The Only Existential Horror Video Game You Should Play: The Stanley Parable
A parable is a short story that tells a moral lesson, often seen in the Bible or passed down from generation to generation.
Its length makes it easy to share but it’s always not some pocket-sized fun, as their tragic tone makes them so memorable. The Stanley Parable also happens to be a lesson that we will endlessly rub against our entire life: the consequences of our choices.
The Stanley Parable is a 2013 video game that simultaneously feels like pure trolling and a nihilistic and introspective commentary about the fragility of life. The gameplay is utterly unpredictable, endless, and increasingly alarming. The slow burn will make you hate this game and love it for the same reason.
It follows a man named Stanley, who lives the same day every day at his office, in cubicle 427, pressing buttons on his keyboard as instructed. It appears that Stanley is happy with this immensely boring and mundane life, not accomplishing anything worthwhile. However, his repetitive routine breaks down when he realizes all of his coworkers have disappeared.
Guided by a brilliant narrator, voiced by Kevan Brighting, the player plays from the perspective of Stanley. This strange incident leads Stanley to two doors, and this decision sets the tone for the rest of the game: left, as suggested by the narrator, or right?
The Stanley Parable is unlike any game on the market. Action and suspense are brought in a new form and the humor of the game lets out more than just a concealed giggle. Its never-ending, agoraphobic office setting reminisces of backrooms and liminal spaces and hints that this is possibly all happening in Stanley’s head. After all, entering a different universe through a door isn’t so normal. But with interactive features that break the fourth wall, an undisturbed and casual eeriness, no safety nets nor backing out, it’s an experience that will throw you off. The butterfly effect is amplified, but maybe not as much as we think.
If it is your first time playing, it’s recommended to go for The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe version that was released in 2022.
About the Author:
Mizuki Khoury
Born in Montreal, based in Tokyo. Sabukaru’s senior writer and works as an artist under Exit Number Five.
