Developed by Eneida Games and Cat-Astrophe Games, Don’t Be Afraid 2 takes players back into a world of psychological horror, disturbing environments and some rather interesting puzzles. This time around, however, there’s a much greater emphasis on problem solving, with the developers leaning heavily into escape room mechanics. While the experience has plenty going for it, getting started requires a little patience.

A Slow Descent Into Horror

Don’t Be Afraid 2 wastes little time establishing its unsettling atmosphere, although the opening section is considerably more cutscene heavy than I would have liked. There’s quite a bit of story to sit through before things properly get underway, and while narrative development is important in a psychological horror title, I found myself wanting to get stuck into the actual gameplay sooner.

The story follows David as he finds himself confronting disturbing memories and experiences connected to his traumatic past. There’s a particularly unpleasant atmosphere surrounding the whole affair, with the game exploring some genuinely dark subject matter. Furthermore, the story gradually gives you more reasons to question exactly what’s happening around you.

Once the introductory sequences are out of the way, things become considerably more interesting. Exploration, puzzle solving and survival all become important parts of the experience, with each new environment presenting its own challenges.

Puzzles That Make You Think

One of the strongest aspects of Don’t Be Afraid 2 is undoubtedly the puzzles. Rather than simply throwing a few obvious switches and locked doors at you, the game encourages you to pay attention to you surroundings and think carefully about the information available.

Some of the solutions require a little more brainpower than others, and I particularly enjoyed having to piece together clues rather than simply following an obvious trail. There’s a nice sense of satisfaction when everything finally clicks into place, especially after spending a few minutes scratching your head wondering what on earth you’ve missed.

However, the difficulty can occasionally become a little frustrating. Not every solution is immediately obvious, and players who prefer a more straightforward horror experience might find themselves spending considerably more time solving riddles than running away from whatever unpleasantries are lurking nearby.

One addition I particularly appreciated was the UV light. It’s a welcome gameplay mechanic that adds another dimension to exploration and puzzle solving. Being able to uncover things that aren’t immediately visible makes searching your surrounding significantly more engaging. It’s a relatively simple idea, but one that works nicely withing the game’s overall design.

An Uncomfortable Atmosphere

Atmosphere is another area where Don’t Be Afraid 2 deserves credit. The environments have an uncomfortable quality that suits the subject matter, and there’s enough visual nastiness to keep horror fans interested.

The game also does a reasonable job of maintaining tension, even when you’re concentrating on solving puzzles. There’s always that underlying feeling that something isn’t quite right, which helps prevent the experience from becoming just another collection of escape rooms.

That said, I would have welcomed a little more variety between the puzzle sections. Although the individual challenges are enjoyable, the emphasis on solving problems can occasionally take away from the horror itself. There are moments when I wanted the game to unsettle me rather than give me another puzzle to figure out.

Is Don’t Be Afraid 2 Worth Playing?

Don’t Be Afraid 2 is an interesting follow-up that offers a slightly different experience from what some returning players might expect. Its emphasis on puzzles won’t appeal to everyone, particularly those looking for constant scares and more traditional survival horror adventure.

The opening could certainly do with being a little less reliant on cutscenes, and I would have liked a better balance between horror and problem solving. However, these niggles don’t completely spoil what is otherwise an enjoyable little nightmare.

If you enjoy horror games that make you use your brain as much as your nerves, Don’t Be Afraid 2 is worth investigating. Just don’t expect to breeze through everything without occasionally questioning your own intelligence.