Horror puzzle Cosmic and Lovecraftian horror 2D horror

TAMASHII

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A nameless soul in a twisted temple of flesh, idols and clone puzzles.

Platforms: PC, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox
Stores: Steam, itch.io
Price: Paid
Rated: Very Positive on Steam (94% of 319 reviews); 4.34 of 5 from 146 ratings on the PlayStation Store
Length: about 2.5 to 3 hours
Players: 1
Made by: Vikintor
Released: 2019

On PlayStation: one of the PlayStation horror games.

No. 19 of the witch horror games · No. 6 of the tentacle horror games · No. 18 of the religious horror games

Get it on Steam itch.io Nintendo eShop (Switch)PlayStation Store (PS4)Xbox (One, Series X|S)

What frightens An ancient entity summons you as a nameless soul into its twisted temple to find an evil source hiding there. Rooms are full of winged one-eyed idols, a tentacle-faced god, walls of flesh and spikes, a crucified figure and nudity, with glitches, flashing light and a few sudden screamers.
Content: jumpscares, blood, partial nudity, violence, religious themes, flashing lights, shows your computer user name on screen.

TAMASHII is a horror puzzle platformer by Vikintor, inspired by obscure Japanese games of the late 80s and 90s. As an unnamed soul summoned by an ancient entity, you work through a twisted temple of grotesque idols and pulsing flesh, using short-lived clones of yourself to solve its rooms and find the evil hidden inside.

About TAMASHII

TAMASHII is a 2D puzzle platformer by Vikintor, released on Steam in March 2019. Digerati published it on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Switch in December 2019, with Stage Clear Studios credited alongside Vikintor on the Xbox store.

You are an unnamed soul, summoned by an ancient entity that needs help. It wants you to discover the evil source hidden inside its twisted temple and ensure its legacy. A witch figures in the story, which the maker calls a dark tale about inner discoveries set in a distorted and perverted world.

The temple is drawn in grainy monochrome pixel art that breaks into red flesh and glitching colour, with a screen that distorts like an old tape. Rooms frame a tentacle-faced winged god between two giant hands marked with occult signs, horned goat statues, a one-eyed winged idol and a crucified figure. You cannot fight: you jump past traps and monsters, and many puzzles ask you to stand on a spot to open the way. You can make up to three clones of yourself to hold those spots, but they fade after a short time, so you have to move fast. Every chamber ends in a boss you beat by working out a puzzle while dodging its attacks.

The maker puts a first playthrough at 2.5 to 3 hours. Afterwards a level select hub opens time trial and score attack runs, and the temple hides secrets. Reviewers liked its atmosphere more than its platforming: ThisGenGaming found the controls responsive and the puzzles fair but repetitive late on, while Cubed3 called it trial and error saved by its horror. Players on itch.io warn of loud screamers soon after the first chamber.

The store warns of flashing lights that may trigger seizures, nudity and religious themes, and tells streamers that the game may show the name registered on your computer. The console versions are rated M for blood, partial nudity and violence. It suits players who like strange, unsettling art and puzzles over hard platforming.

How to play TAMASHII

Enter the temple from the hub and choose a chamber.
Read each room: find the switches, spots and traps that make up its puzzle.
Make a clone to stand on a spot that opens the way, then move before it fades.
Jump past traps and monsters; there is no attack, only avoiding harm.
Beat the boss at the end of each chamber by working out its puzzle while dodging it.
Return for time trials, score attack and secrets once you finish.

Screenshots

A tiny skull-headed figure on a stone floor below a giant winged idol with a triangle eye, between two grotesque statues in grey pixel art

A brick chamber with a tentacled one-eyed idol, a small skull-faced figure, horned winged goat statues and two green lamps

A tiny pale girl before a winged, tentacle-faced idol seated between two giant hands with red and teal occult signs

A tiny figure on a spiked metal platform in a black void, ringed by glitching red walls of flesh

A glitching brick chapel where a crucified figure trails green cables to small figures and glowing skulls, between two praying portraits

Tips

You can have up to three clones at once and each lasts only a short time, so plan the route before you make one.
The game autosaves, so experiment freely with a puzzle.
Turn on slow motion in the options for timing-heavy rooms rather than retrying endlessly.
If the screen distortion bothers you, some visual effects can be turned off.
If you stream, check what name your computer is registered under before you play.

Questions

Is TAMASHII a horror game?

Yes. It is a puzzle platformer set in a temple of disturbing religious and occult imagery, with a few jump scares, nudity and flashing lights. The console versions are rated M.

How long is TAMASHII?

The maker gives 2.5 to 3 hours for a first playthrough. Time trials, score attack and secrets add more.

What platforms is TAMASHII on?

Windows PC (Steam and itch.io), PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. The itch.io version comes with a Steam key.

Why does TAMASHII show my name?

The store warns that the game may display the name registered on your computer, which can be your real name.