| I love it when a game is so high-concept that the title sums up the goal. In Don’t Starve your character is unceremoniously plopped in the middle of the woods with no direction, so at least you’re very clear of what’s expected of you. |
If you’re not a fan of horror games, but still want to get into the Halloween spirit, this game has a charmingly spooky Victorian aesthetic, plenty of menacing monsters, and a touch of magic. Just don’t roam around at night!
Starving is a very real possibility in Don’t Starve, but so is freezing, burning, being eaten by wolves, going mad… the harsh world you’re in has plenty of tricks up its sleeve. Make survival easier by building fires, securing a variety of food sources from berry bushes to rabbit traps, and arming yourself to the teeth. You can also wear a very dapper hat, which seems to help a lot in these Victorian-gentleman-type situations. The game doesn’t give you much in the way of instruction, since part of the fun is exploring, adventuring, and experimenting.
If you go into the game blindly (which I highly recommend) you’re going to die. A lot. My first game ended with the poor protagonist getting mauled by territorial penguins. Winter is a harsh season, and it takes a lot of strategy to create enough warmth and food. Luckily, the game world is randomly generated each time you play, so starting up for the 30th time isn’t a drag.
When you start getting better at being able to fend for yourself, there are plenty of challenges in the game to keep you on your toes. The enemies get bigger, badder and more vicious as time progresses, so keep sharpening that spear. Dangerous areas become yours to explore, with some pretty nice rewards for your effort. There’s also a super-hard adventure mode that tests the nerves of even the most dedicated survivor.
Of course, if you still want to get your horror on for Halloween, there’s a free mod with the game that converts it into a Slender-esque creep-fest. I haven’t tried this mode because I’m a total chicken, so I can’t say much about it. Jump scare lovers-- have at it! And let me know how it goes, because I’ll be hiding behind the couch.
A multiplayer version of Don’t Starve is coming out soon, so you can attempt to conquer the woods with your friends. This option will be free for those who already own the game, so if you’re thinking of trying it out, now would be the time to snag it before the price goes up. Keep an eye out for those Halloween sales, too!
Take that, nature!
-The Dungeon Dame
Take that, nature!
-The Dungeon Dame
