Granny

Looking for a new survival horror game to play one night? If so, then you might want to consider giving Granny a go. This game is simple yet terrifying, so if you just want to mess around without having to worry about complex mechanics and controls, then you’ll likely have a good time. Here’s a bit more information about the game.

Escape the house

Granny takes place in Granny’s house, and it’s your goal to escape without being caught by her. In order to escape, you’ll need to find various keys scattered about the house to unlock the front door which has multiple locks on it. Alternatively, you can escape through the garage, but this may prove to be much more challenging. If Granny catches you, you’re dead, so good luck out there. Pick up any weapons you come across as they’ll come in handy, and be sure to make use of your flashlight as otherwise someone or something may sneak up on you without you noticing.

Don’t make a noise

Granny roams the house as you try to find the keys to escape, and making noise will draw her to you. Granny hears every creak in the floorboards, and every little sound you make, so take extra care with everything you do otherwise you’ll be meeting your end.

If you do make any noise and you hear Granny approaching, you can hide in wardrobes and other places to avoid getting caught. Bear this information in mind, as it may very well help save your life.

Not just Granny

Granny isn’t the only threat you need to worry about in this game, which you’ll realise soon after you download Granny and play it for yourself. Alongside the main villain, you’ve got other creatures lurking in the dark ready to pounce, including a variety of Granny’s pets. Stay on your toes and watch where you step! You’ll need to be on the lookout for traps, too.

Difficulty levels

Granny has multiple difficulty levels to cater to every kind of gamer. If you’re a horror veteran, you may want to consider the hard or extreme modes, but if you’re new to this kind of game, then the easy mode is the place to start. Practice mode is also a thing if you want to get a feel for the game without having to worry about Granny being on your tail all the time.

Pros:

• Plenty of tense moments like any good horror game
• A variety of threats to be on the lookout for
• The ability to defend yourself makes the game more interactive
• Different difficulty levels

Cons:

• The graphics could be a lot better
• The game is quite short and easy once you know what you’re doing

A spiritual successor to the Slendrina series, Granny is an indie horror game created by DVloper (Dennis Vukanovic). Originally released for mobile devices, the game has garnered plenty of positive reception, largely due to its popularity amongst Let’s Players and Twitch streamers. Those of you who have played titles such as Slender: The Eight Pages and Survivors will feel right at home here, as the game is somewhat of an homage to the jump-scare heavy indie efforts of the early 2010’s.

Nightmarish Beginnings

There’s no denying that Granny thrusts you into a bad situation. Kicking off with a cutscene of the player walking through a dark forest, it culminates in a horrific encounter with the titular character, as she strikes you across the head with a blood-soaked baseball bat. You awake in an unfamiliar setting with a pounding headache, locked in a dark house with some rather serious security measures.

Prey for Freedom

You’re not alone in the house, that’d be far too easy. As you navigate the decaying corridors of Granny’s house, she will follow you. Slowly stalking you through the halls, across the landing, down into the basement. It’s horror movie 101, and very reminiscent of slasher flicks of the late 80’s and early 90’s. You constantly feel her eyes on you, and staying still for too long is far too dangerous of a decision.

Facing your Fears

Throughout the course of the game you are equipped with a simple flashlight, but you’re not completely helpless. Locked away in various cabinets are weapons – a crossbow and a shotgun. These can stop Granny in her tracks momentarily, as well as assist with puzzles. None of the puzzles are too brain-bending, but with the tension of always being followed can cause you to panic – wasting the scarce ammunition the game provides you with. Once you’re out of bolts for the crossbow, or shells for the shotgun – there’s cause for concern.

The Great Escape

Granny is a game with multiple endings, and multiple ways to escape. Do you try and find the keys to the car in the garage, or try to tackle the front door with its many locks? It’s a matter of timing, planning and caution – you don’t want to disturb Granny by being too loud, or you’ll meet your end. Unfortunately, these endings are not all that different – and therefore there is little reason to replay the game.

A Frightening Lack of Content

The minimalist approach is rather refreshing for a genre that has been slipping further and further into the action realm for far too long, but being so light on mechanics and features is a double-edged sword. You’d be lucky to get half an hour out of Granny, and there’s not really much reason to return to it after your first playthrough. You’d be much better off investing your money into a game like Camp Sunshine for your fix of indie horror scares.

Pros

• Charming minimalist approach
• A love-letter to the indie horror games of the early 10’s
• Heavy on the jump-scares
• Various methods for completion

Cons

• There’s not a lot of content for your money
• Lack of replayability