By the end of my short session with The Children of Clay, a free horror game available on Steam, I found myself unnerved. Set against a bright morning backdrop, the game exploits darkness within to evoke fear effectively.

The game introduces a captivating premise where you become the unwitting victim typical of a horror film’s opening scene. The game kicks off inside a dimly lit office within a university, where the player opens a mysterious package sent by a colleague that contains a prehistoric idol excavated from the Ural Mountains.

This idol becomes central to the gameplay, fixed on your desk and appearing menacing as you navigate the game’s eerie atmosphere and haunting soundscapes. It’s a real artifact, faithfully recreated by developer Balazs Ronai that reflects actual prehistoric European relics such as the Venus of Willendorf.

The limited animations give the idol an uncanny feel that complements the game’s tone.

Check out the trailer for The Children of Clay on YouTube.

Unexpectedly, the game took a dark turn during my investigative journey, proving to be even more frightening than many recent horror titles I’ve tried, like Amnesia: The Bunker. For an immersive horror experience, The Children of Clay is a must-play, readily accessible and free on Steam.