This Disney-Inspired Horror Game "Bye Sweet Carole"

23 April 2024

Don't let the charming animation style fool you – Bye Sweet Carole is shaping up to be a haunting indie experience with a deceptively sweet exterior. This dark fantasy horror game, inspired by classic Disney and Don Bluth animated films, promises something much closer to Little Nightmares than The Little Mermaid.

Created by Remothered developer Chris Darril and in development by Little Sewing Machine and Meangrip Studios, Bye Sweet Carole immediately caught my attention. It offers a captivating blend of vintage animation aesthetics with a chilling narrative.

A Sinister Tale in a Nostalgic World
Set in early 1900s Britain, you play as Lana Benton, a new resident of the unsettling Bunny Hall orphanage. When her best friend Carole mysteriously vanishes, Lana alone suspects foul play. Her investigation leads her to explore both the real world and the enigmatic Kingdom of Corolla, a sinister 2D realm where stealth and exploration are key to survival.

Where Disney Meets Twisted Fairytale
Bye Sweet Carole instantly evoked memories of two of my favorite mildly disturbing games: American McGee's Alice and Little Nightmares. The eerie orphanage setting and those sinister bunnies give off major Alice in Wonderland vibes, while the platforming and suspenseful encounters draw a clear lineage from Tarsier Studio's 2.5D horror gems. It also shares that deceptive sweetness with games like Little Goody Two Shoes, offering beautiful visuals that mask unsettling themes.

More Than Meets the Eye
I'm incredibly excited to delve deeper into Bye Sweet Carole when it launches in 2024 for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch. This indie gem has incredible potential to surprise and disturb, offering a uniquely twisted take on the classic animated films we grew up loving.

If you're intrigued, wishlist Bye Sweet Carole on Steam and follow the developers on Twitter to stay updated on this nightmarish trip down memory lane.