Cursed New Year is a short, intense indie psychological horror game from a first-person perspective. It was developed by Stanislav Klepitsky and published for consoles by the studio Sometimes You. They are the publishers of many lesser-known indie games. The game was first released on December 5, 2024, on Steam, and later on consoles. We played the PlayStation 5 version.
The genre of this game is walking simulator. It is a linear game that revolves around walking and clicking on items important to the story. The main emphasis is on atmosphere and narrative, while combat or puzzle-solving does not exist. The plot puts us in the role of a children's entertainer. We are invited to a New Year's celebration to entertain a young girl named Sarah. What was supposed to be a cheerful holiday job quickly turns into a dark and disturbing nightmare. Right at the beginning of the game, we as players start experiencing strange, unsettling occurrences. Throughout the game, we explore a gloomy house and gradually uncover fragments of the story. This is presented to us through visions, found diary pages, and eerie sounds.
The graphics are realistic, and the sound quality is high. These elements enhance our sense of dread and the gloomy atmosphere. Although the emphasis is on atmospheric horror, the game also features a few 'screamers', sudden frightening occurrences, and jump scares. However, even though there are only a few, they are unexpected and can scare the player. The controls are simple. There are no attacks, running, or any action other than walking and picking up a few keys and diary pages located in a single location in the game (the house). Even that walking, which is the main mechanic of the game, is very slow and frustrating. It is impossible to lose in the game; we are simply guided to the end of the story.
The game is extremely short. The average completion time is around 30 minutes. It took me 20-25 minutes, and along with the game completion, it's easy to obtain the platinum trophy, which will delight trophy hunters. The ending of the game is, to put it mildly – confusing. Nothing is explained, so the fate of the main character and their family remains unclear. Through fragments of documents collected in the game, without spoiling the plot, we discover that a multiple suicide occurred due to financial problems of the family living in the house we are in.
Due to its length (or rather shortness), we can consider this game more of an intense, quick experience than an extensive title. It should be noted that the game contains disturbing scenes and violent imagery, so it is not recommended for people with heart or epilepsy issues. Because of its duration, critical and user reviews are, of course, mixed. The consensus is that this is a low-budget and short horror title that is a brief foray into the dark secrets of a family. The story is fictional. As far as we know, it is not based on any true events. Due to many confusing elements, it is very difficult to assess the quality of this game. It is visibly low-budget, but that is why the price is low – $2.99 on the PlayStation Store. This is a very accessible price for trophy hunters on the PlayStation platform, who will be the main buyers of this game due to its easily obtainable and achievable platinum trophy.
A copy of the PlayStation 5 version for review purposes was provided by the development studio Sometimes You
