In a previous column, I had discussed the popularity of Unity Engine and a pair of the games it has spawned, and again, I think it’s time to discuss another kind of amatuer game creator. Or rather, an umbrella of amatuer game creators.

RPG makers are helpful avenues for amatuer game developers to create and distribute their own games, and while Unity Engine does this from the Western perspective, most RPG makers do this from the Eastern perspective.

With a simple interface and a vast number of helpful presets, RPG makers such as Wolf RPG Editor and RPG Maker VX make it easy for amatuer developers to create their own 2D adventures.

That being said, let’s talk games.

“Misao” is a freeware horror-adventure game developed by amatuer developer Sen in Wolf RPG Editor. The story of “Misao” follows the journey of a young girl as she traverses her cursed school to uncover the remains of her departed friend.

The game, while at times disturbing and gut-wrenching, is a fun and quirky romp that allows for much non-linear exploration.

Buried beneath the layers of chopped up school girl is a macabre sense of humor, which brings a much-needed light-heartedness to the sheen of horror.

While it is true that “Misao” does have comedic elements, players upset by themes such as violence, gore and sexual assault should avoid this game, as all three of those subjects are important plot elements.

In that respect, “Misao” and “The Witch’s House” have a few things in common.

“The Witch’s House” is a freeware puzzle-horror game developed by amatuer developer Fummy in RPG Maker VX.

“The Witch’s House” details the adventures of Viola, a young girl who has found herself lost in the forest near her home. She seeks shelter in a nearby mansion, only to find it under the control of a scorned and jaded witch.

Like “Misao,” “The Witch’s House” is not without gore and violence and disturbing imagery, but it is without humor.

This is a game that challenges the player with various puzzles, all while under the pressures imposed by a cursed and ever-changing mansion.

This game is clever and easily plays tricks on the brain. Familiar objects may not be so familiar, and unfamiliar objects may not do harm. In order to make progress, doors must be opened, but not in the traditional method.

The only way to open doors is to suffer through the witch’s many strange trials and requests. Some of these trials are deceptively easy, but be warned–danger is always lurking around the corner.

There’s one more game on this list, and I can say with confidence that it is my favorite of the three.

“Mad Father” is an aggressive game with an equally aggressive title. Like the two games mentioned above, “Mad Father” is another freeware puzzle-horror game developed by Sen in Wolf RPG Editor.

This game explores themes of trust, betrayal and love-beyond-death. If a student experiences discomfort when exposed to gore and sexual themes, they should avoid this game, as both subjects play majorly into the game’s plot.

Knowing this, let’s discuss the plot:

Aya is a young girl living under the protection of her father. Her mother has recently passed, and she has thus placed all of her affection with her father.

Aya knows that her father spends the majority of his time in his basements doing medical experiments, but as to what these experiments entail, she is clueless.

Throughout the course of the game, Aya learns the shocking truth about her father’s true nature, her mother’s death and the past of her father’s home-wrecking assistant.

“Mad Father” is fast-paced, gruesome and thought-provoking. The scripting and events are clever, and the art is “cute” (cute is in quotations because, honestly, how cute can a fetal-looking zombie be?).

“Mad Father” also makes excellent use of Wolf RPG Editor presets, and the dedication to the game’s development is clear in the use of custom art and sounds.

All three games are sick and twisted in their own rights, and they are sure to be the perfect remedies for anyone’s horror-game cravings.

By: Abby Ray