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About Trench Face

Trench Face is a single player survival role playing game with a horror theme. It was developed by Pulse Blue and was released on September 2, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Trench Face is a horror turn based war RPG featuring exploration-based dungeons, with hanging monsters lurking around each corner. Every enemy varying in strengths and weaknesses. Escape the trench with your life.

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Looking for games like Trench Face? Here are top survival role playing recommendations with a horror focus, selected from player-similarity data — start with Conscript, Blood West or Look Outside.

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Reviews

94%Audience ScoreBased on 390 reviews
music57 positive mentions
grinding6 negative mentions

  • Exceptional atmosphere and unsettling WW1 horror setting that immerses players in a bleak and oppressive world.
  • Innovative and strategic turn-based combat system with limb targeting and a compelling survival/resource management mechanic.
  • Outstanding soundtrack featuring black metal and DSBM elements that greatly enhance tension and mood.
  • Low enemy variety and repetitive environments make exploration feel monotonous and backtracking tedious.
  • High difficulty combined with limited save points causes frustration, especially with punishing combat and slow movement speed.
  • Storytelling is vague and minimalistic, leaving plot and lore underdeveloped and sometimes confusing, which may disappoint players seeking clearer narrative.
  • music

    112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    51% positive mentions, 46% neutral mentions, 3% negative mentions

    The music in this game is widely praised for its atmospheric, haunting black metal and DSBM soundtrack that perfectly complements the bleak, oppressive WW1-inspired horror setting. Many players highlight the soundtrack as a standout aspect, often describing it as immersive, intense, and integral to building tension and mood, though a few note that some combat tracks feel slightly out of place. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a major strength, frequently cited as one of the best and most memorable video game black metal OSTs.

    • “As a huge fan of black metal and specifically DSBM, the soundtrack of this game is one of my favourite video game soundtracks ever.”
    • “The soundtrack and ambience are my favourite things about this game as it heavily compliments the situation the main character is in.”
    • “Amazing game with great atmosphere, a mysterious engaging plot, and a head-banging soundtrack which turns the nightmare into a heavy-metal demon-hunting adventure in the haunted trenches.”
    • “Tried it played for a bit was completely let down first of all just reaching the first fight took an absurd amount of time and just walking for ten minutes is so boring with the same music blasting in my ears. I could have been able to endure that but then the immediate lackluster combat with like zero animations and screamo music was the final nail in the coffin, not even worth the pocket change that is three bucks. Solid 3/10 although I disliked it greatly, try it and refund it if you truly do dislike it, won't harm you to try it.”
    • “My only real gripe with the game is that the fight music doesn't fit the game.”
    • “Don't get it wrong, I love the music and the genre, it just doesn't feel like it belongs in this game.”
  • gameplay

    100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    34% positive mentions, 63% neutral mentions, 3% negative mentions

    The gameplay is a challenging, strategic mix of turn-based combat and survival mechanics inspired by games like Fear & Hunger, featuring limb-targeting and resource management that rewards experimentation but can feel punishing and occasionally frustrating. While mechanically solid and tense, it may lack depth and variety for some players, with a relatively short duration and some balance issues, yet its unique atmosphere and innovative systems make it a worthwhile experience for fans of difficult, atmospheric RPGs.

    • “Developed by Pulse Blue, the game combines retro-inspired visuals with strategic turn-based combat, stealth mechanics, exploration, and resource management to create an experience that constantly emphasizes vulnerability and desperation.”
    • “The turn-based battle system is especially impressive because it incorporates precise targeting mechanics that allow players to attack specific enemy limbs and body parts.”
    • “Now one of my favorite indies and releases of 2025, Trench Face is a surreal journey through mud, guns and trenches, with a combat system that, while it clearly takes inspiration from Fear & Hunger, completely blows it out of the water thanks to its direct although fragmented 'show don't tell' narrative, actual strategic gameplay with a 'QTE' gimmick, and an actual skill-based and mind-based combat, that, although it doesn't hold your hand, gives you countless tools and opportunities for your survival, be it in combat or in the overworld; no coinflips in this one, if you messed up here, it's because you messed it up.”
    • “Too difficult for no reason, terrible fight mechanics, too few save points.”
    • “Alongside that, the game features random misses and crits, which would be okay if it weren't for the fact the gameplay is already QTE based and extremely punishing, so there is just a random chance that you will miss your attack in a crucial moment, die, and get sent back 20 minutes.”
    • “There is a lot of promising mechanics that get done to death, the cow hide save system for example is such a cool way to make the player think about how they approach encounters but this mechanic is made redundant by the mass amounts of cow hides around the map.”
  • atmosphere

