The Blackout Club is a unique first-person cooperative horror experience developed by Question. Released in 2019, it puts players in the sneakers of a group of teenagers who have discovered a horrifying secret lurking beneath their seemingly ordinary small town. This isn’t your standard haunted house story; something far more sinister transforms the adults of Redacre into monstrous sleepwalkers by night, their minds taken over by a menacing entity known only as the Shape. Determined to unravel the mystery and save their loved ones, the teens form the titular Blackout Club, embarking on suspenseful missions to gather evidence, investigate, and fight back.
A Story Steeped in Intrigue
Graphics: 6
Sound: 8
Controls: 6
Story: 8
Engaging: 6
Overall: 6.8
One of the most captivating elements of The Blackout Club is its intriguing story. Players are introduced to the mystery through unsettling dreams and blackouts. After waking up in strange locations with no memory of how they got there, the teens slowly piece together clues about the terrifying phenomenon overtaking their town. The story unfolds through a combination of in-game cutscenes, environmental clues, and collectible audio recordings that reveal the truth behind Redacre’s sinister secret. The sense of mystery is amplified by the fact that the teens themselves are the narrators, adding a layer of authenticity and immediacy to their investigation.
The story isn’t without its flaws, however. The pacing can feel uneven, with moments of intense action interspersed with lengthy stretches of investigation, which can sometimes cause the momentum to falter. Still, the overall narrative arc and its clever reveals make the experience a compelling one, especially for those who enjoy piecing together clues and unraveling mysteries.
Cooperative Gameplay with a Focus on Stealth
Designed primarily as a cooperative experience, The Blackout Club encourages teamwork and strategic planning. You can play solo, but the game truly shines when tackled with up to three other friends. Each mission tasks your team with completing a series of objectives, like gathering evidence, rescuing trapped individuals, or disrupting sinister rituals. Stealth is paramount; getting caught by the sleepwalking adults or the unseen Shape has serious consequences.
To aid in their sneaky endeavors, each teen has a set of unique abilities and equipment. These include helpful tools like a grappling hook, a crossbow with tranquilizer darts, and noisemakers to distract enemies. Using these strategically alongside the environment is key to success. As you progress, your character levels up, giving you access to new skills and upgrades, adding welcome customization and a sense of progression.
Although the focus on stealth generally works, the controls can sometimes feel slightly imprecise, particularly when engaging in parkour-style traversal or trying to escape a dangerous situation. This occasional clunkiness can lead to some frustrating moments, especially during tense chases.
Immersive Atmosphere and Visuals
Despite a few rough edges in the gameplay department, The Blackout Club delivers an immersive and atmospheric experience. The suburban setting of Redacre feels both familiar and unsettling, with its typical houses and manicured lawns juxtaposed with the looming, labyrinthine underground network beneath the town. The graphics aren’t groundbreaking, but they’re decent and effectively serve the game’s atmosphere. Dark corners, flickering lights, and the ever-present threat lurking in the background create a genuinely unnerving ambiance.
The sound design of The Blackout Club truly deserves praise. The chilling groans of the sleepwalkers, the haunting whispers of the Shape, and the eerie soundtrack all work in tandem to ratchet up the tension. The importance of sound is further emphasized by the core mechanic: the Shape can only be seen when you close your eyes. Learning to navigate and fight back while relying heavily on audio cues creates a unique and thrilling experience.
Repetitive Missions, Yet Enduring Engagement
The procedurally generated missions of The Blackout Club are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they prevent the gameplay from becoming overly predictable. On the other hand, this approach can lead to repetition, with a limited number of mission types and variations. However, the thrill of the unknown, the challenge of stealth, and the camaraderie of playing with friends help to offset this potential drawback.