Crow Country Is a Perfect Switch Game to Play on Halloween

We talked about how much we loved Crow Country before, as it is essentially SFB Games’ love letter to classic PS1 horror games along the lines of Resident Evil and Silent Hill. However, now that the Switch and PS4 versions appeared and the Halloween season is upon us, I had to return to it once again. The thing is, now that I did go through it, everything about the Switch version of Crow Country made me realize what a perfect horror game it is for all audiences this Halloween. Or really, for any platform when it comes down to it.

Mara Forest is a woman bound for the abandoned Crow Country amusement park in search of answers. Where is its owner, Edward Crow? What’s going on at the remnants of the attraction? Can we survive its horrors? It very much feels like the sorts of titles we saw in that era of gaming, minus some of the clunky control schemes. 

The first thing that struck me about Crow Country and left me thinking it was the sort of Switch addition anyone could enjoy, even if they aren’t a fan of horror games, is the available modes at the outset. Survival Horror is its purest form and the one that will call to mind Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Every shot will matter. You won’t want to make mistakes. You’ll need to be careful. However, it was the other two options that really felt designed to help appeal to absolutely everyone. Those concerned about it not feeling difficult enough would have a Murder of Crows hard mode that means you can’t waste any of your bullets, Mara and your life will be in danger, and every encounter is a serious threat. I tried that out before really getting into things, and it’s a lot. However, there’s also an Exploration Mode that is more about the aesthetic and adventure, omitting violent, life-threatening encounters.

That aesthetic also helps ensure Crow Country appeals to a wider audience. It is designed to be dark and eerie, with fog in the air and unsettling mascots. We’ll see blood. Odd entities that are unsettling appear. However, the execution and design mean that it feels more atmospheric and less uncanny valley horrifying. There’s a challenge to be had here, you’ll need to force Mara to touch or do things that are gross to get quest items, and it is unnerving. But because of the design direction, it’s possible to be detached and appreciate it even if you aren’t as comfortable with horror games. 

I also felt Crow Country was a great Switch fix because even though it is a horror game, it sort of feels like that is secondary to going through an adventure filled with puzzles. We’re trying to solve a mystery! It’s like Scooby Doo, but with guns and death being an actual possibility. Mara is even downright funny with her quips. I never thought I’d say this about a horror game, but it’s great at making you feel comfortable. 

I really liked getting cozy with Crow Country on the Switch, getting settled under some blankets, and dealing with puzzles in one of the most unsettling amusement parks. It runs perfectly on the handheld. The brevity of the adventure makes it an ideal fit for some portable play sessions. It’s just a fun pick to enjoy during the Halloween season.

Crow Country is available on the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam.