The Nintendo Switch is a great device for the sheer fact that you can play video games in bed right before falling asleep. Rocket League, Worms Rumble, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2… these are all great games to play before drifting off to dreamland.
The same can’t be said for Shadow Corridor, which will make its way to Switch next week and should really only be played right before bed if you’re prepared to bring the evil and monsters from the game into your nightmares. And that is absolutely a compliment.
Shadow Corridor was originally developed by KazukiShiroma, with Regista handling development and NIS America publishing the port to Nintendo Switch. It’s a survival horror title that draws its inspiration from Japanese locales and folklore, featuring evil spirits driven by haunted Noh masks.
The game is extremely effective in its presentation of horror. Shadow Corridor does away with traditional horror genre tropes and generates its fear from anxious anticipation and dread. There is no real music to speak of as you explore the dark corridors armed only with a lighter and other various non-lethal objects. The overall audio design is that of dead silence – only the sound of your own footsteps can be heard. That is, until an evil spirit manages to find you. Then, it’s a matter of life and death as intense music overwhelms the situation and you’re forced to run and hide from whatever is chasing you. I’ll be honest, though. I generally tend to become a deer in the headlights in these situations and just cower in fear as whatever evil entity consumes me entirely. Thank goodness for checkpoints.
Jump scares do exist in Shadow Corridor, but they are executed well and it never feels like the game relies too heavily on them. They start off innocent enough, whether you’re getting caught by the owner of the house that you’re trespassing on, or the meow of a cat that seems to be leading you on your journey. However, they eventually become far more unsettling once you’re trapped within the walls of the temple that you’re exploring.
And you’ll certainly be exploring. A lot. Each map is randomly generated, which will keep you on your toes if you decide to replay any parts of the game. You’ll never come across the same layout of hallway mazes as you search for keys to unlock doors in an attempt to escape. What’s also great is the fact that there is a timer for each level, making it a great way for speedrunners to celebrate the spooky season.
While playing, I couldn’t help but be reminded of a couple other titles that share the game’s sense of dread-based fear. Sagebrush – another title that I checked out on Switch – had the same sort of lonely exploration mechanic with a terrifyingly quiet audio design. Similarly, the demo for Ikai is almost the same game as Shadow Corridor, albeit set in the actual feudal era. It’s the subtle feeling of dread that makes these games so wildly effective in creating fear.
When I’m playing Shadow Corridor, I can’t help but get random chills while walking down every one of its dimly lit hallways. Even the open outdoor areas manage to give off unsettlingly claustrophobic vibes. I do think the game is probably best experienced on PC, but if you’re on the go or a glutton for punishment and feel like playing in the comfort and safety of your own bed, Shadow Corridor on Switch will provide you with a great survival horror experience. Just don’t blame me when you have nightmares.
A Switch version of the game was provided to TheGamer for this review. Shadow Corridor will be available on Nintendo Switch on October 26, and is currently available on PC via Steam.