Lost in Vivo is a genuinely terrifying, claustrophobic horror game about finding your dog in the sewer and facing your fears in the face of deadly J-horror-inspired aspirations. Like many short indie games nowadays the graphics are “PSX” style, however I think this game is one of the few that “truly“ nails the art style and gritty VHS vibe. LiV’s sound design and deeply unsettling music are the primary reasons the game succeeds in terrifying where many don’t. Though the game is only a little under 4 hours, it feels like a perfect length - balancing a constant desire for my escape from the disgusting nightmarish tunnels with a deeply adrenaline-pumping atmosphere that kept me playing through the entire game late into the night. The monster designs were all horrifying with several standouts: the most terrifying creature that made the hair stand up on my neck and sent chills through my spine, was the same premise as SCP “peanut”, this time it was named Sotiris. This creature genuinely had me screaming in fear when the tension became too much. Hound-like creatures in science lab. Giant crawling “baby?” As you move through each of the levels you start to piece together a vague idea of all of the fears that the protagonist confronts. The world is further fleshed out through text notes that can be found sporadically through each of the levels. The most gripping part of the game that kept me hooked was all the twists and turns around every corner. For example a little over two thirds of the way into the game you go up an elevator and credits start rolling as you rise up. The words become more unsettling, even utilizing your real/username until the elevator comes to a screeching halt and begins plummeting downward. Sotiris even comes back in search of more eyes. As you progress through LiV’s claustrophobic corridors you pick up a handful of useful weapons that are vital to your survival. These are a pipe, a pistol, a weak buckshotgun, and a speedy kitchen knife; all of which have solid sound-design. To encapsulate the full picture of the games visuals they were visceral and gory, filled with disgusting bone chilling designs. LiV takes some inspiration from Silent Hill’s aesthetic (and resident evil) by creating save rooms marked by their peaceful blue doors that give you a brief respite from the terrors of Vivo. LiV has no voicelines but rather tells its story through a somewhat confusing and semi convoluted array of random letters that you discover along your journey that provide context for the enemies populating a world that walks you through the protag’s stages of insecurity. Apart from the base game and its multiple ending there are two additional “VHS Tapes” that provide classic horror trope vignettes: One is a Wolf in the Campground horror story and the other is walking through various terrible forms of death to serve an evil master’s plan of escape. Both are fine. The game also contains a variety of other extras such as a newgame plus that may interest others more than it did me. Lost in Vivo is one of the best indie horror shorts I had the pleasure of dredging through: an easy recommendation for horror game fans looking for thrills and ensnaring atmosphere.

How much do you love your dog?
This game is an experience that I think everyone should play at least once. (maybe more if you want to see the other endings)

is good