Genre: Psychological Horror, Survival, Exploration, Action

Developer: Cyber752

Released: 11th April 2025

Price: £2.99

Available on Steam

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3487660/The_Bunker/

The Bunker, while maybe not discovered by many, has the potential to reach players beyond comprehension. For those of you who love that zero to one hundred real quick feeling, this is the one for you. I was fortunate enough to get in touch with the developer of The Bunker, but we will go over that later. First, we will read about my thoughts and time in the game.

My First Impressions 🧠

From the moment I stepped into The Bunker, it was clear this wasn’t your average indie horror experience. The game wastes no time pulling you into its dim, atmospheric world, one that feels simultaneously stripped back and deeply immersive. The VHS filter immediately gave me the impression I wasn’t just playing a game, I was living a horror movie. And that’s exactly what I was hoping for. There’s a quiet, creeping dread built into every corner of this game, and its simplicity only enhances it.

Controls and Gameplay 🎮

The control scheme in The Bunker is minimalistic by design, just a handful of key binds and mouse movement, but that’s what makes it shine. Everything responds smoothly, without any clunky inputs or interruptions to flow. The gameplay loop, while basic on paper, becomes something much more potent thanks to the environment and audio design. You’re not burdened with overly complex mechanics or systems. Instead, you’re free to focus on exploration, the tension of the unknown, and piecing together the story through small but impactful discoveries

Graphics 📽️

The retro aesthetic combined with VHS distortion is hands-down one of the game’s biggest strengths. Visually, it captures the eerie, lo-fi look that feels like something disturbing you found on an old tape buried in a basement. It’s raw, gritty, and immersive in the best ways. The bunker’s environment is stripped of unnecessary detail, and that restraint is exactly what makes it work; it gives you a sense of place and purpose without overwhelming the eye. It’s a focused, intentional design that serves the mood above all else

Performance ⚙️

Despite the heavy atmospheric effects, The Bunker runs incredibly well. The game’s optimisation matches its visual simplicity, no hitches, no crashes, no frame drops to break immersion. Every moment, from your slow, deliberate movement to the intense final chase sequence, feels well-paced and technically solid. It’s clear the Dev focused on making sure players could fully sink into the horror without being distracted by technical issues.

Summary 📓

The Bunker is a short play, an hour, maybe a little more, but that’s all it needs to leave an impression. It delivers a punchy, unnerving story that’s easy to follow, but laced with real emotion. One particular moment involving two skeletons and a tragic note genuinely lingered with me after finishing. The audio design is intense, the world is atmospheric, and the simplicity is used to full effect. This isn’t just another indie horror; it’s a love letter to analogue fear and raw storytelling.

If you’re after a chilling, one-sit horror experience that will make you jump, think, and feel, The Bunker is absolutely worth crawling into.

But Wait, There’s More…

What’s Next for The Bunker? That is a great question. With the eerie legacy of The Bunker still fresh in players’ minds, developer Cyber752 is already deep into planning its chilling sequel. While the original cast of characters won’t return, The Bunker II will introduce a new lineup of survivors navigating the horrors of a new facility.

Gameplay is set to expand in major ways, including a new co-op system where players must work alongside NPCs to solve puzzles and progress. A battery-powered mechanic is also being introduced, requiring players to manage resources to unlock and power up key areas, adding a new layer of strategy and tension.

Perhaps most excitingly, Cyber752 has made it clear that community feedback plays a vital role in shaping the sequel. Through the game’s official Discord server (Cyber Nightmares) and Steam discussions, the team is actively listening to fans to build a more engaging, immersive, and terrifying experience.

The next chapter of The Bunker promises to go bigger, deeper, and darker, and if the first game is any indication, we’re in for something special.

Developer Interview 🎙️

Q: What inspired the decision to use live-action footage, and how did it enhance the storytelling experience?

A: I enjoy watching YouTube videos of people exploring abandoned places like old bunkers and haunted locations. The atmosphere in those videos is tense and eerie, and it often feels like something is watching you. That feeling really inspired me.

Q: The character we control, his/her journey is both physical and psychological. How did you approach including his/her mental state and its evolution throughout the storyline?

A: Her name hasn’t been revealed yet, but she’s going through an extremely tough emotional journey. She was just camping with her friends when a nuclear war broke out, killing everyone she knew, including her family and the friends she was just with. This leaves her feeling incredibly vulnerable. Only four hours after the incident, we hear her crying, already broken and driven by anger. From that moment, she begins to gather the strength to survive and find a way out of the bunker.

Q: We don’t see many underground bunker settings in games these days. How was the construction of the bunker space itself approached? Was there any inspiration from real-life locations or movies?

A: Yes, before writing the story for The Bunker, I was very interested in nuclear events. I did a lot of research on Chernobyl and even watched HBO’s miniseries. With the world today still facing so many conflicts, I felt the need to create a game that captures the fear of nuclear warfare and also honors those who have been affected by it.

Q: Has the feedback you’ve received from the community influenced any future changes/updates we can expect?

A: Absolutely, I take player feedback very seriously. In the 1.1.0 update for The Bunker, I added a basic inventory system and an auto-save feature based on suggestions from players. It’s important for me to listen and improve the experience for everyone.

Q: Looking back on the development process, what is the biggest lesson you learned when creating a game for others to experience?

A: Playtesting, without a doubt, has been one of the most important lessons I’ve learned while making all of my games. Testing with actual players, especially those who are not friends or close connections, gives the most honest and valuable feedback. That raw input, driven purely by gameplay experience, helps me improve more than anything else.

Wrap up

All in all, I think we can all agree that The Bunker is a game you should have in your library as soon as possible. The developer truly cares about the player base and their voices, not leaving any stone of feedback unturned.

The Bunker is affordable, which makes it one of its top attributes. Despite only having a free demo at the moment, we can be sure the wait for the full release will be worth the while. The Bunker is more than ready to reach its full player potential, and we here at InsideXO are all for it.

Badge: Worth Your Playthrough
Summary: Fun yet terrifying horror survival that puts a lot of horror movies to shame.

Rating: Graphics: 3/5
Gameplay: 4/5
Atmosphere: 5/5
Future Potential: 5/5
Overall: 4 out of 5