Penguin Colony review: A daringly weird horror game whose atmosphere and surprises overcome its rough edges

What is it? Lovecraftian horror through the eyes of a penguin. Release date October 16, 2026 Expect to pay $15 / £13 Developer Origame Digital Publisher Fellow Traveller Reviewed on RX 9070 XT, Core i5 12600K, 32 GB RAM, Steam Deck Multiplayer No Steam Deck Verified Link Steam

Penguin Colony is a work of cosmic horror that I would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in scares from the beyond, even though its unique penguin platforming can be frustrating to wrangle. It's a radical recontextualization of an H.P. Lovecraft classic with a clear affection for the writer's storytelling, but also scathing contempt for his racism.

For my money, it's not October without a weird-ass new indie horror game leaving a lasting impression on me, and Penguin Colony has satisfied my annual craving. You are a penguin witnessing the events of the Lovecraft story, At the Mountains of Madness. Your powers are honk, slide, swim, and hop.

Rather than …