The Beast Inside for Windows

Escape ghosts and uncover the truth

The Beast Inside is a unique take on the action and survival horror genres. Published by PlayWay S.A, this paid game lets you experience the game across two different time periods, from the perspective of two different characters–haunted by monsters and connected by a dark heritage.

In terms of gripping storytelling, it is comparable to The Forest or The Last of Us, but with a greater reliance on supernatural elements that not only serve as jump scares or enemies, but also lend to the story being more immersive.

Two protagonists, two eras, one game

While there are games where you control multiple protagonists, such as in Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, The Beast Inside lets you play as either Nicolas Hyde or Adam Stevenson in two separate and seemingly disjointed storylines. This creates unique gameplay connected by the setting: an old house. One from the American Civil War and another from the Cold War Era, each with different weapons and means.

As for its gameplay, its combination of both horror and action makes it hard to stop once you’ve started. It makes fighting against the monsters a challenge, requiring a certain level of skill to pull off where timing, accuracy, and reflexes are all important ingredients. The game also features cinematic cutscenes that are well animated, paired with voice-over work that makes these scenes unskippable.

Unfortunately, while it offers some grand ideas for a great game, it doesn’t pan out as well, maybe because of its short gameplay. By the late game, there’s no longer a balance between the horror and the action part, devolving an otherwise interesting story experience into something that resembles a shoot 'em up game. This defeats the epic early game this app provides.

Great concept, lacking in execution

The Beast Inside promises unique gameplay but fails to follow through near the ending. Playing two separate yet converging storylines is a good premise, and executes it flawlessly as you start the game. The skill level you trained for in the early stages probably helps make the game feel short by the time you’re close to finishing it. Try at your own risk.