Lazaretto

Lazaretto is a first-person survival horror game set in a contemporary, eerie quarantine island known as a Lazaretto. Players assume the role of a descendant exploring an abandoned facility armed only with a flashlight, uncovering mysteries tied to a haunting artifact. The game features combat-free survival gameplay, psychological horror, and mind-bending puzzles, with horrific creatures designed by Fabrizio Bortolussi. As the story unfolds, players encounter unseen terrors, paranormal phenomena, and a decaying environment that blurs the line between reality and the supernatural.

Lazaretto: A Haunting Descent into Psychological Horror

Introduction

Lazaretto (2017) is a first-person survival horror game that thrusts players into the decaying remnants of a quarantine island, where the line between reality and the supernatural blurs into a nightmarish tapestry. Developed by Iron Monkey and published by iEntertainment Inc. and Thriller Games, Lazaretto is a love letter to the atmospheric horror pioneered by titles like Amnesia: The Dark Descent and Silent Hill. Yet, it carves its own niche through a relentless focus on psychological dread, environmental storytelling, and combat-free survival mechanics.

This review dissects Lazaretto in exhaustive detail, examining its development history, narrative depth, gameplay systems, and lasting impact on the horror genre. While it may not have achieved mainstream acclaim, Lazaretto stands as a cult favorite—a game that prioritizes mood and mystery over brute-force scares, offering a haunting experience for those willing to endure its oppressive atmosphere.

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Development History & Context

The Studio Behind the Madness: Iron Monkey

Iron Monkey is a small indie studio based in Wilmington, Delaware, composed of industry veterans who previously worked on licensed titles for brands like Disney, Nickelodeon, and Transformers. After years of developing games for other companies, the team sought creative autonomy, leading to the birth of Lazaretto—their first original IP.

The game was built using the Unity engine, a choice that allowed for rapid prototyping and cross-platform compatibility (Windows, Mac, and later mobile). The development cycle was relatively short, with the game releasing in May 2017, but the team’s ambition was clear: to craft a horror experience that relied on psychological tension rather than cheap jump scares.

Inspirations & the Horror Landscape of 2017

Lazaretto arrived during a renaissance of indie horror, following the success of Amnesia: The Dark Descent (2010), Outlast (2013), and SOMA (2015). These games proved that horror could thrive without combat, instead emphasizing helplessness, exploration, and narrative depth.

Iron Monkey drew heavily from:
– Environmental storytelling (e.g., BioShock, SOMA)
– Psychological horror (e.g., Silent Hill 2, Layers of Fear)
– Puzzle-driven progression (e.g., Myst, The Witness)

However, Lazaretto distinguished itself by blending historical horror with supernatural phenomena, tying its setting to real-world quarantine islands (or “lazarettos”) used to isolate plague victims—a concept ripe with eerie potential.

Technological Constraints & Design Choices

Given its indie budget, Lazaretto faced limitations in scope and polish. The game’s short runtime (~3 hours) and linear structure reflect these constraints, but the developers compensated with:
– Immersive audio design (a standout feature)
– Handcrafted creature designs by Fabrizio Bortolussi (District 9, Silent Hill film)
– A minimalist UI to enhance immersion

The decision to omit combat entirely was both a creative and technical choice—avoiding the need for complex enemy AI while reinforcing the player’s vulnerability.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Plot Overview: A Descent into Madness

Players assume the role of an unnamed protagonist, the descendant of a man who once worked at a haunted quarantine island—a lazaretto. Armed only with a flashlight and an mysterious artifact, the player explores the abandoned facility, uncovering fragments of its dark history through environmental clues, letters, and supernatural encounters.

The story unfolds in Chapter One (the only released chapter, despite plans for sequels), teasing a larger narrative about:
– Medical experimentation
– Paranormal phenomena
– The blurred line between reality and hallucination

Themes: Isolation, Guilt, and the Unseen

Lazaretto is steeped in psychological horror, exploring themes of:
1. Isolation & Confinement – The cramped corridors and locked doors reinforce a sense of entrapment.
2. Historical Trauma – The lazaretto’s past as a plague quarantine site mirrors real-world horrors.
3. The Unreliable Narrator – The protagonist’s sanity is questioned, with hallucinations and eerie whispers.
4. The Fear of the Unknown – Many threats are heard but not seen, forcing players to rely on sound cues.

