Blending the uncanny nostalgia of early 2000s OS gameplay with modern exploratory first-person sequences, Frostwood Interactive’s Shutter Story turns a seemingly wholesome family photo album into an unraveling web of hereditary horror. Presently slated to release for PC via Steam in mid-2026, Shutter Story has officially launched its Kickstarter campaign to fund the final stretch of development before this unsettling new retro-inspired horror experience makes its way into the hands of players.
A number of horror games from the early 2000s remain iconic for their use of 3D graphics, fixed perspectives, and over-the-shoulder camera angles that have become a hallmark of the genre, but there were also just as many unsung hits that took the graphics and mechanics of even older 80s and 90s horror gaming and preserved the eerie atmosphere of scares that felt almost indescribably out of place after the decades since their original debut. This format of gameplay elements that seem frozen in time features heavily in Shutter Story, though the game also introduces modern-day FPS movement and exploration that make the OS-focused mechanics even more thematically muddled, offering a unique horror experience. Thanks to a brand-new trailer, horror fans can get a fresh look at this upcoming launch that wears its inspirations on its sleeve while also setting itself apart from its predecessors and competition.
New Horror Game on Steam Puts a Psychological Twist on Sound Design
This new horror game on Steam blends audio recordings with atmospheric storytelling to put a psychological twist on video game sound design.
Shutter Story Blends Retro Gameplay with Timeless Horror
In Shutter Story, the player character’s friend, Eli, is somehow convinced that his family is being haunted, though his relatives believe he simply has an overactive imagination, largely due to a lack of evidence. The player must use their photo editing skills with the in-game SpectralAware 2.1 software to meticulously analyze each photograph and uncover the truth behind these suspected hauntings. SpectralAware 2.1 will let players adjust exposure, change contrast, alter noise, and even apply different filters to the photographs to reveal the horrors hiding in plain sight. A detailed manual will help players to properly categorize each of their findings, with Apparitions, Simulacra, Strange Lights, Demonic Entities, and more lurking within the quaint family photos. It will be vital for players to correctly log their findings, as every mistake will carry consequences that fans of games like Home Safety Hotline and Her Story are no doubt familiar with.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
As players progress through Shutter Story, they will not only find an array of terrifying anomalies lurking within Eli’s beloved family photographs but a more horrific, interwoven tale that carries a tragic fate that has been passed on from generation to generation. Between photo inspections, players can enjoy a first-person walk-around experience, which introduces each member of Eli’s family and allows players to learn more about the people they have been studying in the photos. Items like notes can be found throughout the home, revealing more information to aid in players’ investigation. However, these FPS sections will also be where the outcome of the players’ actions bear present-day consequences, making for an extra tense atmosphere for those who have taken their duty as photo analyst too lightly. From photo editing to first-person exploration, Shutter Story has more than angry spirits waiting to be uncovered.
Players who have enjoyed games like Mouthwashing or even films like Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Pulse can expect a similarly haunting experience in Shutter Story. Those interested in supporting the game’s launch can check out the official Kickstarter page and can follow along for future updates on Shutter Story‘s development progress and eventual release date reveal. Shutter Story brings its early 2000s gameplay and uncanny horror to Steam in 2026, and fans of this type of retro gaming can stay tuned for news on the latest horror games and OS-style launches coming to PC and consoles in the coming months.
