Summary
Butcher’s Creekis a new first-person horror game that’s inspired by Rockstar’s grislyManhuntseries and 2005’sCondemned: Criminal Origins.Manhuntis known for being one of the most controversial video games of all time, whileCondemnedis often referred to as one of the better horror games of the Xbox 360 generation.
For those who may be unfamiliar with those games,Manhuntis a third-person horror/stealth gamewhere players commit grisly murders to create shocking snuff films. The game came out at a time when violent video games were facing a great deal of scrutiny, and it was even banned in some countries as a result.Condemned, meanwhile, is a first-person horror game with a focus on melee combat. Both games spawned direct sequels, but their respective franchises have been dormant for well over a decade.
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Luckily for horror game fans hungering for something similar toManhuntorCondemned,DUSKdeveloper David Szymanskihas announcedButcher’s Creek. Set in 1993,Butcher’s Creekis about a “troubled loner” who is lured to an abandoned cabin by “rumors of authentic snuff videotapes” and then finds himself being hunted by “sadistic killers,” according to the Steam description. The premise certainly callsManhuntto mind, while the gameplay sounds very much likeCondemned.
A trailer has yet to be released forButcher’s Creek, but the Steam page has confirmed that the game will be available at some point in 2024. The Steam page also lists off some of the gameplay featureshorror game fanscan look forward to onceButcher’s Creeklaunches next year, which includes melee combat utilizing hammers, axes, pipes, 2x4s, and box cutters, the ability to photograph murder scenes to regain health, exploring “decaying farmhouses, collapsing factories, and seedy strip clubs” in the Appalachian Forest, and experiencing “a unique aesthetic combining the gritty shot-on-video look of found footage.”
Butcher’s Creeksounds like it has a ton of potential, and with bothManhuntandCondemnedlying untouched for so many years, it’s great to see a new game step up to fill the void. The fact that David Szymanski is making it should is a good sign that the game will live up to the hype. For those unfamiliar with his work, Szymanski made the critically-acclaimed throwback first-person shooterDUSK, and he also created the well-receivedsubmarine horror gameIron Lung.
While horror fans wait forButcher’s Creekto drop in 2024, they can luckily check out its inspirations on modern platforms.Manhunthas an HD version available on PS4, plus it’s backward compatible on Xbox.Condemned: Criminal Originsis backward compatible on Xbox as well and is also playable through Steam.
