It Steals Review: A Masterclass in Heart-Racing Terror
Dive deep into the cleverly crafted maze of dread with 'It Steals', where the simplest tasks have never been more terrifying.
last updated Nov 21, 2023
It plays with your expectations, then tosses them in a blender with sound design that could freak out a ghost.
Run, Hide, and Desperately Try Not to Scream
Ever wondered how well you could navigate a maze while being chased by something straight out of your darkest nightmares? Exactly. It's a question no sane person would want to answer, but 'It Steals' does precisely that. With game modes aplenty, each more diabolical than the last, there's no shortage of petrifying experiences. Imagine collecting orbs sounding mundane? Add an eldritch abomination stalking you through twisting corridors. The simple doesn't just become complex; it becomes a hair-whitening challenge that's sadistically satisfying. Shutter modes, my friends, will have your palms sweating and heart rate in sectors unknown.
A Symphony of Shivers and Shouts
Games like 'It Steals' make you appreciate the art of sound design. This isn't your typical, predictable 'scary music ramps up, cue jump scare' affair. Oh no. Instead, expect a heart-thumping, pulse-racing, all-consuming soundscape that ensures relentless tension. Squeaking sneakers and distant footsteps will become the bane of your existence. The sound alone can make you want to alt+f4 to sanity, but the exquisite craftsmanship at play ropes you back in for yet another round of auditory-induced terror.
Graphically Gripping and Eerily Efficient
Let's be brutally honest here, when the very air you breathe becomes a thick, pixelated soup of fear, who needs triple-A graphics? 'It Steals' doesn't boast high-fidelity imagery, but it doesn't need to. What it lacks in detail, it more than makes up for in atmosphere. The minimalist art style adds to the game's unique charm, fostering a sense of dread that would make a grown person avoid hallways for a week. Performance is smooth - because let's face it - jittery frames are the last thing you need when you're sprinting from the stuff of nightmares.
A Monster in Your Closet (of Video Games)
The monsters in 'It Steals' more than make up for their lack of gym days with an Olympic level of hide-and-seek prowess. They're relentless, cunning, and they seem to take a perverse pleasure in your sweaty, panicked mouse grip. And if, by any slender chance, you start feeling overly confident, modes like Living Halls and Freak3 exist purely to steal that bravado right back. It's like the game stared into the abyss, the abyss stared back, and they both decided to collaborate on a monstrous project.
STEAM RATING
Developer & Publisher
Zeekerss
Release Date
July 22, 2020
The Verdict
In a world where horror often hinges on the cheap thrills of jump scares, 'It Steals' is a breath of fresh terror. It plays with your expectations, then tosses them in a blender with sound design that could freak out a ghost. It's not for the faint-hearted, or for those who might need to explain mysteriously punched walls. But at $4.99, it's cheaper than therapy - and you'll get an experience so remarkable, you might just be convinced that there's an award for scaring the pants off people. Who knew pure digital dread could be such a steal?
