Exploring the Dual Realities of Among Ashes: A Metafictional Horror Experience

by Justine Norton-Kertson

The horror genre thrives on innovation, and while it can be challenging to create something genuinely fresh, Among Ashes from Rat Cliff Games masterfully reinvents the formula in a way that fits well into the nerd horror genre. After all, what’s more nerdy than going meta?

Scheduled for release on December 9, 2024, for PC and PlayStation 5, the game has already garnered attention with its demo, blending nostalgic survival-horror mechanics with an unsettling meta-narrative that blurs the lines between fiction and reality.

A Game Within a Game: The Premise of Among Ashes

Set in the early 2000s, Among Ashes places players in the role of someone navigating their desktop during a stormy night. Your friend sends a link to a mysterious game called Night Call, described as a retro-styled survival-horror experience. Initially, it seems like an ode to classic games like Resident Evil, complete with traffic light health meters, puzzle-solving, and zombie encounters. But as the narrative unfolds, the walls separating the game’s fictional world and your character's reality begin to dissolve.

The experience is a clever homage to early-2000s PC culture, from the desktop interface to the Messenger-style program where your friend drops cryptic hints. This immersion into the early aughts feels authentic, creating a sense of familiarity before plunging players into psychological unease.

Retro Horror Meets Real-World Terror

In Night Call, players explore the eerie Stoker Manor, a labyrinthine estate filled with grotesque monsters and enigmatic puzzles. But the real horror begins when strange occurrences in the game start mirroring your character’s surroundings. Flickering lights, phantom figures, and increasingly disturbing moments in your apartment blur the boundary between the virtual and the real, pulling players into an unnerving dual experience.

One of the standout moments described in early impressions involves a little girl who transitions from the game world to the character's reality. The subtle yet terrifying escalation of these crossover elements challenges the notion of safety in gaming, where we traditionally separate ourselves from the horrors on screen.

Meta-Horror Done Right

The metafictional framing device at the heart of Among Ashes is what sets it apart. It leverages the nostalgia of retro gaming while injecting unsettling modern-day twists. Players find themselves questioning not only the events of the game but their own perceptions as the narrative spirals deeper into the uncanny.

This interplay is further enhanced by Night Call's atmospheric design, echoing the foreboding tension of classic survival-horror titles. From dimly lit corridors to the creeping dread of encountering monstrous entities, the in-game horrors are gripping. Yet, the real-world horrors—dark entities haunting your apartment and cryptic messages hinting at a sinister backstory—add a layer of complexity that few games achieve.

The Mystery of the Creator

Adding to the tension is the enigmatic creator of Night Call. The game’s origins are shrouded in mystery, with clues scattered throughout the experience pointing to a disturbing backstory.

These hints encourage players to dig deeper, both into the game and into the increasingly hostile reality surrounding them. If there’s one thing we love at Nerd Horror, it’s following clues and solving puzzles!

A Clever Nostalgia Trip

Rat Cliff Games has masterfully leveraged nostalgia as a narrative and visual tool. The faithful recreation of early 2000s aesthetics—complete with clunky desktop interfaces and retro graphics—creates a relatable foundation. By embedding terror in this nostalgia, Among Ashes disrupts the comfort we often associate with reminiscing about the past, transforming it into something deeply unsettling.

Why Among Ashes Stands Out

While horror games often rely on jump scares or grotesque visuals, Among Ashes taps into more existential fears: What if the horrors we engage with could invade our reality? The game challenges players to navigate two interconnected worlds, forcing them to question their assumptions about the nature of safety, control, and the boundaries between fiction and life.

With its innovative mechanics, haunting meta-narrative, and nostalgic atmosphere, Among Ashes is poised to be one of the most talked-about horror games of the year. Whether you’re a fan of survival horror or looking for a game that pushes narrative boundaries, Among Ashes offers an experience that promises to linger long after the screen goes dark.

Prepare to confront your fears—and question your reality—when Among Ashes releases this December.