This isn't the first time a surprise hit horror game has been released by a small indie team. Remember Five Nights at Freddy and Bendy and the Ink Machine? Amanda the Adventurer's developer is based out of Hamilton, Ontario; it started at a game jam as a team of four but has since expanded to a team of nine. The studio's mission is to push offbeat and bizarre concepts into fun, engaging, thought-provoking games. It believes there is beauty in the bizarre. So far so good, it seems!
In the game, Riley Park inherits their Aunt Kate's house. Kate was a recluse, and Riley starts exploring what was left behind. In the attic, Riley finds an old television and a stack of VHS tapes that appear to be episodes of an unfamiliar early '00s children's show.
After popping the first tape into the VCR, a little girl named Amanda and her sheep named Wooly appear on the screen. The show seems to be made locally, with charming and simple episodes. At least, that's what you're supposed to think… Riley soon realizes that Amanda and Wooly have been communicating through the TV. Something in Riley's mind screams for them to stop but they are too compelled to keep watching. Amanda seems to need something. What could that be?
Here is a trailer from when Amanda the Adventurer launched for Nintendo Switch:
Amanda the Adventurer is described as a short, intricate single player horror experience hiding under the guise of a children's cartoon. (Think Dora the Explorer.) The '90s-style CGI brings players to a more simple era of animation. Using clues hidden within the tapes, tackle challenging escape room-type puzzles.
Developed by MANGLEDmaw Games and published by DreadXP, Amanda the Adventurer will be released for iOS/Android, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, and Xbox One this year. It is currently available for PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch.
