The Horror at Highrook Embraces the Essence of Eternal Darkness in an Engaging Cluedo-Inspired Card RPG
When you first look at The Horror at Highrook, it may remind you of a supernatural version of the classic game Cluedo. You, along with your team of investigators, arrive at an eerie manor and are shown a top-down layout of the mansion, accompanied by character cards for your skilled explorers. However, instead of trying to solve a murder like in Cluedo, your mission is to discover why Lord Ackeron and his family have mysteriously disappeared from their home. Rumor has it that just before vanishing, Lord Ackeron sought help from a secretive group known as The Seekers Communion. His son was also reportedly ill with an unknown ailment.
The game begins with a demo available during the Steam Next Fest, allowing players to experience the first chapter of The Horror at Highrook. In this chapter, you will learn the various detective methods needed for your investigation. The actions unfold in real-time, and you have the freedom to move your characters around the mansion as needed. A clock ticks away in the corner, and you must keep an eye on your characters’ hunger and fatigue levels as the days pass to ensure they can perform their duties effectively. If a character gets tired, you can send them to the guest rooms for a quick rest. To combat hunger, you’ll need to forage for food on the cliffs outside, cook it in the kitchen, and serve it in the dining room.
While it may seem challenging to juggle all these responsibilities, it doesn’t overwhelm your investigative efforts. For example, your scholar character, Vitali, can continue researching in the archives, while your mechanic, Astor, opens supply crates to find more tools in the machine room. Your doctor, Caligar, can also brew potions in the lab, but you first need to unlock it using a key code that Caligar finds in the machine room.
Each task requires matching the right character to the right job in the correct room. As you progress, you’ll uncover sinister notes and strange symbols, hinting that Lord Ackeron was involved in dark rituals. The plot thickens when a tiny ghost boy appears unexpectedly, and if your team doesn’t quickly move him to another room, he can negatively affect their sanity.
The gameplay is quite engaging, especially since certain tasks require booster cards to succeed. For instance, if you encounter a stubborn rusted box, you need to have focus cards ready in the room to open it. At times, Caligar will need special substances mixed from standalone items for more complicated tasks, making resource management crucial, as many cards can only be used once.
However, it can be a bit confusing to figure out which character is best suited for specific tasks. You have to hover your mouse over each character’s card to recall their skills, which can feel cluttered since their abilities often sound similar. While you can pause the clock to gather your thoughts, that approach seems a bit cumbersome considering how frequently you need to assign tasks.
Despite these minor issues with the interface, I enjoyed the first chapter of The Horror at Highrook. Its thrilling story about ancient horrors and dark rituals captivated me, and I am looking forward to discovering more as the game develops. If you enjoy mysterious plots and strategic gameplay, think of it like a Cluedo-style board game mixed with eerie themes, and you’ll have a good sense of what to expect from The Horror at Highrook.
