Tunnel

Some games are about head counts and having the highest score, while others are about focusing on offering a specific kind of experience. So is the case with Tunnel, a lightweight exploration game that leaves you to alone in a dark place which is overwhelmed by strange sounds.

In Tunnel the focus is on the audio and not that much on the visual side of things. Sure, the game succeeds in creating a sensation of claustrophobia and its design manages to confuse you when it comes to answering the question of where are you, but it’s all about the audio.

The entire experience is derived from the wonderfully gloomy and often unsettling sounds and effects that surround you every second of the game. The eeriness of it all fluctuates from almost complete silence to ear thumping sounds that make you restless. If you’re into sound design and soundscapes, this one is great.

A key factor to Tunnel is the speed at which you move. It’s perfectly balanced between being too slow or too fast, it’s just right. You have the optimum cruising speed at which it’s best to explore a place that seems to be both organic and lifeless at the same time.

Floating through some spaces will leave you a bit disoriented and not having any means of speeding up or shedding light to the surrounding space creates a slight sensation of fear. You never know when something might rush out of complete darkness straight at you.

Tunnel is something you play for only a few minutes but it lingers in your mind for a while. The growuls, the synthetic sounds, everything fits perfectly to create an immersive atmosphere. You know how this works, play it at night with a good pair of headphones on.