Paranormal Tales: Everything We Know

Ever since Kojima dropped the ball that Silent Hills wouldn't be happening, there's been something of a void left in the survival horror space. A space that, up until now, hasn't really been filled. And while you could most definitely argue that games like Visage or Resident Evil 7 have come close to acquiring the same level of intensity as Kojima's canned project, the void, in all honesty, continues to loom.

The good news is, said void may be about to bulk out, thanks to a new bodycam horror game that's been knocking over the past few days. Paranormal Tales: what do we know about it, and how will it shake up the scene and resurrect the world that was taken before its time? Well, here's everything we know about it so far.

What Is Paranormal Tales?

Paranormal Tales is an upcoming first-person survival horror game by Horror Cam Committee, which is made up of just two indie developers, who've collectively poured heart, sweat, and soul into building what could potentially be the next poster child for the horror genre. But what do we know about the story, the characters, and the setting?

Story

Horror Cam Committee hasn't shed a whole lot of light on the concept for Paranormal Tales, other than the fact that it's a “lost footage” type of scenario, in which players are invited to live out the final moments of several missing people. And from what we've seen so far, this includes a Blair Witch-style cabin in the woods scenario, which will touch base on various spiritual entities and what have you.

While it isn't exactly set in stone, it does seem apparent that Paranormal Tales won't contain one continuous plot. Instead, it'll be more episodes, which could very well open up future doors for new add-ons and chapters. This hasn't been clarified, and it is mostly speculation at this point. Nevertheless, it's shaping up to be exactly that, or at least along the same lines, anyway.

Gameplay

Armed with a bodycam and nothing more, players are invited to explore haunted locations from a first-person perspective. Given the fact that this is an episodic title, these locations will vary in style and theme. And from what we've seen so far, this will of course include a cabin in the woods setting. It's unclear how far the devs will stretch this blueprint out, but there's definitely enough wiggle room for additional growth. Whether it'll go that far is anybody's guess, though.

“Each file is a self-contained experience where you get to explore and re-enact what happened to the people who have recorded these files,” the official description reads. “Are you able to survive each found footage file?”

Another thing that hasn't been spoken about yet is its use of combat. The truth is, we don't know if it'll even feature any. At present, we can't say if it'll be anything more than a horrifying walking simulator. Whatever it is, though, it looks terrifying, and we honestly can't wait to watch it unravel.

Development

Paranormal Tales takes a leaf out of Hideo Kojima's book, with elements torn straight from the unscathed adaptation of Silent Hills' Playable Teaser. This was, at least in Horror Cam Committee's mindset, the anchor point from which the game would branch out from. Take into account its subtle references to the likes of Blair Witch Project, and you've got yourself a pretty sturdy concept with a whole lot of potential to garner a cult-classic status.

Paranormal Tales will be built in Unreal Engine 5, which will no doubt benefit the developer's hunger for hyper-realism. You can check out what some of this pre-built footage looks like down in the trailer below. Before you take a look, though, you may want to read our following warning.

Trailer

So, is there a trailer to tie all of this together? Well, yes, yes there is! Hot off the press, as it happens. Horror Cam Committee has, in fact, gone ahead and uploaded a sneak preview of Paranormal Tales. Word of warning, though: if you have a fear of The Grudge, or any Japanese folklore for that matter, then you'd best prepare yourself.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Paranormal Tales hasn't received an official release date yet, but it is available to add to your wishlist on Steam. At present, the game will only  come to PC. This is subject to change over the coming months, of course, though at present, it appears to be a PC exclusive, which may or may not also arrive on the Epic Games Store alongside its Steam launch.

There hasn't been any update on the game's editions just yet. That said, it's likely to only have the one standard version for PC. For more updates on Paranormal Tales, you can follow the official page here. We'll be sure to let you know when anything new comes our way.

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Paranormal Tales when it eventually drops? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.