Survival horror Psychological horror PS1 horror Horror puzzle Horror

Subversive Memories

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An abandoned base from Brazil's dictatorship, shadows that hunt, and a name blacked out.

Platforms: PC
Stores: Steam
Price: Paid
Rated: Very Positive on Steam (97% of 150 reviews)
Length: 3 to 4 hours
Players: 1
Controls: Gamepad recommended (full controller support); keyboard also works. Move, aim the flashlight beam to hurt the shadows, and manage items from the inventory.
Made by: Southward Studio
Released: 2026

On Steam: one of the Steam horror games.

What frightens In an abandoned military research base from Brazil's dictatorship, invisible creatures that show only as shadows stalk Renata as she searches for a missing loved one, with nothing but a flashlight, a few batteries and almost no healing.
Content: violence, gore, themes of political repression and killings.

Subversive Memories is a retro survival horror game set in Brazil during the last military dictatorship. Renata follows a lead about a missing loved one to an abandoned military research base, where she scavenges batteries, solves puzzles and fends off shadowy creatures with only her flashlight.

About Subversive Memories

Subversive Memories is the first game of Southward Studio, a one-person studio in São Paulo, released on Steam on 8 April 2026. It is inspired by classic survival horror of the late 1990s and, by its maker's account, by many true stories from the Brazilian military dictatorship of 1964 to 1985, a regime that kidnapped, censored and killed thousands of people.

Renata has lived her whole life with a void inside her. A promising lead takes her to an abandoned military research base, where she hopes to fill the gaps in her past and find someone whose name the game keeps blacked out. The base holds secrets beyond her understanding, and her obsession may cost more than she can pay.

It plays as a compact, old-school survival horror game seen from above. You explore maze-like areas with shortcuts and hidden passages, read notes, carry items from room to room and work out codes for safes and padlocks. There are no guns: the flashlight's focused beam is your only way to hurt the shadowy entities, batteries are scarce, healing items are rarer still, and save rooms with calming music are where you breathe. The enemies themselves are unseen, known only by their shadows.

Its maker targets three to four hours with replay in mind, and promises alternative endings for dedicated players. TheSixthAxis gave it 8 out of 10. It suits players who liked Signalis, Crow Country or Detention, and anyone who wants a survival horror game rooted in real history.

How to play Subversive Memories

Explore the base room by room and read every note and document you find.
Pick up items and carry them to where they are needed; check the map for doors and shortcuts.
When a shadow attacks, focus the flashlight beam on it, and watch your batteries.
Work out codes and puzzle solutions from the clues you have gathered.
Save in the safe rooms, and avoid fights you do not need.

Screenshots

Subversive Memories screenshot: Renata shines a flashlight across a lab bench of glassware in a dark tiled room with figures silhouetted against the wall

Subversive Memories screenshot: a huge shadow holding a club looms on the wall behind Renata in a dark meeting room

Subversive Memories screenshot: a statue of Lady Justice with sword and scales, with a quote about the blade of justice shown on screen

Subversive Memories screenshot: a close view of a safe with a three-number combination dial being entered

Tips

Avoid enemies when you can; batteries and healing items are too scarce to fight everything.
Keep notes of codes and clues: the puzzles depend on information spread across the base.
Use the map often, since doors can be hard to spot from the camera angle.
Play again for the alternative endings once you know the base.