The Mortuary Assistant serves up squelchy, sticky scares

It’s pretty common to pick up a new job and have things take an unexpected twist. Of course, it’s usually something like having a chatty co-worker or needing to learn a new piece of software. It can be anything from a chatty co-worker to learning a new piece of software. The Mortuary AssistantMy job is not just to prepare bodies for burial. I also need to survive terrible visions, and other supernatural creatures to keep demons away. The Mortuary Assistant might be off the beaten path, but it’s found a warm welcome in the horror community thanks to its mix of corny and supernatural, all embalmed in a nice package.

The Mortuary Assistant starts with a heavy helping of cheese by warning the player that this game may lead to their home being occupied by hostile demons, and if that’s the case, they should consult with a paranormal investigator or a priest. I enjoy the game’s audacity; it not only informed me that playing the game might open a portal to hell, but also if that happens I’m completely on my own.

Beginning the narrative is a brief introduction of Rebecca, the main character. She has recently taken up the title mortuary assistant. Her grandma doesn’t approve and Raymond, the boss, seems kind of Off… but it’s a competitive job market these days. Rebecca learns the proper way to get a body ready for burial, but a wrench is thrown in the works when it turns out that one of these corpses is possessed by a demon — and Rebecca is at risk of possession herself.

Image by DarkStone Digital/Dread XP

Although there are some awkward controls that make it difficult to get around the funeral home, they allow me to do so functionally. The Mortuary AssistantIt is an adventure game that you can play with point-and-click. I have to go about my duties with the body, including draining cavities and hammering at the corpse’s gums. It’s grisly work, punctuated by the process of checking a ’90s-era office PC to get everything neatly filed.

Although my first shift was simple and straightforward, the second is more frightening. The lights begin to flicker and scary voices echo inside my head. I then briefly get teleported from my nightmare place. It is funny how much of my first conversation with Raymond was Rebecca panicking. Raymond then bluntly explained to her that she must listen to Raymond and perform the right arcane rituals or her soul would be invaded.

Hey, Raymond, it’d be nice if you included all of this info in the job interview, man. I don’t know why you’re getting so mad at Please send meI am not upset by this arrangement. I don’t like being in dangerous demon situations.

My routine eventually becomes routine, and I fall into it. I check the cabinets, complete my job, then I am pulled into a past nightmare or spot a malevolent demi-god. The story is heavy with horror cliches like addiction, family dysfunction, and suicidal imagery — but the scope remains nice and small.

The Mortuary AssistantIt is fun to observe streamers as they play. Each playthrough is unique and each haunting is randomly generated. The scares don’t follow a specific script. Some are accosted by their grandmother or a loving grandma, and others find themselves in the clutches of an evil demon hidden under a fan. It’s not particularly gory or unbearable; the actual horror of it all is quite tame, but like a ouija board or campfire story, it’s fun to buy into the fantasy of it all.

The game can have many endings. Some are tragic and some more grisly. You can still play the game. The Mortuary AssistantIt is not easy to use and can seem a bit sloppy, but it offers a great set of scary moments that combines the satisfaction of securing open wounds with draining your guts.