Side Effects

About Side Effects

Side Effects: A Journey into Psychological Horror

Side Effects is a short, unsettling psychological horror game that plunges you into a surreal and disorienting experience. Developed by solo creators, this title is less about jump scares and more about creating a deep sense of dread through its unique atmosphere and narrative. It's a game that challenges your perception of reality and explores the dark corners of the human mind.

Exploration and Unsettling Gameplay

In Side Effects, the gameplay is driven by exploration. You navigate a surreal, abstract world where the environment itself feels unstable and alive. As the player, you must solve a series of environmental puzzles to progress through the unsettling landscape. The game offers little in the way of explicit guidance, forcing you to rely on intuition and observation.

The core of the experience lies in the "side effects" that gradually take hold of the player. Visual and auditory distortions, glitches, and strange phenomena begin to appear, reflecting the character’s deteriorating mental state. These effects are not just for show; they are an integral part of the narrative, blurring the lines between what is real and what is a figment of your imagination.

A Haunting Look at Memory and Mental Health

Side Effects uses its horror elements to explore powerful and somber themes like mental health, memory, and the disorienting consequences of medication. The game's narrative is intentionally fragmented, told through whispers, fleeting visions, and subtle clues hidden within the environment.

It asks the player to confront uncomfortable questions about a character's past and present, creating a haunting, introspective journey. The game's minimalist visual style and chilling sound design work together to create an atmosphere that is both beautiful and deeply disturbing. It’s a compelling experience that will linger in your thoughts long after you've finished playing.