It’s “X-Files meets Riverdale” in indie creator Benjamin Rivers’ new adventure game, Worse Than Death. Currently in development for the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Steam and iOS devices, Worse than Death is a “scary, emotional thriller” about a high school reunion that goes horribly awry.

You are Holly, a young woman from a small town in the middle of nowhere who’s been dragged back to her home for a weekend that she’s been dreading. Her best friend Flynn has been inconsolable since his fiancée died in an accident, and it seems everyone in town has something to hide, including Holly herself. Soon Flynn and Holly find themselves in the thick of it as an unseen force hunts them.

Taking a cue from horror classic EC comics, the 2D artwork for Worse Than Death features similar stylings, mixed with sidescrolling pixel art. The game also features 3D positional audio that “keeps you on edge in every room.”

Right now on the game’s Discord server, you can check out an “exclusive prequel” story centring on the town’s bartender, Sam, as he investigates a rumour that ties into the main game.

Expect Worse Than Death later this year, with a special demo of the game available at this year’s Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.