Following an Early Access launch in October 2024, Vietnamese independent game studio Rare Reversee and co-developer Beaztek have released their first-person narrative-driven psychological horror The Scourge in full on Steam. You can also check out the demo before you decide to take the plunge with the full game.
Set in the winding back alleys and crumbling tenements of 1990s Saigon, The Scourge plunges players into a world where Vietnamese urban legends and family trauma collide. Players take on the role of Nhat Huy, a man returning to the city of his childhood – only to find that the past refuses to stay buried.
Overwhelmed by delusions due to past tragedies and life’s despair, Nhat Huy frequently finds himself in nightmares. In these dreams, the line between reality and illusion becomes blurred. To free himself from his past, he must confront his sorrows, make amends for his mistakes, and defeat the most formidable enemy that exists not only in his mind, but also in the real world.
Emphasizing fear over action, what sets The Scourge apart is its roots in authentic Vietnamese culture, folklore, and the lived experience of a generation shaped by hardship, guilt, and unspoken grief. Rather than relying on jump scares, the game builds a suffocating atmosphere through environmental storytelling, logic-driven puzzles, and a unique radio-based narrative mechanic that slowly unravels the truth behind Nhat Huy’s haunting.
Oppressive tension in the game is built through environmental design, layered sound, and psychological pressure. Meanwhile, radio broadcasts deliver story fragments, clues, and emotional beats as players explore the decaying city. Meanwhile, your choices shape Nhat Huy’s fate, resulting in one of the game’s multiple endings.
Currently, a film adaptation is in the works for The Scourge, with Doan Si Nguyen directing, and Tran Khanh Hoang handling the writing duties. The film is set for a 2027 release.