Ten Bells Review – A Haunting Anomaly Horror Game – Indie Game Reviewer – The Best Indie Games
Ten Bells by Hillfort Games and Acrylic Pixel
I adore anomaly-hunting games. They test my memory, indulge my fascination with the paranormal, and provide an especially spooky horror gaming experience. Ten Bells takes inspiration from the real-life Ten Bells pub in London’s East End, a location tied to the infamous Jack the Ripper murders.
This historical backdrop gives the game a compelling sense of place, enhancing its eerie and unsettling atmosphere. The pub decor is spot on, from the worn upholstery on the barstools to the beer mats scattered over the tables. The sun shines dully through the grimy glass window panes, and dust motes shimmer in the air.
Lost in the Liminal Loop
The game starts in a lobby. There is a portrait on the wall with the face scratched and blurred and a note explaining that you are there for a funeral. It doesn’t say who died, though. This note is the only instruction given for the game. The core gameplay revolves around spotting environmental anomalies—subtle or sometimes disturbing changes in the pub’s interior. If you spot an anomaly, you must turn around and exit the way you entered.
If everything seems normal, you will exit the entire pub and enter the private room. I did not understand this because I had not paid careful attention to the instructions in the note. This led to some frustrating trial and error early on.
Still, once I understood the mechanics, the game became a much more rewarding experience. There is space on the entrance wall for ten bells, and each time you either spot an anomaly or proceed through the pub normally, a bell will appear on the wall and ring. It was gratifying to hear them chime and count them. But if I got it wrong, all the bells disappeared, and I was back to square one!
Atmosphere done right…Mostly
The pub itself is beautifully crafted, with dim lighting, creeping shadows, and a constant sense of unease. The sounds of each footfall, the wind outside, and the occasional note of ominous music create an incredibly immersive environment. Each correct anomaly triggers the ringing of one of ten bells on the wall, adding a satisfying rhythm to the gameplay.
Meanwhile, pieces of a mysterious puzzle appear in the entrance lobby as you progress, building tension and unfolding a mystery, all of which contribute to making the environment increasingly strange and unsettling.
That said, the bartender and barmaid NPCs felt stiff and robotic, which broke immersion. The temporary holiday decorations didn’t add anything meaningful to the game, as they never contained anomalies and did not look like they belonged in the Ten Bells pub. Their presence felt more distracting than festive, pulling me out of the otherwise carefully crafted atmosphere.
They were blocky and garishly colored and did not look genuine or authentic. Many of the most effective and terrifying anomalies felt part of the fabric of the setting and atmosphere, making the added decorations stand out even more jarringly.
Nightmare mode and other challenges
Ten Bells offers a Nightmare Mode for players looking for an extra challenge, which introduces even more anomalies. It’s a nice addition for completionists, but it didn’t significantly enhance the experience for me.
There were several different endings, and I was never quite sure how they fit together, but the gradual unfolding of the mystery in the entrance lobby was a clever mechanic that kept me guessing. Lots of letters, newspaper clippings, and different objects would appear giving more context to the story.
Some of the anomalies were big and bombastic with all the thrills and jumpscares wanted. But some of the most unnerving anomalies were those that were so subtle you could blink and miss them. But once spotted, they stayed with me. And some are just purely mundane. A good anomaly game has a good mix of all of these, and Ten Bells is masterful at this. I also appreciated that some anomalies were thematically on point and fit the unfolding mystery perfectly.
Ten Bells, One Verdict
Despite a few hiccups, Ten Bells delivers a spooky and satisfying experience. The eerie pub, the growing sense of unease, and the rewarding anomaly-spotting mechanics kept me hooked. I loved the unfolding mystery and the creative anomalies that were true to the story.
Sure, the NPCs are stiff and look unnatural, but if you’re into atmospheric horror with a bit of history, it’s definitely worth a playthrough. Just be ready for a bit of trial and error at the start—and maybe ignore any holiday decor.
