[Re≒Connect Exit LOOP]No. 8-like horror action game!

“Re≒Connect Exit LOOP” is a new “8th-like” “anomaly detection” horror walking simulator title by indie game developer “Damecchi Damecchi” that has been officially distributed on the Steam store since May 21, 2024.

The game is set in a subway station that repeats an infinite loop, and its main feature is the 8th-like play element where you detect any abnormalities, and if you find any abnormalities, you move to red, and if there are no abnormalities, you move to blue, and finally you reach platform 7.

This is a new work recommended for those looking for an indie horror game with the same rules as the super popular horror walking simulator “Exit 8'', which gained followers worldwide after its release on the Steam store.

8th-like new horror game

“Re≒Connect Exit LOOP,” which is currently being distributed on the PC game portal site “Steam” store, is a new walking simulator work that is a follow-up to “Exit 8,” which was an unusually big hit as a horror game on Steam.

The game was developed by a Japanese individual game developer named Damecchi, and the style is exactly like Exit 8. This is a new PC game title that makes you feel the great influence of “Exit 8,'' which has created a worldwide following.

Players land in a subway station reproduced with realistic 3D graphics, and proceed with the play while sensing the “incidents'' that occur there. The ultimate goal will be to reach “Platform 7” in the end.

This is a new PC game that can be recommended not only to those who have played Exit 8 and got hooked on its worldview and game system, but also to those who are interested in developing their own indie game titles.

In addition, the latest update containing minor bug fixes was announced immediately after the game was released, and we quickly responded to problems that often occur immediately after the official release. This is a must-see horror game that has a high level of reliability in that it takes good care of its work.

Game features

The rules of the game are quite simple. It is very easy to understand, “If we discover something unusual, we move to red, and if there are no abnormalities, we move to blue.'' This requires an observant eye that can quickly detect changes that occur along the way.

For those who don't know about “Exit 8'', which is the source material for this work, this game is a horror walking simulator where you aim for the exit of a subway station, and there is a rule that if you sense something unusual, you have to turn back.

If there are no abnormalities, the game will move forward, but the process feels like it's in an endless loop, which is scary, and the variety of abnormalities that appear is so diverse that it creates a “mental pressure'' on the player.

Compared to “Exit 8,'' which had a quiet psychological horror that was its real appeal, the strange events that appear in this work include many surreal and funny elements, and the style is easy to get into even for people who don't usually play horror games.

As the store clearly states, “There are many different old men at the station,” the point is that almost all of the NPCs players will see in “Re≒Connect Exit LOOP” are characters with the appearance of middle-aged men.

The sales pitch is that it's a “No. 8-like game where only old men appear,'' so if you're a player who can tolerate the “silly vibes'' typical of indie game titles, you should be able to enjoy the game until the end.

Controller compatible

The selling price on the Steam store is 700 yen, and you can currently purchase it for 490 yen, a 30% OFF “release commemorative sale price” (limited time price until May 29, 2024). If you're looking to buy products as cheaply as possible, hurry up and check them out.

The game supports a Japanese interface and subtitles as standard, and also fully supports operation with an Xbox controller. Even people who usually play games using a controller can download it with confidence.

There are no Steam achievements that can be unlocked, which is very disappointing. It's unclear whether they wanted to release the game sooner or whether they forgot to implement the Steam achievement unlock itself, but I'd like to see it added in a future update.

There is no mention of compatibility with Valve's portable game console “Steam Deck” on the store at this point, and it is likely that this is not a subject of Valve's investigation, or that it has been put on the back burner. Let's keep an eye on future information disclosure.

Furthermore, it seems that live streaming of the game is “very welcome'', so it can be said that this is a new title that can be recommended to those who stream videos on YouTube etc. It's a developer's pleasure to be seen by many people, so let's do a live commentary.

Overall review: Now is the time to play this game

Since the release of “Exit 8'' on the Steam Store, game titles that imitate the style of the same work have appeared all over the world among indie games, especially among “individual developers''. This is a new game that takes advantage of the “8 Likes'' boom.

The “Exit 8'' style rules of “turn back if something unusual is detected'' and “proceed if there is nothing unusual'' are simple and clear, and it cannot be overlooked that the game is showing momentum to redefine the asymmetrical competitive play that was popular in horror action games until recently.

For those who want to make a horror action game similar to No. 8, it is easy to decide on a direction, since all you need to do is keep in mind the basic rules of No. 8 above, and then focus on how to create strange or frightening changes.

In the case of this work, one of the selling points is the unusual element of “the old man becoming strange'', and its appeal is that it is a horror walking simulator that fulfills its mission as a parody work.

Easily borrowing ideas created by others can lead to situations where the status of the developer himself may be diminished, but this type of “resonance phenomenon'' can occur in any genre, and is not much different even at major companies.

“Exit No. 8,'' which actually became a huge hit worldwide, proved that even individual indie developers can create a hit game, and it is only natural that other indie game developers will follow in its footsteps.

However, since there are certain “waves'' in the boom of game genres, it may seem cruel, but there is a possibility that horror games that claim to be “8th-like'' will eventually reach “saturation'' and then decline as a genre.

In other words, if you want to play this game in a fun and fun way, now is the best time to play it, and even if you plan on playing it later, the time will eventually disappear. Now that the “8th-like'' genre is at its peak, it's meaningful to play this game.

Of course, it is an individual's freedom to respect the originality of the author and decide that he or she will never play with parody works. The author of “Exit 8'' has already announced a new title, so it would be better for you mentally to play that.

However, even games like this one, which are made with the awareness that they are “just a parody,'' are still interesting in their own way. Rather than plagiarism or imitation, civil rights should be granted to “respectful parody games.''

I can recommend this work to people who enjoy the humorous situations in which many strange old men appear, or to people who are looking for fresh material in live commentary videos.If you fit into these categories, you will enjoy this work more than the price.

Many “8 Likes'' will continue to appear on the Steam store from around the world, but if this game still survives several years after the boom has passed, it will continue to be loved as the definitive parody game for many years to come.

The recommended new indie game title “Re≒Connect Exit LOOP'', in which you aim for platform 7 while detecting “anomalies'' inside a subway station, is currently being distributed on the Steam store. This is a must-see game with a style similar to No. 8.

If you are interested, please visit the Steam store now and check out detailed game information.

[Recommended points]Proceed towards platform 7!