Egyptian-themed escape room horror
The Ancient Labyrinth is an adventure game that puts you in the middle of a mysterious maze. This survival horror entry puts you in the shoes of an amnesiac who finds himself in the maze. With no recollection of his past and the sprawling labyrinth before him, it’s up to you to connect the pieces, uncover the labyrinth's secret, and make it out alive.
Its use of dated graphics works well with the Egyptian theme, making The Ancient Labyrinth feel like a cross between Tomb Raider I and the indie game LETHAL OMEN, being short and straightforward.
Get ready for a fun chase
At its core, The Ancient Labyrinth is a horror game. Most of the map is intentionally dark and the motifs are all there—scattered bones, ancient statues, snakes, and more. However, the fright it offers is something you get used to. The monster is easily manageable, with predictable movement patterns, and the map is not procedurally generated. This means that the map is the exact same one every time.
The game also uses a couple more elements to keep you on your toes and looking over your shoulder the entire time you’re playing. It’s easy to outrun the monster, yes, but the atmosphere and overall visual quality keeps the player feeling like it’s just around the corner. Also, the use of the naturally dark environment adds more challenges to completing the game.
Additionally, despite the same map used every time, the game offers two unique ending scenarios and an online leaderboard to compare your play times. For an indie game, a single run can be completed in less than an hour, provided you can keep yourself safe from the monster. Also, it’s worth noting that the game runs smoothly and with virtually no bugs, despite being an indie title.
A short, impressive indie
As far as indie horror titles go, The Ancient Labyrinth is one of those that is worth the price. Its replayability hinges on the endings available and the online scoreboard, offsetting the use of a non-randomized map. Also, its in-game monster is easy to outrun, although it manages to keep its presence felt all throughout the game, thanks to the use of different elements. Recommended.
