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Review: DreadOut Remastered Collection

7/10

Summary

The DreadOut Remastered Collection is a fascinating dive into a corner of the horror genre that doesn’t get enough attention. Both games excel at building tension and delivering scares, with DreadOut focusing more on exploration and atmosphere, while Keepers of the Dark amps up the action and boss fights. Neither title will keep you too busy for long though as they’re both quite short. I think I had rolled credits on both in around 10 hours or so which isn’t great for a game bundle.

Also, the collection isn’t without its flaws. The controls can be frustrating, especially during combat, and some of the pacing feels uneven. The Limbo realm seems like a frustrating waste of time also. But for fans of horror games—especially those looking for something fresh and culturally unique—it’s absolutely worth checking out.

For me, the DreadOut Remastered Collection was a creepy, unsettling experience that left a lasting impression. The ghosts and their ties to Indonesian folklore will no doubt cause me a few sleepless nights, and even though some parts of the game tested my patience, I’m glad I stuck with it. The biggest question though is…am I still afraid of pale creepy ghosts, you bet your life I am!!

Developer: PT Digital Semantika Indonesia

Publisher: SOFT SOURCE PTE LTD

Platform: Nintendo Switch ,PS4/5 (Reviewed)

Review Code provided by Publisher

When it comes to horror games, I’d like to think I’ve seen it all. From haunted mansions to abandoned hospitals, and every type of ghost or monster in between, I’ve grown a pretty thick skin over the years. But if there’s one thing that never fails to turn me into a blubbering wreck, it’s creepy pale ghost kids staring me down in the dark. Something about that just sends me running for the hills! The Ring and The Grudge movies have a lot to answer for! That’s exactly the kind of terror I expected (and got) from DreadOut Remastered Collection on the PS5.

This collection bundles together DreadOut and its standalone expansion, Keepers of the Dark, two games developed by Digital Happiness, an indie studio based in Indonesia. What sets these games apart is how they use existing Indonesian folklore, introducing players to a world of spirits and myths that feel both fresh and deeply terrifying. If you’ve played Fatal Frame or Silent Hill, you might think that DreadOut will be a walk in the park—but the unique cultural twist and terrifying spirits take it to another level.

So together lets break it down and look at each game individually, starting with the main event: DreadOut. Lets get into it!

DreadOut

In DreadOut, you play as Linda Meilinda, a high schooler on a road trip with her friends that goes horribly wrong. Their journey takes a detour into a ghost town filled with decaying buildings and an abandoned school. What starts as harmless curiosity quickly spirals into a nightmare when Linda discovers the place is teeming with vengeful spirits tied to Indonesian folklore. Trapped in this haunted environment, Linda must unravel the dark secrets of the town and its spirits while finding a way to save herself and her friends.

The premise feels like a blend of classic ghost stories and modern horror, but what makes it stand out is its cultural uniqueness. The game introduces myths and spirits that many players outside of Indonesia may not have encountered before, such as the Kuntilanak—a ghostly woman who wails in the distance—and the Pocong, a shrouded corpse hopping menacingly toward you. These elements give DreadOut an identity of its own, setting it apart from the usual haunted house or zombie tropes of other games.

Visuals

Visually, DreadOut is a mixed bag, though the PS5 remaster improves significantly on the original release. The environments, especially the abandoned school, are drenched in atmosphere. Dim lighting, peeling wallpaper, and eerily silent classrooms make every corner of the game feel oppressive and uneasy. The ghosts, too, are creatively designed, with some truly spine-chilling appearances. Creepy pale ghost face? Check, this game has them by the bucket load. Yikes!

However, the game’s visuals do show their age a little. Some textures can look rough, and character models lack the polish of big-budget titles. Still, the improvements in lighting, shadows, and overall detail in the remaster do a lot to enhance the horror experience. It may not have the graphical fidelity of Resident Evil Village, but its art direction more than makes up for it by immersing you in its creepy ghost filled world.

Gameplay

The gameplay in DreadOut revolves around exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat with ghosts using Linda’s smartphone and DSLR camera. Much like Fatal Frame, you’ll use the camera to photograph spirits, both to reveal hidden entities and to weaken or banish them. The mechanic is simple but effective, as it forces you to face the horror directly by raising your camera lens.

Exploration is another key aspect of the game. As Linda, you’ll roam through the school and other creepy environments, searching for clues and solving puzzles to progress. The puzzles are fairly straightforward but add a nice layer of challenge to break up the tension of ghost encounters. To put it simply, if the edges of your screen turn blue, there’s a puzzle nearby so get out your camera! Simple but fun.

Combat, however, is where things can get frustrating. While the idea of using a camera to defeat ghosts is unique, the execution isn’t always smooth. This is a product of past gaming generations, and it shows! The controls can feel clunky, particularly when you’re trying to aim at fast-moving or teleporting spirits. This becomes especially noticeable during boss fights, where precision is critical. The game’s most infamous ghost, the Scissor Phantom, is a prime example of how combat can feel more like a test of patience than skill. Having to repeat sections over and over again leads to feeling frustrated rather than fearful!

Adding to the tension is the game’s death mechanic. When Linda “dies,” she doesn’t immediately restart at a checkpoint. Instead, she’s sent to the Limbo realm, a dark void where she must run toward a flickering light to return to the living world. While this mechanic is unique and fits the game’s supernatural tone, it can become repetitive over time, especially during sections with frequent deaths. Would love a quality of life option to switch Limbo off in the settings.

Overall

Despite its flaws, DreadOut delivers a memorable horror experience. Its reliance on atmosphere, sound design, and culturally inspired ghosts creates a haunting world that sticks with you long after you’ve put down the controller. The abandoned school is one of the most terrifying settings I’ve explored in a horror game, and the constant feeling of being watched kept me on edge throughout.

