Review by Jon Donnis
EBOLA VILLAGE wears its influences proudly. This is a survival horror game rooted firmly in the traditions of the 1990s, where atmosphere matters more than spectacle and progress is earned through patience rather than guidance. Played from a first person view on Xbox, it places you in the shoes of Maria as she travels to a remote USSR village following a chilling emergency broadcast about a biological threat. What follows is a slow, oppressive descent into something deeply unsettling.
One of the game's greatest strengths is its refusal to hold the player's hand. There is no glowing waypoint, no clear signposting, and no linear route laid out for you. You are expected to explore carefully, search rooms thoroughly, manage your inventory and piece together where to go next through observation and logic. Doors stay locked until you earn the right to open them, and new paths only reveal themselves once you have truly engaged with the environment. It is refreshing, and for fans of classic survival horror, deeply satisfying.
The atmosphere does most of the heavy lifting, and it succeeds. The sound design is particularly effective, with creaking floorboards, distant thunder, and the oppressive silence inside abandoned buildings creating constant tension. Music is often absent altogether, which only heightens the unease. The setting of a bleak USSR village feels carefully considered, and the environments are detailed enough to sell the illusion without becoming distracting. The visuals are solid rather than spectacular, but they serve the mood well, which is what matters here.
Puzzles are another highlight. They are balanced and thoughtfully designed, calling back to the style of 90s horror games where solutions make sense once discovered, but rarely feel obvious at first glance. Progress requires attention to detail and an understanding of the story, encouraging players to follow the narrative closely rather than rushing ahead. Combat, when it happens, is brutal and direct, supported by a variety of weapons, realistic enemy physics, and a damage system that does not shy away from dismemberment. Boss encounters add variety and reinforce the sense of danger lurking throughout the village.
That said, EBOLA VILLAGE is not without its drawbacks. The most noticeable is its length. A full playthrough can be completed in roughly five hours, which may leave some players wanting more once the credits roll. There is also the issue of motion sickness. Extended play sessions triggered discomfort for me on several occasions, something players sensitive to this should be aware of before diving in.
Despite these issues, EBOLA VILLAGE left a strong impression. I was genuinely surprised by how effective it is at capturing the spirit of classic survival horror while presenting it through a modern first person perspective. The atmosphere is thick, the gameplay is confident, and the experience feels focused and deliberate from start to finish.
EBOLA VILLAGE is a very decent game with strong atmosphere, solid visuals, and engaging mechanics that respect the player's intelligence. I would score it a confident 8.5 out of 10.
Out Now on Xbox
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