Gimmick
review and description
by Dsibe top

Gimmick is a short, spooky indie game that puts you in the role of David, a guy who takes a seemingly simple data transfer job. But as you start playing, it quickly becomes clear that something isn't quite right.

The game's premise is easy to understand - you've been hired to transfer data stored on floppy disks. Sounds boring, right? Well, that mundane task gets interrupted by some seriously creepy stuff happening. The atmosphere really sells the horror vibe, with excellent graphics and sound design that will have you feeling on edge the whole time.

From the moment you start up Gimmick, the retro visuals and PSX-style look just ooze old-school horror game vibes. The pixelated but detailed environments are simple but effective in establishing the rundown, abandoned office setting. The chilling soundtrack and ambient noises like creaking floors and buzzing fluorescent lights ratchet up the tension perfectly.

The gameplay itself is pretty straightforward - you move around with WASD and interact with objects using the mouse. There aren't any complex mechanics, which is good because it lets you really get immersed in the creepy situations unfolding. You'll be searching the office, picking up items, solving basic puzzles, and most importantly - trying to not die a horrible death at the hands of the malevolent force stalking you.

While the gameplay may be simple, where Gimmick truly shines is in its storytelling and scare factor. The narrative is left delightfully vague, giving you just enough scraps of info through notes and computer logs to piece together what's going on. I don't want to spoil too much, but let's just say reading confidential documents about aliens was maybe not the best idea, David.

Speaking of scares, Gimmick doesn't pull any punches. Despite the short length, I jumped out of my seat multiple times thanks to the awesome building of suspense and well-timed jumpscares. The creature design is delightfully creepy too in that old-school messed-up way horror games used to love.

But what really adds replay value is the fact that there are three different endings you can get based on your actions. I won't spoil what they are, but let's just say some are... better than others for poor David. Trying to unlock all three had me coming back for multiple playthroughs.

As for specs, Gimmick is currently only available for Windows PCs. The file size is a reasonable 93 MB. For a small indie game, the graphics and production values are really impressive. The developer clearly put a lot of effort into nailing that nostalgic late 90s horror aesthetic.

Overall, if you're looking for a short burst of horror gaming with awesome retro vibes, plenty of scares, and some replay value in hunting for those multiple endings, Gimmick is a must-play. For a $5 price tag, you're getting an extremely polished and high-quality horror experience that horror fans in particular are going to eat up. I can't wait to see what this developer does next!