The spooky season has started, and it’s almost Halloween. Dress scary, eat some candy, carve pumpkins, and enjoy some horror movies like A Quiet Place. This brings us to the next horror game. Here is our A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead review.

A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead is a single-player horror adventure game inspired by the movie franchise. If you’ve watched the movies, you know that silence is the key to survival, and that’s also the main focus of the game. Don’t make noise in the game—better yet, don’t make noise in real life! The monster can hear you through your microphone! The game was developed by Stormind Games and published by Saber Interactive.

I know I don’t listen to my mother that much, but while playing this game, I discovered that I make a lot of noise—even when I need to be completely silent. My breathing is loud, and I’m not able to stay quiet when things get too exciting. I had a problem: my microphone was way too sensitive.

Luckily, the game has a solution for that—you can adjust the sensitivity of the microphone. The “microphone noise detection” feature in the game is optional and can be toggled on from the menu. It’s off by default. A microphone icon in the bottom right corner of the screen indicates whether or not your input has been detected. This feature reminds me of Alien: Isolation, and I really like it.

The game is set in the same universe as the films. It takes place after “Day One” and a few months before the first A Quiet Place movie. The game shares the same atmosphere, tension, and sound design, but it tells a parallel story with new characters and locations. A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead does not feature any people or places from the films; instead, it focuses on a unique narrative that complements the broader A Quiet Place universe.

As I mentioned earlier, the game is all about making zero noise, and it does this very well. While playing, you have to avoid various elements. Try to avoid walking in puddles because it makes noise. Watch out for twigs and bushes, as they also create sound. Additionally, the map is full of loose objects like cans—you definitely don’t want to knock these over, as they make a lot of noise. The cans felt especially realistic to me because my room is always full of energy drink cans!

If you find it difficult to know which sounds are loud, use the phonometer. This device shows you the loudness of ambient/environmental sounds on the left and the loudness of the sounds you are making on the right. The system for detecting sound waves considers the intensity, duration, and volume of the noise. A loud noise may not kill you right away, depending on the difficulty level you choose, but a series of loud noises over time will. Environmental sounds like running water can help mask the sounds you make, such as footsteps or breaking glass.

You’ll have a flashlight to help you see in the dark for most of the game, but it requires new batteries to recharge because they run out of power. Personally, I didn’t use the flashlight very often. The monster actively searches for you when you hear humming and your screen becomes hazy. Stand still to avoid being detected in these moments, even if you’re covered by sound.

Be cautious of sand and dust, as your character suffers from asthma. As if that’s not bad enough, she also suffers from anxiety attacks. The lung icon shows Alex’s asthma status, and this mechanic adds a challenge to the game. You need to manage Alex’s stress level to avoid asthma attacks, which can be triggered by heavy lifting, proximity to creatures, or dusty environments. Inhalers are easy to find throughout the game, and having enough of them becomes crucial in later stages, where attacks are more frequent.

I played the game on “normal” difficulty and didn’t have any problems finishing it. I really liked the game. The graphics are nice, and the mechanics are cool. The average duration of the game is between 8 and 10 hours, which is perfect for a game in this price range. However, I have to admit that after a few hours, I turned off the microphone feature. In my opinion, the game could have been a little more challenging, a bit scarier, and a little faster-paced. Still, I had a great time playing this game!