Scrutinized is a tense investigative game where players take on the role of a digital profiler working remotely to identify dangerous individuals. With only a computer, a set of surveillance tools, and your own instincts, you must analyze files, flag suspicious behavior, and survive the growing threats outside your home. Combining detective mechanics with horror elements, this game creates a pressure-filled experience from the very first minute.
Analyze Clues and Spot Threats
The core gameplay in Scrutinized centers on reviewing suspect profiles and determining whether they pose a threat. Each in-game night, you’re given a batch of randomly generated names tied to strange digital footprints—odd purchases, social media posts, or incomplete forms. Your job is to dig deeper, cross-reference files, and make a judgment call: report them or let them go. The catch? You’re often working with limited data and a ticking clock.
To investigate efficiently, players access several virtual databases. You’ll scan for criminal records, vehicle registrations, and online interactions. At the same time, you’re being hunted by enemies who grow more aggressive the better you do your job. These threats invade your workspace, requiring quick reflexes and constant awareness of your surroundings.
Juggle Investigation and Survival
Scrutinized balances brainwork with horror. While analyzing profiles, players must listen for sounds outside, check the window, turn off lights, or hide. If you ignore these signs, intruders can break in and end your session. The horror elements are unpredictable and escalate each night, making multitasking essential. Here’s what you’ll need to manage:
- Checking external threats: Lock windows and watch hallway cameras.
- Profiling suspects: Match names and aliases with known criminal patterns.
- Validating evidence: Use logic to determine fake or suspicious documents.
Consequences of Every Decision
This game doesn’t offer second chances. Reporting innocent people hurts your credibility, while letting real criminals go can result in disturbing consequences. The longer you survive, the more difficult the investigations become, with encrypted files, overlapping data, and ambiguous clues that test your attention to detail. Tips to improve success include:
- Keep notes—some information reappears later with new context.
- Don’t rely solely on one database; cross-reference always.
- Close apps you’re not using to reduce detection risks.
- Use pause moments wisely to prepare for nightfall.
Every Night Is More Intense Than the Last
Scrutinized operates on a multi-night format, with each new shift introducing more complexity. Expect more suspects, scarier intrusions, and less time to make safe decisions. The feeling of being alone, under pressure, and constantly watched turns every scan and mouse click into a survival test. The fear isn’t just from jump scares—it’s from the knowledge that any mistake can cost everything.
Scrutinized challenges players to think critically, act quickly, and stay calm under immense pressure. It’s a game where observation, deduction, and survival instinct are equally necessary. Each night builds on the last, pushing you to become sharper, faster, and more paranoid—with good reason.