Project Nightmares Case 36: Henrietta Kedward – as game titles go, it’s a bit of a mouthful. But horror fans might want to check out this spooky caper, just released on consoles after a stint in early access on PC.
It’s got quite a clever concept, Project Nightmares Case 36: Henrietta Kedward. As a member of a paranormal research team, you’re the unfortunate one who has to enter a machine and be hypnotised, transporting you to a nightmare. Your goal? To find information about Henrietta Kedward, an old woman with a dark past.
You’re pretty much plunged straight into horror here, finding yourself in a pitch black property. Your only source of light is a candle, which melts over time. Thankfully you can find new candles as you explore, and you’ll always want one lit as it also serves to ward off the forces of darkness.
It won’t stop weird things happening around you, though. Being procedurally generated, you can never get too comfortable in Project Nightmares Case 36: Henrietta Kedward. Books might get thrown off shelves ahead of you, or an apparition might appear from around a corner, triggering a quick time event of sorts. Some of them lose their effect after being repeated multiple times, but others keep you on edge.
Like most horror games in this post-P.T. world, the worst thing about Project Nightmares Case 36: Henrietta Kedward is that it sometimes feels like you’re just walking through an endless procession of corridors. There are some puzzles to complete, which are engaging and may sometimes leave you scratching your head, but for the most part, it’s just a case of searching every drawer, shelf and cabinet you come across in the hope of finding something that will allow you to progress.
There are some stealth elements, too, but no real stealth mechanics. You have to enter areas, cut off with salt circles, where the titular Henrietta Kedward roams in search of victims. You can’t crouch, peek around corners or even cover the flame of your candle; all you can do is walk slowly, keep your ears open, and hope that you evade the evil old woman until you can reach safety again.
Thankfully, if you do get spotted and meet a grisly end, there’s not really much of a penalty – you’ll just be respawned in a safe area, ready to try again. As long as you’re persistent, then, you should be able to make it through Project Nightmares Case 36: Henrietta Kedward eventually. More than anything, it will depend on how you get on with the game’s puzzles and item finding: get stuck or fail to find an items, and your interest may just peter out.
In any case, there’s one thing for sure, Project Nightmares Case 36: Henrietta Kedward certainly doesn’t disappoint in the visuals department. We’ve been playing on PS5 and it looks absolutely fantastic, with the dark, gloomy and detailed environments really adding to the game’s atmosphere. Sound design is pretty good, too. Only some wonky animations when you interact with certain objects let it down a little.
Project Nightmares Case 36: Henrietta Kedward isn’t for everyone. It simply doesn’t have the appeal of the likes of Resident Evil or Silent Hill. Devout horror fans are likely to get some kicks out of it though. While it has jump scares aplenty, it also does a good job of creating a foreboding atmosphere. And while its gameplay isn’t riveting, some of its puzzles are rewarding to crack.
Project Nightmares Case 36: Henrietta Kedward is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
