The Suicide of Rachel Foster

I, like a lot of others, had seen the clickbait on YouTube portraying this as a game with a story much darker than it turned out to be.

That's the problem with internet reviews... they are often far too sensationalised.

A lot of that clickbait was driven by American moral norms, which fall flat in many other countries, as we do things differently, and at different ages.

The plot was decent, and the writign was serviceable, though a little hamfisted in places.

The unseen irving was the most realised character in the game, and was delivered with the strongest performance, in my opinion.

It was incredibly atmospheric, and you could never tell if what was going on would turn out to be supernatural, oddly science-fictional, or the product of the chaarcter's imagination... or a mixture of all three.

Breadcrumbs were there to suggest many different possibilities, and honestly, the finaly mystery was not one that I predicted, though I did predict many of the other events of the game.

To be honest, I think the final solution was slightly Poirot'd in that we didn't have the information needed to solve the mystery earlier than it was presented to us, and it was presented, ratehr than revealed.

I knocked a couple of stars off for both the lack of vital clues, and the miserably slow speed the protagonist moved through the game.

I felt I had to review this game, as aspects of this game are what I have been looking for. In a horror game, for a very long time.

Without spoiling I will attempt to speak to the various aspects of the game.

Firstly, some say it is not a horror game. I will tell you, that this game is horror, the game is very subtle, but slowly and deliberately works into your mind, causing a palpable paranoia as you wander the giant hotel. I found myself constantly feeling watched, and peering down the empty halls expecting someone or something to arrive at any moment. The sound, the music, the graphics, and the relationship between the main characters gives such a sense of reality, the horror seems to be rooted in our world somehow. No over the top horror tropes and no cartoony scares.

Secondly, some critics have claimed that the way they approached the taboo nature of the narrative, was done inappropriately. Again without spoiling I will attempt to address this issue. I am a licensed therapist and I'd like to say that the way they handled this topic in my opinion was very tactful. It was presented through different characters perspectives, and they attended to all of these in a balanced way. I do not believe that they were condoning the behavior of certain characters. If anything that part of the narrative added to the discomfort of the game, as it is a uncomfortable topic and contains many emotions and human behaviors that are not easily addressed and dealt with.

Overall the game wasn't completely perfect. The ending kinda speed away and I am not sure I loved the conclusion,however.....

HORROR GAME DEVELOPERS NEED TO TAKE A LESSON FROM THIS GAME WHEN WANTING TO CREATE A HEIGHTENED STATE OF FEAR FOR THEIR PLAYERS....

True horror needs to be rooted in our humanity. Horror that 'could' actually happen, is the scariest without a doubt.

The atmosphere though was perfected and I hope to see more games like this. 9/10.

The suicide of Rachel Foster is an amazing game with very articulate design. It plays with you psychologically and you will find yourself on edge til the very end of the game. One of the few games that understands how to do horror without giving too much away. The lack of cliches is refreshing. Every detail has meaning. Very unsettling and disturbing at times. I cannot recommend this game enough. Creepy.

The graphics are awesome. Runs smoothly as long as you don't have a s**tbox. Gameplay is simple and smooth.

Get it on sale (often on sale on epic games), don't pay more than $12 for it - though it is a great game, some people will think it quite short. This game isn't meant to be rushed; enjoy every little detail.

I loved this game. It was just what I was looking for. I love spooky ghost stories with a real story line to follow behind it.

A nice, slow game where the story just keeps you wanting to know more and more. The scary tension throughout the game really added to the experience. I will admit mid-end game I screamed twice. My teenage children will never let me live this down.

I played the entire afternoon and it was everything.

I came searching the internet for another similar game. Decided to review it when I found this.

If you need a trigger warning the title kinda gives it to you.... So there is one rather uncomfortable part. But beyond that. I really, really enjoyed this. I wish there was more quick, spooky games like this to binge on.

*"The Suicide of Rachel Foster"* is a narrative-driven adventure game that blends psychological horror with a gripping story. Set in a dilapidated, snow-covered hotel, the atmosphere is haunting and immersive, drawing players into a mysterious tale of family secrets and guilt. The game excels in its sound design and visuals, creating an eerie tension that complements the story. However, the gameplay is limited, primarily focusing on exploration and dialogue with little variation. While the narrative is intriguing, its pacing can feel slow, and the subject matter is dark and heavy, which may not appeal to everyone. Overall, it's a thought-provoking experience, though not without its flawsIf you're looking for a short, emotionally charged narrative adventure with a strong sense of place, The Suicide of Rachel Foster is worth a look. Just be prepared for a story that doesn't shy away from difficult and potentially uncomfortable subject matterOverall, it's a haunting and thought-provoking experience, though its heavy themes and slow pace might not be for everyone. If you appreciate games that focus on narrative and atmosphere over action, this title is worth exploring.