You are the Carimara. Small, mute, sorcerous. Born of moss and mirrorlight, skilled only in the art of asking. Wandering a house stitched from grief and riddles; you don’t speak, you don’t chant, you don’t fight. You hold the house by its dead hands and conjure questions from dust, from bone, from whatever’s left behind.
Developed by: Bastinus Rex
Played on: Steam
Length: 1 hour
A review copy was provided by CRITICAL REFLEX.
As a horror game fan, I’m always on the hunt for games that stand out from the rest. Not only has CRITICAL REFLEX been a consistent provider, they’ve done it again with CARIMARA: Beneath the forlorn limbs, a visually stunning experience from French illustrator and solo game developer Bastinus Rex.
In the game, you play as a Carimara. A small, mute, goblin sorceror of sorts who is hired to detach the lingering spirit from an old woman’s abode. You don’t speak, you don’t chant, and you only communicate using the cards in your hands. As you explore your surroundings, you add more cards to your hand, bringing you closer to the truth hidden underground.
CARIMARA is unsettling, in the manner of quiet thrill. The art direction is visually distinct and delightfully eerie, enhanced by an unsettling soundscape that will have you bracing for a scare. But the scare never truly comes in CARIMARA, it only leaves you feeling the pinprick of its eyes on your back and the goosebumps raising on your skin.
But fight the feeling, you must. Because there is a mystery you need to solve. The core gameplay of CARIMARA is uncomplicated but satisfying, proving that you don’t always have to innovate on a formula to create a memorable experience. The game plays out like a detective visual novel, where the more conversations you have, the more exploration you unlock, and the closer you get to figuring out the origins of the ghost in the cellar.
The entire thing can be completed in 60 to 90 minutes, but take your time to explore the secrets hidden in every nook and cranny. Combining different cards with different characters will lead to different outcomes, and you’re not truly enjoying the indie horror experience until you’ve found all the unique ways to die.
I won’t say much more for fear of spoilers, but if you’re a fan of artsy horror games, or the CRITICAL REFLEX catalogue in general, definitely show this game your support. It is only through supporting good art that we’re going to get more of it.
Verdict: Unsettling And Beautiful
As a horror game fan, I’m always on the hunt for games that stand out from the rest. CARIMARA: Beneath the forlorn limbs immediately hits the mark. It is visually distinct and delightfully eerie, enhanced by an unsettling soundscape and an intriguing murder mystery style plot. The gameplay is uncomplicated but satisfying, and will leave you thinking about it for hours after completion. All I can say is, more please.
