Browsing through the games showcased during Next Fest is always a great time. Getting an idea for interesting indie games coming soon, trying out a few demos, and really lengthening my wishlist is a favorite pastime of mine. I’m also a sucker for classic slasher horror films akin to Friday the 13^th and Halloween. So, when Bad Summer from S&J Games crossed my path this month, I jumped at the chance to check it out.

Bad Summer presents as a dual point-of-view visual novel at first glance. You take control of detective Oliver Smith, investigating a killer referred to as the Camp Bear Ridge Ripper. You’ll also find yourself in the shoes of Jenny, a counsellor at Camp Bear Ridge. The immediate connection sucked me into both of our protagonists’ worlds, desperate to know what twists the story will take.

So, does Bad Summer successfully harken back to those classic slashers, or does it fall flat? Is it Jason Lives, or Jason Takes Manhattan? Or something else entirely? Let’s find out.

Abnormal Behavior

Bad Summer kicks off in a way you may not expect. After choosing between Safe for Work or Not Safe for Work mode, you’re thrown into the shoes of Detective Oliver Smith. It’s his first day at the I.S.W.A. or, International Security of the Weird and Abnormal. This is our framing device for his portion of the game. We go through a training course, detecting what are called ‘abnormals’ and answering a few calls. It leans heavily on analog horror vibes, with static images and flashing jump cuts that make your hair stand on end.

Kill some time between calls when you can. Meet a cat. Name him Loki, or whatever you prefer. Loki seems fitting. Squeeze a stress ball just a few too many times and try to keep your head when the next caller reports his wife crawling on the walls.

Camp Bear Ridge Smoocher

We meet Jenny before the rest of the counselors, waiting for a bus to take her to the camp. She seems a fairly reserved type at first, interested in music and avoiding confrontation. As the story plays out, that could very well change based on the decisions you make. When the bus arrives, you meet a few of your fellow counselors. Now comes what could potentially be the most important decision in the entire game. Who are you trying to smooch?

Yes, this is a romance horror game. Emphasis on both. So choose your smooching partner carefully. Will you pursue Andre, the sulky bad boy? How about Jake, the quirky loner? Will Candi, the upbeat empath, melt your barriers? Or will Summer, the headstrong head counsellor, keep you safe? It’s heavily implied that whoever you choose for Jenny to spend time with will be your ride-or-die all game and when push comes to shove, could protect you or leave you to fend for yourself. So get your lip balm ready, because there’s going to be some smooching in your future.

Technically Speaking

As important as the smooching is, I know what you’re thinking. How does Bad Summer play as a game? On a technical level, it’s outstanding. There are several minigames that keep you on your toes and not just mindlessly clicking your mouse. You’ll need to keep your fingers ready to avoid weapons wielded by disorderly drifters or free your foot from a busted bridge board.

As Oliver, find yourself lost in your office building and recognize anomalies á la I’m on Observation Duty to return to the relative comfort of your desk. But be quick and accurate, or something will grab you from the dark. In a rare case for visual novels, none of these events detract from the experience in any way. They’re simple enough for just about anyone to understand but provide enough challenge to not just be a way to pad time.

The only issues I ran into during my time with Bad Summer was the occasional routing error, where decisions made at one time weren’t reflected perfectly as the game went on, but that kind of thing is to be expected from such an early look.

Final Girl

I can’t speak for everyone, but I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Bad Summer. I have no doubt I’ll be returning to play through more routes and keeping a close eye on the development. Bad Summer is literally everything I want out of my visual novels, and if you’re a fan of the genre, I highly recommend trying out the demo and keeping your eyes out for future developments.

Bad summer is developed and published by two-person indie team S&J Games. There is no definitive release date yet, and the demo is available on itch.io and Steam as part of Next Fest: June, 2025.