Knock-Knock (video game)

Lore & Background

The game takes place in a pseudo-3D side-scrolling environment. The player controls The Lodger, whose house is surrounded by something that makes him fear strongly for his life. The main goal is to help The Lodger survive until dawn by turning on the lights in every room. Items in a room can only be interacted with once the light is on—for example, a clock that speeds up time, a hiding place, or decor items. However, the more rooms lit, the faster The Guests come; when a Guest enters a lit room, the lights go off. The Lodger's poor physical condition affects gameplay, such as an eye condition that makes him stand still after turning on a light bulb to adjust to the change of lighting. Time in Knock-Knock is relative and can even go backwards.

Reader's Guide

Knock-Knock's significance lies in its unique design origins and thematic focus. The developers claimed the design was sent to them by an outsider, and production followed his outline. Lead designer Nikolay Dybowski noted that Ice-Pick had to remake the game twice from scratch before striking the right tone. The team based the game's design on the concepts of 'obscurity and inevitability,' which Vasily Kashnikov called 'the two greatest fears.' The game was funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign. Its legacy is that of a niche survival horror title that received mixed or average reviews on all platforms according to Metacritic, but it remains a distinctive entry from Ice-Pick Lodge, known for their unconventional horror games.

Did You Know?

• The game's design was claimed to have been sent to Ice-Pick Lodge by an outsider.
• The developers remade the game twice from scratch before achieving the desired tone.