The horror genre has been a staple of Hollywood since its very conception, but it took a little longer for it to makes its way to the video game industry. Though early text adventures would adopt a horror tone, it’d be quite a while before big budget home console releases put their own spin on the genre, with limited graphics not allowing for much overt spookiness. By the time Sony’s first PlayStation came out, 3D graphics had taken over the industry, and horror games began to truly shine. Titles likeResident EvilandSilent Hillbecame household names, right alongside the likes of mascot platformers likeMario. And now, flashing forward a few decades, the horror genre is one of gaming’s most prevalent, with new releases like the upcomingMADiSONdropping frequently.
Announced back in July 2021,MADiSONis afirst-person psychological horrorgame that drops in just a week, releasing on May 21, 2025. Though the developer, Bloodious Games, has tried to keep the curtain pulled over most of the game’s stories and mechanics, a few gameplay trailers have been released, each one creepier than the last. Locked in a dark room, the player must solve puzzles to progress and must hold off the ancient demons that are attempting to possess them, all the while only armed with an instant camera.
RELATED:The Dead by Daylight Dating Sim is Strangely Perfect Marketing for the Horror Game
MADiSON Has Serious PT Vibes
Taking one look at the gameplay trailer, it’s easy to compareMADiSONtothe infamousPTdemo. Eventually unveiled to be the teaser for a new, now-canceled,Silent Hills,PTwas groundbreaking upon its 2014 release. Since then, just about every other Indie horror game has attempted to borrowPT’s unique visual style and pacing, but while most fail to live up to the hype, it seems as thoughMADiSONmight actually manage it.
Based onthe footage forMADiSONreleased so far, it seems as though the game will primarily take place inside a large house. This house appears very visually similar to the house inPT, with stark white walls, and sharp, bright lighting guiding the way down its long corridors. However, this house isn’t quite as clean as it looks. By using their camera, the main gimmick of the game, players will be able to get a glimpse of an otherworldly realm, where dark mold patches stretch across the walls, and monsters bend their bones in horrifying stop-motion-like animation. The entire tone and visual style ofMADiSONseems very similar toPT’s, with the player seemingly being encouraged to be as cautious as possible, while also feeling as though they’re in constant danger.
The main gimmick ofMADiSON, the player’s camera, is what sets the game apart fromotherPTclones out there. To progress through the game, and uncover the truth behind the game’s central plot, players will need to take photos of their surroundings and objects. As the player-character shakes the picture produced, hidden details about the environment will be revealed, such as clues to unlock a door, or hidden objects that will help the player fend off demons.
The player’s reliance on their camera seems like it’ll lend itself well to a plethora ofjump-scares, as every time the player takes a photo, there’s the potential that a demon will appear out of thin air or the environment will change suddenly. IfMADiSONcan deliver on its unique premise and central game mechanic, then it could easily end up being one of the scariest games of the entire year.
MADiSONwill release on July 8 for Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S.
