Set in 1990, Crow Country takes place in an eerie abandoned theme park on the outskirts of Atlanta. Players step into the role of Mara Forest, a young woman investigating the mysterious disappearance of Edward Crow, the park’s eccentric owner. As Mara ventures deeper into the empty attractions and decaying rides, she uncovers the park’s sinister history and the disturbing secrets hidden within its cheerful façade. What begins as a simple search quickly becomes a struggle for survival as nightmarish creatures prowl the grounds and reality itself seems to unravel.
Crow Country is a survival horror game developed and published by SFB Games, released in 2024 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. Designed as a modern tribute to the golden era of survival horror, it blends fixed camera exploration and resource management with modern accessibility features. The game invites players to relive the tension and atmosphere of the 1990s classics while enjoying contemporary refinements. Its emphasis on mood, environmental storytelling, and clever puzzles shows how indie developers can both honor and expand the traditions of the genre.
Gameplay
Exploration is central, with players moving between themed areas such as arcades, haunted rides, and derelict food courts. Combat is deliberately paced, with limited ammunition and supplies reinforcing the need for careful planning. Puzzles range from environmental riddles to mechanical contraptions, requiring players to pay attention to small details in their surroundings. Difficulty modes include an exploration option for those who prefer to focus on story without frequent combat.
Visuals and Style
Crow Country adopts a retro inspired visual style, combining low poly character models with richly atmospheric environments. The nostalgic design evokes the look of PlayStation era horror games while using modern lighting and effects to create a hauntingly vivid setting. The abandoned amusement park is both whimsical and unsettling, with once cheerful attractions now decayed and warped. Sound design is equally effective, layering unsettling music, eerie ambient noise, and sudden silence to amplify tension. This aesthetic choice captures the surreal unease of horror while celebrating the genre’s roots.
Importance in Survival Horror History
By reimagining classic mechanics through a modern indie lens, Crow Country demonstrates how the survival horror genre continues to evolve while staying grounded in its origins. Its fixed camera exploration, inventory puzzles, and reliance on atmosphere place it firmly within the lineage of early titles like Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Yet its playful setting a theme park gone wrong distinguishes it from other horror locales, showing that innovation is still possible within a familiar framework. For many fans, it represents a revival of what made survival horror captivating in the first place.
Reception and Historical Value
Upon release, Crow Country was praised for its atmosphere, creative setting, and faithful embrace of retro mechanics. Players and critics alike highlighted its balance between nostalgic charm and modern playability, with the optional modes making it accessible to both newcomers and veterans. While some noted its deliberately retro design may not appeal to everyone, the game has been recognized as a standout indie horror release of 2024. Historically, it serves as a reminder of how smaller studios can successfully capture the spirit of survival horror’s past while pushing it into new territory.
Availability and Collectibility
Crow Country is available digitally on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. Physical editions for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 are set to release on November 7 2025 with a Collector’s Edition with limited quantities.
Get it on:
Itch.io: Crow Country by SFBGames
Steam: Save 40% on Crow Country on Steam
PSN: Crow Country
Xbox: Buy Crow Country | Xbox
Nintendo: Crow Country for Nintendo Switch – Nintendo Official Site
Trailer: