Sorry We’re Closed just became the unexpected winner of Best Debut Indie Game at the 2025 Indie Game Awards after Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was disqualified for undisclosed use of generative AI. The two-person team at à la mode games created this eccentric survival horror about demons, angels, and cursed romance that sits at 98% overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam. And if you act fast, you can grab it completely free on Epic Games Store until December 22, 2025 at 11 AM EST – a $24.99 value that’s part of Epic’s holiday mystery game lineup.
The game follows Michelle, a London woman cursed by a powerful demon seeking love who has only days to live unless she breaks the spell. You navigate atmospheric environments through classic fixed camera angles reminiscent of early Resident Evil, then switch to immobile first-person perspective during combat when aiming weapons. The innovative Third Eye mechanic lets you see between worlds, stunning enemies and revealing weak spots while solving puzzles across two different realities. It’s weird, stylish, emotionally charged, and unlike anything else in the horror space right now.
What Makes Sorry We’re Closed Special
Sorry We’re Closed refuses to pick a lane between survival horror traditions and modern innovation, instead smashing together seemingly incompatible elements into something fresh. GamesRadar described it as Resident Evil 4 and Silent Hill meeting in a queer bar, praising how its bright neon colors and arcade-style shooting complement emotionally charged introspection rather than clashing. Polygon called it a stylish, sexy survival horror surprise that blends Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Persona, and FPS games into a cohesive experience.
The game splits each night into two phases. You explore Michelle’s London borough during the exploration phase, speaking with curious residents and demons while choosing whether to help or hinder their problems. Your choices affect the multiple endings available, creating branching narratives based on how you interact with the community. Then comes the combat stage where you fight through demon-infested areas, solving puzzles and battling bosses to progress the story.
The fixed camera perspective during exploration creates that classic survival horror tension where you can’t see what’s around corners. But when combat starts and you aim your axe, pistol, or shotgun, the game locks you into first-person view with immobile positioning. This forces deliberate aiming and strategic positioning rather than run-and-gun chaos. The Third Eye ability momentarily stuns nearby enemies and highlights their weak spots, but here’s the catch – damage to anywhere except weak points is completely negated while the Third Eye is active. You must balance stunning groups of enemies against precise aiming at revealed vulnerabilities.
The Queer Love Story Nobody Expected
Reddit discussions highlight that while Sorry We’re Closed embraces strong LGBTQ+ themes, the core narrative transcends any specific sexual orientation to explore love in a broader sense. Michelle’s curse stems from a powerful demon seeking romance, and the story examines relationships, heartbreak, and emotional connection through a horror lens. The game doesn’t shy away from mature themes – one victim of the curse literally flayed herself alive after acquiring the Third Eye and entombed herself in a family crypt.
The emotional weight hits harder because of the atmospheric soundscapes that give way to thumping vocal tracks during intense moments. The lyrics play directly into the situation, reinforcing whatever emotional turmoil Michelle faces. This isn’t background music – it’s narrative commentary that amplifies the psychological horror of watching relationships decay and people transform into literal monsters because of love gone wrong.
Players noted that while they might not fully align with some conclusions drawn in certain endings, the experience remains valuable for its originality and positive energy. The game tackles difficult emotional territory while maintaining infectious enthusiasm for its own weird premise. It’s horror that makes you feel things beyond just fear or disgust, which elevates it above typical genre entries focused purely on scares and gore.
The Three Victims and Reality Shifting
Michelle must track down three victims of the demon’s curse who each possess an eye she needs to break her own curse. The first two victims showcase the game’s creative boss designs and environmental storytelling. Matilda was a famous pop singer until she transformed into a monstrous squid creature now inhabiting an abandoned aquarium. Fighting through that location while learning Matilda’s tragic backstory creates the emotional gut punch the game consistently delivers.
