A New Nightmare Enters the Arena
The world of asymmetrical horror games is about to get a whole lot creepier. Forget generators and escape gates for a moment, and picture this: you’re a wind-up bunny, frantically trying to survive in a haunted carnival while a relentless monster hunts you down. This is the premise of Carnival Hunt, an upcoming first-person multiplayer game from Beer Night Studio that’s putting a fresh, terrifying spin on the hide-and-seek formula.
The Rules of the Hunt
Like other games in the genre, Carnival Hunt features a one-versus-many setup. One player takes on the role of the monstrous hunter-the Carnival Monster-while the others team up as the prey, a group of sentient wind-up toys called Bunnies. The game is played entirely in a first-person perspective for both sides, meaning situational awareness is limited and you never know what’s lurking just over your shoulder. The setting is a dark, Victorian-style circus, filled with shadows and suspense.
Surviving as a Bunny
For the Bunny players, survival is about more than just hiding. The core mechanic revolves around staying wound up. Bunnies must work together to wind each other up, as their internal charge constantly drains. If you run out of charge, you’re dead. This creates a fascinating dynamic where teamwork isn’t just helpful, it’s mandatory. You can’t survive alone.
Bunnies must also exhaust their supply of wind-up keys to power their escape, all while avoiding the monster. Making too much noise will attract unwanted attention, but there are clever ways to survive. One of the most interesting tactics is the ability to “play possum,” blending in with the inanimate dead Bunnies scattered around the map to fool the monster.
Playing as the Monster
The Carnival Monster has a simple, brutal objective: hunt down every last Bunny. But they have their own resource to manage. The Monster also needs a charge to survive and must capture Bunnies to consume their wind-up keys. This creates a compelling cat-and-mouse game where both sides are fighting against the clock and their own dwindling energy.
Each monster has a unique set of skills to aid in the hunt. For example, ‘The Magician’ can turn invisible and use magic boxes to teleport across the map, closing the distance on unsuspecting prey. The monster can check Bunnies they suspect are playing dead, but doing so costs precious time and charge, adding a layer of risk and reward to every decision.
A Fresh Take on Fear
The dual resource management system is what sets Carnival Hunt apart. In many asymmetrical horror games, the survivors are a threat only by completing objectives. Here, the Bunnies are also the monster’s power source. This creates a direct and desperate conflict where every encounter is critical for both sides. The developers at Beer Night Studio, who successfully funded the game on Kickstarter, have focused on creating an experience where no two playthroughs are ever the same.
Conclusion
Carnival Hunt is shaping up to be a thrilling and innovative addition to the horror genre. By building on a familiar formula with unique mechanics like the wind-up system and the ability to play dead, it promises a tense and strategic experience for both hunters and survivors. With closed beta tests planned, the game is one to keep on your radar. If you’re a fan of multiplayer horror, you’ll want to wishlist this one on Steam and prepare for a terrifying night at the carnival.
FAQs
- What is Carnival Hunt?
Carnival Hunt is a first-person, asymmetrical multiplayer horror game where one player is a monster hunting a team of players who are wind-up bunnies. - What is the main goal for the Bunnies?
Bunnies must work together to wind each other up to stay alive, manage their wind-up keys to power an escape, and avoid being caught by the monster. - What is the main goal for the Monster?
The Monster must hunt and capture the Bunnies. Consuming their wind-up keys is necessary for the monster to maintain its own charge and survive. - What makes Carnival Hunt unique?
Its core mechanic is the “wind-up” system, where both the survivors (Bunnies) and the killer (Monster) need to manage a constantly draining charge to stay in the game. This creates a unique resource-based struggle for survival. - Who is the developer?
The game is being developed by Beer Night Studio, an independent game development team. - When can I play it?
The game is still in development, with closed tests planned for the future. You can wishlist Carnival Hunt on Steam to be notified when it becomes available.