Making use of the player’s microphone to enhance the player experience in horror games has been a thing for a while now, but Eyes Never Wake, an upcoming title in the genre takes it a step further by using a mechanic we wish franchises like Splinter Cell and Hitman would soon adopt.
Imagine a horror game where your webcam becomes the primary input, with your face deciding the what and how of the life-and-death situation you’ll face against monsters. In Eyes Never Wake, this simple yet brilliant mechanic is perfectly executed, something that other franchises like Splinter Cell and Hitman should take notes from.
Eyes Never Wake and its webcam mechanic
Many stealth games rely on input controls and advanced AI to immerse players in their world. Eyes Never Wake goes a step further by making you responsible for staying hidden physically. Unlike traditional mechanics where crouching behind the cover is a button press away, here, the game detects your real-world movements, only hiding you away from monsters when you duck away in real life.
Sharing details about his game, Allan Hedlund, the creator of Eyes Never Wake, shared the following on social media platforms, grabbing the attention of gamers by showcasing the unique mechanic.
In my horror game, the monster SEES YOU THROUGH YOUR WEBCAM.
Hide by physically ducking beneath your real-life desk while exploring a strange game not meant to be played.
Steam link in comments!#horrorgames #horror #WishlistWednesday pic.twitter.com/JtPsLMnQg1
— Heder (@Hederlunden) March 12, 2025
This new feature undoubtedly is a game changer. In games like Hitman, players are often tempted to take risks, knowing they don’t have much to lose. But in Eyes Never Wake, the tension becomes real. If you don’t move right on time, you are gone for good.
The great limitation of the webcam mechanic in video games
Unlike Hitman or Metal Gear Solid, which traditionally use third-person perspectives to give players better situational awareness, this new feature forces them to experience the game through the character’s eyes, literally.
While this might seem restrictive at first, it actually makes the stealth gameplay feel even more immersive. Imagine a future Hitman title where disguises only work if you keep a straight face, with your webcam capturing your face and making sure you are following the rules.
In an attempt to bring something new to the horror genre, Eyes Never Wake has ended up pioneering a mechanic that other developers are sure to make use of in the near future. While the execution might be very simple right now, there’s endless potential for how much immersive webcam tracking can be introduced.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