Characters & Dialogue

The game features no traditional NPC interactions, instead conveying its story through:
– Environmental storytelling (abandoned medical equipment, bloodstains, cryptic notes)
– Audio logs & letters (revealing the fate of past inhabitants)
– Supernatural entities (ghostly figures, unseen presences)

The lack of direct dialogue enhances the loneliness of the experience, making the player’s journey feel deeply personal.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Gameplay Loop: Exploration & Survival

Lazaretto is a combat-free survival horror game, meaning players must:
– Navigate dark, maze-like environments using only a flashlight.
– Solve environmental puzzles to progress.
– Avoid or evade supernatural threats (no weapons, only stealth).

Puzzle Design: Organic & Atmospheric

Puzzles are integrated into the narrative, often requiring players to:
– Decode cryptic notes
– Manipulate objects in the environment (e.g., placing artifacts, activating mechanisms)
– Listen for audio cues (e.g., distant whispers, footsteps)

While some puzzles are intuitive, others suffer from vague objectives, leading to frustration.

Stealth & Enemy Encounters

The game’s most tense moments come from unseen horrors:
– Invisible entities that stalk the player, detectable only by sound.
– Ghostly apparitions that appear briefly before vanishing.
– Jump scares (used sparingly but effectively).

The lack of combat forces players to hide or flee, reinforcing the game’s themes of helplessness.

UI & Controls

The UI is minimalist, with no HUD clutter—only the flashlight and occasional objective markers. However, some players reported control issues, particularly with mouse sensitivity.

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World-Building, Art & Sound

Setting: A Decaying Nightmare

The lazaretto is a masterclass in environmental horror, featuring:
– Rust-covered corridors
– Abandoned medical equipment
– Flickering lights and eerie shadows

The game’s visual direction leans into gritty realism, avoiding the surrealism of games like Silent Hill in favor of grounded dread.

Sound Design: The Game’s Greatest Strength

Lazaretto’s audio is its defining feature, with:
– Ambient noises (distant whispers, creaking doors)
– Dynamic soundscapes (children singing, gurgling monsters)
– 3D audio cues (essential for detecting unseen threats)

The developers strongly recommend headphones, as the game’s horror relies heavily on what you hear, not what you see.

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Reception & Legacy

Critical & Commercial Reception

Lazaretto received mixed-to-positive reviews:
– Praised for: Atmosphere, sound design, and psychological horror.
– Criticized for: Short length, repetitive puzzles, and lack of originality.

Metacritic: No official score (only 2 critic reviews, both 40/100).
Steam: 74% Positive (71 reviews).

Legacy & Influence

While not a commercial blockbuster, Lazaretto has developed a cult following among horror fans who appreciate its:
– Minimalist approach to horror
– Focus on psychological tension over action
– Unique setting (quarantine island horror)

Its influence can be seen in later indie horror games that prioritize atmosphere over combat, such as Visage and The Mortuary Assistant.

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Conclusion: A Flawed but Haunting Experience

Lazaretto is not a perfect game—its short length, occasional puzzle ambiguity, and derivative elements hold it back from greatness. However, its masterful sound design, oppressive atmosphere, and psychological horror make it a must-play for fans of slow-burn horror.

Final Verdict: 7.5/10 – “A Chilling, if Brief, Nightmare”

• Best for: Players who love Amnesia, SOMA, and Layers of Fear.
• Avoid if: You prefer action-heavy horror or dislike puzzles.

Lazaretto may not have redefined the genre, but it perfectly captures the essence of dread—a testament to how sound, setting, and psychological tension can create an unforgettable horror experience.

Would I recommend it? Yes—but play it in the dark, with headphones, and prepare to be unsettled.