Usually, when you hear “WW1 game” uttered in the description, you think that you’re in for a first-person shooting experience akin to, say, Battlefield 1. But SteelKrill Studio plays it a little different with Trenches. It definitely has the atmosphere of that era, but takes a different route – a survival horror one.
No, you’re not running from soldiers. Instead, you’ve set out to collect a number of dolls as you make your way through various trenches (hence the name of the game). But there’s a bit of scary stuff here, including some awesome jump scares and narrative that somehow ties everything together.
This game isn’t exactly loaded with excitement, and the gameplay does get a little monotonous over time. Still, its uniqueness – and scary factor – may just leave fans eager for more.

There’s Something After You, Not Someone
Whereas playing through a World War I game puts you against normal human enemies, Trenches takes a much different route. This time, you’ve got a monster after you. And there’s an interesting element at play, as you’ll have access to a whistle. This will help you find the dolls scattered within this terrifying world. But they’ll also get his attention, which you don’t really want.
You have minimal tools, so you’ll need to make your journey much more carefully than expected. Alas, that also means there’s no way to really fight back. It’s like Alien Isolation to an extent – you could try to do something, but you likely won’t be effective as you’re taken down.
Though the gameplay doesn’t evolve, it does tie together a good horror experience for those looking for one. And who knows, you might even be crazy enough to whistle that whistle, just to take your chances. Just, um, be ready when you’re caught. It’s not a pretty sight.

A Decent Looking Indie
Don’t expect a major AAA title here. This is the work of a solid indie studio, so it’s not as atmospheric as, say, Battlefield 1.
However, SteelKrill Studio does a stable enough job creating a haunting environment. And that, in turn, brings the scares around every turn. That’s more than enough to justify the game’s price tag, provided you know what kind of experience you’re getting into. Again, you cannot shoot back, so maybe stay on your toes.
The audio’s good too, with neat little sound effects and hints of where your next doll may be. Granted, the whistle sounds great as well, though the monster noises that follow can be a little unsettling. Wear headphones at your own risk.
Now…there is an option to turn off the scares if it’s too much for you to bear. But, honestly, you should leave the settings be, as you don’t want to be robbed of the experience. Get ready for survival horror if you want the most out of Trenches.

Worth Crawling Through?
Trenches isn’t a typical war experience. That can be a drawback, but it’s more of an advantage. That makes the game stand out over others of its type, especially with its unbeatable level of tension. The story could be a little better, and obviously a little more polish wouldn’t have hurt. But SteelKrill still did a bang-up job here for an indie offering, especially if you’re a fan of the genre. Get ready to crawl for your life.

The Bottom Line:
Not your typical war experience, Trenches will definitely chill your spine if you let it. Bring your best survival skills, because you’ll need them.