Footage 1985

About

Footage 1985 is a first-person adventure game that drops you into a chilling mystery rooted in a grim true crime setup. You piece together a fractured investigation through a series of eerie video tapes discovered in the abandoned house of a convicted killer. The year is 1986 and a small town is reeling after new disappearances link back to a man already executed for his crimes. You navigate distorted footage, cryptic notes, and unsettling audio logs to untangle the truth behind the "Butcher of the Forest" and the people who vanished after finding his old home. The game leans heavily into the found-footage horror formula popularized by 80s slasher films, with a deliberate focus on slow-burn tension and atmospheric unease. Players describe the experience as more about psychological dread than jump scares, with a narrative that loops back on itself to question what’s real. While it lacks combat or complex puzzles, its minimalist approach to storytelling and retro VHS aesthetic have drawn comparisons to cult horror titles. A quick 3-4 hour playthrough leaves lingering questions, much like the tapes themselves.

Storyline

In February 1986, a tape was found in the former home of the killer known as the "Butcher of the Forest". After the disappearance of some people at the scene, an investigation was launched. Mark Henry, the dreaded murderer, has already been executed by electrocution, so there is no possibility that he is the perpetrator of further crimes.