Skull X Aibohphobia – First Impressions of a Genre-Bending Mystery

A strange title, a stranger journey – and one I didn’t expect to enjoy so much

Reviewed on PC.Score: 7/10

I’ll admit it—I hadn’t heard of Skull X Aibohphobia until just recently. The title alone had me puzzled. “Aibohphobia”? Turns out, it’s the fear of palindromes… and yes, the word itself is a palindrome. That kind of clever wordplay ended up setting the tone perfectly for what’s to come: a strange, layered, and surprisingly nostalgic experience that caught me completely off guard.

A Story That Morphs as You Play

What starts as an extraction shooter suddenly shifts. Before long, you’re part of an SCP-style investigation team, then pulled deeper into a narrative dripping with Lovecraftian horror and mystery. It’s a bizarre ride, but one that somehow works. The animated cutscenes are fully voiced and brought me back to the days of old Newgrounds animations—something that genuinely hit me with a wave of nostalgia. It’s weird, it’s dark, and it’s oddly charming.

Gameplay That Draws on Darkest Dungeon

The gameplay is tough. If you’ve played Darkest Dungeon, Iratus: Lord of the Dead, or Vambrace: Cold Soul, you’ll feel right at home—if “home” means stress, tactical turns, and tense decisions. I’ll be honest, this is the part I struggled with most. These types of games are notoriously challenging, and Skull X Aibohphobia doesn’t go easy on you. A difficulty option would help a lot here, especially for players who are more story-driven.

Point-and-Click Exploration? Yes, Please

In a nice change of pace, some areas feature point-and-click exploration, which I absolutely enjoyed. These sections help break up the combat and deepen the world-building, adding a layer of interactivity that keeps things fresh. Combined with the evolving story and constant narrative twists, it’s a game that kept pulling me deeper.

Final Thoughts – So Far

I launched the game expecting to check it out for half an hour. Five hours later, I was still playing. The story is what’s hooked me the most—it keeps raising questions, feeding me just enough to stay curious, and never letting up. If you’re into psychological horror, cosmic mystery, and difficult turn-based tactics, Skull X Aibohphobia might just surprise you, too.

Recommended Read

Enjoying the chaos of Skull X Aibohphobia? Don’t miss our spotlight on another rising indie gem: Dead as Disco.

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