Smiling Terror - đChristmas Discount
A downloadable Smiling Terror for Windows
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Exhausted after an endless workday, our protagonist drifts asleep during her usual subway ride home. When her eyes flutter open, a chilling realization sets in â she's somehow ended up in the train depot, far beyond the last stop. The hollow silence is broken only by the erratic buzzing of dying neon lights. She's completely alone.
Or so she desperately hopes.
An unnerving sensation of being watched crawls up her spine. The Smiler â the infamous serial killer who murders and violates his victims â still roams free. The only known detail? He wears a mask frozen in a grotesque, haunting smile that promises unspeakable horrors.
In this nerve-shredding 98s-style retro survival horror with fixed camera angles, you must:
- Find an escape route through the labyrinthine depot
- Uncover the tragic stories behind The Smiler's victims
- Survive the night using only your wits
Can you escape the most terrifying smile you'll ever see?

DISCORD
https://discord.gg/vXVqydhFEe
FAQ
Can I get a Steam key?
The game is not currently available on Steam. However, if you purchase it here on itch.io, you'll be able to request a Steam key once it becomes available on the platform.
How often will the game be updated?
We'll release updates when we have enough new content or improvements. Our goal is to make each update meaningful.
Can I give feedback or report bugs?
Absolutely! We value your input. Join the discussion in the dedicated threads and help us make the game even better.
When will the next chapters be available?
The next chapters will be developed based on community engagement and the impact of the game. They will be released after the project exits Early Access
PRESS KIT
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| Updated | 20 days ago |
| Status | Released |
| Platforms | Windows |
| Publisher | |
| Release date | May 16, 2025 |
| Rating | Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars (11 total ratings) |
| Author | PoisonIce Studios |
| Genre | Survival |
| Made with | Unity |
| Tags | Christmas, Horror, No AI, ps1, PSX (PlayStation), pumpkin, puppetcombo, Retro, vhs |
| Average session | About an hour |
| Languages | English |
| Inputs | Keyboard, Mouse, Xbox controller, Playstation controller |
| Accessibility | Subtitles |
| Links | Patreon |
Purchase
In order to download this Smiling Terror you must purchase it at or above the minimum price of $1.99 USD. You will get access to the following files:
Download demo
Development log
- Smiling Terror - Update 1.1.682 days ago
- Smiling Terror - Update 1.1.5Aug 09, 2025
- Smiling Terror - Update 1.1.4Aug 09, 2025
- Smiling Terror - Free Demo Avalaible 1.0.3Jul 31, 2025
- Smiling Terror - Update 1.0.3Jul 31, 2025
- Smiling Terror | OUT NOW | Version 1.0.0Jul 28, 2025
- Smiling Terror - Update 0.9.1Jun 25, 2025






Comments
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This game has a good balance for difficulty. I love the trial-and-error approach, where you have to learn where the items are once you die.
The monster AI is good as well, it doesn't tend to stay in one area for too long and amazing at attacking when you least expect it!
Overall, I'm excited to see the direction of chapter 2! (It would be cool to see a bigger map and more endings, but that's just my suggestion)
I finished the demo and I loved the old school survival horror vibes. I gotta admit I was starting to get frustrated but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it! I know it was meant to be challenging and I was able to overcome it. I can only imagine how difficult the full game must be with all the puzzles included. Amazing work!
Thank you so much and thanks for playing the demo! if you were to play the full version, try the third person mode, it will help you move better and escape from the killer more easily :)
so weird.. got me one time or twice i guess lol
If you enjoyed the demo, I invite you to play the full version. Itâs more challenging, takes longer, and has new areas to explore! :) Thanks for playing!
Absolutely terrifying! Really enjoyed the setting, such a creepy and tense atmosphere. Also very much enjoyed the story along with the antagonist, scared me a few times. And of course, the graphics, perfection.
Will agree with some of the other comments that it was very challenging. Changing it to third person made it immensely easier though (I don't think I could have finished it with fixed cameras/tank controls, but I did really enjoy them).
Looking forward Chapter 2 and where this series goes :)
Hi Smexch! First of all, thank you for playing, I really enjoyed watching your gameplay! It was heartbreaking to see you die right before escaping đ The version you played was an earlier one. The latest build includes several improvements: the controls (especially third-person) have been refined, and thereâs now full controller support. With these updates, the game feels a bit easier compared to the version you played. We aimed to recreate that classic old-school challenge. There are no checkpoints on purpose, but with some persistence and learning the patterns, escaping is definitely possible! I canât wait to see you tackle the next chapter!
