Exit 8 being such a viral hit and spawning a film adaptation has made it a perfect inspiration for indie developers. Kotake Create's horror projects are shockingly short and only take 30-60 minutes to complete a run. Mechanically, it's also very simple, consisting of just some straightforward walking simulator gameplay. Yet this brevity and simplicity is why it works so well, as content creators and regular gamers alike can download it, play it, react to it and move on in one go. While you get Finish 8s anomalies and scares to scare the player took talent, the concept is easy enough to imitate and expand, which is why games inspired by Finish 8 — like the upcoming Steam project Route 88 – starting to appear.
The use of the number 8 is a clear enough homage to Route 88s inspiration, but the Steam description makes the vibes even more obvious by directly stating that the game is based on that title. However, it stands out a bit by swapping out walking for driving, while increasing the amount of content on offer, as there are more irregularities to react to, multiple endings to uncover, and a creepy new environment for players to find themselves in. Specifically, players must traverse a nighttime road surrounded by large trees, which looks like a playable journey to Raccoon City. Considering how big it is Finish 8 where, offering more of that style of gameplay but with car-based scares seems like a recipe for success, and it doesn't hurt that the locale resembles the lead-up to the iconic welcome sign images seen throughout Capcom's Resident Evil franchise.
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The Road 88 features at a glance
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DRIVE through a winding road at night and do your best to escape an endless loop.
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AVOID 88 different deviations on your journey across route 88.
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DISCOVER 3 alternate endings and secrets about the mysterious path.
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Immerse yourself in an impressive visual and auditory experience that heightens the excitement.
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RECTIFY a paranormal entity described only as “her”, which may appear on the device.
…caught in a loop on a stretch of road that repeats itself endlessly… certain elements or events seem to indicate that you are not in reality. Avoid these anomalies at all costs and find a way to escape this nightmarish loop.
Who is that character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Start
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s) Medium (5.0s) Hard (2.5s) Permadeath (2.5s)
The Road 88's title highlights its depth
Finish 8 may have popularized “spot the difference” horror games, but Route 88 aims to elevate them by offering significantly more variety in what players can see on their journey. Sometimes a train will appear, other times a building will appear, and if players are unlucky they will encounter “her” who needs to escape as fast as they can. While smiling NPCs and creepy posters fit the realistic vibes Finish 8s subway station, it seems Route 88 kicks things up a notch by throwing killer ghosts into the mix, with the appearance of one after a train passes by at the end of the trailer particularly chilling. Seeing the creature in the headlights staring directly at the player is downright unsettling, and for anyone who has ever been spooked by something while driving at night in the real world, Route 88 could really keep them up at night.
While Finish 8 offered 36 anomalies to look out for (37 in Finish 8VR version), Route 88 more than doubles this with its titular 88 anomalies. These will range from the aforementioned building appearances and train crossings to “road accidents involving people or animals.” Lightning and collisions also serve as potential jump scares in addition to the supernatural elements, such as “her”, who will eventually make it clear to the player that they are not in the real world. Between all these scares, they will discover 8 normal paths that will take them closer to the exit, which is a tunnel that players will undoubtedly feel relieved to cross.
Those interested in testing their pattern recognition Road 88 might feel safer after seeing that they're sitting in a car, but according to developer Emedion Games, that shouldn't be the case. In this spooky memory game, threats can apparently still get to the player no matter what big machine they're sitting inside. Perhaps the car may break down, or ghosts may pass through it, but in any case, deviations should always be taken seriously when they appear. If players can handle the unsettling nature of the path, they'll be able to explore to find and trigger three alternate endings, though exactly what those endings entail remains a mystery. Perhaps these scenes will reveal more about the road and the creatures that inhabit it, but for now they are a complete mystery.
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The Road 88 proves how integrated graphics and sound can be in horror games
One of the reasons Finish 8 worked so well is its visuals, and fortunately, Road 88 looks to be a graphically stunning video game. The precipitation on the windshield, the lighting of a neon sign or a pair of oncoming headlights, and the details of the protagonist's hands come together to create a game that looks real. This, along with equally immersive audio, should ensure that players are properly scared throughout, with the experience becoming increasingly uncomfortable, just like what happened in Exit 8.
While there are gamers out there who only add completely unique games to their Steam wishlists, sometimes clones and imitators can be great games in their own right. Party animal is a blast but is essentially one Gang Beasts copy with some more mini-games, Pow Pow is Overcooked with extra steps, and Palworldare notorious Pokémon drama doesn't take away from the fact that it was a huge success for Pocketpair. And now, The Route 88 feels like an unofficial sequel to the game that inspired its creation. Innovation is good and all, but when there aren't many experiences that resemble a singular concept, then iteration is a perfectly valid approach. Sure, Route 88 maybe just aspiring to be a bigger, better Finish 8but it's not a bad goal to have.