    79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    65% positive mentions, 31% neutral mentions, 4% negative mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its dense, oppressive, and immersive horror tone, enhanced by strong art direction, gritty World War I-inspired settings, and a haunting soundtrack that blends ambient and black metal elements. Reviewers highlight its unique blend of surreal horror and strategic gameplay, creating a chilling and tense experience that keeps players on edge despite some frustrations with gameplay and visuals. Overall, the atmosphere is considered one of the game's standout strengths, deeply contributing to its emotional impact and eerie worldbuilding.

    • “The result is one of the more unique horror RPGs in recent years, using the imagery of World War I not simply as a backdrop, but as an essential part of its atmosphere and emotional impact.”
    • “Rather than limiting the experience, the retro presentation enhances the game’s unsettling atmosphere by leaving enough detail obscured for the imagination to become involved.”
    • “Hanging creatures suspended from ceilings, distorted humanoid forms, and grotesque battlefield horrors all contribute to the game’s disturbing atmosphere.”
    • “It's so grating that I had to mute the game just to keep from getting a headache, which completely kills the atmosphere everyone is raving about.”
    • “I had high hopes for this game, but any horror and atmosphere that it has are ruined by the same frustrating elements that you can find in Fear and Hunger.”
    • “I understand it's supposed to match the tone and atmosphere of the game, but no satisfying loop emerged from overcoming danger.”
  • story

    69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    41% positive mentions, 53% neutral mentions, 6% negative mentions

    The story in this game is polarizing: some praise its dark, atmospheric, and existential themes conveyed through environmental storytelling and cryptic notes, appreciating its unique, surreal horror approach. However, many find it vague, underdeveloped, and lacking clear direction or character depth, which can lead to confusion and diminished engagement. Overall, it appeals to fans of abstract, experimental narratives but may frustrate those seeking a more straightforward or fleshed-out plot.

    • “Such a great game with a well-written story with brilliant implications all throughout.”
    • “The story and world are really cool and intriguing; WW1 is a really cool setting, especially for a horror game, and they do the surreal horror really well in an almost Silent Hill way.”
    • “The story: it's simple on paper, yet complex in practice. This game has a very existential, inhumane, torturous story; it makes you feel weak, fatigued, like you just want it to end.”
    • “My next point I feel is more subjective than anything else but I felt the story was too vague, or at least didn't provide enough breadcrumbs for proper speculation.”
    • “Listen, a story can be as metaphorical/vague as you want it to be but stories (in my opinion) do a lot of heavy lifting for RPG Maker games and I felt I still didn't have the slightest clue as to what the game was about. Whether I missed something important or if the game truly didn't provide enough details I am not sure, but I didn't feel satisfied.”
    • “I get the idea of bio-horror mixed in with the suffocating aesthetic of WW1, but there is almost little to no storytelling aside from random notes you find throughout the game.”
  • graphics

    53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    43% positive mentions, 51% neutral mentions, 6% negative mentions

    The game's graphics are praised for their unique, minimalist, and surreal WW1-inspired art style that effectively creates a raw, oppressive, and haunting atmosphere. While some find the visuals rough or underdeveloped, many feel this enhances the psychological horror and tension, making the aesthetic a standout element despite occasional navigation difficulties. Overall, the art design, combined with a fitting soundtrack, is considered highly atmospheric and integral to the game's immersive experience.

