New Horror Game is Resident Evil Meets Parasite Eve, and You Can Play It Soon

by

In recent years, starting from the late 2010s and continuing into the 2020s, there has been a revival of survival horror games. This resurgence can be attributed to remakes and sequels of classic survival horror series like Resident Evil, Dead Space, and Silent Hill. These titles have not only enjoyed commercial success but also gained widespread popularity, inspiring developers to create new installments in established franchises such as the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem. Additionally, the success of these games has led to the creation of entirely new survival horror games. Games like ILL and Cronos: The New Dawn are drawing from modern survival horror elements, while Dread XP’s Heartworm aims to revisit the origins of the survival horror genre.

Heartworm’s Direction and Nostalgic Development

First introduced in early 2020 as part of the digital Haunted PS1 Demo Disk, Heartworm is a single-player, third-person survival horror game reminiscent of the original Resident Evil 1 and 2. The game employs fixed camera angles, pre-rendered backgrounds, and in-game cutscenes, much like its counterparts from the PS1 era such as Resident Evil and Parasite Eve. Similar to other games found on the Haunted PS1 Demo Disk, like Dead Heat and Fatum Betula, Heartworm is an indie game that aims to replicate the classic low-polygon, pixelated style of PlayStation 1-era games. As stated by Vincent Adinolfi, the creator and sole developer of Heartworm, the game will serve as a “… nostalgic tribute to the survival horror genre pioneers from the late 90s, including Silent Hill, Resident Evil, and Dino Crisis.”

In an interview with the publisher Dread XP, Adinolfi referred to Heartwarm as a “suburban horror” game similar to the original Silent Hill, distinguishing it from the more common survival horror games in contemporary gaming. This is because Heartwarm takes place in a supernaturally haunted house nestled in a mountain range, which aims to create a feeling of familiarity and discomfort, as many people reside in suburban areas. Despite Heartwarm being a tribute to classic PS1-era survival horror games, its themes delving into mental illness and trauma have semi-autobiographical roots stemming from Adinolfi’s personal experiences. Some of these autobiographical aspects were softened following the initial demo of Heartwarm, but they can still be perceived through the character of Sam.

Heartworm’s Narrative and Gameplay Explained

In a heart-wrenching tale, we follow Sam, a young and grieving photographer, who’s grappling with the loss of dear ones, most notably her grandfather. As time passes, she tirelessly seeks ways to communicate with those beyond, leading her to discover an enigmatic online forum discussing a house rumored to have a room that bridges the gap between life and death, allowing contact with departed loved ones. Remarkably, despite no one ever returning from the house, Sam decides to venture into this eerie dwelling, stepping into a realm fashioned by memories.

In the 2025 IGN Fan Fest trailer for Heartworm, we find Sam writing a letter to someone, expressing her intentions to visit the house. She promises that this person no longer needs to worry about her, but as of yet, the identity of this individual remains a mystery.

Compared to its Resident Evil-inspired action, Heartworm offers a more subdued gameplay experience. Instead of using an array of weapons like firearms or melee tools, Sam’s protection primarily relies on her camera, which she can utilize to calm wandering monsters and their variations – much like the gameplay style found in Fatal Frame. Furthermore, players will face not only these static monsters that Adinolfi likens to Resident Evil’s common zombies but also larger spiders, a mysterious hooded character, and other bosses as well. However, combat isn’t the only aspect of Heartworm; it also includes puzzle-solving and managing items within Sam’s limited inventory, similar to the classic Resident Evil games.

Heartworm’s Classic Appeal and Release

Despite the recent surge in popularity of remakes and sequels for games like “Resident Evil” and “Silent Hill”, their original titles from the Fifth and Sixth Console Generations continue to captivate players with an eerie charm that is rarely replicated in modern horror games. Although remakes have streamlined certain gameplay aspects and storylines, the raw presentation of the originals remains enchanting. The timeless appeal of classic survival horror games has inspired major gaming companies to release updated versions of these classics on contemporary platforms, such as PlayStation planning to bring “Resident Evil 2” and “Resident Evil 3: Nemesis” to their PlayStation Plus Premium Classic library during the June 2025 State of Play.

Modern games like “Heartworm” and “Fallout: Bakersfield” demonstrate that traditional gaming styles can thrive in today’s high-definition gaming landscape, due to their endearing and engaging storylines and presentations. In essence, “Heartworm” serves as a nostalgic nod to the charm of classic survival horror games such as “Resident Evil,” “Silent Hill,” and “Dino Crisis.” With an estimated playtime of four to six hours, “Heartworm” offers multiple endings, much like its predecessors, making each replay a unique experience. The demo for “Heartworm” is available for free on PC now, with the full game set to launch on July 31.

Read More

2025-07-29 00:38