The Shadow Over Cyberspace: A Free Horror Visual Novel – Weekly Indie Spotlight

Originally posted on Total Apex Gaming | By Liesel Booker | Last updated May 16, 2025 6:46 PM ET

The Shadow over Cyberspace is a visual novel that combines psychological horror with a sci-fi take on Lovecraftian lore. This gives the game a unique flavor even in the vast world of indie horror. In addition, the game is completely free on Steam.

What Is The Shadow Over Cyberspace?

The Shadow Over Cyberspace, which can be downloaded for free on Steam, is a visual novel where you have been exposed to a demonic laptop. You are now infected with a deadly disease, and your only hope of survival is to seek help from the Old Ones, who are sentient computer programs who might be willing to help you, or they might not. The game is developed by Fiction Factory Games.

Lovecraftian and Y2K Mythos

Those of a certain age will remember the Y2K scare, when it was a concern that technology might stop working when the year 2000 started. In this game, Y2K is a coming apocalypse manufactured by the computer entity Cthulhu. Yes, Cthulhu. This game reimagines the Lovecraftian gods, such as Nyarlathotep and Azathoth, as “Old Ones,” sentient computer programs who were once human. If you gain their trust, they might be willing to help you fight Cthulhu and stop the coming apocalypse.

Psychological Horror

Image of Cthulhu courtesy of Fiction Factory Games

As you research the Old Ones and sink further and further into your illness, you discover shocking secrets about the world of technology and the line between the real and the imaginary. The game utilizes gradual buildup, letting the horrors creep into you instead of throwing them on you all at once. This makes for an immersive experience that makes up for its lack of fast-paced action with its psychological effects.

Conclusion

Since The Shadow Over Cyberspace is free, anyone can try it out to see if they like it. The world of indie horror is a vast and diverse place, but the reimagining of Lovecraftian lore and the Y2K scare helps this game to stand out among the competition. If you enjoy visual novels and you’re craving a creative, creepy story that makes you think about our reliance on technology, this game is definitely for you.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Gaming and was syndicated with permission.

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