Gabriella, the third victim, chose self-mutilation over living with the Third Eye curse, entombing herself in her family crypt. These aren’t random monster encounters – they’re people whose lives were destroyed by the same demon now targeting Michelle. The horror comes from understanding you might become just another victim if you fail, another cautionary tale for whoever comes next hunting for eyes.
The world-shifting mechanic borrowed from Silent Hill and The Medium lets you toggle between normal reality and the demon world at will. Certain puzzles require switching between perspectives to progress, while combat scenarios might demand using the demon world’s properties strategically. This dual-reality system prevents repetitive level design by essentially giving you two versions of each location to navigate and explore.
The Indie Game Award Drama
Sorry We’re Closed originally placed as a nominee for Best Debut Game at the 2025 Indie Game Awards alongside Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Discounty, Fretless, and ILA: A Frosty Glide. Clair Obscur won both Best Debut Game and Game of the Year on December 19, 2025. However, the IGAs Nomination Committee officially disqualified Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on December 20 due to undisclosed use of generative AI, violating the awards’ transparency requirements.
The committee redistributed both awards. Sorry We’re Closed inherited the Best Debut Game title while Blue Prince by Dogubomb received the Game of the Year honor. This timing coincided perfectly with Sorry We’re Closed becoming the fifth mystery free game in Epic’s holiday giveaway, driving massive attention to a game many players had overlooked during its November 13, 2024 launch.
The disqualification sparked broader conversations about generative AI usage in indie games and disclosure requirements. The Indie Game Awards requires nominees to be transparent about development tools and techniques, which Clair Obscur apparently violated. While some argued the committee overreached, others praised the decision for maintaining ethical standards around emerging technology in game development. Regardless of where you stand on that debate, Sorry We’re Closed benefits as an award-winning game suddenly accessible to millions for free.
The Two Person Team Behind It
À la mode games consists of just two people who poured their vision into Sorry We’re Closed as their debut indie title. The small team size makes the achievement even more impressive – creating a 6-8 hour survival horror game with multiple endings, branching choices, detailed environments, unique boss designs, and innovative combat mechanics typically requires much larger studios. The game launched November 13, 2024 on Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch simultaneously.
The overwhelmingly positive Steam reception (98% positive from over 1,300 reviews) demonstrates how focused indie teams can compete against AAA horror productions through creativity and passion. Players consistently praise the distinctive style and evident love behind the creation. One Reddit user admitted finding the gameplay hard to engage with personally but still recommended it for the originality and positive energy, suggesting even those who bounce off the mechanics appreciate what à la mode achieved.
The hand-crafted quality shines through every aspect. The vibrant neon color palette stands out in a genre dominated by browns, grays, and muted tones. The character designs balance grotesque horror with stylized appeal. The vocal-heavy soundtrack complements rather than distracts. Small teams can’t compete with AAA budgets, so they compete with ideas – and Sorry We’re Closed has ideas for days.
Epic Games Holiday Giveaway Context
Epic Games Store runs an annual holiday giveaway where they offer one free game daily for about two weeks, usually featuring a mix of indie darlings and bigger titles. Sorry We’re Closed appeared as the fifth mystery game on December 21, 2025, available for 24 hours until December 22 at 11 AM EST. The giveaway lineup has exceeded $150 in total value so far, making this one of Epic’s most generous holiday promotions.
The timing couldn’t be better for à la mode games. Winning Best Debut Indie Game the day before your game becomes free to millions of Epic users creates massive exposure. Players who might have overlooked Sorry We’re Closed at $24.99 will grab it free just because it’s there, and the award win provides third-party validation that it’s worth playing. This kind of organic marketing boost is priceless for small indie studios without publisher budgets.
To claim Sorry We’re Closed, simply open the Epic Games Launcher (or download it if you don’t have it), search for the game in the store, and click the buy button showing $0.00. The game permanently adds to your Epic library even if the promotional period ends. If you miss the December 22 deadline, you’ll need to pay the standard $24.99 price or wait for a sale.
