Slender Reborn

Important Information

Note that the game has been removed from Steam. They have not mentioned any reason as to why they are removing it but I assume it's mostly due to the several negative reviews it received. This review was written and posted back when the game was still live. Thank you!

A Nostalgic Nightmare

Slender Reborn takes us back to the dark, eerie woods with one goal: collect eight pages and avoid Slenderman. It’s a reimagining of the indie horror classic Slender: The Eight Pages, with updated visuals, sound, and AI that “supposedly” adapts to your gameplay. But does it manage to rekindle the same terror, or does it feel like a relic of the past? Let’s break it down.

About This Game

Storyline

If you’ve played the original, you already know the drill—there’s no deep narrative here. You’re in a dark forest, Slenderman is after you, and your only escape is collecting eight cryptic pages. There’s an intro cutscene that attempts to set the mood, but it boils down to the same premise: “Go fetch the pages and try not to die.” The horror lies more in the experience than in the storytelling, but that’s expected for a game like this.

Gameplay Mechanics

The gameplay is classic Slender: wander around, pick up pages, and hope Slenderman doesn’t snatch you. The AI is advertised as "adaptive," but I found it to be more predictable than dynamic. Slender follows in a straight line and doesn’t seem to cut you off or teleport in a way that would make encounters feel fresh.

The movement and controls have also been a point of contention. Mouse sensitivity was initially a disaster, though the devs patched in a setting to adjust it. Picking up pages can be oddly finicky, and the game’s map system is clunky, making it tough to navigate. The tension is there, but at times, it feels more frustrating than frightening.

Visuals & Audio

One of the biggest improvements in Slender Reborn is its updated graphics. The environment is much more detailed, lighting is eerier, and Slenderman actually looks more like a faceless horror figure rather than a stretched-out stick figure. However, I’ve seen that some players noticed texture glitches, particularly with trees, which can break immersion. Personally, I didn’t find such glitches, but I might’ve just been too focused on running away from Slender dude to notice.

The audio is where the game shines. The ambient sounds effectively build tension. However, the AI voice used in the intro cutscene feels a bit awkward, and it doesn’t add much to the experience.

Pros

Remastered visuals give a fresh coat of paint to the classic horror.
Sound design effectively builds suspense.
The core Slender gameplay loop is intact for those who enjoy it.
Some quality-of-life fixes have been implemented post-launch (mouse settings, skippable intro).

Cons

AI is predictable, making Slenderman feel more like an annoying chaperone than a terrifying entity.
Controls can feel clunky.
The map system is confusing and barely useful.
Lacks innovation—feels like a simple rehash rather than a meaningful evolution of the original game. The dev did mention in a reply to a comment saying that it was a small budget game.

Conclusion

Slender Reborn successfully captures the eerie atmosphere of the original, but it doesn’t do much to modernize or expand upon the experience. The updated visuals and sound add polish, but the AI, gameplay mechanics, and overall execution feel a bit underwhelming. If you’re feeling nostalgic or love walking sim horror games, this might be worth a short, spooky session. But if you’re looking for a fresh take on the Slenderman mythos, you might be better off revisiting Slender: The Arrival or checking out other indie horror projects.

So, in conclusion, it’s a decent throwback, but not a must-play.

Rating: 5/10

I know people who thirst over Slender Man…They’re even scarier…