Well, it’s the fall season again, so what better time to settle in to a nice, cozy game about log cabins? Sounds nice and relaxing, right? Well, what if I told you these weren’t your typical mountain getaway cabins, but rather cabins commissioned to appear sinister for films and Halloween haunts? Still on-board? Alright, so what if I told you that some of these cabins weren’t just spooky in appearance, but were actually haunted by vengeful spirits? Well, if that doesn’t scare you off, then The Cabin Factory from International Cat Studios might just be the game for you! 

Home sweet home!

The Cabin Factory is an anomaly finding game similar to The Exit 8 or The Ten Bells. However, there’s a small difference here, as this isn’t just about finding what’s different each time around. Since many of these cabins have been commissioned to look like horror scenes, seeing something unsettling doesn’t necessarily mean the cabin is haunted. In The Cabin Factory, the key is to be on the lookout for anything that moves. That’s how you know the cabin is actually haunted.

The gameplay is simple and fairly straightforward. Enter a cabin, look for anything moving, and if nothing moves, despite how terrifying the scene within the cabin might look, then exit the cabin and press the “Clear” button to ship off that cabin to its owner and call the next one in line. If you do see anything moving, even in a minor capacity, or hear creepy giggling following you, then run like hell for the exit and press the “Danger” button. Like I said, it’s pretty straightforward, but there are a few unexpected surprises the game will throw at you, that I won’t spoil here.

This is how my kids play hide-and-seek too.

It’s worth noting that while there is technically a story present in The Cabin Factory, it’s fairly shallow and not very well developed. This isn’t like The Ten Bells, where the more you play and the more anomalies you encounter unveils more pieces of the story of who these people were and what happened to them. You can get the gist of what happened to the family after experiencing a few specific encounters and eventually finishing the game, but it’s not fleshed out very well. I thought there was going to be a bigger reveal at the very end, but it falls a bit flat.

I did it! Time to punch out and relax…

One thing that surprised me most about The Cabin Factory (aside from some very well-earned scares) was the graphics. This game is gorgeous. There’s so much detail in the characters and every inch of the cabin that it looks real, which is equally remarkable and terrifying. Even your avatar as an elderly woman is impressive, as wrinkled skin can be exceedingly difficult to look convincing. 

The sound design is excellent as well. There’s a very minimal score, but what’s there sells the tension and sense of foreboding. Although, I was surprised to read at the end credits that there was voice acting, since I only remembered hearing a newscaster, some giggling, and the mom in one scenario, but what I do recall hearing is fine. The sound effects are what truly add to the creep factor: from the echoing footsteps in the large warehouse, to the roaring fire, to the child giggles, each sound effect fully immerses you in the experience.

Aren’t they a beautiful family? Just look at those happy smiles!

There are quite a few anomaly-finding games out there, but The Cabin Factory has a few unique twists that help to set it apart from the rest. The story is nothing to write home about, but let’s be honest, that’s not what most people are going to care about. What’s important is that the game is fun, easy to play, and delivers on some satisfying scares. It’s a short game, taking about an hour or so to see everything it has to offer, but for its low three dollar price tag, it’s well worth checking out. With spooky season upon us, why not see what horrors await you in The Cabin Factory?

The Cabin Factory is available now on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.

Reviewed on PlayStation 5.

A copy of The Cabin Factory was provided by the publisher.