It’s October, which means you’re likely getting in the mood for Halloween later this month by indulging in various horror or horror-related media such as watching, reading, or playing. Alongside all the thrilling (and terrifying) movies released this year, there are also an abundance of excellent horror games to choose from. Take, for instance, Hollowbody and the upcoming remakes of Until Dawn and Silent Hill 2. Now, you can add another game to that list: Crowded. Followed., a new survival horror game that closely resembles the interactive version of 2014’s It Follows.
Developed by Shane Ferry, a designer based in Belfast who operates under the name “Night Dial”. The premise of Crowded. Followed. can be essentially summed up by its very name. You play as a random bystander who happens upon a man bleeding out in an alley next to a briefcase. After agreeing to take the briefcase from him, the man warns you that you’ll have to find a way to keep it away from an entity that will stalk you until it has snatched the case from your cold, dead hands.
Nobody but the person carrying the briefcase can see this entity, and what’s worse, it has the ability to morph its appearance to better hunt its prey. On top of that, your character is plagued with severe claustrophobia and asthma! The only way to put distance between yourself and the supernatural monster that’s pursuing you is to navigate through crowded subway tunnels, bustling nightclubs, and riot-torn streets, with only your trusty inhaler to keep you from inadvertently collapsing into the waiting clutches of your pursuer.
Crowded. Followed. is set to be released on Steam on October 24th, but if you’re eager to experience the game earlier, the prototype demo is available for download and play on itch.io.