Imagine landing your dream job at a mysterious manor, only to realize you’re trapped in a nightmare where counting glitches is the difference between survival and something far worse. That’s the premise of Turning Manor, a first-person anomaly horror game that’s making waves in the indie gaming scene.
Developed by Sabbatical Games, a three-person indie studio working from their living rooms (with moral support from their dog Boba), Turning Manor takes the familiar spot-the-difference concept and injects it with psychological horror that’ll keep you on edge.
What Makes Turning Manor Different
Unlike typical anomaly games that reset your progress when you mess up, Turning Manor takes a more forgiving approach while still maintaining tension. You play as a Quality Control Inspector at a creepy manor where your job sounds simple enough: count the glitches in each area and choose the correct exit door.
But here’s where it gets interesting. The game doesn’t punish you for imperfect accuracy, making it approachable for beginners. However, expert players will find themselves challenged by increasingly difficult anomalies that require sharp observation skills to achieve high grades.
Gameplay That Keeps You Guessing
The core loop is deceptively simple. You walk through hallways of the manor, memorizing the layout and details. Then, you return through the same area looking for differences – objects moved, paintings changed, doors that weren’t there before. Count them all, pick the right exit, and survive.
What sets Turning Manor apart is its unique areas system. Each section of the manor has distinct layouts, dangers, and challenges. You’re not just playing the same hallway over and over. The game also features larger survival events that break up the anomaly-hunting gameplay with moments of pure terror.
There’s also a mystery woven throughout. As you explore, you’ll collect items and clues about the manor’s inhabitants. The big question driving the narrative: what exactly is going on at Turning Manor?
A Demo Worth Your Time
The demo, which takes about 25 minutes to complete, is currently free on both Steam and Itch.io. The developers have been incredibly responsive to player feedback, already rolling out multiple patches to improve the experience based on community input.
For content creators, Sabbatical Games has made the game creator-friendly with no copyright music and a full press kit available. They’re asking creators to include their Steam page link in descriptions, which is a small ask for a tiny indie team trying to make their mark.
The Indie Spirit Shines Through
One refreshing aspect of Turning Manor is the developers’ commitment to avoiding AI-generated content. In their own words, they use a combination of hand-crafted, photo-scanned, and creative commons assets. While they acknowledge that some industry-standard tools incorporate AI into their workflow, they’re actively trying to minimize its impact on the final product.
The team is also running regular playtests on their Discord server, giving players early access to unreleased content and the chance to shape the game’s development. It’s this kind of community engagement that makes indie games special.
What’s Next
While there’s no official release date yet for the full game, the developers are actively working on expanding the experience. They’ve set up a wishlist page on Steam where you can follow development progress and get notified when the game launches.
The demo has already generated positive buzz among horror gaming enthusiasts, with players praising its unique take on the anomaly genre and the atmospheric tension it creates. The fact that it doesn’t brutally punish mistakes while still maintaining difficulty is striking a chord with players tired of overly punishing horror games.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Turning Manor free to play?
The demo is currently free to download on Steam and Itch.io. The full game will likely be a paid release, though pricing hasn’t been announced yet.
How long is the Turning Manor demo?
The demo takes approximately 25 minutes to complete on your first playthrough, though this can vary depending on how carefully you observe and count anomalies.
What platforms is Turning Manor available on?
Currently, Turning Manor is only available for Windows PC through Steam and Itch.io. There’s no information about console releases at this time.
Do I need to be perfect at spotting anomalies to progress?
No! That’s one of the game’s best features. Perfect accuracy isn’t required to progress, making it beginner-friendly. However, achieving high grades and optimal results does require good observation skills.
What makes Turning Manor different from other anomaly horror games?
Unlike many anomaly games that reset your progress when you make mistakes, Turning Manor is more forgiving while still being challenging. It also features unique areas with different layouts, larger survival events, and an overarching mystery to solve.
Can I stream or make videos of Turning Manor?
Yes! The developers are very content-creator friendly. The game features no copyright music, and they provide a press kit for thumbnails and promotional materials.
Who is developing Turning Manor?
Sabbatical Games, a tiny indie studio consisting of three developers working from their homes, with the moral support of their dog Boba. It’s their first game as a studio.
Final Thoughts
Turning Manor represents the best of what indie horror gaming can offer – a fresh take on familiar mechanics, genuine passion from a small development team, and an atmosphere that gets under your skin without relying on cheap jump scares alone. The spot-the-difference gameplay creates a unique kind of tension where you’re actively questioning your own memory and perception.
For horror fans looking for something different, or puzzle game enthusiasts wanting a darker experience, Turning Manor’s demo is absolutely worth the free download. It’s a promising start for Sabbatical Games, and if the full release expands on what’s already here, we might be looking at one of the standout indie horror titles in development.
The game proves you don’t need a massive budget or a huge team to create something genuinely unnerving. Sometimes all it takes is three developers, a good idea, and the willingness to listen to your community. Download the demo, count those glitches, and try not to pick the wrong door.