The Blackout Club | Xbox One Review

It’s not very often that I come across a modern game that makes me think of adventuring outdoors as a kid. Running around with your friends and coming up with strange stories to entertain ourselves creates a very unique experience. The Blackout Club from Question Games is a very interesting concept that performs this feat for me. It’s an interesting mix of gameplay and storytelling that poses some interesting yet disturbing thoughts while you play. Let’s dive in and see if this is a game you should explore further or run away from screaming.

The Truth Is Out There

The Blackout Club is first-person horror game taking place in a small town. A group of teenagers explore and try to discover the meaning behind some strange occurrences that have been plaguing them. It mixes in elements of The Goonies, The X-Files, and Stranger Things. Each mission of the game is a procedurally-generated level with a series of tasks that you need to perform before escaping. You can attempt to conquer this game solo or team-up with three of your friends creating your own little Mystery, Inc. 

The enemies in the game are creepy, mind controlled versions of the adults and parents that live near you. There’s also cult members that are worshipping some unknown entity taking control of everyone. If your character is captured by anyone of these enemies, you lose control of your character until a teammate revives you. I love this mechanic. It’s especially fun that you can still see what your character is doing while having zero input on what they do next. The entity is a bit of a mystery; you cannot directly see it. However closing your character’s eyes allows you to see a large red outline of it as it stalks you.

No Mystery on Quality

You do have a variety of items to choose from to help you and your group along your quest. There’s food bars to replenish your health and flashbangs to distract the enemies to allow you to escape. There are also quite a few options to pick from in the games repertoire. The most disturbing though, is a crossbow. I understand the need for a weapon to protect yourself, (there’s also a stun gun) but a crossbow is pretty brutal. When you use it in the game, it doesn’t just disable the enemy like the stun gun; it kills them. Since your character is a kid, it’s somewhat off-putting and makes me wonder if it was truly necessary.

The graphics are on par for a budget title, nothing flashy or lavish, but pretty convincing.. The world they have crafted is quite creepy to explore. The claustrophobic nature creates the illusion of danger. However, the entire game takes place in a closed environment, so it’s not hard to focus the detail in one area. From the initial starting area of the game to the larger area, the setting becomes quite believable.

The sound for this game is quite brilliant. It creates a very haunting atmosphere that allows you to become immersed in everything that is happening. 

It’s Dangerous To Go Alone

Speaking from experience, bring some friends along when you play. Trying to crack the case in this game is quite a difficult task. When playing solo, I feel that the experience is lessened due to not having someone to share it with. On the flip-side, having a team of random players is very hard to direct and accomplish tasks. Make sure to find a dedicated group of like-minded individuals to help solve the mystery. The missions you are presented with can be repetitive and lackluster otherwise, from walking around a house and trying to solve a break-in to finding a phone with evidence on it.

The currency in the game is pretty humorous. When you complete a mission, your receive snacks along with experience points. The experience can be spent to unlock additional abilities as well as the option to carry more items. The snacks can be saved up to purchase vanity items like clothes, hairstyles, or emotes. If you are into that type of thing.

The Blackout Club Final Verdict

Overall, The Blackout Club is a very enjoyable experience for some. While many may be frustrated with a style of game that requires teamwork with like-minded individuals, I believe there is a market for this game and others like it. If you enjoy creepy atmospheres with a larger mystery to uncover, this game falls directly into your wheelhouse. If you are on the fence, I would recommend giving it a whirl due to the price point alone. The opportunity to travel through a game with friends is something I have always enjoyed. So grab a flashlight, lace up your shoes, and join The Blackout Club.

If you’d like to learn more, be sure to check out Episodes 255 and 256 of The Gaming Outsider Podcast.

This review is based on a copy of The Blackout Club provided by Evolve PR for coverage purpose and the game is also available on Steam and PS4.