Life Eater is Strange Scaffold’s Newest Product of Twisted Storytelling

Commit Abductions to Prevent the Apocalypse (Probably) as a Blue-Collar Druid

Out of all the terrifying things to come out of the vastly creative indie game space, a horror fantasy kidnapping simulator is not what I expected to see but that is exactly the wickedly brilliant mindset that Strange Scaffold weaponizes in their designs. Life Eater has players observing schedules and making dreadful decisions, all in the name of an annual ritual sacrifice to prevent the end of the world. There are no Wild Shapes here, this is a druid with a much darker purpose. For this release and several other upcoming titles, Strange Scaffold is supported by publisher Frosty Pop, known for This is a True Story, Pillow Champ, and The Pinball Wizard. The result is a delightfully dark display of the limits humanity can be pushed to save others and the unnerved individual behind the acts. 

Fair warning, the contents of Life Eater are graphic and disturbing. Discretion is advised. 

For over twenty years, the call was heeded but at the outset of the game’s narrative, the dark god Zimforth is making things more difficult than usual. Life Eater plays within a fairly unique set of mechanics, utilizing a video editor-style interface that allows one to get to know their targets “one intrusive action at a time” while hoping that the dark denizen receiving these sacrifices exists and not a fabrication of a disturbed mind. The goal is to uncover as much information as possible and remember those details to properly prepare each body for the ritual.

Steeped in an unnerving tone and visuals laced with static, Life Eater put players behind the eyes of a monster. 

Strange Scaffold’s previous project, El Paso Elsewhere, featured a stellar, moody hip-hop soundtrack and captivatingly depressing voice acting. Sound in Life Eater is also a prominent facet of the game. The story is fully voiced by Xalavier Nelson Jr. (Studio Head and Writer at Strange Scaffold) and Jarret Griffis who can be found in audio drama podcasts as well as the audio comic Star Wars: Doctor Aphra. An atmospheric soundscape was developed by David Mason, the composer of DREDGE, the fishing horror game that has captivated players since last year. Playing Life Eater in a dark room, late at night, with noise-canceling headphones can potentially take one to a wretched place and that’s by design. 

Soon, Life Eater players will be able to feed the beast indefinitely. An endless mode is promised within a month of the game’s launch, granting more reasons to dwell in the darkness. 

Having spent a short time with the game’s opening moments, it feels like a logic puzzle that forces players to balance their resources to gleam as much as they can about their victims. The cutscenes and premise are enough to keep one hooked and I shudder to think about where this story is going. Should I make it to the end of Life Eater, I’ll try to manifest my thoughts in a full essay but for now, seeing another fascinating release from Strange Scaffold is exciting enough.  

Life Eater is currently available on PC via Steam for $14.99 but will be discounted by 10% until April 23rd, 2024. Learn more about Strange Scaffold’s games on the official website.