Its nice game but.... its more like hardcore puzzle game , instead horror game ! Puzzles are harder than bosses in the game ! Its repetitive game makes you to visit same places like 10 times , and becomes extreme boring ! More like 5/10 !

fake resident evil game every step is puzzle i couldnt find metal box third gear cant solve puzzle this game is puzzle simulator also enemies tanky couldnt beat mother without help so tanky you cant kill it with 5 shotgun bullet

Fobia – St. Dinfna Hotel is a first-person survival horror game developed by Pulsatrix Studios, a Brazilian indie developer, and it clearly wears its inspirations on its sleeve. Drawing heavily from classic horror franchises like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, the game plunges players into a single, intricately layered location—a mysterious hotel brimming with supernatural secrets, environmental puzzles, and psychological dread. While the game doesn’t redefine the genre, it offers a solid and atmospheric horror experience that effectively blends exploration, suspense, and a gradually unraveling mystery.

You play as Roberto Leite Lopes, an investigative journalist who travels to the St. Dinfna Hotel in the remote town of Treze Trilhas, Brazil, following a tip from a woman claiming to have information on strange disappearances. What begins as a typical assignment quickly devolves into a descent into madness. After a brief introduction, reality distorts, and the hotel transforms into a nightmarish labyrinth populated by grotesque creatures, cryptic messages, and time-bending phenomena. From here, the game becomes a methodical and eerie journey through crumbling hallways, locked doors, and shifting timelines as Roberto uncovers the twisted history of the hotel and the cult that resides within its walls.

The gameplay in Fobia is deeply rooted in exploration and puzzle-solving, with a strong emphasis on inventory management and backtracking. Much like early Resident Evil titles, players will spend a lot of time finding keys, codes, or tools to access previously locked areas, while keeping track of limited resources like ammunition and healing items. Combat exists, but it’s intentionally sparse and tense, with most enemies capable of soaking up a lot of bullets unless you conserve your ammo or aim carefully. The game leans more into survival than action, and when enemies do appear, they’re used to build pressure rather than provide constant threats.

One of Fobia’s most distinctive mechanics is a special camera that allows Roberto to see into alternate realities. Using this device reveals hidden doors, messages, or objects that exist in a parallel dimension. This mechanic is both a narrative and gameplay device, often used to solve puzzles or uncover secrets that aren’t visible in the regular world. It adds a layer of depth to exploration and encourages players to constantly question what they’re seeing. The way this mechanic is tied to the game’s themes of perception and distorted reality is subtle but effective, adding to the psychological horror atmosphere without feeling gimmicky.

The St. Dinfna Hotel itself is the real star of the game. It’s a beautifully detailed environment—both decaying and elegant, with a distinct sense of history and dread. From its shadowy lobbies to decrepit guest rooms and secret passageways, the hotel is designed like a sprawling puzzle box. There’s a constant sense of unease as you wander its halls, enhanced by eerie ambient audio, flickering lights, and the occasional inexplicable event. The level design cleverly loops in on itself, rewarding exploration with shortcuts and hidden rooms, much like the interconnected maps seen in Resident Evil or Metroidvania-style games. It’s a setting that feels alive and malevolent, and the developers have done an impressive job of making the hotel itself feel like a character.

Visually, the game impresses for an indie title. The lighting, texture work, and atmosphere are all high quality, especially considering the small team behind it. While some animations and character models may not reach AAA standards, the overall presentation is immersive and cohesive. The game is at its best when it’s drawing players into its decaying, surreal environments rather than relying on jump scares. The sound design is equally strong, with moody ambient noises, unsettling creature sounds, and a minimal yet effective soundtrack that helps build a sustained atmosphere of tension and isolation.

Narratively, Fobia walks a fine line between mystery and obscurity. The story unfolds gradually, primarily through documents, environmental storytelling, and cryptic messages. While there are some cutscenes and moments of direct exposition, much of the game’s lore is left for the player to piece together. This approach rewards attention to detail but can also leave some players confused or underwhelmed by the payoff. The themes—religious fanaticism, alternate dimensions, time distortion—are intriguing, but the game sometimes stumbles in tying them together in a truly satisfying way. Still, the sense of intrigue carries the experience forward, and the atmosphere is strong enough to keep you engaged even when the plot becomes murky.

Despite its strengths, Fobia is not without issues. Inventory management can feel a bit cumbersome, especially when juggling puzzle items and combat gear. Some puzzles, while clever, rely on vague clues or trial-and-error solutions that can frustrate rather than challenge. Enemy variety is also limited, and combat mechanics, while serviceable, never feel particularly refined. The controls occasionally feel stiff, especially during tense encounters. Yet, these flaws rarely derail the experience—they're more reflective of the game's indie scope than poor design.

Overall, Fobia – St. Dinfna Hotel is a strong entry in the indie horror space, one that blends classic survival horror mechanics with a distinctive setting and enough originality to stand on its own. It may not revolutionize the genre, but it understands what makes survival horror tick: atmosphere, tension, mystery, and the constant push to move forward despite fear. For fans of methodical, exploration-heavy horror games with rich environments and unsettling narratives, Fobia offers a compelling and memorable stay—though perhaps one you’ll be eager to check out of once the horrors fully reveal themselves.

Rating: 8/10