Cry of Fear Review: A Free-to-Play Horror Video Game

If you are into horror stuff, you might also want to experience it in video games. Cry of Fear is one of my favorite horror video games. You can play it for free on Steam. This game is a combination of psychological horror and shooter genre that brings some great elements to your screen. 

Background Story 

The game was released in 2013 as a single-player survival. Cry of Fear Chapter 1 starts by showing Simon, a troubled young man who has been going through depression on the train and then walking down a deserted sidewalk where a man seeks his help.

While helping the man, Simon gets hit by a car. When he wakes up in an unfamiliar environment, he tries to make his way to the train station but encounters a mad doctor and monsters.

When Simon navigates the city of Stockholm, he finds it to be empty. This sense of loneliness in a city full of twisted and creepy creatures really sends the chills down my spine. The most heartbreaking twist of the game is when Simon meets his childhood love interest on a rooftop and confesses his love, but she rejects him and commits suicide.

When I first played it, I was alone at home, and I felt so captivated by the visuals. It kind of reminded me of Silent Hills. The game mainly follows dark corridors and claustrophobic environments.

The houses and apartments the player visits have undecayed stuff, such as furniture, giving the notion that the people suddenly disappeared not long ago. The graphics are pretty basic, and you can find many rough edges while playing. The character and monster sometimes feel laughable if you pay too much attention.

However, if you are sitting at home alone in the dark playing Cry of Fear, there is no doubt that it will creep you out. 

Gameplay

The Cry of Fear was first introduced as a Half-Life modification in 2012 and was released in 2013 as a horror survival game. This Cry of Fear gameplay is a single-player mode, but there is an optional multiplayer mode as well. I only played as a solo player, so I will be reviewing accordingly. The game mechanics are pretty great.

Players can carry only 6 items, excluding ammo. Sometimes, the player must leave an item and come back for it later. Moreover, the player can also combine items, and the inventory wielding can be double, with one weapon and a light source to navigate through dark allies and corridors or two weapons simultaneously.

The player loses his stamina by actions like running and jumping. The health and stamina are restored through morphine syringes. Players can also rest to recover stamina. 

The co-op plot has a different campaign. In this parallel storyline, four police officers get trapped in the same terrifying environment while investigating Simon, where they fight with monsters and zombies.

The game is full of elements like depression, suicide, and anxiety. The gameplay is also made engaging and thrilling through the exploration of a deserted Scandinavian city, puzzles, and combat. 

Cry of Fear Controls

The controls are standard first-person shooter genre. You can use the following list to go through the controls quickly before starting to play. 

• Move: W/A/S/D 
• Space: Jump
• CRTL: Crouch 
• Shift: Sprint
• Left mouse button: To use inventory in the left hand or fire
• Right mouse button: To look down the iron sights or use the right-hand inventory 
• R: Reload
• TAB: Load inventory 
• F: To use a flashlight 
• K: For voice chat 

Where to Play Cry of Fear

Cry of Fear is free to download from Steam. The fun fact about The Cry of Fear is it was always intended to be a free-to-play game, but the launch date was delayed because Valve was under the impression that this game should have a price tag. You can install Steam and download this game to play for free. Also, it is not available for consoles like PS4/PS5.

Other Games Like Cry of Fear

If you have finished Cry of Fear, there are plenty of other options to keep your horror game marathon on. 

No More Room in Hell: A zombie apocalyptic horror, where you play as one of the eight survivors, kinda reminded me of The Walking Dead. 

Deceit: This multiplayer game tests your instinct when you are thrown into an unknown world and nothing but the voice of the game’s Master. 

Together After Dark: This game replicates the storyline from Blair Witch Project and follows 4 teenagers who get stuck in the forest and try to navigate their way out, but they are not alone.

Unfortunate Spacemen: Deceit is around the corner in the space station where a group of spacemen are trying to survive. The twist is not every fellow is who he seems. 

The Backrooms: Survival: Try to keep your sanity, hunger, and thirst balanced while exploring random levels and new encounters. Play alone or with ten friends. 

FAQs

1. How many people can people cry out of fear together? 

There are two modes to play Cry of Fear: a single-player and a multiplayer. In single mode, you play as Simon, who finds himself in a deserted Scandinavian city with monsters and mysteries. However, in multiplayer mode, you play as a group of four police officers as they get trapped in a similar horrifying environment while investigating Simon. 

2. Where can I play Cry of Fear for free?

You can play Cry of Fear for free on Steam. Just install the game and enjoy the horror. 

3. What is the scariest video game made?

No single game can be crowned as the scariest video game. It depends on the individual player’s preferences. However, the list includes MADiSON, Resident Evil 4, Until Dawn, etc. 

4. Did Cry of Fear cost money?

No, Cry of Fear was intended to be a free video game. This survival horror video game costs nothing. You can simply download it from Steam and play it for free. 

5. Which is the No. 1 horror game?

No single game can be called number 1. However, the top horror games ever made include Resident Evil, Silent Hill 2, The Evil Within, etc.