Her Story creator says 868-BACK is exhausting: 'every move could be a disaster'

Sam Barlow, the mind behind interactive films Her Story, Telling Lies, and Immortality, has opened up about his current gaming obsession. In a conversation with PC Gamer, he admitted he is trying to find time to properly play 868-BACK, the new release from Michael Brough, known for minimalist roguelikes on mobile devices.

Barlow describes himself as a big roguelike fan who also appreciates minimalism and elegance. He likens Brough's approach to "molecular gastronomy of Rogue": the genre gets broken down into its smallest parts, and each element is refined until a single mechanic becomes an entire universe. However, 868-BACK is a massive project that demands serious commitment — the developer says he needs to "prove himself worthy of the full twenty course meal."

The defining trait of the 868 series is a constant sense of vulnerability. Barlow notes that you never feel safe or powerful, as any move could turn into a disaster. This reminds him of Resident Evil 4, a game he cannot play for extended periods due to stress. Yet improving requires lots of practice, which takes a toll on his body. After a good run that ends in flames, he feels awful and needs to lie down to recover. The scoring system makes it worse, as scores can go deeply negative, clearly showing how much the game thinks you suck.

Barlow also mentioned he is currently working on two projects: one with director Brandon Cronenberg and another with production company Blumhouse Productions.