REVIEW – Right in the middle of the summer lull, we are going to talk about a game that came out six months ago and can literally be completed in a single afternoon. In return, this is not a full-priced third-person horror game, and it may remind you somewhat of Dead Space, but instead of outer space, an underground laboratory takes centre stage, which may bring Resident Evil to mind…

The game’s Steam page says that an average playthrough takes four hours… Ours lasted two and a half. Now that is what we are talking about…

The Atmosphere Comes First

E:TBD’s goal is not to throw jump scares at us around every corner, but to build tension so that we can experience the horror waiting for us in the game. The pacing is not the best, and technically, it is a somewhat flawed product, although it does not expect us to pay 40, 50, 60, or 70 euros for it. We could also say that it is a slow burn that takes time to get going. We regain consciousness in a dimly lit, though not exactly abandoned, industrial area, and immediately feel powerless and watched. The soundscape contributes to this as well. Here comes a sudden silence, there are noises in the background, and they never give the player a moment’s peace. The lighting is similarly effective. More than once, we will have to rely solely on our flashlight because the fog and shadows have the upper hand. We should not remain in one place for too long, but neither should we rush through the entire experience.

The environmental storytelling is also effective because it allows us to piece together what happened without the use of words. We have to investigate, locate notes and objects, and find ways to unlock doors. The structure is not entirely linear, so there will also be some backtracking. As expected from the genre, resources are scarce, meaning we are almost constantly short of ammunition, flashlight batteries, and healing items. This increases the tension, and it is worth listening carefully because we will usually hear danger first: footsteps, a thud…

We should not consider running a shameful decision because it can be the most logical option in many situations. We can also hide, as there is no reason to force a confrontation with every enemy. E:TBD may seem simple, but this works to its advantage because it does not overcomplicate itself. We do not lose the rhythm, become confused by the interface, or have unusual abilities interfering with the gameplay. In fact, and this may also be considered a negative, there are no lengthy cutscenes or dialogue trees.

We have to assemble the pieces of the story’s puzzle through exploration. Some kind of scientific or industrial experiment appears to have gone wrong, breaking down the boundary between what we know and what we do not. This approach rewards players who persevere and investigate. Impatient players, however, will quickly abandon the game…

Thought-Provoking Adventures

The story may have been deliberately constructed so that not every plot thread is resolved by the end. This can create an effect that keeps us thinking about the events afterwards. Does it accomplish this successfully? Perhaps. And is the artistic style a good choice? It depicts the events of the past effectively, appearing somewhat grimy in a way that suits the game.

E:TBD makes good use of shadows, and the enemies are sufficiently unusual. It does not lean too heavily into grotesque imagery, which may be why the comparison with Dead Space works so well, since loneliness was also one of that game’s defining elements. It does not force anything upon us. It does not constantly terrorise us, but instead keeps a hand around our neck and occasionally tightens its grip. The game achieves all of this without forcing us to keep moving forward.

It slowly builds tension, but the pacing is far too erratic. We have to return to previously visited areas, and this gradually becomes an almost routine part of the experience. These elements ultimately leave their mark on the atmosphere, creating a somewhat muted effect instead of making the game memorable in the long term. Admittedly, not many people have talked about it during the six months since its release, and that is putting it mildly…

A One-Time Purchase and a One-Time Experience

Although there is some replay value in searching for missing pieces of the backstory if we overlooked something during the first playthrough, this is ultimately a game that can be completed in two to two and a half hours. There is no substantially different alternative ending; we simply receive what the game gives us, and that is it. Entity: The Black Day is available for €17.50, approximately 6,400 forints, and a demo is also available if we are unsure whether it will run properly on our system.

The game feels somewhat unpolished in several respects, including its interface, the lack of Unreal Engine 5 optimisation, and the limited variety of enemy types. Even so, it may be worth trying. It is not particularly bad, but it is also one of those games that we will complete once and never touch again. So head over to Steam and see whether the demo interests you.

-V-

Developer: ASD Games
Publisher: ASD Games
Genre: third-person survival horror
Release Date: January 8, 2026