“Hello, David… It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? I’ve got a new game for you…”
Don’t Be Afraid 2 has officially been confirmed for release on October 28th for Steam and GOG, following a brief announcement last week. While there’s still no word on when console players will get their hands on the game, the anticipation has certainly built up with the release of a new gameplay trailer.
As a direct sequel to the 2020 psychological horror Don’t Be Afraid, the game brings back David, the character who was kidnapped as a child by two sadistic killers and forced to endure horrific games for survival. Fast forward 15 years, and David is struggling to move on from his traumatic past. He’s now an adult, but the scars left by his captors haven’t healed. His life has spiraled into a pitiful state, haunted by nightmares and unable to function in everyday life. The sequel explores how his trauma resurfaces, forcing him to confront his past as he relives some of his most nightmarish memories.
Gameplay remains consistent with the first game’s style—a first-person psychological horror experience mixed with puzzle-solving elements. As David, you’ll explore the dimly lit and terrifying mansion where his trauma was born, solving escape room-style puzzles and gathering clues about his past. Disturbing notes, drawings, and documents piece together the full story, but you won’t have much time to relax, as a monstrous entity stalks you through the mansion. The game plays with the boundaries of dreams and reality, with David constantly questioning what’s real and what’s a twisted figment of his mind.
For fans of psychological horror, Don’t Be Afraid 2 promises to deliver more of the tension, dread, and mind-bending narrative that made the first game so disturbing. However, this game leans even more into David’s psychological trauma. Players will have to navigate his fragile mental state as they work to unlock two possible endings, depending on how they approach the mystery.
If you’re still on the fence, there’s a demo available for PC players, giving you a taste of what’s to come without having to commit to the full game just yet. From what we’ve seen so far, Don’t Be Afraid 2 continues to blend horror and psychological elements effectively, pushing the player to face the disturbing reality of childhood trauma and the lasting damage it can cause.
As with its predecessor, the content is deeply unsettling. The game tackles mature themes like child abuse, abduction, torture, PTSD, and psychosis. These themes are not handled lightly, and the developers have provided a mature content warning to ensure players know what they’re getting into. It’s not a game designed for quick scares or surface-level horror, but rather a disturbing dive into the darker aspects of the human psyche.
If, like me, you’re easily unnerved or sensitive to these themes, this game might not be for you. It’s certainly not for the faint of heart. But for those who enjoy horror that messes with your mind and leaves you thinking long after you’ve stopped playing, Don’t Be Afraid 2 looks to offer an intense and thought-provoking experience.
With its October 28th release on the horizon, it’s time to see whether you can handle another chapter in David’s dark and twisted story, or whether it’s one you’d rather watch from a distance.