DaRmaZat Slender Reborn, developed by Jeff Winner and published by CreativeForge Games, revisits the haunting premise of Slender: The Eight Pages. With improved graphics and sound design, the game aims to modernize the classic survival horror experience. But does it succeed?
Faithful to The Original With Small Twists
The core gameplay remains true to the original: players must collect eight scattered pages in a dark, oppressive forest and bring them to a sanctuary while avoiding the enigmatic Slender Man. Interaction is minimal, which fits the survivalist, powerless premise. This simplicity emphasizes the dread and helplessness of being hunted in the woods.
The difficulty system offers two modes: Normal Mode with five chances and Hard Mode with three. These chances are lost with each close encounter with Slender Man, and staring at him for more than two seconds results in death. The mechanics remain as relentless as in the original, preserving its tension-filled challenge.
New Features: A Mixed Bag
A few new features attempt to expand on the original’s formula. The addition of a timer, displaying the time spent in the woods, is a thoughtful nod to speedrunners eager to test their efficiency. However, the inability to turn it off may frustrate players seeking a purely immersive experience.
Similarly, the optional map, which shows the last known location of Slender Man and the pages, feels out of place. While it can be disabled, its inclusion undermines the disorienting and chaotic tension that defined the original game’s horror.
Useful features are missing, while unnecessary ones were added.
The flashlight now has infinite battery life, removing the need to manage this critical resource. While this change reduces frustration, it also simplifies gameplay. A toggle option to reintroduce flashlight battery depletion would have been a welcome addition, allowing players to adjust the challenge to their liking.
Technical Issues
Graphically, Slender Reborn is a significant improvement over its predecessor. Players can adjust visual settings from low to ultra, and the eerie, haunting forest looks better than ever. Unfortunately, the lack of fullscreen or resolution options feels like an oversight in a modern game.
Worse still, a bug in fullscreen mode causes the mouse pointer to remain visible, breaking immersion. The game also suffers from occasional bugs that can softlock gameplay, forcing a restart. For a game that thrives on maintaining tension, these technical flaws are a serious drawback. Another notable design flaw is the unskippable intro sequence. For a game intended for multiple playthroughs, forcing players to endure the same opening repeatedly is an unnecessary frustration. This oversight detracts from the overall experience and feels especially outdated in a modern title.
Sitting through the unskippable opening is frustrating.
One of Slender Reborn’s strongest aspects is its sound design. The eerie drum beats and unsettling ambient effects amplify the oppressive atmosphere and keep players constantly on edge. These auditory improvements, combined with the graphical uplift, effectively enhance the game’s haunting setting.
Final Thoughts
Slender Reborn is a visually and aurally enhanced reimagining of a beloved horror classic, but it’s far from perfect. While the updated graphics, improved sound design, and speedrunner-friendly timer are welcome additions, other features—such as the map and infinite flashlight—detract from the immersive horror experience. Combined with unskippable intros and occasional game-breaking bugs, these flaws prevent Slender Reborn from reaching its full potential.
Additional Information
Release Date: January 10, 2025
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by the publisher and PR agency.
Developer: Jeff Winner
Publisher: CreativeForge Games
Relevant links: Slender Reborn on STEAM
