Post Trauma [PC] | REVIEW

From its first unsettling moments aboard an abandoned train, Post Trauma makes no attempt to hide what it is: a deliberate and heartfelt homage to the survival horror greats of the 1990s and early 2000s. Developed by indie team Red Soul Games, this old-school inspired experience dives headfirst into the unsettling atmosphere, fixed camera angles, and obscure puzzle-solving that defined the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 era, in turn capturing the unsettling yet satisfying spirit of its inspirations – even if it occasionally does get lost in the shadows that they cast.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Post Trauma puts players in the role of Roman, a middle-aged, heavy-set Japanese train conductor who wakes up alone on a mysterious train after suffering a panic attack. His slow, laboured movements and physical vulnerability instantly set him apart from the genre’s usual protagonists, giving him a unique sense of identity that is rarely seen in a horror game. Roman doesn’t feel like a hero, but this grounded approach lends a welcome authenticity to his journey, in turn making the horror more personal and the stakes more believable. It’s very effective and helps ensure that the game’s opening leaves quite an impression.

The unsettling atmosphere of Post Trauma’s also immediately stands out as one of the game’s strengths. Visually, the game leans into a lo-fi, VHS-style aesthetic – complete with film grain, saturated lighting, and visual noise – that sells its retro influences without becoming gimmicky. The use of fixed camera angles is expertly handled, not only in paying homage to games like Silent Hill and Resident Evil, but also in contributing meaningfully to the tension. Carefully composed shots often hint at unseen threats just out of frame, turning simple movement through hallways into a nerve-wracking experience where you’ll always find yourself on the edge of your seat and worrying that something could frighten you at any moment. Some segments swap to a first-person perspective too, and whilst that shift doesn’t always gel smoothly with the rest of the game, it does provide variety and lets players soak in the eerie world from another perspective.

The sound design further enriches the experience, with the ambient score echoing the haunting work of Akira Yamaoka across the Silent Hill series. It complements the eerie silence of the game’s world perfectly, amplifying every creak of the floor, echo in the distance, and gasp from Roman as he pushes deeper into the twisted locales that he is left to explore.

“Post Trauma may stumble when it comes to storytelling and combat, but its eerie atmosphere, enjoyable puzzling, and old-school charm keep it compelling.”

Unfortunately, the narrative that frames all of this intrigue isn’t always as effective as the world and sound design. Post Trauma hints at themes of trauma and guilt but never commits to them in a coherent or satisfying way – characters appear briefly and disappear without much development, and the story becomes increasingly muddled as you progress, lacking the clarity or nuance to support its emotionally-driven concepts. I never got bored of the story at all, but it felt like it was building to something impactful but without nailing the delivery.

When it comes to gameplay, puzzles play a major role Post Trauma. The game nails the retro survival horror vibe, forcing players to pay close attention to their surroundings and jot down notes to solve environmental riddles – if you’ve played a survival horror game before, it’ll be very familiar. Whilst some puzzles could feel a bit too convoluted in design, the game strikes the right balance of challenge and clarity for the most part. They’re satisfying to solve and offer some real head-scratching moments… you know… in that classic survival horror kind of way.

On the other hand, the combat aspects of the game are a bit underwhelming. Roman can use melee weapons or firearms, though encounters are generally clunky and unsatisfying. The enemy AI is also too basic and easy to predict, whilst it’s so easy to dodge enemies that it rarely feels like they pose a real threat. With limited enemy types and little variation in their behaviour, the combat rarely adds much to the experience, and whilst it’s clear that it is meant to play second fiddle to the game’s puzzling, it would’ve been nice if enemy encounters packed a bit more punch.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Despite these flaws, Post Trauma still manages to stand out in a crowded indie horror landscape. It’s a deeply affectionate tribute to the genre’s roots, and when it leans into what made those old games great – atmosphere, unease, and some clever puzzling – it certainly succeeds more often than it fails. With a roughly five-hour runtime (as well as a fairly low price-point), it’s easier to forgive or look past some of its more obvious flaws and appreciate the things that Post Trauma gets right.

Developer: Red Soul Games
Publisher: Raw Fury
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1750030/Post_Trauma/