Blackout

About Blackout

Blackout is a free point and click adventure by FRESH, a team of five. It began as their Ludum Dare 48 entry and came back as a polished version in late 2021, playable in the browser or as a download for Windows, Mac and Linux.

You guide Marilyn, a young woman in a witch's hat, deeper and deeper into a mysterious house at night. The power is out, the rooms are lit in purple and blue, and the place is decorated with cobwebs, black cats and a grinning pumpkin. Every scene hides objects to collect and things to use them on.

The unease comes from what you find in the dark: bodies slumped on the floor, a man with a knife through his head, and residents who are clearly not quite right. It leans on atmosphere and dark humour rather than jumpscares, and the hand-drawn pixel art and animation do much of the work.

It suits players who like classic adventure puzzles with a spooky skin, and it is a gentle pick for a Halloween evening. Some players find the clicks fussy when an item is small, so look closely at each room.

How to play Blackout

1. Click Run game to start, and click to move past the opening.
2. Click on the floor to walk Marilyn around a room and through doorways.
3. Click on objects and people to look at them or talk to them.
4. Pick up anything that can be taken and use it from your items on the right object or person.
5. Keep exploring the house until you find the way forward.

Tips

• Hover slowly over each room: some items are small and easy to miss.
• If a resident wants something, it is usually an item from another room.
• Go back to rooms you have already visited after you find something new.
• Play with sound on for the music and the atmosphere.

Questions