Hidden Deep Hands-On Preview – Journey into the Depths Below
Descend far beneath the earth, where nightmares wait in the dark. Hidden Deep by Cogwheel Software is another game that Daedalic Entertainment brought to PAX West, and it was one of the most confusing and interesting hands-on demos that I tried at the booth, which was where I also played The Occultist.
Hidden Deep caught my attention, and I wanted to see what this sci-fi horror game was about, and here’s our early hands-on report.
Slow, Tense Exploration
Hidden Deep is a 2D sci-fi horror platform-type game with a heavy focus on methodical exploration. You traverse through means of elevator down the shaft, climbing ladders, or using a grapple hook to carefully make your way through the underground facility. You will find yourself running back and forth to solve puzzles in order to unlock doors or elevators to new areas. The game can be frustratingly slow as you will be trying to figure out where to go and retracing your steps a lot in order to move forward. Along the way you will encounter different grotesque creatures that will constantly follow you unless you deal with them. Aiming is straightforward as well as shooting, so you can deal with these hostile creatures before they become a bigger problem. The tutorial showcases everything you need to know to get started and learn what you need to do to survive and rescue NPCs along the way.
While the PAX demo was single-player only, the game will feature both local and remote co-op in Early Access, which seems like a natural fit. Being able to navigate these hostile tunnels with a friend could turn tense exploration into a much more frantic, shared experience. So, grab a friend and experience the horror together.
Atmosphere Inspired by the Classics
Hidden Deep does not lean on cheap jump scares. Instead, the atmosphere, using lighting and sound design, does all the work. The dim cone of a flashlight cutting through the dark, the echo of old machinery rumbling somewhere far away, and the screeches of alien creatures create a constant sense of unease, sending a chill down your spine. The inspiration from files like “Aliens” and “The Thing” is what the game was designed to be. It embraces that style while giving it a 2D perspective, which puts a different spin on it, turning claustrophobic tunnels and sudden encounters into something uniquely tense. The demo made it obvious that atmosphere is one of the game’s strongest points.
As Above, So Below
Coming out of the demo, Hidden Deep left a mixed feeling. The foundation is there: a retro-inspired sci-fi horror experience with a deliberate pace and unsettling atmosphere. But the execution isn’t perfect. Through the demo, there was not much fear or tension; I had a lot of running back and forth to ensure that I was doing everything correctly, which broke the immersion of the game. Overall, I can see what this game was trying to do, but I can’t say that it was done correctly. Still, for a project built primarily by one developer, it’s impressive. The vision is clear, the atmosphere works, and the mechanics, while clunky at times, have potential.
With Early Access offering more content and co-op, Hidden Deep could grow into something that scratches that itch for fans of old-school sci-fi horror.
Hidden Deep early access is now available on PC.
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