The game’s imperfections—like the clunky controls and occasional pacing issues—are hard to ignore but don’t overshadow its strengths. It’s a game that thrives on its indie charm and creativity, offering a refreshing take on survival horror. If you can look past its rough edges, DreadOut has a lot to offer, especially for fans of games like Fatal Frame or those looking to dive into horror with a cultural twist.

DreadOut is a solid introduction to the DreadOut Remastered Collection. If DreadOut is about survival and uncovering the truth, Keepers of the Dark cranks up the challenge and pits you against the supernatural head-on. This standalone expansion takes the basic mechanics of the main game and dials them up with a more combat-focused, boss-rush-style approach.

Keepers of the Dark

Keepers of the Dark picks up after the events of DreadOut, though it’s not a direct sequel. Instead, it acts as a standalone expansion that explores more of Linda’s connection to the supernatural. This time, Linda is trapped in the Mirror Realm, a mysterious hub that links eight haunted zones. Each zone is inhabited by its own vengeful ghost, and Linda must confront and defeat these spirits to cleanse the areas and uncover more about her fate.

The premise is less story-driven than DreadOut, focusing instead on intense encounters with spirits and the mechanics of survival. While the overarching narrative expands on the lore introduced in the main game—such as Linda’s abilities and her link to the Lady in Red—it’s presented in fragments, leaving players to piece together the details. This lack of a clear storyline might frustrate players looking for a strong narrative but works well for those who prefer gameplay-focused experiences.

Visuals

Visually, Keepers of the Dark maintains the eerie aesthetic of the original game while introducing more variety in its settings. Each haunted zone within the Mirror Realm is distinct, ranging from misty graveyards and dilapidated mansions to shadowy forests and ancient temples. This diversity keeps exploration fresh and showcases the game’s ability to create unsettling environments.

The PS5 remaster improves the lighting and textures, making the ghosts and settings even more unsettling. The spectral designs in Keepers of the Dark deserve special mention. Each spirit feels unique, with designs that are both terrifying and culturally significant, drawing from Indonesian folklore. For instance, one zone features a ghostly bride with a face twisted in rage, while another houses a monstrous entity that resembles a cursed effigy.

That said, some of the environments feel sparse, with limited interactive elements. While the visuals set the mood, they sometimes lack the small details that make areas feel truly alive—or, in this case, haunted.

Gameplay

Unlike DreadOut, which balances exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat, Keepers of the Dark leans heavily into combat. The game adopts a boss-rush structure, where each haunted zone culminates in a showdown with a major ghost. This shift in focus means players spend less time unraveling mysteries and more time honing their ghost-fighting skills.

Linda’s primary weapon remains her smartphone and DSLR camera, which she uses to damage and eventually banish spirits. The mechanic remains effective in creating tension—after all, there’s nothing quite like staring a ghost down through your camera lens—but the clunky controls from DreadOut persist here as well. Aiming the camera at fast-moving or unpredictable ghosts can be frustrating, especially in tight spaces where movement feels restricted.

The variety of ghosts adds a layer of strategy to the combat. Each spirit has unique attack patterns and weaknesses, requiring players to adapt their approach. For example, one ghost might require you to keep your distance while another demands precise timing to photograph its weak points. This variety keeps battles engaging but also highlights the game’s reliance on trial and error. Some encounters can feel overwhelming on the first attempt, leading to frequent deaths and a return to the Limbo realm, which, while atmospheric, becomes tedious after a while.

Another interesting mechanic is the freedom to choose the order in which you tackle the haunted zones. This non-linear structure allows players to chart their own path through the game, though it doesn’t significantly impact the narrative or gameplay progression.

Overall

Keepers of the Dark is a more focused and action-packed experience compared to DreadOut, but it comes with its own set of pros and cons. The intense ghost encounters and varied haunted zones make it a thrilling ride, especially for players who enjoy the challenge of boss battles. However, the game’s shift away from exploration and puzzle-solving might disappoint those who appreciated those aspects in DreadOut.

The expanded lore and the addition of new ghosts rooted in Indonesian mythology are definite highlights, providing both context and a sense of cultural authenticity to the scares. But the gameplay is held back by clunky controls and occasional difficulty spikes that can make certain battles feel more frustrating than rewarding.

Despite its flaws, Keepers of the Dark is a worthy addition to the DreadOut universe, offering a deeper dive into its supernatural world. It complements the main game by providing more intense encounters and challenging players to face their fears head-on. For those who enjoyed DreadOut but wanted a more combat-heavy experience, Keepers of the Dark delivers.

As part of the DreadOut Remastered Collection, it offers a fitting continuation of Linda’s journey and solidifies her place as one of the more unique protagonists in modern horror games.

Final Thoughts

The DreadOut Remastered Collection is a fascinating dive into a corner of the horror genre that doesn’t get enough attention. Both games excel at building tension and delivering scares, with DreadOut focusing more on exploration and atmosphere, while Keepers of the Dark amps up the action and boss fights. Neither title will keep you too busy for long though as they’re both quite short. I think I had rolled credits on both in around 10 hours or so which isn’t great for a game bundle.

Also, the collection isn’t without its flaws. The controls can be frustrating, especially during combat, and some of the pacing feels uneven. The Limbo realm seems like a frustrating waste of time also. But for fans of horror games—especially those looking for something fresh and culturally unique—it’s absolutely worth checking out.

For me, the DreadOut Remastered Collection was a creepy, unsettling experience that left a lasting impression. The ghosts and their ties to Indonesian folklore will no doubt cause me a few sleepless nights, and even though some parts of the game tested my patience, I’m glad I stuck with it. The biggest question though is…am I still afraid of pale creepy ghosts, you bet your life I am!!

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