Skinwalker Hunt

Step into the shoes of a hunter set against one of the deadliest supernatural creatures in Skinwalker Hunt, the newest game from Andrii Vintsevych. Featuring a methodical approach to combat and exploration, this is a slow-burn horror game that will keep you on your toes at all times.

This horror game offers a handcrafted experience designed to give you goosebumps every step of the way, as the darkness of the forest hides paranormal dangers that are almost impossible to explain. This is not a game for the faint of heart, and neither is it a game for those who don’t like walking around in circles for long periods of time.

Prepare to Survive

Your main goal in Skinwalker Hunt is, well, to hunt a Skinwalker, which is a type of creature that can disguise itself as other animals. As a hunter, you never know which animals are prey, and which of them is a hideous creature in disguise, so you must remain ever vigilant.

Unlike many modern games that strive for a fast-paced approach to horror, Skinwalker Hunt revels in the slow anticipation of the evil that lurks in its dark woods. You must prepare carefully, set up camps, and check your equipment constantly to survive. Since the map is not randomly generated, you can – and must – learn the lay of the land to effectively capture your prey.

Similar to Witch Hunt, Andrii Vintsevych’s previous game, Skinwalker Hunt is a game about preparation and patience. For most of the game, you’ll be caught in a loop of running around in circles, looking for invisible prey. However, when you finally come face to face with the skinwalker, it’s one of the most terrifying moments we’ve seen in an indie game.

Explore and Adapt

Even though the map is not procedurally generated, loot placement, NPCs, and a variety of interactive items are scattered randomly throughout the game’s world. This changes each playthrough, forcing players to adapt to their new environments each time they begin a new game.

This is a very effective way to keep you guessing what lies around each corner. Also worth mentioning is that, since the game takes place in the woods, getting disoriented can be quite easy. Your map will become your best ally when it comes to dealing with the forces of evil that terrorize the forest.

There are little to no tutorials or explanations of most of the game’s mechanics to be found in the game itself. While this can be seen as a positive thing – the developer even mentions “No hand holding” as a feature on the game’s Steam page – it can frustrate some casual players who want to give the game a try.

More than One Monster

If you played Witch Hunt before, then you know that this game features more than just one entity that’s trying to kill you. The skinwalker might be the game’s main attraction, but there are other dangers lurking around that you must be wary of.

Cultists and rabid animals also dwell in the forest, and other seemingly harmless creatures could actually be the skinwalker in disguise. As we said before, this is a game that thrives on the player’s fears, striking just when they least expect it.

Pros:

• Nice art direction
• Impressive horror atmosphere
• Cool creature design

Cons:

• Can be a bit confusing at times