The Mortuary Assistant : Death,Demons & Dread

Yay, you’re working in your dream job but there’s a catch: a demon may or may not want you as a vessel

The Mortuary Assistant has shocked and enticed indie horror fans since its release this August. Developed by Darkstone Digital, this horror gem is sure to send chills down even the hardened horror veterans’ spines. Join Rebecca who is starting her role as a mortuary assistant in River fields mortuary. Met by the mysterious Raymond, he is not long in instructing the player how to go about embalming bodies and ensuring all admin duties are filled. However, things are not what they seem in this new job.

*Join us here at VIBE as we uncover the mysteries of the mortuary and prepare ourselves to be spooked. I just want to include a trigger warning as there is mention of death, screenshots of deceased bodies, an in-depth discussion about the embalming process, and loads of terrifying content. If this is a bit much for you, don’t worry there will always be other articles. It’s important to care for yourself.

First Day Jitters

Starting a new job is a harrowing experience, but, for Rebecca, her first day at her new job has taken a drastic turn. Rebecca is thrilled at the prospect of furthering her career in the macabre and interesting world of funeral care. However, as she attends her first night shift, she finds herself locked in the mortuary by her new boss Raymond. Raymond informs Rebecca she has a demon latched to her and must find a way to banish this demon or she will become possessed. Understandably, Rebecca is pissed, frightened, and unsure whether it’s all a joke or not. As the night unfolds, she realizes Raymond was not joking and terrifying things start to occur.

Trying To Be A good Mortician

The Mortuary assistant starts off as more of an embalming simulator. The player has to learn the process of embalming and how to prepare a body for the funeral process. A clipboard is your handiest tool as it allows the player to follow directions and see the order of the embalming. Additionally, you have to ensure admin duties are being carried out such as identifying distinctive marks, placing an information packet for the family, and logging things on the database. Overall, this aspect of gameplay is increasingly enjoyable and allows the player to identify the routine and process. I found myself getting in a groove.

The controls for carrying out the process, such as wiring jaws shut or draining the body of fluids, are smooth and interactive. Personally, I truly felt like I was a mortuary assistant assisting the dead and preparing them in presentation for their farewell. Sadly, the paranormal happenings that accompany this gameplay act as a major distraction for the player: leading us on to a discussion on the game’s various jump scares and terrifying elements.

Jump Scares

The jump scares were not what I expected at all. When you think jump scares, you think loud, bright, and flashy. However, a lot of the jump scares and terrifying elements were subtle and honestly, could actually be missed. However, when you do see them, it will send primal fear coursing through you. The game has several horrifying entities, random writing on the wall, horrific hallucinations or visions, and just dread-inducing scenes. A personal favorite was when the player is working on their computer and exited the computer to see a figure completely white, with pale, cracked skin, and big bulging eyes drop from the ceiling. It’s the first game in a while that has made the hairs on my neck stand up. There is no point divulging too much as it’s best to experience it individually. Especially, as each attempt is procedurally generated.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere is incredible from the beginning. The setting of a cold and sterile Mortuary helps set the scene. All throughout the game, there are several sound and visual cues. The game starts with a stark text warning about the game being based on true events. This helps combine the feeling of fear and anxiety before the game has even begun. Furthermore, the atmosphere helps make this one of the best indie horror titles to grace our screens, since the likes of Outlast.

Banishing The Demon

The actual objective of the game is to investigate and identify the right body that the demon-possessed. The player must do this whilst carrying out mortuary duties such as embalming. However, it’s not as simple as it sounds. The player is given lettering strips that will combust when a sigil is nearby. The player must navigate the mortuary and identify the sigils. Sigils are essential for identifying which body is possessed by the demon and for finding out the name of the demon.

Players must match up the sigils with the names of the demon houses as they need to place the correct one on the body before burning. Several processes can also aid identification: Checking the database for signs, adding a reagent to the embalming liquid, and bodies being more active. Players must be 100% sure that they have the right body before choosing to incinerate it. Get it wrong and find out the consequences.

Overall, the gameplay is fresh, new, and does give the player some thought-provoking moments. Ascertaining whether you are right or wrong is definitely a challenge and keeps the player intrigued throughout.

More Shifts

Surprisingly, there are several endings to the game that the player will experience. On my play-through, I experienced a negative ending where I failed to identify the right body to burn. I can honestly account that it was an exhilarating and harrowing experience. I have not been this scared for a very long time. The game can be replayed several times to experience different scares and different endings. Furthermore, increasing the reasons to purchase this game.

VIBES SCORE

9/10

THANK YOU

Thank you for sticking with me for another review. Indie games are my passion and Indie horrors are such a great experience. The Mortuary Assistant is definitely something I would recommend to all lovers of horror. From its atmospherically focused scares to its downright terrifying jump scare ones it’s sure to have a lasting effect. The Mortuary Assistant is available on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1295920/The_Mortuary_Assistant/ and right now is currently 10% off. If you are still not 100% as always I have included the trailer below. Also, why not check out my top 5 Indie Horror games: https://vibethenook.com/lilacmages-top-5-indie-horror-games/ here at VIBE.