GAMEPLAY VIDEO:
I must say, this feels very different compared to the previous SolitaryStudios games I’ve played. I had the chance to try this early, so thank you to the developer for giving me access!
Unlike their past games, this one leans heavily into a PSX low-poly style while introducing a completely unique gameplay mechanic. Instead of relying purely on WASD and mouse controls, you have to use your head, eyes, and hands to navigate through this nightmare.
The developer mentioned that the game was inspired by Idols of Ash, and you can definitely feel that inspiration throughout the experience. The game uses your face cam to detect and calibrate your head movements, eyes, and even your hands. Your head controls movement and camera direction, your eyes are used for blinking (which honestly makes the experience even more terrifying), and your hands are used to interact with objects in the environment.
I was genuinely on edge the entire time while playing. What makes the enemy especially terrifying is that it can roam around the map freely, similar to Idols of Ash. You’re not dealing with some simple creature here either, it’s something far more unsettling.
I streamed the demo and was panicking almost the whole time. This is probably one of the best SolitaryStudios games I’ve played so far because it feels fresh, experimental, and very different from their previous projects.
The only issue I encountered was the head movement sensitivity. Turning your head left and right too quickly can make the camera spin a bit aggressively, which might be rough for players who experience motion sickness. Thankfully, the developer mentioned that they already added sensitivity settings and are improving the options menu for future versions.
Also, a quick warning for VTubers, PNGTubers, and faceless creators: when you press START, the game automatically detects available face cams connected to your PC, so make sure to double-check your setup before streaming.
Overall, The Sinkhole demo absolutely delivered. According to the developer, the full version will include even more mechanics and surprises, and honestly, I can’t wait to see where this goes.
Overall rating:
10/10 Sinkholes