Developed by John and Evan Szymanski, the survival horror game My Friendly Neighborhood has now launched on PlayStation following its initial PC release in July 2023. The game blends first-person shooter mechanics with puzzles and horror, creating a unique experience that draws inspiration from classics like Resident Evil while establishing its own distinct, puppet-filled world.
The gameplay is a compelling mix of action and strategy. Players navigate a tense environment, managing a limited inventory and carefully conserving ammunition. The game offers several difficulty settings, with the “Normal” mode providing a well-balanced challenge that ensures resources are available but never overly abundant. This maintains a steady level of suspense without becoming frustrating.
Storage and save systems are reminiscent of traditional survival horror titles. An inventory with limited space encourages thoughtful item management, though storage boxes are conveniently located at save stations. These stations require tokens to use for both saving progress and healing, a mechanic that adds a layer of resource management without impeding gameplay, as tokens are distributed fairly throughout the levels.
Visually, My Friendly Neighborhood masterfully combines the bright, cheerful aesthetic of a children’s puppet show with the unsettling atmosphere of a horror game. The colorful character and set designs create a constant sense of unease, as players anticipate threats lurking behind the playful facade. The audio design significantly enhances this tension; the constant, well-spoken rambling of the puppet characters can be heard from a distance, alerting players to their presence and amplifying the eerie atmosphere. While effective, the overlapping dialogue from multiple puppets can occasionally become overwhelming. The game exhibits some minor graphical glitches, such as characters clipping through the environment, but these are infrequent and do not detract from the overall experience.
A standard playthrough of the story takes approximately five to six hours, while completionists aiming to find everything can expect to spend over eleven hours. The game effectively showcases its core mechanics and narrative within a single run, offering a complete and satisfying experience for all players.
My Friendly Neighborhood successfully puts a creative spin on established horror conventions. By avoiding excessive gore and focusing on atmospheric tension, it serves as an excellent and accessible entry point into the genre. Offering substantial content for its price point, the game presents a strong value proposition and a memorable, puppet-themed adventure.
