New local indie horror game Scarred promises Singapore-styled scares along HDB corridors

KOEX studio is the alias of solo local game developer Choo Bin Yong, who currently has six games made in the KOEX name under his belt. While the list of those games range different genres, his recent efforts have been in horror games, including the puzzle horror titles Noosphere and Seduction. 

However, the newest title in KOEX's puzzle horror catalogue, Scarred, isn't like the others: It's set in Singapore (or more accurately a twisted version of Singapore).

Published by The Iterative Collective, the first-person game sees you take control of a student to solve a mystery involving a former classmate that went missing. Elements including piecing together "fragmented memories" that reveal the classmate's final days, as well as non-chronological gameplay, as you experience "two intertwined timelines".  

In between all of this is the presence of the supernatural, as you "help a tormented spirit find peace" while other malevolent beings lurk near you. 

Details of the game's story are quite light for now, but the main selling point of the game is the use of familiar Singaporean landscapes and architecture. Specficially, how these environments that we may find comforting can easily be turned into hostile and creepy spaces; that subversion is where the game derives its psychological horror aspect from. This includes HDB corridors, void decks and classrooms. 

Take a look at some of the screenshots here:

The game is set to release on 17 April after being pushed back from its original March 6 launch. However, The Iterative Collective states that the delay is worth it, as it will "significantly elevate the player experience". You can play an updated demo now, as part of this month's Steam Next Fest. It's set to release only on PC, and you can find its Steam page here.

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