The Ib remake officially went up on Steam last April 11, 2022. Even though it has yet to have an official English translation, fans are excited to play the RPG Maker horror game again. As of now, the game only supports Japanese, but the developers say that an English version will be added later, along with Korean and Chinese translations.
The original creator of the popular indie horror game, kouri, explains that he changed some of the aspects of Ib to make them easier to understand, even for non-gamers. The game will also have new music and improved graphics. However, there will be no new endings, as kouri believed that the game didn’t need anything more.
Why the Ib Remake is a Big Deal
First released in 2012, Ib was a free horror game made in RPG Maker 2000, a program used to develop pixelated role-playing games. The game was well-received in the horror community for many reasons. For one, kouri’s art gave the game’s characters and environments a unique feel, setting it apart from other RPG Maker horror games from that time. Additionally, the game has a memorable cast of characters, making for a strong, emotional narrative.
Now, 10 years after Ib’s initial release, kouri and PLAYISM have released a remade version of the beloved indie horror game. Unsurprisingly, old-time fans flocked to the Ib remake, eager to relive the nostalgia of the art gallery horror game. If the title garners plenty of attention, it could very well lead to a revival of sorts for RPG Maker horror-style games.
Classic RPG Maker Horror Games
Granted, there are plenty of old and well-loved horror games made on the RPG Maker program — staples in the genre. Many of them are already available on Steam, but their older, RPG Maker-reliant versions can still be downloaded for free. PLAYISM, in particular, has already released remade versions of Yume Nikki, Mad Father, and the entire Strange Man series on Steam. These titles are popular names in the RPG Maker horror scene, particularly Yume Nikki, which has seen countless spin-offs.
Apart from these games, The Witch’s House is another excellent RPG Maker horror title. It’s popular for its jumpscare-laden gameplay and the twist ending. Plus, it’s available for purchase on Steam. That aside, Corpse Party is yet another popular title that has since released countless other sequels and spin-off titles. In fact, the macabre franchise is still very much alive, having released a new game just last year.
Clearly, the old RPG Maker games still have a large community of fans. However, the titles on Steam barely scratch the surface of this genre of horror. There are plenty of other titles that those in the horror community may be unaware of simply because they haven’t been released on Steam. Some of these include classic RPG Maker horror games like Ao Oni, OFF, Re:Kinder, and many more. Though lacking the polish of the remade titles on Steam, they still deliver stellar horror experiences, and they can be downloaded for free.
All that said, these old titles are by no means the last of their kind. There are also modern releases that follow the RPG Maker horror style, such as Undertale and Omori. They even show a significant improvement in their music quality and graphical style. While these are no doubt a step forward for this genre of horror, it would be nice to see more games of the same style cropping up. The Ib remake — the return of one of the most loved titles in RPG Maker horror — might just be what sets that off.
The Ib remake is currently available on Steam in Japanese. An English translation is in development.