Publisher: Ratalaika Games
Developers: MANIAC BOY STUDIO
Release Date: May 30, 2024
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch
Xbox Store Links: Xbox
Playstation Store Links: PS4/PS5
Skeler Boy immerses players into a retro-style psychological horror adventure, embodying the protagonist, Skeler, on a quest to unravel the mystery behind his missing girlfriend, Megan. Delving into themes of psychosis and suicide, the game invokes the eerie ambiance reminiscent of 1970s and 1980s cinema.
You start the game off in a short introductory story area. After the opening credits role you’ll find yourself arriving at a gas station in the city of Asderel. The gas station is open, but the rest of the city seems eerily empty.
You’ll be contacted by Sven on an AR-88 that you magically have in your inventory. This item will help progress story elements and help you to pass puzzles later on in the game. It acts like a radio receiver where if you tune to the right number you’ll reach a specific person.
As you solve puzzles and move through the game you’ll transition into new “chapters”. You’ll know you’ve solved something important or progressed the story when these transitions happen. As you play through the game you will also unlock comic pages under the comic tab on the main menu. You can also find some hidden comic pages scattered throughout the game. It’s a great companion to the gaming experience. I highly recommend reading through them.
The game throws a couple of fun and engaging gameplay mechanics at you. We already mentioned the use of the AR-88 which adds an element for engaging with characters. You will occasionally need to lockpick doors and the mini game for that really reminds me of Skyrim. Don’t worry if you break them as lockpicks seem to be unlimited. You will also find locked door behind codes and once you find the code you will have to execute timed button sequences.
To make your way through the game you will need to visit all of the different areas of the map and solve each regions puzzle. When finishing some sections you will unlock sewer short cuts back to Asderel City which will allow you to quickly fast travel later on when you need to back track. The sections are short but engaging. There’s also the occasional jump scare … so you’ve been warned.
I don’t want to discuss too much as the game is short and players should enjoy the story without spoilers. I definitely would recommend this game.
*Jamie spent 3 hours adventuring through Asderel trying to help Skeler find Megan. 12 out of 12 achievements were earned for a total of 1,000 GamerScore. A review copy was provided a played on a Xbox Series X.
