The Coma: Cutting Class
A student wakes to a school of monsters.
The Coma: Cutting Class, a horror game released in 2015 by Devespresso Games, follows a student named Youngho who falls asleep in class and wakes up to find his school transformed into a dangerous, monster-filled environment at night. The game is a side-scroller that avoids combat entirely, requiring players to flee from enemies and hide to survive, while vending machines offer drinks and snacks to restore health. The plot draws from the real school experiences of key artist Minho, with the director adding horror elements, and reflects a critical stance on the intense academic pressure and expectations placed on students in Korea. A remastered version, The Coma: Recut, was released on PC and consoles in 2017, following an announcement on July 12, 2017, and a partnership with Digerati announced the next day. Critical reception for the remastered edition was generally positive, with the Nintendo Switch version scoring 62% on Metacritic. Reviewers praised the story and atmosphere but noted issues: Switch Player (3.5/5) criticized unresponsive controls during key moments; Nintendo Life (6/10) found the concept interesting but the execution flawed, particularly in chase sequences lacking shock value; and Windows Central (4/5) highlighted the lack of voice acting. A sequel, The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters, was released in 2020.
- Release year
- 2015
- Publisher
- Devespresso Games
- Remaster title
- The Coma: Recut
- Remaster release platforms
- PC and consoles
- Remaster release year
- 2017
- Metacritic score switch
- 62%
- Sequel title
- The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters
- Sequel release year
- 2020
Lore & Background
The plot follows a student named Youngho who falls asleep in class and awakens at night to find his school transformed into a terrifying landscape filled with monsters. The game is a side-scrolling horror title set in an abandoned school at night, with no combat; the player must run and hide from enemies to survive. Health can be restored by purchasing drinks and snacks from vending machines.
The story was partially inspired by the experiences of key artist Minho when he was a student, with the director adding horror elements. The high expectations and pressure placed on students in Korea also shaped the plot, with director Minho Kim holding a highly critical attitude towards the Korean education system. A remastered edition titled The Coma: Recut was announced on July 12, 2017, and on July 13, 2017, Devespresso Games partnered with Digerati to release it.
Reader's Guide
The Coma: Cutting Class represents a notable entry in 2010s horror gaming for its unique setting and thematic focus on academic pressure. The remastered edition, The Coma: Recut, received generally positive reviews from critics, though scores varied. The Nintendo Switch version holds a 62% on Metacritic. Oliver Roderick of Switch Player gave it 3.5 out of 5, praising the story and atmosphere but criticizing unresponsive controls during key moments. Nintendo Life awarded a 6 out of 10, finding the concept interesting but the execution flawed, particularly criticizing chase sequences with the teacher for lacking shock value. Windows Central gave 4 out of 5, praising plot and atmosphere but noting the lack of voice acting. The game's legacy includes a sequel, The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters, released in 2020, and its remastered edition expanded its reach to console audiences.
Did You Know?
- The game's plot was partially inspired by the experiences of key artist Minho as a student.
- Devespresso Games partnered with Digerati to release The Coma: Recut.
More in Horror Games of the 2010s 1-24
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