Ready to check in? Developed and published by Steppe Hare Studio, The Inn-Sanity is a 3-hour horror experience that takes place in the titular Sanity Inn. Steppe Hare is known for other short-and-sweet titles such as Crimson Snow – but The Inn-Sanity may be their most polished and effective title in terms of atmosphere, story, graphics, and gameplay.

The Inn-Sanity Story Synopsis

Set in the late 90s, a mysterious apocalyptic event threatens humankind. A strange fog and red skies are the backdrop to a tense tale of survival. Large explosions can be seen ripping through the streets. Then there’s an eerie quiet – the city and its residents seem to have been swallowed up by this otherworldly, crimson veil.

Although the Sanity Inn’s guests are sheltered in place, an unknown disease still quickly consumes anyone it touches. Symptoms include nosebleeds and nightmares, followed by mania and hallucinations. Eventually, it causes people to transform into grotesque, blind, bloodthirsty creatures that rely on sonar to find their prey. Which happen to be other guests.

Stuck at the inn, our apathetic protagonist afflicted with face-blindness finds themselves in an isolating nightmare. It’s up to them to decide if they want to take part in finding a solution to save fellow guests, or sit idly by and descend into his own madness.

Gameplay Overview

This game blends various styles and mini games to make for a refreshing experience at every turn. From stealth segments to persuasion challenges. Though the stealth segments were pretty typical and sometimes a little lackluster, it was unique to make use of dialogue choices to “subdue” enemies with strategic persuasion. Overall, the game never feel stuck with one flavor of horror, which is a common downfall in the genre.

A major component of The Inn-Sanity involves fetch quests delivered by a mysterious “Watcher” and two other hotel guests – one being a young girl who camps out in the protagonist’s room. These include adding juice to the generator, turning on a comms tower, finding food, etc. All of these are pretty standard horror game tasks. However, the atmosphere and variety of gameplay makes them feel less like a chore and more like a realistic means of survival.

Is The Inn-Sanity Worth Playing?

If you want to check in the the Sanity Inn, it is currently on Steam for $7.99. For a thoroughly entertaining ride, we definitely believe it is worth the time and money. In addition to the inventive horror and effective atmosphere, you’ll feel compelled to learn more about what is causing the monsters to appear and unravel your character’s mysterious past. Some generic stealth sections aside, it’s extremely gratifying to experience the innovative gameplay and story of this apocalyptic nightmare.