Sycamore End

About Sycamore End

Sycamore End is a short, narrative-driven first-person horror game presented in chapters styled after worn-out VHS tapes. Players take on the role of Riley, who moves into an old apartment with a dog named Bean and, on the first night in the new home, discovers something hidden in the attic.

Players take on the role of Riley, who moves to a new town with a truck full of belongings and a dog named Bean. During the day, the task is settling in: finding the breaker box, learning the stairs, and greeting a neighbor who is a little too curious. After dark, Bean starts barking frantically at the ceiling, texts arrive from an unknown number, and when an uninvited visitor gets in, all Riley can do is turn off the lights, hide in the closet, and peek through the slats of the blinds. The game unfolds in chapters, and its picture mimics worn-out VHS tape with grain, tracking distortion, and color shifts. There is no smartphone and no quest markers; players must climb into the attic on their own to investigate the noises. Horror elements include jump scares, being stalked and chased, and 911 calls, with no gore, violence, or self-harm imagery. The game was developed solo by one person, and the voice acting and some sound effects were generated with the help of AI tools.