overall, the game successfully balances nostalgia with modern gameplay elements, making it a compelling experience for horror enthusiasts.
- “Enjoyable characters, interesting mystery, intuitive gameplay, spooky atmosphere, and really solid puzzles.”
- “The gameplay loop is tight and consists of exploration and puzzle-solving.”
- “Fear the spotlight masterfully captures the look and feel of a classic PS1 horror title while leveraging modern concepts and gameplay features to produce an atmospheric and nostalgic experience that every lover of horror should enjoy.”
- “The gameplay is identical to the Sherry section from Resident Evil 2.”
- “Gameplay is a bit clunky and there are not a lot of options, but it serves its purpose.”
- “Pretty boring, not very scary, not big on gameplay mechanics and with simplistic puzzles.”
emotional
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised for its heartfelt storytelling and character development, particularly the touching relationship between the two protagonists, Amy and Vivian. Reviewers note that the game effectively balances horror and warmth, creating a nostalgic and immersive experience that resonates deeply with players. Despite some gameplay critiques, the emotional depth and authenticity of the narrative leave a lasting impact, making it a memorable experience.
- “A truly touching gem, so full of heart!”
- “Fear the Spotlight is oozing with love in every corner, from its nostalgia-inducing setting, to its heartwarming protagonists, to the haunting and touching melodies that accompany the well-written, well-acted dialogue.”
- “The emotional depth and authenticity of the characters served to immerse me even deeper into the gripping narrative.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The music in the game is minimal but highly effective, enhancing the oppressive atmosphere and complementing the unsettling ambient soundtrack filled with industrial sounds. While there isn't a lot of music, the dynamic implementation during key sequences and the memorable villain theme contribute significantly to the overall tension and immersive experience. The combination of sound design, voice acting, and atmospheric music creates a rich and engaging environment that keeps players on edge.
- “They've nailed the atmosphere; this sort of graphics coupled with the soundtrack and how they've designed the derelict environments makes for a rich visual experience.”
- “The dynamic music implementation during the spotlight chase sequences was awesome.”
- “Fear the spotlight is a short and outstanding survival horror game that interweaves its retro visuals with some incredible atmospheric music and some spooky horror sequences and setting.”
- “Not a lot of music, but what is there is well done, and the audio design is also minimal but appropriate.”
- “There's not much music in the game, but it builds atmosphere quite well, and the sound design and voice acting are all top notch.”
- “The voice acting was surprisingly well done, and the music, such as it was, only contributed to the oppressive atmosphere.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
Overall, players appreciate that the game minimizes tedious grinding by implementing clear enemy sight ranges and innovative puzzle mechanics, making the experience more engaging. However, some encounters can still feel repetitive, particularly when they disrupt puzzle-solving moments.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Encounters with him can be slightly tedious too, especially when he interrupts the puzzle solving.”
- “This sucked very hard in other games, like the recently released 'A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead' in which I had to open every door tediously in an inch-by-inch way.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by amusing glitches, such as a character model spinning 360 degrees while standing still, which adds a lighthearted touch without impacting gameplay. Additionally, "Fear the Spotlight" successfully blends dark themes with humor, creating a compelling and entertaining experience.
- “Fear the spotlight achieves that beautiful balance of being scary while compelling and dark while funny.”
- “In Amy's playthrough, there's a glitch where her upper body spins a full 360 while her legs remain still. It doesn't affect gameplay, but it's pretty funny!”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
While the game features impressive character design, voice acting, and an engaging story, many users feel that the lack of struggle and depth in character development makes the characters' arcs feel unearned and disconnected from the overall narrative.
- “Great character design, great voice acting, great tension building, great music, and an amazing story.”
- “With how little struggle or character development there was, it felt out of place and undeserved.”
- “The characters felt one-dimensional, lacking any real growth or depth throughout the game.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that could influence character development.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviewers suggest that the game's optimization could be improved by allowing players to select and switch between tools more efficiently, rather than repeatedly selecting the screwdriver for each action. Overall, while the character performances are highly praised, the user interface for tool usage could benefit from enhancements.
- “The only thing I'd like to see is possibly a more optimized way to use items, like when unscrewing two screws. Instead of unscrewing and selecting the screwdriver each time, it would be great to select the screwdriver as the item you'd like to use and switch between them.”
- “The only thing I'd like to see is possibly a more optimized way to use items, like when unscrewing two screws. Instead of unscrewing and selecting the screwdriver each time, it would be better to select the screwdriver as the item you'd like to use and switch between them.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
While some users note that the game lacks replayability, they argue that its strong narrative and excellent ending make a single playthrough a fulfilling experience.
- “One issue, though, is that it's not replayable. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, games that tell a story well deserve an excellent ending.”
- “After finishing the game, I felt no urge to play it again. The lack of different choices or outcomes really limits its replayability.”
- “The game offers a great experience, but once you've completed it, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report a highly stable experience with no significant issues, citing a bug-free performance and the absence of translation problems or typos.
- “No one has anything bad to say; my experience was completely bug-free, with no translation problems or typos.”

82%Critics’ scoreBased on 23 critic reviews

Buy Fear the Spotlight

4h Median play time

4h Average play time

3-5h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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