Unholy Heights: A Chilling Descent into Architectural Horror!

For horror game aficionados seeking something truly unique and unsettling, Unholy Heights offers an experience unlike any other. Developed by American indie studio, “Bizarre Bazaar” (yes, that is their actual name!), this 2017 title blends the chilling essence of Lovecraftian horror with the surprisingly addictive gameplay loop of a city-building simulator. Prepare yourself to construct grotesque towers while facing maddening cosmic entities and navigating the perilous depths of sanity.

Unholy Heights throws you into the role of an architect serving a sinister entity known as “The Architect”. This enigmatic being tasks you with constructing towering edifices inhabited by strange, often unsettling denizens. The gameplay revolves around meticulously designing apartments for these otherworldly tenants, each with specific needs and macabre desires.

A Tapestry of Terror: Exploring the Game’s Mechanics

Building in Unholy Heights isn’t your typical SimCity affair. You are working against a relentless clock – The Architect demands progress! Apartments must be furnished with bizarre and often unsettling items to satisfy the tenants’ unique cravings. Imagine needing to provide an altar for a tentacled cultist or a soundproofed chamber for a wailing, spectral entity.

The game’s true horror stems from its exploration of sanity. Each tenant possesses a “Sanity Meter” that depletes as they experience the unsettling realities of their existence. If a tenant’s Sanity Meter plummets too low, prepare for bizarre and terrifying consequences – mutations, possessions, even disappearances! Maintaining a delicate balance between fulfilling tenant needs and protecting your own sanity is the game’s central challenge.

Unholy Heights employs a charmingly macabre art style reminiscent of Tim Burton with a touch of Lovecraft’s cosmic dread. The soundtrack is equally haunting, featuring unsettling melodies and discordant sound effects that amplify the game’s oppressive atmosphere.

Facing Cosmic Entities: A Game Beyond Building

While managing tenants and maintaining your own sanity are central to Unholy Heights, you also face encounters with horrifying cosmic entities sent by The Architect to test your resolve. These encounters manifest as mini-games or puzzle sequences that require quick thinking and a dash of morbid creativity.

One memorable encounter involves appeasing a ravenous, extradimensional beast by constructing an elaborate altar using specific, rare materials. Another requires you to decipher cryptic messages scrawled in ancient tongues to appease a wrathful deity. These encounters are both terrifying and exhilarating, adding layers of depth to the game’s already compelling mechanics.

Why Unholy Heights Stands Out: A Unique Blend of Genres

What truly sets Unholy Heights apart is its masterful blending of genres. It takes the addictive nature of city-building simulators and infuses it with Lovecraftian horror, creating a uniquely unsettling experience. The game excels at balancing lighthearted humor with genuinely unnerving moments, ensuring you’re both entertained and terrified throughout your playthrough.

If you are seeking a horror game that challenges conventions and offers something truly original, Unholy Heights is an absolute must-try. It’s a testament to the power of independent developers to create games that are both deeply unsettling and undeniably fun.