Santa Ragione's new game, Horses, presents a unique blend of horror and dark humor, engaging players with its first-person narrative that explores themes of oppression and societal norms. The game's striking visuals, including a retro 1.33:1 aspect ratio and monochromatic palette, enhance its eerie atmosphere. Players take on the role of Anselmo, a naive protagonist thrust into a surreal and morally complex world on a remote farm where mundane tasks quickly escalate into bizarre and unsettling scenarios. While Horses features shocking imagery, it manages to balance its horror with comedic elements, creating a disorienting yet thought-provoking experience that resonates with today's social issues.

What themes does Horses explore in its narrative?

Horses delves into themes of oppression and subjugation, critiquing societal expectations and norms through its unconventional storytelling and imagery. It navigates moral complexities, showcasing how individuals confront and respond to their extremist environments.

Horses serves as a significant entry in the indie horror genre, marking the debut of writer and director Andrea Lucco Borlera. The game’s bold approach draws upon cinematic techniques, presenting a narrative that critiques societal constructs while challenging players to reflect on their complicity within such systems. It aligns with a growing trend in video games that seek to address deeper societal issues through interactive storytelling.