Clea

About Clea

Clea was made and published by InvertMouse and released on Steam in July 2019, for Windows, Mac and Linux; it is also sold on Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox. Its sequel, Clea 2, followed in 2021.

Mum and Dad have been experimenting on Chaos Servants, and now the monsters have been let loose. Clea, with her brother Edmond in tow, has to escape the Whitlock Mansion, and the family has locked it from the outside world. The store's warning sets the tone: watch your back, because those closest to you may be the real terror.

You move through hand-drawn, side-on rooms by lantern light. The Chaos Servants are not scripted; they roam the halls in real time and react to every noise you make, so you listen for footsteps, peek under doors to see what is on the other side and keep your distance. Between them you hunt down key items and solve the puzzles that keep the mansion shut. Memory orbs open bonus chapters about the Whitlock bloodline.

It is a challenging game that rewards learning its systems, with no prescripted scares. It suits players who like slow, tense hiding games such as Clock Tower or The Coma, told in an anime style.

How to play Clea

1. Lead Clea, with her brother following, through the rooms of the Whitlock Mansion.
2. Listen for footsteps and peek under doors before you open them.
3. Keep away from the Chaos Servants and move when they are elsewhere.
4. Find key items and solve the puzzles that lock the mansion.
5. Collect memory orbs to open bonus chapters about the family's past.

Tips

• Play with headphones; footsteps tell you where the Chaos Servants are.
• Always peek under a door before going through.
• Be patient; the game is built to reward careful play over rushing.

Questions