(Don't) Open Your Eyes for Windows

Try to deny your nighttime visitor in this free horror game

(Don't) Open Your Eyes is a short but free horror-themed simulation video game wherein you must do only one thing: avoid opening your eyes. Developed by Daniel "Via" Cuturrufo, this unique visual novel introduces you to a shadowy creature whom you cannot see in the darkness but you know is right beside you. With great voice-acting and monster design, this little nightmare of a story is one that will stay in your memories.

A simple task

(Don't) Open Your Eyes takes place in your character’s quiet bedroom, where you start to fall asleep. You know the layout of your room well and so even with your eyes closed, you can tell if something’s changed inside the small space. The dark 3D environment quickly becomes a pitch-black 2D recreation, with shaky chalk lines to represent the room as you close your eyes. Unfortunately, a mysterious figure soon comes to your side.

This black nameless figure starts whispering to you, trying to persuade you to open your eyes and see what it looks like—which immediately ends the game. The longer you decline, the more it talks about itself and why it wishes for people to take a peek. There are three instances wherein you can choose what the creature’s eyes, mouth, and hands look like—with 3 options each, racking up to 27 possible combinations in appearance.

The game is fully-voiced with the mysterious creature, with an amazing and chilling performance by David Acosta. Its different possible appearances are horrifying with the chalk sketch art style, as well, and every choice you make provides a new bit of dialogue—which makes the game replayable, despite its length. The whole horror vibe of the game is similar to sleep paralysis and really plays on the uncertainty of what you can hear but can’t see.

Has potential for more

Overall, (Don't) Open Your Eyes is an interesting visual novel, especially for ASMR fans. It can be completed between 30 minutes to 1 hour but is still an enjoyable experience with its simplistic approach to horror. It tends to slow down a bit, however, especially near the end where the creature starts going off into tangents about its musings, but this still helps in lowering your guard and granting its request of opening your eyes.