Fear The Spotlight Game Review: A PS1-Style Survival-Horror Game

• Fear the Spotlight was released on 15th September, 2023.
• Fear the Spotlight is a single-player game.
• Supports controller.
• Worth playing if you are looking for an immersive horror game.

Full Game Review

The Spooky Beginnings

Fear The Spotlight kicks off like many classic horror tales. We follow two friends—Vivian, the nerdy goody-two-shoes, and her goth buddy Amy—as they sneak into their school after hours to conduct a séance.

The school’s creepy history, marked by a tragic fire that claimed several students’ lives, sets the perfect backdrop.

It’s a bit morbid to try contacting the spirits of lost students in the school library, but hey, teenagers are naturally curious and a bit reckless, right?

My First Impressions

I got a taste of Fear The Spotlight a few months back, and it left a lasting impression. Sneaking through the dimly lit school hallways and listening to the interactions between Vivian and Amy felt incredibly natural.

Their dynamic—goth kid teams up with a nerd and gets into spooky trouble, just might be relatable for some but very engaging either way.

Nostalgic Horror Vibes

Fear The Spotlight perfectly blends a 1990s teen horror story with a 90s survival-horror aesthetic.

The game’s visuals, reminiscent of early 3D PlayStation titles like Silent Hill, create an eerie and surreal atmosphere that suits the ghost story narrative perfectly.

From Indie Beginnings to Blumhouse Games

Initially released in 2023 by Cozy Game Pals, a talented husband-and-wife duo, Fear The Spotlight has now been picked up by Blumhouse Games for a re-release in Fall 2024.

Despite its previous release, it wasn’t on my radar until Summer Game Fest. After a brief playthrough, I regretted not discovering it sooner.

Entering the Haunted Library

The demo begins with Vivian and Amy heading towards the school library, featuring a quick stealth segment where they dodge a surveillance camera’s spotlight—a significant gameplay element.

Upon reaching the library, the demo shifts to first-person puzzle-solving.

Vivian needs to retrieve a spirit board (an Ouija board) from a glass display case, requiring a series of key and keycard fetch quests.

Engaging Puzzles and Rich Narrative

Fear The Spotlight’s first-person puzzles are immersive and provide deeper insights into the characters and story.

Interacting with objects offers snippets of Vivian’s internal thoughts, enriching the narrative and adding depth to her relationship with Amy.

One interesting detail reveals Vivian as a top student volunteer at the library, highlighting her nerdy persona.

A Chilling Séance Gone Wrong

Vivian eventually brings the spirit board to Amy, and the séance begins. As Amy asks questions, the board moves erratically, a dark figure appears, and the room plunges into darkness.

This is where Fear The Spotlight shifts gears dramatically. After relighting the candles, Vivian finds Amy missing and begins a tense search through an increasingly distorted and eerie library.

Unraveling the Uncanny

As Vivian navigates the dark library, the once familiar space becomes twisted and labyrinthine.

The old-school PlayStation graphics heighten the uncanny atmosphere, making every shadow and distant figure potentially ominous.

Fear The Spotlight relies on atmospheric horror rather than jump scares, creating a deeply unsettling experience.

Escaping the Flames

The climax of the demo sees Vivian fleeing a rapidly spreading fire, navigating through a twisted version of the library.

Red curtains reminiscent of Twin Peaks’ Red Room and a cracked wall leading to a memorial plaque add to the surreal horror.

The demo concludes on a chilling note, leaving a strong desire to explore more of Fear The Spotlight.

What’s Next for Fear The Spotlight?

Set for a re-release with additional story content in 2024, Fear The Spotlight promises even more thrills. It will be available on PC, PlayStation 4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox 360. If you love atmospheric horror and intriguing narratives, keep an eye out for this captivating game.

Fear The Spotlight System Requirements

The Verdict