Just in time for Halloween comes ‘Don’t Be Afraid 2’, a first-person horror sequel to the 2020 game ‘Don’t Be Afraid’. Brought to you by Eneida Games, Cat-astrophe Games and Untold Tales, this time you follow along as a young man coping with childhood trauma and launch into this horror escape room game.  

Don’t be afraid 2 goes more in-depth into David’s traumatic past. For those who don’t know, 15 years ago David was kidnapped by a pair of serial murderers and was coerced into their deadly games. Somehow, David managed to survive and escape his captors. After escaping he tried to pick up the pieces and get his life back on track; however, this was to no avail. Follow along as David again, a young man trying to deal with his past trauma.   

Escaping a horror-filled mansion you think would be easy, think again. Mixed with captivating horror and puzzle elements, Don’t Be Afraid 2 will have you using your brain power to try and escape horrifying locations by completing puzzles left behind by the deranged murderer.

Controls, however, are simple so you can concentrate on solving the riddles and escape before David’s past catches him. Interact with various objects using LMB or E and use F to toggle between your flashlight and UV light. This UV light allows you to discover hidden messages and hints key to solving the puzzles.

While there are hints I did often find myself stumped for a while trying to figure out a certain puzzle or code to unlock something, I do wish there was an option for more of a hint like a certain object glowing perhaps but that is just me and by no means is it a negative towards the game. There are no complexities from upgrades, skills or other modes, Don’t Be Afraid 2 is a simple puzzle-horror game filled with challenging aspects and a captivating story that is sure to have you hooked for hours on end.

There are 2 different endings to the game that are all dependent on the path you take so there is a certain level of replayability. Don’t Be Afraid 2 wonderfully blends a mixture of reality and nightmare in a way I have yet to encounter in any other game, most horror games don’t affect me too much but with this one, I was jumping everywhere and by the end of it, I had goosebumps shooting up my arm.  

The art style is quite intriguing, neon signs or lights contrast with the dark blends from long hallways or dark rooms giving the game an otherworldly feeling, the visuals of this nightmare-fueled story will keep you up at night as you ponder if this is reality or is it just another nightmare? 

Sounds are also a very notable mention, as I stated before this game left me with goosebumps everywhere. The sounds complement the visuals superbly with whispers, screams and even choking sounds are all super realistic that further add to the vibe. The sounds are something to be experienced, everything is super crisp and often had me wondering if I was in a nightmare as well.  

Overall, Don’t Be Afraid 2 is a captivating horror story about a young man trying to cope with his past trauma from being kidnapped by a pair of deranged murderers. The easy controls and superb visuals and sound all help provide a wonderful experience for all horror fans alike. This game is worth checking out if you enjoyed the first one as everything the developers learned from the first game has been put into this one and boy have, they brought the heat.  

Written by: Larry