Fancy spending Valentine’s Day alone in a haunted hotel? The Washington-based team behind Helios Hotel: The Night Shift certainly hopes so. Created by Rose Lane Games, a young indie studio founded by horror devotee Rick Castillo, this choose-your-own-adventure horror title has just checked in on Steam for PC—complete with a 15% discount to celebrate its launch week.
Inspired by the tense atmosphere and nail-biting suspense of films like Halloween, The Shining, and Friday the 13th, Helios Hotel: The Night Shift drops you into the unsettling role of Rose, an eager new front-desk employee determined to make a stellar first impression. Yet as you soon learn, the dread-laced corridors and shadowy guests of the Helios Hotel have other plans.
A Night of Eerie Encounters
Within the game’s chapter-based structure, you’ll tackle routine tasks—everything from handling reservations to appeasing high-strung guests—only to discover that each mundane errand carries a sinister undertone. Something in these halls isn’t right, and the further you venture, the more palpable the tension becomes.
Key Frights Await You:
- Claustrophobic First-Person Exploration
Every flicker of the overhead lights might reveal a lurking danger—or an uninvited presence. - Branching Narrative
With choices and dialogue shaping the outcome, Helios Hotel: The Night Shift offers four unique endings, pushing replay value to new heights. - Unnerving Audio Design
Sudden jump scares and eerie ambient noises conspire to leave your nerves frayed. - Guest & Staff Suspicions
No one’s motivations are entirely clear, and forming alliances might be your only path to survival. - Technical Versatility
Controller support, a Basic Graphics option, and full Steam Deck compatibility ensure an accessible but spine-chilling dive into horror.
A Valentine’s Day Special You Won’t Soon Forget
Released on February 14, 2025, Helios Hotel: The Night Shift is available for a modest $3/£3/€3 on Steam, with a 15% discount during its first week—a small price to pay for a full-blown paranormal excursion. This approach reflects Rose Lane Games’ commitment to producing memorable, accessible scares inspired by classic slasher and paranormal movies.
Helmed by Rick Castillo, Rose Lane Games embraces an ethos of weaving cinematic tension into interactive form. With the developer’s roots in the eerie shadows of Washington State, it’s no wonder the team opted for an unsettling mix of slow-burn suspense and sudden jolts. The result is a concise, replayable nightmare that invites gamers to face their fears while piecing together the hotel’s cryptic backstory.
So, if you’re looking for an unnerving getaway instead of the usual Valentine’s candy and roses, step into the dimly lit corridors of the Helios Hotel. Keep your wits about you—because once the night shift starts, it might never end.
Helios Hotel: The Night Shift is out now on Steam. Dare to check in… but don’t be too certain you’ll ever check out.
