About This Demo

Playback '94 is a first-person psycho-horror series set in 1994. Each episode presents a new case told through exploration, environmental storytelling, and forgotten VHS recordings.

Playback '94 — Episode 1: Post Office

Private detective Alex Reed travels to Willow Creek Valley while investigating the disappearance of journalist James Carter. The trail leads him to an abandoned post office on the edge of town — his first stop. As he stepped inside, he couldn't shake the feeling that someone else was already there.

The Story

James Carter disappeared in 1994 without a trace. Following the last known lead, Alex Reed arrives in Willow Creek Valley one year later. The deeper he searches, the more he realizes: James didn't just disappear.

Some places are better left unexplored.

What this Demo includes

This free demo is your first introduction to the world of Playback '94. Before the full story begins, you get a hands-on feel for the game — how it controls, how it sounds, and how it feels to move through a place that doesn't want you there.

You will learn the core mechanics: how to navigate, interact with objects, manage your lighter, and find and play VHS tapes. The demo gives you a complete first impression of the atmosphere, pacing, and tension that defines the full game.

It ends where the story truly begins.

Gameplay

Explore abandoned locations, examine objects, and uncover fragments of the past while slowly piecing together the events surrounding the case.

Key Features

• VHS bodycam found-footage aesthetic

• Narrative exploration gameplay

• Discover VHS tapes and hidden clues

• Inspect objects, notes, and documents

• Resource-based lighter mechanic

• Health system

• 15–20 minutes playtime

Best played alone. Lights off. Headphones on.