A Steam-only masterpiece that's still scarier than anything on PlayStation or Xbox

Horror is an interesting genre across all mediums, especially in games, and few pieces illustrate this better than Who is Lila?. Developed by Russian solo developer Garage Heathen, Who is Lila? is a point-and-click horror game from 2022 that flew under the radar of many. This may be due to its avant-garde mechanics and uncomfortable themes, but also the fact that it's a Steam-only game. You can't get this game on consoles, and there are no plans to release it on any Nintendo, PlayStation, or Xbox consoles at the time of writing.

Big budget, flagship horror IP like Resident Evil and Silent Hill embrace the tropes and tendencies of cinema. Even more cerebral and thought provoking titles like Dead universe and Silent Hill 2use the language of film: the camera follows the player, cutscenes play out like movie scenes, there are attempts at photorealism, and so on. Who is Lila?similar to other indie horror games like You signaled and Mouth rinseit eschews these conventions in favor of the freedom offered by interactivity. And like those examples, it's all the better—and scarier—for it.

What is the story of Who is Lila?

Who is Lila? is kind of like a murder mystery, but not in the way you think. Players take on the role of a young man named William who lives alone and goes to school. By the time the story begins, a lot has already happened, and various flashbacks, dream sequences, and other surrealities create a suitably disorienting plot. Naturally, it's a plot that's almost impossible to discuss without getting into major spoilers, but know this: Who is Lila? it explains its opaque, eccentric story quite clearly over time, despite being very confusing at first.

The story is one of identity, experience, and the nature of reality, and its non-linear construction drives these broader thematic points. It's a pretty elegantly crafted story that puts the player in awkward situation after awkward situation, even forcing them to do things they don't want to do. Due to this disorientation and also loss of control (always a valuable resource in video games) Who is Lila? it really does deliver its scarier news.

Give another way Who is Lila? it might not make you jump out of your seat with scary monsters or heart-pounding set pieces, but it has a good chance of keeping you up at night with its subtleties. The more you think about the game's story, lore, and the actions of the main characters, the more helpless you feel. It's not the sense of helplessness that comes with running out of ammo or facing a horde of menacing enemies, but a kind of existential, cosmic impotence that grips you more than any monster design ever could.

Who is Lila?'s suffers from some unfortunate localization issues; for example, its English translation contains many spelling and grammatical errors. It doesn't detract much from the game's overall strengths, but it's worth mentioning before jumping in.

Who is Lila's game mechanics and controls Steal the show

Who is Lila? it has an interesting story, but most novice players are attracted by its mechanical novelty, which goes hand in hand with its overall presentation. Navigating through the game's environments is done using conventional point-and-click mechanisms, but you'll notice that nearly half the screen is taken up by a detailed view of William's face. This display compartment is reserved for Who is Lila?the main mechanical element, a kind of social simulator.

At certain moments, players will get a preview of what William is going to say in conversation, while also having a certain amount of time to click and drag parts of his face to create the right expression. For example, if someone greets William cheerfully and he responds in kind, the player should probably pull the corners of his mouth up to smile. Doing it differently, like pulling his eyebrows down to make an angry face, can lead to unique character interactions, plot twists, and even completely different endings.

Takes 2-4 hours to beat Who is Lila?

This game trick has an inherent uncanny valley aspect, but Who is Lila? he kicks it up by occasionally forcing William to make certain expressions: a smirk creeps across his face when someone cries, or he looks at a seemingly innocuous remark in pure terror. Players must deal with these inappropriate expressions to avoid unfavorable outcomes with NPCs. This game elevates the aforementioned theme of control as a player like William loses control of his most valuable tool: his face.

Who is Lila has the horror X-Factor

“Uncanny valley” is the phrase used to describe it Who is Lila?but the broader experience defies such simple categorization. He has an undeniable sense of showmanship, like a skilled magician who guides you through illusion after illusion. The game regularly turns itself on its head or unexpectedly remixes itself, and the non-linear nature of the story keeps it constantly engaging, even when it doesn't make much sense. It even recontextualizes genre-independent mechanics like save and load and implements them in unique ways.

Who is Lila? is another example of indie games' potential for innovation and ingenuity; there really is nothing like it. It's a shame it hasn't made it to consoles yet, though its facial manipulation mechanics work best with a mouse. It's not a very technically demanding game, nor is it financially demanding, so if you have a “good” PC, it's an experience you can't miss.