Iron Lung (2022)

Developer: David Szymanski
Platforms: Windows
Genres: Adventure, Indie, Simulation
Rating: 4.6 of 5, 11,014 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 1.9 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

a tense, claustrophobic submarine crawl where you navigate blindly with limited sensors, building dread in a dark, minimalist underwater horror

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What players say

Players praise the atmosphere and dread but split on whether the minimal gameplay justifies the price. The game is short, around an hour, and relies on audio and a single radar mechanic to build tension. Many mention it after watching Markiplier's film adaptation.

Screenshots

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More by David Szymanski

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.