Iron Lung Meets Stranger Things In Twisted New Horror

Fans agree that the original Iron Lung is one of modern horror’s most celebrated indie cult classics, and it isn’t every day you find a game as twisted or unsettling. Developed almost entirely by David Szymanski, the game does away with traditional survival horror tropes and truly suffocates players, placing them inside a tiny submarine exploring a blood-filled ocean on a dead moon.

After the game popped off and went viral, the announcement of a feature film adaptation starring Markiplier established the IP as a quintessential must-experience horror for anyone who calls themselves a true fan of the genre. While few games have successfully captured that same feeling of claustrophobia and dread, a newly released horror title does exactly that and then some, with serious Iron Lung meets Stranger Things vibes, available to check out now on Steam.

Below, Rusted Gods Is Available Now

Below, Rusted Gods is a new first-person psychological horror game from indie developer FromSouthGames that flips the traditional horror formula on its head by casting players as the remote operator supporting an expedition into a mysterious underground abyss vis-à-vis Subnautica or Iron Lung.

Rather than fighting monsters directly, players use “communication methods,” such as interpreting radar readings, monitoring surveillance cameras, scanning radio frequencies, managing medical equipment, and making life-or-death decisions based on piecemeal info as the team ventures deeper into the unknown.

The game’s emphasis on deduction and limited communication promises a uniquely unsettling experience, with multiple endings determined by the choices made throughout the mission. Drawing clear inspiration from atmospheric horror experiences like Iron Lung, it leans heavily into isolation and psychological suspense, with the same sort of government conspiracy and eerie otherworldly communication vibes you’d find in Stranger Things.

After months of hype since the game released a demo and got fans hooked, Below, Rusted Gods officially launched on Steam yesterday, July 29, and early adopters can currently pick it up at a 10% introductory discount through August 5, and is fully optimized for Steam Deck as well.

This Horror Isn’t For The Faint Of Heart

Gamers who have already had a chance to play Below, Rusted Gods have nothing but good things to say, praising it for its authenticity and how it doesn’t rely on jump scares to terrify players. Fingolinn says this “is not your regular jumpscare fest. You’re always creeped out and with a constant sense of dread. It’s probably the best horror game of the year” and “there are Iron Lung vibes for sure.”

Fans like rawBasic say “this indie game is magnificent. Only two people created this polished surreal experience. If you like horror games, this is a new kind of psychological horror that you must love,” while Nirok hails the fact that “your decisions actually carry weight and branch the story into completely different endings, so there’s actual incentive to replay it rather than just watching the other choices on YouTube.”

Overall, if you’re looking for a truly great and scary horror game to add to your library on the cheap, Below, Rusted Gods is absolutely worth the low price of admission at just around $7, and you can try it out for yourself now on Steam.

Brand

Valve

Original Release Date

September 12, 2003