Clickolding

Strange Scaffold's latest psychological horror experience takes a seemingly simple premise - clicking a tally counter - and transforms it into an unsettling exploration of obsession and existential dread. Clickolding traps players in a motel room with a mysterious masked figure, weaving a disturbing tale that lingers long after the final click. As the story unfolds through the Clickold's increasingly personal monologues about his wife and children, players find themselves drawn deeper into a web of psychological manipulation and existential horror.

The Art of Psychological Tension

Unlike Cookie Clicker, where mindless clicking leads to whimsical rewards, Clickolding weaponizes its incremental gameplay to create mounting unease. Each click of the four-digit counter brings players closer to an unknown culmination, while the Clickold's increasingly erratic behavior and personal revelations create a suffocating atmosphere. The confined motel room setting, enhanced by RJ Lake's disquieting jazz soundtrack, becomes a pressure cooker of psychological tension.

The game's genius lies in its minimalist approach to horror. Through subtle environmental storytelling and the Clickold's carefully paced dialogue, the game builds a sense of dread that far exceeds what most games achieve with gore or jump scares. The locked bathroom door becomes an ominous presence, while the simple act of standing in specific spots at the Clickold's command takes on sinister implications. Every interaction feels weighted with purpose, contributing to the overwhelming sense that something terrible is inevitable.

Beyond the Counter's Edge

The game's surreal transition into a white void after reaching the counter's limit serves as a haunting payoff to the building tension. This stark departure from reality, featuring a monochrome figure displaying the player's total clicks, elevates the experience beyond simple horror into something more metaphysically unsettling. The ability to continue clicking indefinitely in either the void or motel room adds an extra layer of existential weight to the player's actions.

The incorporation of elements inspired by The Divine Comedy adds depth to the narrative, with reimagined versions of Dante, Beatrice, Virgil, and Charon appearing in unexpected ways. These literary connections transform what could have been a simple horror game into a meditation on punishment, redemption, and the nature of obsession in the modern world.

Review: 8.5/10

Clickolding succeeds in creating a uniquely disturbing experience that makes players question their own complicity in its dark narrative. While its limited scope might deter some, the game's psychological depth and atmospheric storytelling make it a standout in the horror genre.

Strange Scaffold has crafted an unsettling meditation on obsession that transforms a simple clicking mechanic into something far more sinister. While the game's scope is intentionally limited, its psychological impact is anything but.

Pros:

• Masterful psychological tension building
• Compelling narrative delivery through the Clickold character
• Exceptional atmospheric sound design with haunting jazz music
• Creative use of incremental mechanics
• Strong metaphysical themes and literary connections
• Innovative approach to horror
• Memorable surreal sequences
• Effective environmental storytelling

Cons:

• Limited gameplay mechanics might not appeal to all players
• Single location may feel restrictive
• Some players might find the pacing slow
• Mature themes and suicide content could be off-putting
• Relatively short main experience