The indie adventure/strategy game Beholder is free, 100% free to keep, for Windows, in a limited time Epic Store’s giveaway offer! Take advantage, because Beholder can normally cost US$13.99!
Beholder is an indie strategy and adventure game themed around a totalitarian police state. It was developed by the Russians at Warm Lamp Games and originally released on November 9, 2016.
Published by Alawar Entertainment and available for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, Beholder has been generally well received by critics, even being nominated for several awards and winning many of them. In addition, it got positive reviews on the online stores.
The game’s success was enough to justify a sequel, Beholder 2, originally released on December 4, 2018 for the main platforms of its time. Apparently, there is or there will be a Beholder 3.
You can get the game here!
Trailer
Plot and gameplay
Carl is a government-installed landlord in a totalitarian state where privacy is nonexistent and the authorities control every aspect of life. Appointed to manage an apartment building, the henchman must spy on his tenants, bugging their apartments while they are away, searching their belongings, and compiling detailed profiles of them. The state requires Carl to report anyone who breaks the law or displays subversive behavior, often leading to arrest or worse.
The game presents an oppressive atmosphere in which the player faces constant moral dilemmas. There is a choice between following the government’s orders or siding with the people who suffer under the oppressive directives, which is something quite difficult to imagine in real life, since all the parasitic henchmen do their evil deeds and then claim that they were only following orders from the parasitic bosses. But that’s another matter…
The visual style presents characters as black silhouettes with white eyes, but full of expression and emotion. The scenarios have a hand-drawn style, with a graphic quality that remains consistent even when zooming in on the details. The soundtrack creates a sense of tension and discomfort, appropriate to the game’s theme.
Each character has their own personality, circumstances, and problems. Each decision the protagonist makes affects how the story unfolds. Beholder has multiple endings, each of which is a sum of the decisions made by the player. Carl, on the other hand, seems to have been subjected to experiments that have rendered him unable to sleep, allowing him to be constantly vigilant.
The gameplay mixes strategy and adventure. Carl can install surveillance cameras, spy through keyholes, and talk to tenants to gather information. In addition, it is possible to interact with neighbors to obtain clues and manipulate relationships, although being caught spying can lead to violent reactions, including death.
Main missions are received directly from the government, while side missions can offer useful rewards or influence the main objectives. Time management is crucial, as many objectives have tight deadlines, which can create situations of great tension and stress. Additionally, Carl must balance building maintenance with tenant satisfaction, as discontent can lead to retaliation.
About the game
Welcome to a grim dystopian future.
A totalitarian State controls every aspect of private and public life.
Laws are oppressive. Surveillance is total. Privacy is dead.
But FREEDOM lives…
You are the State-installed manager of an apartment building. Your daily routine involves making the building a sweet spot for tenants, who will come and go. However, that is simply a facade that hides your real mission…
SPYING on your Renters!
Your primary task is to covertly watch your tenants and eavesdrop on their conversations. You must BUG their apartments while they’re away, SEARCH their belongings for whatever can threaten the authority of the State, and PROFILE them for your superiors. You must also REPORT anyone capable of violating the laws or plotting subversive activities against the State to the authorities.
You MUST! But will you?
You are a cog in a totalitarian machine! But you can still choose to cling to your humanity and empathize with others.
Will you report the suspicious activities of a father and orphan his children? Or will you withhold the details about his illegal activities and give him a chance to make things right? You may also choose to blackmail him to acquire the money your family desperately needs.
What about the others?
As you play the game, you’ll interact with many characters and complete dozens of quests. You’ll also make decisions that will affect the way the story unfolds. This will lead to one of several game endings – the ending you have earned!
Just remember: Your choices have consequences! And you will have to deal with them!
More info and strategy
Overview
- GET Beholder HERE - Download link(s) or store's listing.
- Size: 1.6 GB
- License: Commercial
- Operational systems: Windows, Linux and Mac
- Developer(s) and/or publisher(s): Warm Lamp Games, Alawar Entertainment
- Categories: Adventure, Strategy
- Added by: Valewson