Ever since trailblazers such as *Five Nights at Freddy’s* first opened Pandora’s Box, uncanny horror games have been a staple in the indie scene. Later viral hits such as *Poppy Playtime*, *My Friendly Neighborhood*, and *Amanda the Adventurer* continued to build upon this formula of turning something familiar and comfortable into a horrific gaming experience. It’s gotten to the point where some may argue that the trope is overused, and they may be right. However, every once in a while, a game comes around with such stellar execution that it reminds us why uncanny horror is so effective in the first place. *Kitty Kart 64* is one of those games.

*Kitty Kart 64* is a simple horror game based on the gameplay and aesthetics of the ever-revered *Mario Kart 64*. An easy elevator pitch to get on board with, this indie gem delivers on its promise to infuse horror into the kart racer genre. It was born out of a submission to the 2023 LSDJAM, a game jam specifically meant to celebrate the release of the cult-classic PS1 game *LSD: Dream Emulator*. The game is only about a 20-minute experience, but its strength lies in its faithfulness to the games that it aims to emulate.

![Kitty Kart 64 Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm31vd5yr00ti01xvhe3w9f3k.gif)

Unlike *Mario Kart 64* or other kart racers of its time, *Kitty Kart 64* is a rather linear experience. It trades the chaos of high-speed competition and frenzied item throwing for a simple objective: Reach the finish line. The game captures the playstyle of Mario Kart in its controls. You can drive around, drift, and even honk your horn using the keyboard. Each map starts out with a very normal kart racing aesthetic and feel. As you progress through the laps, the maps begin to deteriorate and glitch just as a damaged Nintendo 64 cartridge might. Strange anomalies invade your game, creating a strong sense of unease and discomfort. Some maps even transition smoothly into strange hidden locations that couple unsettling visuals with intense ambient sounds.

Like many games of its ilk, *Kitty Kart 64* opts for a minimalist plot that allows players to fill in the gaps. There is very little dialogue from the characters we encounter along the way, and much of it isn’t put into a context that tells a story by itself. While you can’t gather much without making assumptions of your own, this is one of the game’s greatest strengths. It opts to focus on atmosphere rather than story, and the result is a more memorable experience.

![Kitty Kart 64 Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm31ve2iz00w301xv54k0eclf.gif)

Story aside, the aesthetics of *Kitty Kart 64* are a beautiful and uncanny homage to the games it’s trying to replicate. The low poly visuals of both the maps and the characters feel like they really could have been released in the Nintendo 64 era. Even the glitchy moments are reminiscent of a Nintendo 64 cartridge malfunction straight out of a creepypasta story. The sound design also does a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to striking a solid balance of horror and wholesome. The initially cheery tracks skip, distort, and sometimes cut out completely as the race progresses. Taking the familiar and introducing twists is a staple of the uncanny horror genre in indie gaming, and *Kitty Kart 64* nails it thanks to its graphic and sound design.

Despite being a horror game, *Kitty Kart 64* only has one real jump scare, with the rest of the tension being built through unsettling visuals and off-kilter sound cues. The result is a fun dive into a unique horror experience that could still use a bit more refinement. While the fact that you’re driving alone creates a sense of isolation, it would be nice to have other racers out there that could potentially open the door for even more horror opportunities. These deficiencies could be cleaned up in the future. Since releasing this demo, the development team, now going by the name Scrunklesoft Interactive, has launched a Steam page for the game and promised a full game release at some point in the future.

While its impact has yet to be determined, the release of *Kitty Kart 64* is a great example of the potential of uncanny horror games. With its numerous entries that range from awful to great, the genre is still an amorphous and growing category. Games like *Kitty Kart 64* are the titles that keep us engaged through the good and bad. At its best, uncanny horror can give you memorable experiences that beg the question: What if something you find comfort or nostalgia in became a beacon of terror? *Kitty Kart 64* is imperfect, but it gives you a satisfying answer and a memorable racing experience to boot.

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Kitty Kart 64 is a surreal horror kart racer where you explore eerie, abandoned tracks and glitchy dreamscapes. Uncover hidden secrets in a broken, chaotic world - all from your go-kart.

Kitty Kart 64: How Uncanny Horror Continues to Push Boundaries

Deck-builder games have existed in gaming for quite a while, but a recent resurgence thanks to titles such as *Balatro* and *Slay the Spire* has inspired a sort of renaissance within the genre. These games thrive on replayability as every playthrough allows you to construct a unique deck of cards with different abilities. With deck construction comes experimentation and with experimentation often comes great gameplay.

*Dire Decks* is a fine example of what makes this genre so intriguing when breaking it down to its simplest elements. Released in February of 2023, *Dire Decks* is a game that combines typical deck-builder mechanics with those of an arcade shooter game. You play as a blue character that is trying to survive wave after wave of orange projectiles. Although these base mechanics of shooting different cards at approaching enemies seem simple, the game becomes highly strategic with each coming wave.

![Dire Decks Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm3hlkvgg01fx01ub8ptoa8f3.png)

Each card that you play has a different ability and shoots a different style of bullet at the incoming projectiles. Some can pierce, some can turn the attacking bullets against each other, and some bounce off walls. Not only do you have to select which cards to add to your deck, but you also have to consider that certain cards have a different rate of cooldown. This added layer creates a nice strategic balance that can lead to tense situations and quick decisions.

After a few waves of enemies, you also gain access to certain power-ups that also change the game’s dynamic. There are options to shoot an extra bullet, reduce recharge times, and freeze the incoming projectiles. They’re very simple to understand, but every decision you make in a given playthrough is something that makes that particular game loop unique. It’s a rare balance that a lot of games struggle to achieve, so it’s impressive to see an indie title like this strike it so masterfully.

![Dire Decks Gameplay](https://production.lootablycdn.com/miscellaneousAdminUploads/cm3hlm1mc01ju01txg7iqha9g.png)

While the card selection in the game can be controlled with either the mouse or the keyboard, I found the keyboard to be much more useful for making snap decisions and firing projectiles at a higher rate. Graphically, the game is as simple as it gets with projectiles being orange circles and our main character being represented by a blue oval. However, that simplicity just adds to the charm as there is no distracting user interface or narrative to follow. It’s just gameplay, and that’s one of its greatest strengths. One small weakness is that the game lacks music, but it’s certainly not a dealbreaker. A chiptune score would be nice, but the game functions perfectly well without it.

Despite its simplicity, *Dire Decks* is one of the finest examples of the potential of the deck-builder genre out there. Every card you add to your deck changes your gameplay experience, making those small decisions feel especially weighty. Although it’s currently only available on Itch.io, it has all the makings of an addicting mobile game due to its well-paced gameplay loop and replayability. The developer kindanice hasn’t released an update since 2023, but the game’s innovation in the deck-building genre could pave the way for future titles. There are many genres that deck-building mechanics could also blend well with, and *Dire Decks* is a perfect example of how to execute such a combination.

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Dire Deck is a dark strategy card game where every choice matters. Face twisted challenges, outwit sinister opponents, and survive an ever-changing deck of fate. Will you master the darkness?

Trey Brooks

Articles by Trey Brooks