Finish the last mission in this horror game

Cold Shot is a free action video game wherein you must fulfill one last contract. Developed by Albert “skydrow” Ortiz, this 3D first-person horror game is a short and atmospheric pixelated adventure that has you trying to survive strange Lovecraftian creatures with only your gun.

Similar to Real Stories from the Grave: A Date to Keep, Cold Shot offers first-person shooter gameplay and survival horror elements, as well as puzzles you need to solve to progress through the map. This retro indie game has numerous plot twists and surprises—always keeping you on your toes for half an hour or so.

It’s supposed to be an easy job

In Cold Shot, you play as a contract killer who has to eliminate a target via sniper rifle at night. The job is easy enough at the start but you have to make sure that the target is dead so you have to head on inside their quiet home. However, things are not as they appear in this house and soon enough, you encounter a different kind of danger.

The controls are easy enough to figure out—although it would still be helpful to have a brief tutorial. To move, press the WASD keys. To interact with objects, press E as instructed by the button prompt. To shoot, use the left mouse button and to zoom in, use the right. Lastly, press R to reload—however, you should be careful with this since it will throw away your current magazine. 

In terms of atmosphere, this indie game captures the essence of retro horror games quite perfectly. Everything looks grainy—down to the font style—and evokes unease as you explore to solve some puzzles. The FPS gameplay is also quite challenging as you have limited ammo that you can pick up around the house and you’ll eventually have to survive a vicious attack and escape.

Solid but impactful

All in all, Cold Shot is a nice retro-style FPS game to try out if you want something short and sweet for a horror experience. The story is linear but the gameplay is engaging enough and keeps you hooked as you try to survive with only your gun and your wits. It could still use a quick tutorial, however, and even a warning regarding the limited ammo.