Fear the Spotlight

The nostalgic Silent Hill-inspired adventure, Fear the Spotlight, is currently free, for Windows — 100% free to keep — in a limited-time Epic Store’s giveaway offer! Take advantage now, as Fear the Spotlight normally costs US$19.99.

Fear the Spotlight is an independent third-person survival horror adventure focused on psychological horror, exploration, and puzzle-solving. Inspired by the first Silent Hill and featuring a PlayStation 1-style low-poly aesthetic, it was developed by Cozy Game Pals and initially released on September 15, 2023.

Featuring a compelling retro and dark atmosphere — marked by dithered lighting and unstable textures — reminiscent of the late 1990s, the game presents stealth encounters with an enemy known as Spotlight Head, but there is no combat, and the protagonists, Vivien and Amy, must avoid the creature’s light to prevent taking damage.

Originally published by Cozy Game Pals (currently by Blumhouse Games) and available for Linux, Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, Fear the Spotlight has generally received positive reviews from critics. Additionally, it has hundreds of extremely positive reviews on Steam, at least as of the time of this publication.

You can get the game here! There’s also a free demo version here.

Trailer

Gameplay

Fear the Spotlight is a third-person psychological horror game focused on exploration and puzzle-solving, where players control Vivien in the first campaign and Amy in the second, exploring a school after a ritual that distorts reality.

The game combines free movement with a third-person camera and modern twin-stick controls, allowing players to navigate environments without relying on classic “tank” controls. Exploration is supported by physical interaction with objects such as doors, cabinets, cables, VCRs, and vending machines, as well as collecting and using items to progress through the narrative and puzzles.

The core mechanic involves avoiding detection by an enemy called Spotlight Head, which deals damage by hitting the player with its light beam. There is no combat; the focus is on stealth and strategic positioning, requiring the player to use the environment to hide behind desks, trash bins, and other obstacles. Damage is limited to exposure to light, with no need for conventional health management or healing items.

Puzzles include inference from objects, poems, mechanism manipulation, and lockpicking minigames, demanding attention to visual and logical details. The game also offers retro graphical options, simulating low resolution, texture wobble, and dithered lighting, reinforcing the PlayStation 1-inspired horror aesthetic.

Ambient sound plays an important role in the experience, signaling enemy presence and enhancing atmosphere without relying on jump scares. Progression depends on careful exploration, puzzle-solving, and environmental interaction, maintaining a gameplay experience focused on tension and immersion.

Plot

In Fear the Spotlight, players follow Vivien and her friend Amy, students who perform a ritual with a Ouija board after school hours. The event triggers supernatural phenomena that distort the school’s reality, transforming corridors and rooms into altered, older versions of the building, related to a fire that occurred years prior.

In Vivien’s campaign, the objective is to explore the school, gather clues, and locate Amy, facing challenges involving stealth and puzzle-solving.

Amy’s campaign presents a parallel narrative focusing on her past, her family, and her relationship with Vivien. It offers new areas, puzzles, and perspectives distinct from the original campaign, providing unique maps, challenges, and story content rather than simply repeating Vivien’s campaign.

The title explores themes of psychological horror and the feeling of being watched, reflected in both the story and the gameplay mechanics, reinforcing the central concept of the name, Fear the Spotlight.

About the game

Fear the Spotlight is an atmospheric third-person horror adventure with a disturbing mystery to unravel. Sneak into school after hours with Vivian and Amy, survive a séance gone wrong, solve tactile puzzles, and, whatever you do, stay out of the spotlight…

Sunnyside High has a dark history. When Vivian enters the deserted corridors for a seance with the rebellious Amy, she suddenly ends up alone, and at the mercy of the monster who wanders the halls. Vivian must avoid its gaze, find her friend, and uncover the disturbing, murderous truth of a decades old tragedy. Fear the Spotlight is a creepy love letter to classic 90s horror experiences with a focus of rich storytelling, puzzle solving, and a tense atmosphere. This is a perfect narrative horror game for those new to the genre.

THE THRILLS

ESCAPE THE NIGHTMARE

The séance went terribly wrong. Amy has disappeared, and the school has transformed into a nightmarish version of its former self. Play as Vivian to uncover a dark hidden past while attempting to save both you and your friend.

DELIGHTFULLY HORRIFYING GAMEPLAY

Sneak to avoid detection from an unknown entity in tense hand-crafted stealth moments as Vivian explores the ominous darkness of the school corridors.
Solve highly tactile puzzles that pay homage to classic genre favorites while evolving gameplay to satisfy modern horror fans.
Explore the eerie setting of a derelict Sunnyside High with a flashlight, screwdriver, wrench, and more to uncover a web of mysteries.

1990s ATMOSPHERIC DREAD

Explore the hellish version of Sunnyside High as Vivian in this ode to classic 90’s teen horror. A retro art style, tense audio design, and a nostalgic setting will delight both veteran fans and those new to the horror genre.

AN EXPANDED STORY

Dive even deeper into the dark world of Fear the Spotlight with an extensive additional storyline.

Fear the Spotlight is the first title to be published by Blumhouse Games, a video games label within Blumhouse Productions focused on championing the most creative and unique takes on the horror genre.