I saw there was a more recent update and seems the killer spawn change would have fixed that heartbreaking death đ
Appreciate that you all did update it and made some quality of life changes, I'll have to give version 1.0.3 a try! In retrospect I agree, checkpoints would have ruined the challenge you were going for (which was executed beautifully, btw!), I think I was just being salty lol. It was very doable once learning the layout, the items needed and what to do with them, very rewarding when finally escaping.
Can't wait to tackle the next one!
Guys, this is not it. I know what you were trying to do, but this is not it. The game is almost 100% luck-based in its current state. The range of the killer's attack is so wide that if he sees you in a narrow corridor, or if he is just around the corner, you WILL take the hit, no matter what. It happened to me once that he commenced his attack animation from an abundant meter away and I still took the hit. I even saw blood come out of thin air. There is no dodge, no evasion, once the killer commences his animation, he is literally scripted to hit you. This is not challenging, you may even be the best player in the universe, but if luck decides to turn her back to you, you are destined to lose.
Hi Luca! I can assure you there is a way to dodge the killerâs attack :) The attack range was slightly increased because the killer stops when attacking, and we didnât want to make it too easy for the player to escape. Would you prefer a slightly shorter attack range with an easier dodge mechanic? Also, did you play in first-person or third-person view?
Based on player feedback, weâll definitely consider making tweaks, updates, and balance changes. If youâd like to discuss potential changes or improvements, feel free to contact me by email â Iâll be happy to take your suggestions.
Hmmm, I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Is there a dodge button? Or you have to perform a specific move with the basic controls?
I'd like to precise though that the atmosphere of the game is absolutely spot-on, it reminded me of older Puppet Combo's games like Power Drill Massacre, you did an amazing job!
PS: are you by any chance italian? I'm guessing by the names, as you can deduce from mine I'm italian too!
Yes, in the sense that if you manage to circle around the killer, you can dodge the blow, and he will stop, giving you time to escape :) I can imagine that itâs complicated, and weâre already working on it! :D As for the rest⊠si siamo italiani! nel prossimo aggiornamento prova nuovamente a schivare il killer e ci dai il tuo feedback aggiornando il tuo commento principale! grazie del feedback :)
Hi there! Any chance if I pick this up on Itch that I'll get a Steam key if it turns up on that platform?
Hi! absolutely yes, you just need to request the steam key from your itch.io account
Apologies, for absolute clarity: it's not available on Steam now, but you intend to publish there and the key will transfer? Sorry to bug you about this. =D
We donât know if the game will be released on Steam, but if it is, please contact me from your itch.io account and Iâll send you a Steam Key :)
Brilliant, thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you so much for your gameplay!
.
Thanks for playing Smiling Terror! Version 1.00 is now available.
Unnerving vibes, I like it.
Thanks friend
Thank you all so much for the opportunity to experience this! I would love to see more chapters! Only tip I'd like to recommend is adding a health bar. Still, this horror game was SO AWESOME!
Thanks so much for playing! I had a lot of fun watching you play.
Your gameplay was so much fun! The official game version 1.00 (not initial access) is out!
Thanks for copy! As I said, this is a really well-done game, I am glad that I could play it!
Thanks for playing! Version 1.00 is now available!
I really appreciated the way you played, you explored every single point and were able to orient yourself easily!
Thanks for the copy!
I enjoyed this game for what it was and I look forward to what's next but I do agree it's pretty easy to get lost in the game.
Bit of a shame all progress is lost upon death but the chapter is short if you have an idea of what to do and where to go.
Maybe a minor health recovery item in the full release could be a good addition or something but that could just be my skill issue talking lol.
Overall it's a solid game and I look forward to what's next.
First off, thank you so much for allowing me to play your game! I am honored and privileged that you found me qualified to help promote your game. I am always willing to help creators. That being said I have some things to say about your game:
First off, I absolutely LOVED the graphics and visuals, I see a lot of PSX inspired games on itch.io, but only a handful such as yours really stand out from the crowed and really give the game a strong nostalgic vibe. I mentioned this while playing, I can tell this game is inspired by the Resident Evil/Biohazard games from the early days of 3d horror, but this game also reminded me a bit of Manhunt for the PS2, except I was the one being hunted here. The tension gets very strong when the killer arrives, making me feel extremely vulnerable. I'm not one to get scared easy, as I have seen a lot of horror in my life, but I still felt that unease faintly crawling up my spine when I heard the breaking of glass. And the killer is genuinely unnerving to look at. It's always a vexing feeling to realize that what hunts you isn't a monster, but someone of your own kind, with know way of knowing why.
