Using video games as a vessel for storytelling dates back to the very beginning of the gaming industry. In the present day and age, those narrative roots are sometimes seen as secondary, especially in big multiplayer-oriented releases, but games like Obscured Stories: The Resentment shows just how powerful a game-delivered story can be for its audience.
The game, which is coming out on Steam on May 2, 2025, is set in an interesting period and features an interesting protagonist. In the title, developed by Silent Signal Studios, players take on the role of Lisa Parket, an international student living in Japan in the early 2000s. The game is her retelling of a traumatic event to the Japanese police, taking place over a period of two days.
During this time, the players work as Lisa in the SpinFuel Gas Station, where she needs to complete regular tasks like restocking and maintaining the business. At the same time, Lisa notices a strange man who is apparently watching her from a distance but feels like a source of potential danger, or even something much worse. Through the story-driven gameplay, the game slowly unravels into a gripping mystery with multiple endings.
All of this is set in a visual environment reminiscent of PS2 games and the same period in which the game takes place, giving it another layer of eeriness and slow-brewing terror. When this is combined with a decade-long actual issue of random people stalking others (even strangers) in Japan, Obscured Stories: The Resentment presents itself as a very troubling, but also very appealing game.
The game is made as an experience that provides around 60 minutes of playtime, but also something that involves multiple endings and secrets, along with a strong focus on psychological horror. If you're a fan of this genre, add the game to your Steam Wishlist right now and then try it out when it comes out in May. Right now, it more than promises to be a profound and impactful experience.