Don't Scream

Don't Scream is an indie survival horror game, designed by Joe Henson.^[1] The game became popular when it released for early access on 27 October 2023.^[2] Version 1.0 was released on 28 October 2024.

Don't Scream
Designer(s)	Joe Henson
Engine	Unreal Engine 5
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows
Genre(s)	Survival horror
Mode(s)	Single-player

Gameplay

Don't Scream is 18 minutes long; time only moves in the game when the player moves.^[3] The game is set in a forest in 1993, near the site of what appears to be a plane crash. The game is played from the perspective of a camcorder, which the protagonist is assumed to be carrying.^[4] The player can choose different paths which will lead to either a homestead, a farm, a mini-mart, or a cemetery. There are random encounters of ghostly spirits that haunt the forest who will attempt to scare the player. The player character dies if they scream or make a loud noise; the game allows this mechanic to function by accessing players' microphones, with their consent.^[5][6] Players can restart when they die.^[7]

Development

Joe Henson, who designed and developed the game, said that "The rise of PlayStation-esque visuals in a lot of indie horror titles is a testament to how undefined visuals can increase the fear factor." Henson added that the "loss of details plays into our imagination".^[8]