Absurdist horror Exit 8-like has you escaping a station full of bizarre dudes 

Ever wanted to escape a subway station full of bizarre-looking guys, odd bloodstains and flashing lights, or does that sound a bit too much like your daily commute? Either way, Japanese indie dev Damecchi has your covered with an Exit 8-inspired third person game set in an eccentric underground train station. Releasing on May 15 for PC (Steam), Re≒Connect Exit LOOP takes the anomaly-spotting gameplay of The Exit 8 and twists it into an action adventure that involves spotting mutations among the station’s eclectic mix of male passengers.  

Copycat versions of last year’s indie hit walking sim The Exit 8 are a dime a dozen (Related Article), but it seems that Damecchi is playing homage to the game while putting their own absurdist twist on the horror of being trapped in a train station. First of all, the game is third person, unlike The Exit 8. From the trailer, it seems like you will control a backpack-carrying balding man with bright yellow hair dressed in a gray hoodie and shorts. You can explore the platform, corridors, stairs and even inside the trains. To escape the station, you need to make your way to Platform 7 by correctly spotting anomalies. Unlike Exit 8 where you simply look for anything that is out of place before proceeding, Re≒Connect Exit LOOP will require you to find anomalies “in an ingenious way” according to the game’s description on Steam. This will apparently involve using binoculars to get a closer look at your surroundings, as well as FPS and TPS elements. 

The varied mix of male passengers include a half-naked man with butterfly wings pirouetting skillfully inside the train (like an impromptu performance you might see on the New York subway). The Exit 8’s middle-aged NPC man may have gathered an unexpectedly enthusiastic fan following but he always looked rather lonely being the game’s only human NPC. This isn’t the case here- as the subway platform seems to be home to various male characters, including a businessman talking on his phone. 

From the game’s description and screenshots, it sounds like some of the anomalies may involve mutations to the station’s male occupants. For example, one screenshot shows a man with a very long neck. Although The Exit 8 had its creepy moments and a couple of jumpscares, Re≒Connect Exit LOOP’s trailer gives off more of a survival horror vibe.  

Re≒Connect Exit LOOP is scheduled to be released on May 15 for PC (Steam).