We Know the Devil

Even without horror elements, camp can be a scary place for teens. We Know The Devil hinges on those fears, and brings them out in a cult horror novel similar to Night in the Woods, but Christian Camp version.

The game capitalizes on a real fact that scares teens everywhere. Someone is always the third wheel in a group of three. Even if you’re best friends with two other people, there’s always going to be a pair in that group that is closer.

Beat the Devil

In We Know The Devil, bad kids are sent to Christian Summer Camp where the staff is cheerfully normal, and the other kids are jarringly normal, and three kids must band together to fight the devil.

Gameplay is unique here in that you aren’t playing a specific character. Instead, you play as an unseen narrator, where you are free to ship who ever you want in what ever combination. Instead of choosing who gets together however, you’re really choosing who gets left in the cold.

While the main focus of the story line is the tension between these friends, the horror elements are also notable. In this game god and the devil are real, speak through the radio, and are always at the edges ready to strike. The Devil in this game, appears to be mainly what ever is most bothering that person most—and there’s no shortage of problems consuming these troubled teens. Make no mistake, one teen is going to be taken by the Devil, and that will end up being your choice. The more you let one person interact and get to know the other better, the more likely the person not interacting is to be taken.

The only exception to this is if you have played through the game once already and play it again, you can carefully balance interactions so all 3 get taken by the Devil instead of just one.

Retro visuals and audio

Although the visuals aren’t as sharp as in many other visual novels, they’re not meant to be. The graphics are an intentional throwback to the 90s, and look and feel like something from a young adult novel. Don’t be fooled, it’s an element that makes the horror elements that much stronger during play. The music in the game is also spectacular, and really adds to the story as you progress through the novel.

Not for kids

With the cartoony characters and coming of age story, this feels like it ought to be aimed at teens, the horror elements are pretty powerful. This story is about teens, but not necessarily for them. Many of the troubles they have hit very hard, depending on yourself and your background. A transgender woman is regularly misgendered, and the obvious discomfort of being lesbian or transgender in a religious setting is readily apparent. This game is emotional torture, but more or less in a good way.

Pros

• Well developed story
• Cult horror classic
• Interesting visual and audio

Cons

• Art might not appeal to everyone