Puppet Combo’s ‘SKINFREAK’ Unleashed to Steam October 16th

Based on the trailer, Puppet Combo has adjusted the game’s formula quite a bit since the demo. Instead of being a taxi driver, you will be playing a software employee.  SKINFREAK centers around Belle, who gets called into work late one night to install some software at the Baun Plaza building. Because apparently, nobody learned anything from every horror movie ever made – don’t go to creepy places alone at night! But Belle’s about to have a very bad evening, because the serial killer known as Skinfreak is hunting in the area, and he’s got his sights set on making Belle his next victim.

SKINFREAK takes a refreshing approach with its classic inventory system that lets you actually think for yourself. You can drop items, examine them, and figure out how to use them without the game screaming instructions. It’s a trait that Puppet Combo has used in all of their games, but SKINFREAK seems like it’s going to elevate it with the new task tracking feature. The note-taking system is particularly clever – it keeps track of points of interest around the game world, which means you won’t spend half your time wondering “Wait, what was I supposed to do in that room with the weird smell?”

Thankfully, SKINFREAK has a fully voice-acted cast that knows how to deliver lines. Nothing kills the mood like dialogue that sounds like it was recorded in someone’s bathroom or is an AI voice-over. The game is also programmed with a branching dialogue system with the NPCs, meaning your choices have weight. Your decisions will shape how Belle’s terrifying night unfolds.

Puppet Combo Still Got It

What I love about Puppet Combo is that they understand something that many modern horror developers seem to forget – atmosphere is everything. SKINFREAK embraces that beautiful, grainy aesthetic of 1980s B-horror movies that we all secretly love. You don’t need photorealistic graphics or a symphony orchestra soundtrack to create genuine fear. Sometimes, all you need is good old-fashioned tension, smart game design, and the kind of aesthetic that makes you feel like you’re watching a late-night creature feature. The giallo influence is particularly exciting for horror fans who appreciate the genre’s unique blend of mystery, style, and violence.

Final Thoughts: Fire Up Your Steam Engines!

October 16th is just around the corner, folks! Now’s the perfect time to prepare yourself for what promises to be one of the more genuinely unsettling horror experiences of the year. Clear your schedule, dim the lights, and maybe warn your neighbors that any screaming they hear is probably just you playing a video game. The official trailer gives us just enough of a taste to know that Belle is in for a rough night, and honestly, so are we. Sometimes that’s exactly what you want from a horror game – the promise that you’re going to have a terrible time, and you’re going to love every uneasy minute of it.