Order Up!: Trick & Treat
By Rae
Steam has a surprising amount of free horror to explore, but it’s safe to say that a lot of it is pretty questionable. I’ve found some great gems in my search, but I’ve also found some that weren’t even really worth the download space and time. Which is why it’s really exciting when I’ve prepared myself to not get to into something, and find it to be a fantastic experience.
Luckily, Trick & Treat was well worth playing through. In this strangely enjoyable mix of adorable and horrifying, you head off to a recently-appeared creepy mansion in the woods. Rumour has it that it’s haunted, but your friend Charlotte – a witch, herself – wants to play some pranks and maybe even figure out the mystery. Unfortunately when you enter, Charlotte runs off and you’re on your own to explore this creepy home full of traps, dolls, and ghosts.
I can’t say much about the story of Trick & Treat without spoiling the experience – it’s definitely one I recommend going into with as little knowledge as possible. It plays like most standard RPGMaker games, with occasional puzzles to solve in order to move forward, and no real fighting but occasional chases and timed events.
The art style and music are both great – especially the cute character design. While it’s adorable and colourful, don’t let that fool you – there’s plenty of scary stuff going on here and lots of disturbing imagery to make you question whether or not you’re ready to walk through that next door.
While the playthrough itself was well-worth, I also really enjoyed the story and the ending – the mysteries are wrapped up at the end (though I won’t tell you if it’s for better or worse), and it’s something I’d enjoy replaying in the far-off future when maybe I’ve forgotten the puzzle solutions.
If you’re looking for something comfortably spooky and free to play, Trick & Treat is a great bet!
Order Up! is a weekly column featuring indie-focused reviews, news, or interviews! We like old games just as much as new ones and are always looking for something to check out. Have a game recommendation, a project, or a company you want to talk about? Email me at rae@thegeeklygrind.com or find me on Twitter @ArcanaChance