Don’t Knock Twice, the first-person horror game developed by Wales Interactive, arrives on the Nintendo Switch, offering players a chilling adaptation of the 2017 supernatural film of the same name.
Known for its atmospheric approach and indie spirit, Wales Interactive brings a new horror experience to the Nintendo Switch library—an area still light on psychological thrillers. The game’s narrative centers around Jess, a remorseful mother battling personal demons while searching for her estranged daughter.
Drawing from the film’s plot, Don’t Knock Twice tasks players with piecing together the story through in-game clues and environmental storytelling, as the protagonist explores a foreboding mansion overrun by the legend of the demonic witch, Baba Yaga.
At the game's outset, new players are provided little context—there are no introductory cinematics or expository narration—which may leave those unfamiliar with the movie feeling unanchored.
Instead, players gradually unravel Jess’s troubled past via scattered diary pages, photographs, and newspaper clippings. Reimagined for the Switch, Don’t Knock Twice leverages the platform's capabilities by incorporating tactile interactions: players use the left hand for a candle or mobile phone (the latter delivering cryptic objective hints) and the right to investigate objects or wield tools such as an axe or blowtorch.
Exploration is methodical, emphasizing a slow-paced approach to uncovering the mansion's secrets and building atmospheric tension. Though the game excels at instilling early unease—especially in the initial half-hour as players anticipate what lurks around each corner—the sense of danger diminishes once the primary antagonist, Baba Yaga, makes her first appearance.
Despite its horror trappings, Don’t Knock Twice lacks significant risk or threat to the player, which tempers its overall sense of fear. Puzzle-solving plays a substantial role in the game’s progression, with a balance between straightforward and clever challenges.
Collectors will appreciate the hidden secrets scattered throughout the mansion, although these extras do little to enhance replay value after a single playthrough.
The linear structure opens up modestly midway, but the overall experience remains focused and brief—completable in under two hours. On the technical side, Don’t Knock Twice delivers competent visuals with convincing lighting effects that bolster the haunting atmosphere, despite occasional graphical hiccups, such as visual stutters and object clipping—some items, when set down, may inadvertently fall through the floor.
The audio design, featuring eerie ambient noises and environmental cues, stands out for heightening player tension even as the narrative remains mostly silent, lacking voice acting—a notable omission in key scenes that could have deepened immersion. For Nintendo Switch owners seeking a horror game experience, Don’t Knock Twice occupies a unique niche as one of the few titles in its genre currently available on the platform.
Its affordability and short runtime may appeal to fans of the original film or horror genre enthusiasts, though its limited replay value and absence of genuine peril may leave others wanting more.
Available through the Nintendo eShop, Don’t Knock Twice exemplifies Wales Interactive’s ongoing commitment to diversifying the Switch’s game library. Don’t Knock Twice is available now for the Nintendo Switch, further expanding the console’s growing catalog of indie and horror offerings.
Known for its atmospheric approach and indie spirit, Wales Interactive brings a new horror experience to the Nintendo Switch library—an area still light on psychological thrillers. The game’s narrative centers around Jess, a remorseful mother battling personal demons while searching for her estranged daughter.
Drawing from the film’s plot, Don’t Knock Twice tasks players with piecing together the story through in-game clues and environmental storytelling, as the protagonist explores a foreboding mansion overrun by the legend of the demonic witch, Baba Yaga.
At the game's outset, new players are provided little context—there are no introductory cinematics or expository narration—which may leave those unfamiliar with the movie feeling unanchored.
Instead, players gradually unravel Jess’s troubled past via scattered diary pages, photographs, and newspaper clippings. Reimagined for the Switch, Don’t Knock Twice leverages the platform's capabilities by incorporating tactile interactions: players use the left hand for a candle or mobile phone (the latter delivering cryptic objective hints) and the right to investigate objects or wield tools such as an axe or blowtorch.
Exploration is methodical, emphasizing a slow-paced approach to uncovering the mansion's secrets and building atmospheric tension. Though the game excels at instilling early unease—especially in the initial half-hour as players anticipate what lurks around each corner—the sense of danger diminishes once the primary antagonist, Baba Yaga, makes her first appearance.
Despite its horror trappings, Don’t Knock Twice lacks significant risk or threat to the player, which tempers its overall sense of fear. Puzzle-solving plays a substantial role in the game’s progression, with a balance between straightforward and clever challenges.
Collectors will appreciate the hidden secrets scattered throughout the mansion, although these extras do little to enhance replay value after a single playthrough.
The linear structure opens up modestly midway, but the overall experience remains focused and brief—completable in under two hours. On the technical side, Don’t Knock Twice delivers competent visuals with convincing lighting effects that bolster the haunting atmosphere, despite occasional graphical hiccups, such as visual stutters and object clipping—some items, when set down, may inadvertently fall through the floor.
The audio design, featuring eerie ambient noises and environmental cues, stands out for heightening player tension even as the narrative remains mostly silent, lacking voice acting—a notable omission in key scenes that could have deepened immersion. For Nintendo Switch owners seeking a horror game experience, Don’t Knock Twice occupies a unique niche as one of the few titles in its genre currently available on the platform.
Its affordability and short runtime may appeal to fans of the original film or horror genre enthusiasts, though its limited replay value and absence of genuine peril may leave others wanting more.
Available through the Nintendo eShop, Don’t Knock Twice exemplifies Wales Interactive’s ongoing commitment to diversifying the Switch’s game library. Don’t Knock Twice is available now for the Nintendo Switch, further expanding the console’s growing catalog of indie and horror offerings.
