Post Trauma: Best Survival Horror Indie Game of 2025?
Post Trauma is an indie horror game that is inspired by retro survival horror games, specifically those from the PlayStation 2 era of the early 2000s. The game features complex puzzles, open-ended gameplay, and a story told from multiple viewpoints. Like many retro-style indie games, it aims to provide an experience that feels both familiar and fresh.
Post Trauma Needs Pen and Paper?
According to the game’s Steam page, Post Trauma is “designed for players looking for a challenge.” It promises that the puzzles “require you to study your surroundings carefully.” All that is well and good, but then the site says “a pen and paper is required.” Depending on your gaming preferences, you might find this intriguing, or the idea of needing a pen and paper to play a game might be a turnoff. Many gamers will likely just want a gaming experience without having to bother with taking notes or drawing maps.
Nostalgic Vibes
The game’s cinematic trailer shows characters with stiff expressions on their faces and jerky movements. This is reminiscent of how “realistic” graphics would look during the early 2000s, when the PlayStation 2 was at the height of its popularity. In addition, the Steam page advertises fixed camera angles and “limited saving on hard mode,” which should bring classic survival horror games like the early Resident Evil games to mind. However, gamers who want a more user-friendly experience might again find these design choices to be turnoffs.
The Story
You play Roman, a train conductor who finds himself trapped in an alternate dimension. Of course, he will have to face numerous fiendish monsters, but the Steam page says that he can “choose to defend himself with an array of weapons or try to find the path of least resistance,” indicating that the gameplay will be open-ended and let the player decide how to approach situations. The page also advertises multiple story viewpoints, indicating that there might be other playable characters as well.
Conclusion
Post Trauma looks to be a unique entry in the survival horror genre. While some aspects, such as fixed camera angles and possibly needing pen and paper to solve puzzles, might turn some gamers off, people who want a methodical, challenging experience should find a lot to enjoy here. Gamers who harbor nostalgia for the PlayStation 2 era of gaming should also enjoy this blend of nostalgia and modern horror.
