PROJECT UNKNOWN: PHASMOPHOBIA'S QUIRKY COUSIN WITH A CORGI
My dear , dear, dear ghost hunters and dog lovers, gather 'round for a look at Project Unknown, the early access ghost hunting game that's like Phasmophobia if it went to clown college. This game promises a unique twist on the ghost hunting genre, but does it deliver, or is it just another spectre in the machine? Let's dive in, shall we?
GAMEPLAY: EXORCISMS AND CORGIS AND TAROT CARDS, OH MY!
Project Unknown throws you into the deep end of the paranormal pool faster than you can say "Is this ectoplasm or did someone spill their smoothie?" Your mission is simple: find cursed objects, burn them, and try not to become a permanent resident of the haunted house yourself.
The game's unique selling point is its character system. Each player gets a special ability that's about as predictable as a cat on catnip. Want to play spiritual roulette with Tarot cards? Go for it! Fancy having a corgi as your ghostly sidekick? They've got you covered. It's like the developers threw darts at a board of random ideas and said, "Yeah, that'll work."
The Tarot card system is a particular highlight, adding a layer of chaos that's equal parts hilarious and frustrating. One moment you're basking in the glow of the Sun card, the next you're teleported into a locked closet thanks to the Hanged Man. It's like playing Russian Roulette, but instead of bullets, you're dealing with supernatural shenanigans.
GRAPHICS AND AUDIO: SPOOKY WITH A SIDE OF ADORABLE
Visually, Project Unknown is... well, it's there. It's not going to win any beauty pageants, but it's not going to make your eyes bleed either. The environments are suitably creepy, although currently limited to a single map that you'll memorize faster than your disappointed parent's sigh.
The audio is a mixed bag of spooky sounds and, presumably, corgi barks. It sets the mood well enough, even if that mood is "confused but slightly terrified."
MULTIPLAYER: MISERY LOVES COMPANY (AND DOGS)
This game is clearly meant to be played with friends, because nothing says "bonding experience" like collective panic and blaming each other for summoning the wrong spirit. The chaos of different abilities clashing (or hilariously backfiring) adds a layer of unpredictability that's either genius or madness. Possibly both.
BUGS AND ISSUES: MORE FEATURES THAN A HAUNTED HOUSE
Being in Early Access, Project Unknown has more bugs than a run-down motel. From getting stuck in closets to questionable blur effects that'll have you wondering if you need new glasses, it's a veritable smorgasbord of "features."
The insanity blur effect is particularly notorious, causing more nausea than actual fear. It's like the developers wanted to simulate the experience of being drunk at a ghost hunt.
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE BUGGY
Good stuff? The character abilities are genuinely fun and add variety to the gameplay. The tutorial is surprisingly comprehensive, and the devs seem responsive to feedback.
Bad stuff? One map. That's it. One. The replay value is lower than a limbo champion. The scares are about as unpredictable as the sun rising in the east, and the difficulty curve is more of a difficulty cliff.
FINAL THOUGHTS: TO HUNT OR NOT TO HUNT?
Project Unknown is like that weird kid in school who ate glue but also somehow aced every test. It's bizarre, often frustrating, but undeniably intriguing. The game takes familiar concepts and smashes them together with the finesse of a sledgehammer, creating something that's greater than the sum of its parts – and occasionally just as broken.
Is it perfect? Hell no. Is it fun? If you've got friends who enjoy a good laugh and don't mind a bit (okay, a lot) of jank, absolutely. Just remember, this game is about as stable as a house of cards in a wind tunnel right now.
Final Score: 6 out of 10 Cursed Corgis
It's buggy, it's limited, but damn it, it's got potential. If you're looking for a polished experience, maybe wait for a few more updates. But if you want to support a promising project and don't mind being a guinea pig (or should I say, test corgi), give it a shot. Just maybe keep a barf bag handy for that insanity effect.
We at NLM received a key for this game for free, this however didn’t impact our review in any way.