    • “The art style creates a surreal dreamlike quality that makes the entire world feel unstable and psychologically warped, reinforcing the sense that the protagonist is trapped inside something far more horrifying than a normal battlefield.”
    • “Great use of sound design, and the graphics hit that sweet spot of being detailed enough that you know what you're looking at is horrific but not detailed enough so your mind fills in the blanks and ends up making it more horrifying.”
    • “The art style is amazing, the aesthetic and vibes that you get while playing are simply phenomenal; you feel the anxiety of slowly walking through these short and claustrophobic environments. The character models remind me a lot of Hylics 1 if it was monochromatic.”
    • “Trench face made me realize there’s a difference between “experimental” and “underdeveloped but aesthetically committed.””
    • “The atmosphere is really great, though both story and gameplay need some touch-ups to make it all more clear, and graphics could also use an overhaul to make areas and enemies more distinct from one another.”
    • “Certainly has its flaws (the limb glow is a bit impotent, puppet's revolver hang living even after the body dying), but overlooking that, the aesthetics and music are on par as well with the limb mechanic.”
  • replayability

    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    27% positive mentions, 53% neutral mentions, 20% negative mentions

    Replayability in the game is generally seen as moderate to high, primarily due to multiple classes, difficulty options, and unlockable content, including an expansion that adds more depth. However, some users feel the lack of unique storylines per class and the game's short length limit long-term replay value. Overall, while the base game offers solid replay potential, the expansion and class variety significantly enhance its longevity for many players.

    • “The class system at the beginning of the game adds meaningful replayability.”
    • “Has great replayability with multiple classes and two classes you unlock after beating the game, plus 3 difficulty modes to choose from.”
    • “High replayability value with the extra classes and the nonlinearity of the expansion.”
    • “Not much replay value, however.”
    • “The game doesn't have much replay value.”
    • “Overall, it's good at being spooky and mechanically solid, although a bit too easy and lacks replayability.”
  • grinding

    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 14% neutral mentions, 86% negative mentions

    Grinding in the game is minimal due to permanent enemy deaths, preventing farming, which some players find a welcome change from typical RPG Maker titles. However, several users still describe the combat and map navigation as tedious and occasionally frustrating, impacting overall enjoyment.

    • “The combat in general I didn't care for and found tedious, which to be fair is usual folly of RPG Maker games but still.”
    • “It's not hard to avoid them, it's just really tedious and annoying.”
    • “Trench Face’s maps, on the other hand, felt tedious and frustrating.”
  • optimization

    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    25% positive mentions, 50% neutral mentions, 25% negative mentions

    The game offers excellent optimization, running smoothly even on mid-range PCs with no performance issues reported. Users appreciate the seamless fit between the game's design and its technical performance.

    • “No problems with the performance.”
    • “Mid PC optimization.”
  • humor

    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by quirky and unexpected moments, such as a character that humorously breaks the game and amusing elements like gas mask-wearing enemies. Players also enjoy lighthearted interactions, including funny character naming quirks, adding a playful tone overall.

    • “One of the two characters you unlock after beating the game also doesn't feel super different, but the other one does kinda break the game (in a funny way).”
    • “(knew that coming in to the mode), don't get far, die (named my guy 'bastbrd' because no backspace and funny.”
  • stability

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    The game's stability is problematic, with frequent screen freezes and crashes that force lengthy replay through difficult sections. Limited save points exacerbate the frustration, making the overall experience unreliable and discouraging.

    • “Two crashes where the screen just freezes, each requiring a 20-minute run back against multiple fights. Coupled with only being able to save at certain points and with limited amounts, this means I genuinely cannot recommend this game to anyone.”
    • “Though I have noticed a bug where sometimes the display freezes but the rest of the game keeps playing.”
  • emotional

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game's emotional impact is deeply rooted in its World War I setting, which is integral to its atmosphere. Its systems consistently evoke discomfort and uncertainty, resulting in a deliberately intense and emotionally draining horror RPG experience.

    • “The result is one of the more unique horror RPGs in recent years, using the imagery of World War I not simply as a backdrop, but as an essential part of its atmosphere and emotional impact.”
    • “Every system reinforces discomfort and uncertainty, creating an experience that feels emotionally draining in a deliberate and effective way.”
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Play Times

6h Median play time
56h Average play time
3-160h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Trench Face is a survival role playing game with horror theme. Common tags for Trench Face include turn-based, indie, world war i, psychological, exploration and others.

Trench Face is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 56 hours playing Trench Face.

Trench Face was released on September 2, 2025.

Trench Face was developed by Pulse Blue.

Trench Face has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked Trench Face for its music but disliked it for its grinding.

Trench Face is a single player game.

Similar games include Conscript, Blood West, Look Outside, Labyrinth Of The Demon King, UnderRail and others.