Premium horror game about petty revenge
The Vermander Curse is a free simulation game from Zed_Technician. This quirky survival horror experience lets you play as Doctor Eda, an elderly aardvark in charge of a hospital about to be the subject of a demonic attack. Thanks to the greedy landowner of the hospital, you, your staff, and all the patients are now under the titular curse.
Like most games from Zed_Technician, The Vermander Curse also features a cast of anthropomorphic animals and a short yet engaging story. Other similar games, also from the same indie developer, include The Man from the Window and Beware the Shadowcatcher.
A story of greed and commitment
The premise of The Vermander Curse revolves around the wealthy landowner J.P. Vermander. After a measly one percent drop in his revenue, he feels he has been swindled. To get back at the hospital staff, Vermander summons the family demon to haunt and wreak havoc at the hospital. As Doctor Eda, it’s your task to keep everyone safe by accomplishing different tasks.
In accomplishing the tasks, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the cast and the layout of the hospital. Their circumstances and rooms can hold clues that help ensure you complete these tasks. Combined with the “rules” that govern the demon, it makes for some pretty interesting gameplay that requires both strategy and speed, something similar to Five Nights at Freddy’s.
You can access one of its multiple endings depending on your success in performing the tasks. If you’re interested in unlocking the character’s backstories, you’ll have to play it repeatedly, which justifies the short playthrough. Also, it is difficult for first-time players because of the time limit and the lack of visual reminders on your adventure, requiring you to pay close attention.
Challenging and fun, with a moral lesson
Overall, The Vermander Curse feels like one of those children’s books that aim to teach a lesson about treating others with kindness and respect. Provided you pay close attention to the hints and instructions the game offers, you can choose from any endings you wish to achieve. With a simple yet engaging story and a short playthrough offset by incentivizing multiple attempts, it’s a great indie horror game.
