SHUT IN (PC) Review

Starting off in the bedroom of an unnamed boy, Shut In initially appears rather serene. The messy room and computer game setup could be the image of many a teenage boy. You must then get dressed and leave the house - it all seems rather simple. Make no mistake, though - things change rather quickly. It's the subtlety at first: the pale lighting and stillness make everything rather eerie. After getting dressed and leaving the bedroom, the unnamed boy walks out into the hallway.

Again, things seem normal. However, look closer and there seem to be creeping shadows around that aforementioned pale light. Look even closer and suddenly there are creepy photos on the shelf that definitely don't belong in a family home. In fact, where is the rest of the family? To the left is a buzzing light bulb. Get too close and… death. Shut In is not afraid to kill off the hero in all sorts of fiendish and inventive ways, from not acting fast enough to doing stupid things (it's probably a good idea not to use a lighter in a gas filled room). Fortunately, there is an abundance of save points.

Equally, the puzzles avoid any frustration. They are clever and immensely logical. It's a good thing, too, because this is a narrative story that is meant to flow at a quick pace, so momentum is key. As the protagonist gradually goes further downstairs in this creepy house, the visuals get ever more nefarious and the introduction of red into the lighting heightens the lingering danger and mystery.

The narrator that accompanies the adventure doesn't have much helpful input. They do, however, provide some fantastic and really witty fourth-wall-breaking commentary. Big props to the development team because a narrator of this nature is key in an adventure like this one. The balance between the sense of fun as they joke about the player's failures and the building suspense developed by the evocative pixel-art graphics is very impressive.

While this is an adventure that is undoubtedly short compared to the typical gaming narrative, it still provides some lasting impressions. It's possible to complete in as little as half an hour but collecting and seeing everything there is to see will take around one or two hours. What's most interesting beyond the collecting and puzzle-solving is the emotional depth Shut In is trying to tap into through a sense of isolation. With the creeping depression portrayed through the dark lighting and atmosphere of hopelessness, it's not at all surprising that sufferers of mental illness have praised Shut In and the developers for accurately capturing this sense through the medium.