As I do love where this game is going, I am ashamed to say that I couldn't complete the game. I only ran into a handful of issues through this but they took me out of the experience. I got frustrated with getting lost quite easily even after figuring out that I can change the camera viewpoint (which I love the fact that you added that btw). And half way through, I get to finding the flashlight, and none of the buttons to turn it on would work for some reason even with the batteries being found prior, and after the second time dying I stopped playing, as I felt I was just going to be dying more than progressing, which could be a severe skill issue on my part, as I never really played games like this, and if I have, it's been a VERY LONG time.
But don't let my words discourage you, I am aware that this is still in early access, so it's not going to be a masterpiece right off the bat. Despite my critique, I'm eager to see where this game is heading in the future, because you have something very promising that other games don't. You have a lot of passion for this and I can tell. So keep going strong!
If you wish, you can still keep me updated with news on this game, and I do plan to play this again, I just need to clear my mind as I now know what I'm doing (somewhat).
I hope I didn't come off harsh for you, as I'm not someone who just says "10/10" or "GOTY" for every game I play, because I feel like that doesn't really assist your work, and in some cases that could lead to bad scenarios because the issues the game can have aren't getting addressed. And since I see a lot of care in this I speak out of passion for your efforts and I want to see you at your best.
First of all, thank you so much for your feedback â itâs truly appreciated! Every comment helps us improve the game, and Iâm really glad you took the time to play it.
That said, weâre currently working on the next update, which will add more visual details to the map to help players avoid getting disoriented so easily. We also have several other features in the works, such as a checkpoint system, so players wonât have to start over from the beginning after dying.
As you probably noticed, Smiling Terror is heavily inspired by classic PS1 titles. We didnât just aim for the visual style, but also tried to bring back the challenge of those games. Just think of Mickeyâs Wild Adventure for PS1 â a âkidsâ gameâ with brutal difficulty, where losing all your lives meant starting all over again. I want to keep some of that spirit alive, without making the game too easy.
(For example, I didnât even want to include a third-person view at first â I developed it later on to help players who arenât used to fixed-camera movement.)
As for the flashlight: after collecting the batteries and the flashlight, you need to combine them in the inventory to make it work. Press Tab to access the inventory :)
Keep playing and I promise youâll eventually make progress! Stay tuned on my itch.io page â Iâll always post devlogs whenever a new update is released. And when you feel like giving it another try, weâll be happy to have you back!
I invite you to see the gameplay of âGaming with Zemsâ according to one of the best gameplay Gameplay video
Thanks again â your feedback is truly valuable. See you soon!
OH! well like I said I have a skill issue lmao!
I'm glad you took my critique well, and I anticipate your future updates!
pretty great game. and thank you!
I absolutely LOVED this game! The style was amazing, the jumpscares were great. I loved everything about it! Iâm so excited to play chapter 2 10/10 would recommend
Hola Que tal Para Empezar MuchĂsimas Gracias Por La clave de Acceso No Me Lo Esperaba y Lo del Juego Es un Juegazo Estuve Muy Nervioso Toda la Partida Pero Lo Complete Esta bien Brutal el Juego Lo Disfrute Mucho Gran Trabajo Saludos Cordiales AquĂ Les dejo mi Gameplay Completo y sin Cortes Gracias Nuevamente
Thanks for your gameplay! rate the game if you liked it!
Me Encanto el juego y si ya lo califique saludos
This game was dope! Recommend this game 10/10 ! I was locked in during the entire gameplay. The Smiling Killer applies pressure, creating a horrific experience. I cannot wait to play Chapter 2! Hyped!
Thank you so much for playing your gameplay was very fun! rate the game if you liked it!
this game is great, i got lost a for a while so i decided that I'm to do a part 2
This was so good, but I got lost ;_;
The jumpscare shocked my brain!
Thanks for your gameplay! the new version is avalaible, rate the game if you liked it!
Tried this out and decided to record a quick gameplay session (no commentary).
The retro vibe is spot on and I liked the atmosphere a lot.
Thanks for your gameplay!