Don’t Peek by SL Entertainment
I love a good horror game where I can cozy up with my blanket at my computer and dim the lights to achieve the full spooky experience.
Don’t Peek’s menu is eerie and unsettling, instantly reeling me in. I dove right into the gameplay, not realizing a tutorial sat a few clicks down from the level selection.
Needless to say, I failed. Even after sauntering through the tutorial, Don’t Peek’s buggy gameplay is a conundrum.
Developed by SL Entertainment, Don’t Peek’s sinister atmosphere is spot on. Random jump scares improve the experience, but the overall flawed mechanics and lack of direction take away from what could be an impressive co-op horror game.
Maybe Just a Little Peek
The tutorial level is highly recommended, but still not entirely helpful. Little notes brief you on the general gameplay, such as utilizing lockpicks, finding gasoline and fuses to fuel a generator, or chucking crosses at demons to temporarily stun them.
Like many modern horror games, the sound of a heartbeat echoes around you if a threat is nearby. Your sanity decreases as your surroundings become more eerie.
Hiding in a locker will refill your sanity meter. Otherwise, happening upon what appear to be anti-psychotics eases the Satanic atmosphere that’s eating you alive.
Opening doors with a lockpick is more maddening than it should be, especially if you’ve never played the game. Perfecting the movement of the lock is like a dance; if you misstep, the show is over almost instantly. The lockpicking mechanism is more maddening than challenging, especially when a limited number of lockpicks is available.
Lockpicks and Nitpicks
I also struggled with something as simple as picking up an item. After an embarrassing number of attempts, it turned out that an open door was jeopardizing my ability to grab a fuse off the floor. Unfortunately, this wasn’t a one-time occurrence. I tried adding a lockpick to my inventory and somehow glitched into a closet. Using items isn’t exactly like riding a bike, either.
Don’t Peek’s buggy mechanics distract from the horror experience it’s intended to be. I had fun ambling around an abandoned hospital and encountering jump scares.
However, the objective is not clear to new players. To gain the full experience, I attempted co-op mode with a fellow horror game enthusiast.
Unfortunately, the flawed gameplay fundamentals made it unenjoyable and almost unplayable. I clashed with what appeared to be a demonic nurse. My experience ended there, and I had no idea why.
The Verdict:
I’ve played a lot of co-op horror games. Don’t Peek’s potential is evident: the menacing ambience is right where it needs to be.
On the other hand, the gameplay could benefit from some refinement and some more general guidance. I hope to see improvements in future updates, but for now, my lockpicking career remains on the back burner.
Don’t Peek is available via Steam.
Watch the official trailer for Don’t Peek:
