Luto Review
Grief doesn’t follow logic; it twists space, bends time, and loops in on itself when you least expect it. That’s the feeling “Luto” evokes almost immediately, and it only gets stronger as the hours pass. Developed by Broken Bird Games, this psychological horror game drops you into a house you cannot leave and then asks you to dig your way out, not just physically, but emotionally. What unfolds is a surreal, symbolic descent that hit harder than I expected, and one I won’t forget anytime soon. The premise is simple on paper: you play as someone trapped in their own home, unable to walk out the front door. Each failed attempt spirals you further into a labyrinth of shifting hallways, whispered voices, and impossible spaces. But “Luto” isn’t really about escape; it’s about confronting the weight of absence, and it isn’t subtle about what that means. It explores the loss of a loved one and how depression and anxiety distort the world into something unrecognizable.
I went in expecting a tightly crafted indie horror title, and while I did get that, I also found something much deeper, a meditation on grief that manages to be both universal and personal. The game leans hard into environmental storytelling, with rooms morphing depending on your emotional state and clues scattered throughout that slowly reveal the protagonist’s past. That balance between literal puzzle-solving and metaphorical narrative kept me constantly engaged. Visually, “Luto” channels the sterile dread of “P.T.” but filters it through its own voice. The atmosphere is thick with tension, light sources flicker and fade, walls breathe, and sound design does a lot of the heavy lifting. It’s not full of cheap jump scares; instead, it unsettles you slowly, steadily, until you start second-guessing every hallway and every sound. I played with headphones, and I’m glad I did; this game uses audio in smart and deeply effective ways.
The puzzles are where things get a bit mixed. Some of them are cleverly designed and feed directly into the mood, forcing you to observe closely and think abstractly. Others, though, felt unintuitive to me, breaking the pacing just enough to pull me out of the experience. They’re never bad, just inconsistent, and I found myself hitting a couple frustrating walls before finally figuring out the logic behind them. What I did appreciate, though, was how the game isn’t afraid to experiment with tone. At times it goes meta, pulling inspiration from games like The Stanley Parable or Undertale, but never in a way that undercuts its emotional core. It always brings the focus back to grief and what it means to be stuck, not just in a house, but in a moment in time you can’t move past.
The whole experience took me about four hours (give or take) to finish, and while I wish it were longer, it also felt complete. For a twenty-dollar title, it delivers fairly well for that price tag, especially when you consider the level of care packed into its design. Every moment feels deliberate. Every symbol has weight. It’s the kind of game that lingers, not because of any one twist or mechanic, but because of the quiet, painful truth at its center. “Luto” doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, and that may make it a tough experience for some, especially those sensitive to themes like depression or suicide. But for me, that honesty is part of what made it resonate so deeply. This is a game that understands how horror can be more than monsters or gore; it can be a reflection of the things we carry and the things we’ve lost. Broken Bird Games has made a strong debut here. If this is any indication of what they’re capable of, I’ll be paying close attention to whatever they make next.
8/10
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Related: Nick Navarro Reviews
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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