Anthanasia [Early Build] Review – Survival Horror With a 90s Soul

Some games make you nostalgic the second you boot them up. Anthanasia is one of those games—the kind that makes you feel like you’ve dusted off a forgotten PlayStation disc from 1999. It’s got the janky charm, the atmosphere, the scares, and yes, even the awkward controls we all secretly love. But don’t let the retro vibes fool you—this survival horror adventure is packed with clever mechanics and enough teeth to keep you on edge.

Before diving in, a quick shoutout: I want to thank the developers for providing me with a key, which allowed me to review Anthanasia properly and even showcase it live on stream.

Set in August 1999 in South America, you step into the role of Carmen Flores, an independent explorer investigating a shady private facility tied to bizarre animal attacks and mysterious remains. It’s classic horror setup: isolated location, corporate secrets, and lots of “what’s lurking in the dark” tension. And yes—you’ll absolutely regret ignoring the flashlight.

At its core, Anthanasia nails the fundamentals: stealth, resource management, healing items, and tense exploration. Inventory space is tight, forcing tough choices about what to carry. Do you grab that cocktail to restore health, or save room for the key item you might need later? The crafting system—like combining bandages and cocktails—keeps things creative while feeding into the “every decision matters” survival loop.

The game also throws in smart little details: leaving bloody footprints when you step in a puddle, a save system tied to “keep account machines,” and the ability to hurt yourself with fall damage (pro tip: don’t sprint off stairwells). These mechanics add realism and keep you hyper-aware of your surroundings.

Yes, there are dinosaurs—and they’re every bit as terrifying as you’d hope in a survival horror game. Think Dino Crisis energy but cranked up with modern scares. I’ll admit, I didn’t even make it far enough in my first session to face them (rage quit is real, friends), but the setup, atmosphere, and sheer dread leading up to those encounters tell me they’re worth the wait. When you finally cross paths with these prehistoric nightmares, you’ll need every ounce of stealth, strategy, and bravery to survive.

The game leans heavily on environmental storytelling—emails, scattered notes, and terminals help unravel the mystery of what’s gone down in this facility. Powering doors and fiddling with terminals feel old-school in the best way, rewarding exploration and keen observation.

Is the game perfect? Not quite. Controls can feel finicky, and the limited inventory is both a feature and a frustration. But that’s survival horror in a nutshell. The awkwardness becomes part of the charm, especially if you grew up playing these kinds of games. It’s scary, it’s clunky, and it’s fun as hell.

Anthanasia is a love letter to late-90s survival horror with just enough modern polish to keep it fresh. Between the creepy atmosphere, resource-scarce gameplay, and its nostalgic throwback style, it’s an easy recommendation for fans of Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, and classic horror-adventure games.

For those who want a retro-flavored scare with modern teeth, Anthanasia is worth keeping an eye on as it continues to grow. And once again, big thanks to the devs for letting me get my hands on the game early—I had a blast (and plenty of screams) sharing it on stream.