Certain video games shake things up so much that they end up inspiring future games years or even decades after they have been released. Back in the mid-2000s, 2K Games published and developed a little game called Bioshock, a spiritual successor to the System Shock series. Now, over 20 years later, the impact of that game can still be seen and felt.
This is where indie studio Atmos Games and publisher 3D Realms show their love and admiration for Bioshock, with their new game Twisted Tower. Upon immediately entering the world of Twisted Tower, you notice the nods to 2K’s masterpiece. The 1920’s art-deco style and the first-person perspective draw you in a fantastic and … well, twisted, world.
You’re inside an abandoned amusement park. But one that has a strange sense of familiarity, even though you’ve never been there. Half-eaten popcorn on the floor, trash all over the place, and an eerie silence greet you as you first arrive. The deeper you go, the stranger things get. There are people dressed up as animal mascots who are trying to kill you, along with animatronic toys attacking at your feet.
First off, let’s get the obvious out of the way. Yes, there are many nods and similarities to games like Bioshock, We Happy Few, and maybe even Dishonored. But don’t get things twisted; this is not just some cheap knockoff that has similar art styles and the typical FPS gameplay. All those things are present, but Twisted Tower carves out its own story and builds its own legacy on the shoulders of giants. If you’re a fan of those games but have been feeling a bit left out since Dishonored 2 and Bioshock Infinite are both over 10 years old, and any updates have been left in the dark. Twisted Tower will scratch that itch and could end up being a favorite just the same.
As always, we’re going to tackle the story, the atmosphere, the gameplay, and the graphics. All of which left me as giddy as a six-year-old who just got a new shiny toy. This is one of those rare instances where the whole package perfectly complements each small aspect. So, let’s rip off your ticket and welcome you to the Twisted Tower, ol’ chap.
Story
This is a twisted tale of grief, love, and the lengths someone would go to reclaim glory and save someone they love. You play as Vincent, a young man down on his luck. After proposing to his girlfriend, Charlotte, he falls asleep on the couch, only to be suddenly greeted by a phone call. The menacing voice on the other end calls him by name and then cries for help from Charlotte, instantly jerking him awake. As the call ends in silence, a loud knock is heard from the front door. A note slides underneath. It’s a ticket and an invitation to the theme park, The Twisted Tower. To save the love of his life, Vincent must go forth and become a hero or die trying.
Even though the story presents itself as a simple “climb the tower and save the princess” type of game. The story is so good that this is the last complaint you’ll have on that subject. The pacing from the start is chaotic. The sense of urgency to save Charlotte and uncover why you both have been targeted keeps ratcheting up the deeper you go. As the truth starts to reveal itself, the mystery itself deepens. You come across notes and letters you or your family have written. You find recorded audio tapes and photos showing that the kidnapper has been watching, waiting, and planning. This isn’t some random attack, it’s personal. I’ll keep it spoiler free, but once the full truth is revealed, all I could do was think about how fucked up it all was. Just brilliantly fucked up.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere does a great job of shifting from jump scares, creepy moments, and frantic action in the blink of an eye. One minute you’re walking through a seemingly empty hallway to turn the corner to be greeted by a demented man in a duck suit with a shotgun, finding another mascot’s body hanging from the rafters from his neck to an all-out shootout with waves of enemies relentlessly attacking you from all angles. This fast-paced, chaotic pacing does the game well to keep you on your toes and never at ease. The music and sound design also perfectly weaves in with the ambiance. 1920’s classic tunes coupled with a haunting score compliment each other well. The voice acting and writing are top notch. When all the ingredients work so well together, it makes it easy to get lost in the experience.
Gameplay
Gameplay is just what you’d expect when the atmosphere is pure chaos. Gunplay is fun, with multiple makeshift weapons that compliment the world building. None of the weapons you find are your typical pistols, shotguns, or rifles. You find and collect weapons that look like harmless toys you would buy at an amusement park but altered for deadly results. One of my favorite alterations was fireworks that are used as frag grenades. Such an off center way of warping something fun into something fatal. A slingshot with a magnifying glass that is used as a sniper rifle is never something I knew I wanted, until this game gave me one.
All the weapons are also upgradable using the in-game currency of red tickets. These look just like the same tickets you would see pore out of a carnival game to cash in for a cheap toy or a stuffed animal. You find these tickets just about anywhere, so there isn’t a shortage of them. But even after combing through most of the different areas, I didn’t end up upgrading everything in one playthrough. But luckily, a new game plus mode is waiting for me.
The enemies are interesting. Each main area of the game has its own mascot. They’re like Disney characters gone horribly wrong. Mascots like Huggee Bear, Mr. Quackers, and Smiley the Telephone all stalk through the halls as they’re introduced.
By the time you reach the late game, you’ll wage full-on war with every enemy type in full-scale battles. Things get bloody too. Decapitations of these mascots are common and always hilarious fun. Getting swarmed by multiple enemy types just to throw a firecracker and watch it all end in blood splatter and body parts never gets old.
Graphics
We’ve touched base on the art direction, but graphically this game is gorgeous. It’s not quite as polished as the aforementioned games. But that doesn’t take away from the look and feel of the game. All the details to make each area of the park look distinct but still serve the overall aesthetic is a great touch that adds to immersion. This looks like a park I would love to visit, just without the murderous mascots roaming the halls. Hell, who am I kidding? Keep the killer psychos, it’s more fun that way.
Final Word
Overall, this game was a blast. Very minor issues with getting lost in certain areas due to no in-game map. There were some late-game firefights that did get a bit frustrating, but not enough to get you to rage quit. In the 10-hour run time, this game blasts you like a firecracker grenade and disappears just as fast to never wear out its welcome.
I give Twisted Tower 4 Dead Mascots out of 5
Review code provided by Saber Interactive
“Twisted Tower” is Available on Steam on August 18th, 2026