I think this came onto my Steam radar because I played Mouthwashing and I can see why. Lo-fi psychological horror in a contained environment with something out to get you; the description fits both games.

In Mouthwashing it was a crashed space freighter, with very few crew surviving. Here it's a giant drilling machine, burrowing incessantly into the Earth in search of a strange signal. Except you, the Navigator, seem to be the only crew still here. Very soon it is apparent that something not at all good has happened.

It's a claustrophobic environment, all cramped rooms, staircases and twisting corridors. The visual style as well as the predominantly reddish colour palete add to the feeling of confinement. Throw in the sounds and the atmosphere created is suitably edgy.

I am just over two hours in and am on Day 2. Much to date has been unravelling what I am doing and how to do it, repairing stuff and making a number of course corrections. The technology is old-world, full of cassette tapes, cartridges and ASCII-style text, accompanied by the satisfyingly appropriate clicks, whirls and hums as you load tapes and interact with systems. The opening menu will give you a taste of what you are in for.

I have also successfully run away from something monstrous, and am currently trying to do so again. Failing lets me try again, this current attempt more involved than the first.

Notes I have found, phone calls I have answered, and a vision or two, are starting to help piece together the story, both mine and the mission's. I haven't got a good grip on either yet, although the bodies clearly don't bode well for the latter.

The game plays in the first person and exclusively autosaves at certain points (not on exit). WASD moves you around, the mouse and keyboard interact with the environment. Tab brings up the inventory bar, and clicking an item will put it in your right hand. You can then try and use it in the game world. Mimicking motions (e.g., turning a knob, pulling a lever) is at times required. Puzzling to date has been well integrated into the game.

So far so good.

Thanks, flotsam 😁 [And Draclvr.]

Thanks for your thoughts, flotsam!

Thank you, Drac!

Thanks for the info, flotsam! And thanks, Drac!

Thanks so much for the info on the game, flotsam. Much appreciated, as always.

And thank you too, Drac.

Thanks Draclvr and flotsam.