This indie dev made a free, 3D horror model of Minesweeper set in a masquerade ball

First noticed by Alpha Beta Gamer, unbiased developer Sebastian “aare” Laitila came upon a novel thought through the 2022 Haunted PS1 Halloween Game Jam: the traditional desktop time waster Minesweeper, however zoomed into a primary individual perspective and gussied up with low-fi 3D graphics and a gothic vampire horror theme.

The Infernal Masquerade, which is obtainable free of charge on itch.io, casts you as a vampire hunter in a nineteenth century masquerade ball. As an alternative of uncovering tiles and planting flags on possible mines, you pull the masks of human company whereas pinning roses on suspected vampires, with useful company saying what number of vampires they’re standing close to.

I discovered the brand new perspective actually slowed down my play, and I used to be much more ginger with my determination making than in regular Minesweeper. Aare additionally does loads with just a little in terms of the game’s presentation. I am undecided I will ever get uninterested in the Haunted PS1 throwback look, and the Infernal Masquerade’s creepy atmosphere does loads to play up the inherent pressure in Minesweeper’s educated guesswork.

I am additionally fairly keen on the goofy names generated for the occasion company. You are dealing with down inscrutable opponents with names like “Maddox Bryan,” “Jerome Charles,” or “Maxim Andrade.” It provides me main Combating Baseball on the Tremendous Famicom power, a definite “Bobson Dugnutt” vibe.

Along with the free game jam construct on itch.io, aare can also be engaged on a extra substantial model of the game to be launched on Steam. The upcoming model will function enhanced graphics extra in keeping with PS2-era video games, in addition to new methods to reward speedy vampire unmasking.