Can a Horror Game That Asks You Not to Look Truly See Its Vision Through?

The psychological horror genre often thrives on the unseen, the implied, and the subtle erosion of the protagonist’s sanity. BrokenLore: DON’T WATCH, the latest entry in the BrokenLore series, attempts to take this concept to a literal extreme, focusing on the act of averting one’s gaze to survive. In other words, to survive, you must be sure to not look! In a landscape saturated with jump scares and grotesque monsters, this title seeks to carve out its own niche by exploring themes of isolation, anxiety, and societal pressures through the lens of Japanese folklore. But does this unique “Don’t Watch” mechanic and a deeply interconnected narrative truly deliver a haunting experience, or does it merely obscure its own potential? Read on to find out!

A Shut-in’s Descent into Madness

BrokenLore: DON’T WATCH places players in the shoes of Shinji, a young hikikomori who has retreated from the world into the confines of his small Tokyo flat/apartment. His isolation is disturbed by a malevolent entity from Japanese folklore, Hyakume, a monstrous being with a hundred unyielding eyes. The narrative unfolds as Shinji’s quiet, and otherwise monotonous existence is disrupted by the intrusion of this creature, transforming his apartment into a claustrophobic nightmare. From strange goings-on within his home, to bizarre visitors at his door, the horror takes many interesting and unique forms. One of the most notable is the gradual appearance of eyeballs protruding from the wall. Worse still is that these eyes watch you as you walk around. Even worse still is that you must then stab each eye that you encounter in order to survive, otherwise they will take over and win, as such.

BrokenLore: DON’T WATCH explores Shinji’s internal struggles and the societal pressures that contribute to his reclusive lifestyle, with the portrayal of hikikomori handled with nuance, offering insight into the psychological toll of extreme isolation. As such, the story builds tension effectively and, despite the game’s short length, it is well-paced.

Avert Your Gaze

The core gameplay mechanic revolves around the innovative “DON’T WATCH” system, challenging players to cover their eyes to survive encounters with Hyakume. Yes, you quite literally have to cover your eyes in order to survive, because locking eyes with this entity isn’t just a moment of dread – it’s deadly. Your character will literally die if you make eye contact with any of the Hyakume’s 100 eyes. You can only tell when it’s safe to uncover your eyes by simply listening for when you think it is no longer there (which is often depicted by a squelching noise as it recedes back into the ground).

There is no combat, as such. This primarily first-person survival experience focuses on escaping enemies instead, thus building tension through avoidance. It also features a hiding system and flashbacks to an unknown past, altering reality to serve the narrative.

The Gaze of the Hundred Eyes

BrokenLore: DON’T WATCH utilises a visually captivating blend of hyper-realistic and retro-style graphics. Shinji’s apartment is well put together, feeling appropriately dingy and claustrophobic, setting a great scene for the horror. The game is entirely voiced in Japanese with English subtitles, contributing to the immersion, and the voice actors deliver strong performances. There are also realistic sound effects, which only add to the immersion.

A Fleeting Nightmare

BrokenLore: DON’T WATCH is a concise experience, clocking in at around 90 minutes. This ensures a tightly woven narrative without filler, delivering a potent dose of psychological horror that lingers beyond the playthrough. However, the short play time, limited gameplay mechanics, linear story, and confined setting are somewhat restrictive, which means that once you finish it, you probably won’t return as there is no reason to do so.

Conclusion

BrokenLore: DON’T WATCH offers a compelling, albeit brief, venture into psychological horror. Its unique “DON’T WATCH” mechanic is fun, and works well, and the atmospheric presentation effectively conveys themes of isolation and anxiety. It’s also morbidly satisfying to stab wall-eyeballs. While its short duration and linear paths might be a drawback for some, its strengths lie firmly in its narrative and mood. For fans of psychological horror seeking an impactful, focused experience, BrokenLore: DON’T WATCH provides a chilling journey into your character’s unraveling mind.

Grade: 7.5/10 – Good