Exmortis
A flash game series originally released on Newgrounds and created by Ben Leffler, who just loves to make creepy/scary-as-hell games, the Exmortis series A trilogy, the first game (found here) in 2004 and the sequel two years later (found here), with a closing chapter released as Shareware for Halloween 2009. The development blog is found here. And just for future reference, the first screen you see says that you should play with the lights off and the volume turned up. Don't.
The first Exmortis tells the tale of a person lost, tired and amnesiac in the woods who suddenly finds an abandoned house and, with little left to choose, begins exploring it. Incredibly creepy events follow, including the discovery of a diary of a previous 'resident', a hunter who also stumbled upon the house. The hunter began to hear voices in the house, the voices of the Exmortis, which slowly brainwash him into releasing them into the human world again. To do this, he must first kill five hikers that the voices predict are coming towards the house. The PC character continues to search the house and eventually discovers that four of the hikers are dead. He's then attacked by someone, whom he kills, only to discover that the person he just killed was, in fact, the last hiker. The awful conclusion is he is, in fact, the hunter! He is then offered a choice, to become The Hand of Repose and bring about the apocalypse, or to try to escape the house. Choosing the latter means that you do manage to get into the woods, however, just as it seems that you're about to escape, you receive a horrific shock, lose your memory and end up at the beginning of the game, implying that the cycle won't stop until you submit to the Exmortis.
In the second game, the Exmortis have invaded Earth and all hell has, literally, broken loose. As the game begins, you're one of the few last survivors of mankind, who's just come out of recent rout of the last human forces (who have learned to act as one to confuse the Exmortis). The church where all the human survivors of the battle were supposed to meet is empty, or so it seems. A spirit of sorts appears and explains to you that mankind still has one last chance, provided you follow his instructions. You end up in a house where the Exmortis have already passed through and encounter the grisly consequences of this. As you investigate, you discover more about the Exmortis and the history of the Earth. Apparently, eons ago, three sadistic and demonic brothers once ruled Earth and were in constant wars with one another, until one of them, Lord Vlaew, got the upper hand through a clever betrayal. He proceeded to create the Exmortis, but eventually they turned on their master (who lost his physical body), and the Exmortis ended up disappearing. You eventually realize that if you can destroy/kill the The Hand of Repose, you could stop the Exmortis. To do so, you end up killing yourself with a gun (that had already killed four other innocents), and thus succeed entering the dimension where the Hand exists. Using a mystical dagger, you kill The Hand, finally ending the invasion of the Exmortis. However, in a twist, as you return to Earth, you discover that the spirit that helped you previously was none other than Lord Vlaew, the creator of the Exmortis, who now has a free hand to take over the world.
- After the End: The second game.
- Apocalyptic Log: In both games, you find diaries.
- Better to Die Than Be Killed: At least one person prefers this than to face the Exmortis.
- Confessional: In the second game, you first meet Lord Vlaew in one.
- Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?: In the third game, at the end, you face down Lord Vlaew. He brags about how only an Ancient can beat him, but since he's so MAGNANIMOUS, he'll let you have the first blow. You promptly blow the pretentious bastard out of his throne with a telekinetic blast. And then later... it's rinse and repeat.
- I guess Even Evil Has Standards...unfortunately for them, it ended up in your benefit.
- Downer Ending: In both games!
- Arguably a Cruel Twist Ending.
- Failure Is the Only Option
- Ghost Butler: A few of them, usually indicating an advancement in the plot.
- Horrible Judge of Character: Exmortis 2: so, this guy has the gift of invisibility, leaves bloody footprints on the floor, doesn't want to show his face or name himself and leaves "a vile stench" in the air after he leaves. I cannot see a reason for not trusting him.
- Jump Scare: Littered throughout. In fact, there are several in the opening credits of the first game.
- Mind Over Matter: Lord Vlaew and many of the other Exmortis have telekinetic powers- amongst other things. In the third game, the protagonist gains the same power due to time spent in the spirit world.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Happens, again, in both games.
- Nightmare Fuel Station Attendant: Lord Vlaew, anyone?
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: The protagonist of the first game starts as one.
- Mad Oracle: The Hand of Repose, a living gateway for the Exmortis to invade Earth and the player character of the first game.
- Pater Familicide
- Point and Click Game
- Shout-Out: To Sam Raimi, among others.
- Red Sky, Take Warning: FULL. STOP.
- Tomato Surprise: In the first game, you become The Hand of Repose.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Lord Vlaew does this to everybody, even the Exmortis.