The Steam-only masterpiece that's still scarier than anything on PlayStation or Xbox

Horror is an interesting genre in any medium, especially in gaming, and few pieces exemplify this better Who is Lila?. Developed by Russian solo developer Garage Heathen, Who is Lila? is a point-and-click horror game from 2022 that flew under the radar for many. This may have been a result of its avant-garde mechanics and uncomfortable themes, but also the fact that it's a Steam game. You can't get this game on consoles, and as of this writing, there are no plans to bring it to any Nintendo, PlayStation, or Xbox consoles.

Big-budget, flagship horror IPs like Resident Evil and Silent Hill embrace the tropes and tendencies of the films. Even more cerebral and thought-provoking titles, like Dead Space and Silent Hill 2exploit the language of film: the camera follows the player, cutscenes play out like movie scenes, there are attempts at photorealism and so on. Who is Lila?similar to other indie horror games like Signal ice and Mouthwasheschews these conventions in favor of the freedom offered by interactivity. And like these examples, it's all the better—and scarier—for it.

What is the story of who is Lila?

Who is Lila? is something of a murder mystery, but not in the way you think. Players take on the role of a young man named William, who lives alone while attending school. A lot has already happened when the story begins, and various flashbacks, dream sequences and other surrealities create a suitably disorienting action. Of course, it's a plot that's nearly impossible to discuss without going into major spoilers, but know this: Who is Lila? explains its opaque, eccentric history quite clearly over time, despite being very confusing at first.

The story is about identity, experience, and the nature of reality, and its non-linear construction drives home these broader thematic points. It's a pretty elegantly spun story, one that puts the player in awkward situation after awkward situation, even making them do things they don't want to do. It is through this disorientation, as well as the loss of control (an ever-valuable resource in video games), that Who is Lila? really communicates its more terrifying messages.

In other words, Who is Lila? may not make you jump out of your chair with terrifying monsters or heart-pounding setpieces, but it has a good chance of keeping you up at night through its subtleties. The more you think about the game's story, stories and actions of the main characters, the more powerless you feel. It's not the sense of powerlessness that comes with running out of ammo or facing a horde of menacing enemies, but a kind of existential, cosmic impotence that sticks with you more than any monster design ever could.

Who is Lila?'s suffers from several unfortunate localization issues; for example, the English translation has many spelling and grammar errors. This doesn't take much away from the game's overall strengths, but it's worth noting before jumping in.

Who is Lila's game mechanics and controls Steal the show

Who is Lila? has an interesting story, but most first-timers will be sucked in by its mechanical novelty, which goes hand-in-hand with its overall presentation. Navigating through game environments is done through conventional point-and-click mechanics, but you may notice that almost half the screen is taken up by a close-up depiction of William's face. This compartment in the display is reserved for Who is Lila?s main mechanical function, a kind of social simulator.

At certain points, players will get a preview of what William will say in conversation, while having a certain amount of time to click and drag parts of his face to make the correct expression. For example, if someone cheerfully greets William and he responds in kind, the player should probably pull the corners of his mouth up to get a smile. Doing something different, like pulling your eyebrows down to make an angry face, can lead to unique character interactions, plot beats, and even completely different endings.

It takes 2-4 hours to beat Who is Lila?

There is an inherent uncanny valley aspect to this gameplay gimmick, though Who is Lila? kicks it up a notch by occasionally forcing William into certain expressions: a grin will creep across his face when someone cries, or he'll make a look of pure horror at a seemingly innocuous comment. Players must contend with these inappropriate expressions to avoid unfavorable outcomes with NPCs. This game brings up the aforementioned theme of control, as the player, as William, is losing control of his most valuable tool: his face.

Who is Lila has the horror X-Factor

“Uncanny valley” is a phrase used to describe Who is Lila?but the wider experience defies such simple categorization. It has an undeniable sense of showmanship, like a skilled magician leading you through illusion after illusion. The gameplay is regularly turned on its head or remixed in unexpected ways, and the non-linear nature of the story keeps it consistently engaging, even when it doesn't make much sense. It even recontextualizes genre-independent mechanics like saving and loading, implementing them in unique ways.

Who is Lila? is yet another example of indie games' potential for innovation and ingenuity; there really is nothing else quite like it. It's a shame it hasn't made it to consoles yet, though its facial manipulation mechanics work best with a mouse. It's not a very technically demanding game, nor is it expensive, so if you have an “okay” PC, it's an experience not to be missed.