Apartment No 129
Developer: Dead Witness
Publisher: Dead Witness
Released on: PC, Xbox Series X/S (reviewed), PlayStation 5
Urban legends have persisted worldwide over time, and Turkey is no exception. Apartment No 129, originally released on PC in 2025 and now out on Xbox and PlayStation, claims to be based on one such event. Whether the event is actually a thing in Turkey or whether it’s all been constructed as some sort of viral marketing campaign, I’m not sure. In any case, it makes a good backdrop to this horror game.
You’re Emir, a YouTuber/influencer with an interest in strange events. Upon a tip-off from his cousin, Emir trots off to the district where this supposed incident took place. Two young girls have performed a Satanic ritual (the internet was down, and they were bored), and inevitably it all went the shape of a pear, resulting in their abrupt demise. Following the incident – which caused strong tremors and other weird goings-on – the other residents left, leaving the apartment block abandoned. And now Emir’s rocked up, principally to explore and record his trip for his faithful followers. Things soon take a turn for the worse. Weird creatures pursue Emir, while shrouded dummies stand ready for… something. He discovers a man who has hung himself and other tortured characters. Fortunately, he also finds a gun. How convenient.
Apartment No 129 is a concise, tight game, with its dark corridors and spooky rooms funnelling the player throughout. It’s an interesting concept, and it could have been a fantastic horror game were it not for some indistinct combat and a story that, while compelling, ends somewhat suddenly. Muddy visuals also plague the Xbox version, and I constantly found myself straining to see what was going on. The live-action intermissions feel unnecessary, too.
Yet Apartment No 129 just about pulls it back with some genuinely terrifying moments, especially those involving a vengeful witch. The urban legend backdrop adds a frisson of tension, and the audio is particularly well done, from its foreboding music to the discordant sound effects.
On PC, the competition pushes Apartment No 129 out into the streets. On Xbox and PlayStation, however, it might find a more agreeable home, especially at its (current) price of £11.74.
