The Empty Inn is an 8-bit horror game by Candlelight Studios.

What is it?

The Empty Inn is a horror game in NES style. I won’t go much into the storyline, but let’s just say the title says it all. The horror aspect is coming from the monsters in the dark. You are equipped with a candle, with fuel that will diminish. Once you are out of fuel, the monsters in the dark appear and you have seconds to find a new fuel source. The game has some puzzle for you to solve in order to advance, all while looking for fuel to keep that little lamp alive.

It’s good

Being a game with a NES style of graphic, you can’t expect high-end texture. The game has a very good atmosphere and sound design, and that’s where it draws all it power from. Be sure to check the trailer and experience what I mean.

But not quite there yet

To be honest, I felt the game was a bit to short. By the time I felt the horror creeping up on me, I was at the end. There is only 1 real puzzle, but since you have to pillage every room, you will come across the solution. The game doesn’t have any jump scares, but this game doesn’t need that. The atmosphere and sound make sure you feel the tension rising when the lights are dimming.