By Shirmika Govender
Halloween weekend may be over, but the scares from The Conjuring: Unspoken are still on my mind.
As a fan of The Conjuring movies, I was eager to see whether Netflix’s game could deliver the same tension on an interactive screen. Joining me were Divashan Pillay and Tiven Pillay, and our approximately 90-minute experience gave us plenty to talk about.
We played on a laptop connected to a television, using a phone as the controller. That setup became one of my favourite parts of the experience, making the phone feel like a piece of paranormal investigation equipment.
A phone doubles as the controller during our playthrough of The Conjuring: Unspoken, with the laptop connected to a television. Photo: Shirmika Govender.
A phone, a screen and plenty of suspense
The camera-style investigation features were a particular highlight. Using the phone to look for signs of a supernatural presence added an unsettling dimension to the experience. Instead of simply watching an investigator search for something in the dark, I was involved in the search.
The controls were easy to use, and we experienced no noticeable glitches during our session. That allowed us to stay focused on the story and the anticipation of what might happen next.
For me, the game captured a familiar feeling from The Conjuring films: concern for a family facing something terrifying, followed by the uneasy wait for the next scare. The visuals, jump scares and mounting tension worked together to keep me engaged.
Familiar horror, with room for a deeper story
The connections to the wider Conjuring universe were a welcome touch for a longtime fan. Without giving away the reveals, those links helped the experience feel connected to the films I already enjoyed.
However, the story left us with questions we wanted more time to explore.
I would have appreciated a deeper look at the mother’s death and its effect on the family. More background on the supernatural threat’s origins would also have given the investigation greater depth, while the sister felt like a character who could have played a more substantial role.
These were the areas where I wanted the game to slow down and offer more. The scares held our attention, but a fuller exploration of the characters and their history could have made us even more invested.
We completed the game in approximately an hour and a half, and I reached the ending amazed at how good the experience had been. As horror enthusiasts, we wanted it to last longer. While I would have welcomed more depth in parts of the story, I finished thoroughly impressed by the scares, atmosphere and inventive use of the phone as a controller.
The verdict
The Conjuring: Unspoken exceeded my expectations with its atmosphere, accessible controls and inventive use of a phone as an investigation tool.
Its biggest shortcoming, for me, was the limited depth of parts of the story. There was enough intrigue to draw us in, but I wanted more time with the family and a better understanding of the forces threatening them.
I would welcome a future console release or standalone PC version, although that remains a personal wish rather than an announced development.
For now, this Netflix experience gave the three of us a memorable dose of supernatural horror—and left me hoping for more.
As part of Globe Post and a resident of Lenasia South, I want to use our platform to help grow the local gaming community. This review is the start of that journey. Through our gaming coverage and upcoming podcast discussions, we hope to connect local gamers, share experiences and give fellow enthusiasts a voice.
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