Beneath Trailer Preview | A Nightmare Waits Beneath the Sea

There is something deeply unsettling about the sea. Its waters are black and unpredictable and so unspeakably lonely. And how much worse to put stranded far beneath the ocean’s surface while something hunts you through forgotten metal halls?

Beneath Trailer Preview | A Nightmare Waits Beneath the Sea

This is the premise of Beneath, a newly announced horror game that follows Noah Quinn, a seasoned deep-sea diver. But after an unexpected twist of fate leaves him stranded in the vastness of the ocean, he discovers something unexpected – a scientific facility far beneath the surface. But as he seeks sanctuary in these desolate buildings, he finds that he might have been safer in the water. Something alien and twisted haunts these halls, and he’ll need all of his wits and skills to keep him alive.

I had the chance to see a sneak preview of Beneath’s trailer, and I’m happy to report it has everything I want to see in a horror game. The tight, claustrophobic halls, the omnipresent threat of danger that comes from both monsters and the ocean pressing in on all sides, and some unique monster designs. I’m deeply intrigued by the writhing, hanging creatures; they remind me of the nightmarish mouths of sea lampreys.

And while an environment is foundational to any good horror game (what’s horror without atmosphere?), Beneath promises to offer more than your run-and-gun gameplay that’s become so commonplace in horror today. Players will have to manage ammo and use quick thinking in order to outsmart foes with adaptive AI who can’t always be killed with bullets.

Related: The Most Anticipated Horror Games of 2023

But this resource management extends beyond your ammo clip: players will need to keep an eye on their Sanity meter. Very reminiscent of Amnesia: The Dark Descent or Call of Cthulhu. And if I had to hazard a guess? It probably extends to the deep-sea diving suit segments, where Noah will investigate the ocean floor and underwater stations.

Beneath sounds like it has no shortage of moments that will keep the tension high. But what intrigues me most is the mystery that underlies the game. Why were these research facilities built? What is the source of these strange, alien-like monstrosities? When will I finally get a chance to play this game myself? I guess we’ll have to wait and see, as its release date is still being determined.

If you want a break from all the horror, check out this preview on Atelier Ryza 3.