Horror Games Spotlight: ‘P.T.’

Legends are formed in time, but urban legends are formed in infamy. In the case of gaming culture, P.T., also known as “Playable Teaser,” comes to mind as both. You may have heard of this infamous psychological horror game before. For a time, the game was a favorite by streamers; reaction videos full of screams filled up Twitch and YouTube. And in the decade since, P.T. has appeared on many lists of the top horror video games. But the true urban legend comes from those lucky enough to play it. Just like the creepy spirit haunting its halls, this teaser is lurking in the shadows out of reach. Haunting us with a story of what was and what could’ve been for the Silent Hill series.

A horror story production

You can’t talk about P.T. without acknowledging its complicated history. P.T. was released in 2014 by Kojima Productions and Konami (the developer and publisher, respectively). The short game was uploaded as a teaser on PlayStation 4 with no real distinguishable ties to it. However, as gamers finished it, P.T. was discovered to be the teaser for the new entry in the Silent Hill franchise: Silent Hills. Then, it was revealed that P.T./Silent Hills was a collaboration between Hideo Kojima (the Metal Gear Solid series) and acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro, as well as starring Norman Reedus in the protagonist role. The gaming community erupted with excitement over P.T. and what Silent Hills had in store.

Unfortunately, what no one could’ve expected was the abrupt cancellation of Silent Hills. Seriously, it was shocking! Silent Hills had so much anticipation, and there was a renewed interest in the Silent Hill series. However, the game was canceled and Kojima/del Toro/Reedus departed; the trio went on to create a different game instead, 2019’s Death Stranding.

To add insult to injury, Konami decided to remove P.T. from the PlayStation Network in 2015. No one new would be able to download the game if they hadn’t before, and no one could redownload if they uninstalled it. P.T. became a hot commodity; if your PlayStation 4 had a saved copy installed, its value increased tremendously. It’s a baffling decision because of how immensely popular P.T. became; removing it caused a lot of ire from gaming sites and fans. In the years since, many fan remakes and spiritual successors have come trying to replicate P.T.’s magic, like Visage, but P.T. has stood as a unique darling.

Horror finds a home

The plot of P.T. is as mysterious as the game itself. You take on the role of a faceless protagonist as they walk through a looping, never-ending hallway. The character wakes up in a concrete-lined room before entering a fancy hallway in someone’s home. Everything seems normal at first – there are family photos, an answering machine, a radio, and a house with no one home. However, as you progress through the loops, you quickly discover that something is amiss in this house.

Creepy noises, a baby wailing, blood, and a haunting poltergeist are just some of the horrors lurking in the hallway. Plus, there’s a creepy chandelier constantly creaking that really heightens the mysterious aura too! P.T. is a psychological horror game in every sense of the word. This game finds a way to unnerve you as you explore the hallway, solve puzzles, and try to learn more about what happened. And just when you think you’ve reached the end, a new terror comes out to scare you. But once you reach the finish line, a sweet teaser for the (now canceled) Silent Hills game awaits you.

A step in the right direction

The gameplay for P.T. is quite simple: you walk and explore. That’s it! This horror title is an exploration game at its core. You’re meant to walk through the halls and take notice of what’s around you. But more importantly, you need to take notice of what’s changed around you. Listen to the radio, read the messages, and walk toward that creepy crying coming from the other room. You can only go forward or back, but you can’t progress unless you move. P.T. will make sure that you keep diving deeper into its darkness.

Though, it’s the horror aesthetic that shines in the experience. As mentioned above, the hallway around you shifts as you dive deeper into the loop. This home is a horrific nightmare; one minute a terrifying face will appear within a door, but then a new loop will shroud you in complete darkness. And without any real answers to the story in the loop, your mind will be left to fill in the gaps. Pay attention to every hint – there is a tale, it just takes some exploration to piece it together.

It’s been a decade since P.T. haunted our screens. The playable teaser survived the test of time to live on as its own standalone title, giving us the treat of a truly spooky game. Even though it’s dead and buried, its legacy still lives on. If only we saw the wonder of what Silent Hills could’ve been; it’s in a different multiverse of horror for them to enjoy. We’ll always have the urban legend that was P.T. and the many reaction videos that spawned from it. It’s the true spookiness that haunts us now.

 P.T. is no longer available to play on PlayStation 4.

Featured Image Credit: Konami