Black Shadow
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About Black Shadow
Black Shadow is a first-person survival horror game from OrangeBearGames, released on PC in 2026. It blends eerie exploration with time-bending puzzles. You play Eric Stone, an investigator trapped in a dark-matter zone where shifting timelines and hostile shadows force you to balance stealth and resource management. Built with Unreal Engine 5, the game leans into claustrophobic tension and distorted environments. While not a AAA title, it carves out a niche with its focus on slow-burn discovery and minimalist combat. Ideal for players who prefer crawling through oppressive atmospheres over action-heavy set pieces.
Gameplay
You move in first-person, relying on stealth to avoid shadow creatures that patrol deformed spaces. Light sources drain a stamina bar, forcing you to ration usage, flashlights flicker, candles burn out, and fire requires collected materials. Time manipulation is central: rewinding sections of the environment to bypass obstacles or trap enemies. Combat is rare and punishing; you use makeshift weapons like pipes or molotovs, but evasion is safer. Puzzles often involve aligning fragmented timelines to unlock paths. Sessions feel tense but methodical, with frequent pauses to scavenge supplies or map warped corridors. Controls are responsive, though enemy AI sometimes feels repetitive.
What Players Think
PlayPile community ratings average 72%, with 45 achievements (28% completion rate). Average playtime is 14 hours, though 68% of players finish under 20. Moods are split: 52% “tense,” 34% “curious,” but 29% “frustrated.” Reviews highlight the unsettling atmosphere and clever time-based puzzles, but criticize repetitive enemy encounters and a lack of save points. One user wrote: “The shadows feel alive, but the combat is a chore.” Another noted: “Rewinding time to trap a boss was brilliant.” Metacritic scores 74/100, praising visuals but questioning polish.
PlayPile's Take
Black Shadow is worth playing if you value mood over mechanics and enjoy cerebral stealth challenges. The $39.99 price tag buys a short but atmospheric experience with 45 achievements (most requiring puzzle-solving precision). Flaws like stiff enemy AI and brief runtime (median 14 hours) keep it niche. Skip if you crave fast-paced horror or robust combat. For fans of psychological tension and time-bending design, it’s a standout indie. Just don’t expect it to outshine classics, it’s more of a competent cousin to bigger names.
Game Modes
Single player
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