Indie Horror: Sally Face

Every fall I dedicate way too much of my time to a cheap indie horror game and neglect all other responsibilities. I absolutely love the typical first/third person shooter horror games such as Silent Hill and Resident Evil but I have a soft spot in my heart for the 2D graphics, click-to-interact mechanics, and lack of urgency in smaller indie horror games. This year I was enamored with Sally Face. I played this game on my Nintendo Switch, but in the future I would like to play it on PC as I think it would add to the retro vibe of indie horror.

Sally Face follows the story of a young man named Sal Fisher and the haunted apartment complex he lives in. He forms a friend group and they kind of turn into the mystery gang but with a lot more violence and darker topics such as homicide, cannibalism, and cults. This game is also extremely inclusive, including multiple LGBTQIA+ characters as well as characters with disabilities, including the main character Sal, who wears a prosthetic face due to a traumatic accident.

Sally Face stands out as it was made by one man, Steve Gabry, better known as PortableMoose in the gaming community. It was released in 2016 and is available on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Mac, and Nintendo Switch. I spent many hours on this game and still haven't unlocked all the achievements, cutscenes, and other hidden items. The killing points of this game (no pun intended) are the characters and the music. Each character is so unique and has their own unique story that you uncover as you play. The way their relationships build makes you feel like part of the squad, and I found myself getting emotionally invested in their hardships.

The soundtrack of this game is an extremely integral part of the gameplay. Not only does screamo metal music bring Sal and his best friend Harry together, but you get to use Sal's guitar to unlock puzzles and fight a few creatures. The background music is also amazing for the eerie, uncanny ambiance of the environment.

A really cool aspect of this game is that it is not chronological. It jumps back and forth between past and present to create a compelling gameplay as you uncover the details of the story. Sal ends up in some traumatic situations, so being able to go back and time and uncover his story while also exorcising ghosts and dismantling a cult makes you feel like a true detective. This game is driven by solving puzzles and dialogue, something I really appreciate because the last thing I want to do after a long day of classes is spend 17 hours replaying a boss battle with limited ammo.

(Here is some Sal fanart I made)

Overall, Sally Face could not have come to me at a better time in my life. The characters inspired me with their bravery and loyalty to be a better friend and to pursue things with passion and curiosity. Although this game is extremely creepy and disturbing, the unsettling ambiance it creates is comforting in a way, and I already have feelings of nostalgia towards it. I felt like a little kid playing with my old neighborhood friend group, and it was an excellent way to escape from reality and wind down.

Playtime: 10 hours max

Price: $15