World War I is rarely the backdrop for VR games, and even less so for horror. Trenches VR aims to change that with a first-person psychological horror experience that drops players into the nightmare of trench warfare. The game is set to launch on Meta Quest on October 22, just in time for horror season.
The setting is as much an enemy as anything else. The tight corridors, mud, and darkness of the trenches create a sense of constant danger, with the environment working to disorient and trap the player as they search for a way out.
Gameplay Focuses on Survival and Sanity
Rather than arming players with endless weapons, Trenches VR leans into survival mechanics. Players must scavenge for supplies, manage scarce resources, and stay hidden from whatever hunts them. Sanity plays a role too: lingering too long in the dark or witnessing disturbing events can distort perception, blurring the line between what’s real and imagined.
This approach places the game alongside titles like Amnesia: The Dark Descent, where tension and atmosphere are more threatening than combat encounters.
Visual Style and Immersion
The game uses muted colors, fog, and grimy textures to recreate the oppressive look of WWI trench life. The use of spatial audio is key, amplifying distant gunfire, echoing footsteps, and unsettling whispers that keep players on edge.
VR heightens this effect, forcing players to peer around corners, crawl through mud, and physically look over their shoulder, actions that turn even simple exploration into a nerve-wracking experience.
A Fresh Setting for VR Horror Fans
Horror games in VR often focus on haunted houses or supernatural elements, but Trenches VR opts for historical realism combined with psychological terror. This gives it a unique identity in the genre and could appeal to players who want something more grounded and historically evocative than traditional jump-scare titles.
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