Free-to-play horror JRPG
Please Love My Computer Game is a free-to-play adventure game from Yai Gameworks. This indie entry combines horror and puzzle elements to create a unique JRPG experience, tasking you to explore an abandoned house. With everything in black and white and most of the texts written in some cryptic language, it’s up to you to discover the secrets of the house.
Using various elements that add complexity to the game, Please Love My Computer Game is more reassuring when played with friends, although not as a multiplayer experience. It’s like a 2D Fatal Frame; Maiden of Black Water, but creepier.
Creepy and unsettling
Please Love My Computer Game is a 2D role-playing game with fully retro aesthetics. Most parts of the house are in grainy black and white, with certain rooms shaded a certain color. Also, the texts are obscured by strange symbols, keeping the player in the dark most of the game, adding mystery, suspense, and a sense of frustration. Together with the sound design, this overall aesthetic creates tension all throughout.
In terms of the puzzles, there’s a wide variety of them, which might necessitate help from friends. The puzzles are too disjointed and difficult for one person to solve. There are riddles, ciphers, and even visual puzzles. Interestingly enough, it uses different styles for these puzzles, such as hand-drawn artwork, a separate screen for Adobe Photoshop CC, or the need to access your own system files.
Lastly, the open-world map makes for a great nonlinear gaming experience. The problem with this game, as mentioned, is that solving all puzzles alone requires a very specific set of skills. For a single-player game, it’s safe to say that it is very difficult. There are no hints either. Additionally, it contains sensitive and mature material that is not suitable for younger players.
A meta horror experience
Perhaps the most unsettling part of Please Love My Computer Game is how self-referential the game gets. Some questions feel personal, and you need to access your own files in certain scenarios. The graphics and the sound are only there to set up the vibes, with the real discomfort coming from the mature themes and the random yet highly challenging puzzles. It’s recommended, but best played with a friend.
