New Face On The Block
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About New Face On The Block
New Face On The Block is an indie adventure game set in a decaying 1992 suburban neighborhood. Developed by Yellow Basement Games, it blends slow-burn horror with eerie environmental storytelling. You play as a new resident drawn into a mystery involving occult rituals and a cult’s attempts to summon the dead. The game emphasizes mood over jump scares, using a minimalist soundtrack and flickering VHS-style visuals to amplify unease. Released in 2026, it’s a single-player experience where choices matter, like whether to flee a shadowy figure or investigate a cryptic note. It’s for players who prefer psychological tension over action.
Gameplay
You spend most of your time exploring a maze of crumbling houses, abandoned rooms, and overgrown yards. Core mechanics revolve around stealth and observation: avoid cult members by hiding in furniture, decode ritual symbols from torn journals, and use a handheld cassette recorder to document clues. The camera lags slightly behind your character, creating a disjointed feel that mirrors the protagonist’s paranoia. Combat is nonexistent, your only defense is quick-time dodges. The game’s rhythm is deliberate, with 30-minute sessions often ending on unresolved dread. Sound design is key: distant whispers, creaking floors, and a distorted synth loop that shifts when you’re being watched.
What Players Think
PlayPile players rate it 88% positive, with 72% of completions earned by those who finished the true ending. Average playtime is 8.5 hours, though 43% of users abandon it after 4-6 hours citing pacing issues. Community moods are split between “tense” (68%) and “bored” (22%). Metacritic aggregates a 78/100, praising its “haunting atmosphere but uneven pacing.” One reviewer wrote, “Feels like a lost 90s horror VHS, every frame drips with dread.” Another called it “too slow for casual players but a masterclass in minimalist horror.” Achievements include 55 total, with the hardest being “Unseen” (avoid all enemies in one chapter).
PlayPile's Take
Worth playing if you enjoy atmospheric horror with a cerebral twist. At $29.99, it’s a risky buy due to its slow pacing, but the 55 achievements and branching story justify the cost for completionists. Skip if you want fast-paced scares or don’t tolerate ambient dread. The game’s strength is its oppressive mood, but its weakest chapters drag. Best played in short sessions, let the 90s-era tension seep in, then walk away before boredom sets in.
Game Modes
Single player
Achievements
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