High School Dirty Secrets

In anime-styled puzzle horror adventure High School Dirty Secrets, a student wakes trapped in a dark school where a killer and plenty of girly panties can be found, and while said school has a very good, oppressive atmosphere, the almost goofy use of fanservice, the repetitive walking-simulator gameplay and the not-that-well-handled story make this fail both as a scary ride, as well as an engrossing quest filled with mystery and riddles.

Secrets delivers a tense, atmospheric horror experience with strong puzzle work, a huge school to explore, and a solid sense of progression. When it works, it really works, especially with headphones. But the performance issues, lack of accessibility, and some questionable design choices stop it from reaching its full potential. Even so, it offers a good mix of exploration and fear for players willing to overlook its rough edges.

High School Dirty Secrets has an overly sexualised wrapping, but presents an interesting story to discover. With a cliché horror audio, you can become absorbed in the environment, but unfortunately, it has some poor graphical choices that spoil the experience. With a rewarding clue and puzzle loop, it is hampered by excessive backtracking.

If your thing is unsettling visuals, bizarre imagery and a disturbingly empty school soaked in weirdness just because, this is your game. No need to think too hard or be particularly skilled with the controller — just exist.