Critical Reception and Player Reactions
GamesRadar’s review praised Sorry We’re Closed for its infectious energy and innovative alternate-reality heartbreak shooting mechanics that are thrilling to play. The review emphasized how bright neon colors, high-impact inventive mechanics, and emotionally charged introspection suit each other wonderfully despite seeming contradictory. The space between arcade-style shooting and dour emotional themes creates the game’s unique identity.
Polygon’s impressions highlighted the unexpected blend of influences – classic Resident Evil exploration and combat, Silent Hill’s psychological horror and dual worlds, Persona’s social link system during exploration phases, and modern FPS mechanics during shooting sequences. Few games successfully merge this many disparate elements without collapsing into a confused mess, but Sorry We’re Closed makes it work through strong artistic vision.
Player testimonials on Reddit reveal interesting divisions. Some found the gameplay hard to engage with despite appreciating the style and creativity, suggesting the unique mechanics aren’t for everyone. Others thoroughly enjoyed the experience while noting they might not align with every narrative conclusion. The consistent thread is respect for what à la mode attempted and largely achieved – something genuinely different in a genre often dominated by formula and nostalgia bait.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Sorry We’re Closed available for free?
The game is free on Epic Games Store until December 22, 2025 at 11 AM EST. You have less than 24 hours from December 21 to claim it permanently to your Epic library.
What platforms is Sorry We’re Closed on?
Available on PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. The Epic freebie only applies to the PC version.
How long does it take to beat Sorry We’re Closed?
The main story takes approximately 6-8 hours depending on playstyle. Multiple endings and branching choices encourage replays to see different outcomes.
Is Sorry We’re Closed scary?
It blends psychological horror with stylized action rather than relying on jump scares. The emotional weight and disturbing imagery create tension, but it’s not traditional survival horror that aims for constant fear.
Do I need to be LGBTQ+ to enjoy Sorry We’re Closed?
No. While the game embraces queer themes, the core narrative about love, heartbreak, and relationships transcends any specific sexual orientation. Players of all backgrounds can connect with the emotional storytelling.
What won Game of the Year after Clair Obscur was disqualified?
Blue Prince by Dogubomb received the Game of the Year award after Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was disqualified for undisclosed generative AI use.
Why was Clair Obscur disqualified?
The Indie Game Awards Nomination Committee disqualified it for undisclosed use of generative AI, violating the awards’ transparency requirements about development tools and techniques.
Who developed Sorry We’re Closed?
À la mode games, a two-person indie team. The game is their debut title published by Akupara Games.
Why You Should Grab This Now
Sorry We’re Closed represents everything exciting about indie game development. A tiny team with a bold vision created something AAA studios would never greenlight – too weird, too niche, too emotionally messy. The blend of fixed camera survival horror, first-person shooting, reality shifting, social interactions affecting narrative outcomes, and queer romance wrapped in demon horror shouldn’t work. That it does work, and works brilliantly according to 98% of Steam reviewers, demonstrates the value of creative risk-taking.
The Best Debut Indie Game award validates what players already discovered – this is special. Whether you love the gameplay or just appreciate the artistic ambition, Sorry We’re Closed earns respect for attempting something genuinely different. The fact that it’s free right now removes any barrier to experiencing one of 2024’s most interesting horror games.
The 24-hour window means you need to act immediately. Open Epic Games Launcher, search for Sorry We’re Closed, and click to claim it permanently. Even if you don’t play it right away, adding it to your library costs nothing and preserves the option for later. At $24.99 normally, this represents real value for anyone remotely interested in survival horror, indie games, or just experiencing something unique.
Download Sorry We’re Closed free on Epic Games Store before December 22 at 11 AM EST. Support small indie teams creating weird, ambitious projects by playing their games and spreading the word. And remember – sometimes the best gaming experiences come from two passionate developers with a strange vision rather than hundred-person teams following market-tested formulas. This is one of those times.