Descending is a free Iron Lung-style horror game where you drill a giant borehole for the glory of your country

GamesHorrorDescending is a free Iron Lung-style horror game where you drill a giant borehole for the glory of your countryWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

As with Iron Lung, Descending takes place entirely in a single location, namely the pit in which the drills are placed, and the corrugated iron shack above. Likewise, the game’s mechanical emphasis is on the procedure of operating the drill, with you replacing drill batteries, monitoring drill temperature, and generally keeping those giant spinning spikes in tiptop condition.

Although things start out normally enough (if being a giant drill operator can ever be considered normal) the situation becomes weirder as the day progresses. You wake up to find that holes have been punched in your shack, and you need to use the orders sent via fax machine to paper them over. These orders also shift from simply providing instructions on the drill, to referring to a war your country is apparently involved in, one in which you play a crucial role. One order you receive tells you explicitly not to get out of your sleeping bag until your shift starts, which is more than a little disconcerting.

The whole game takes around an hour to complete, and while I won’t spoil how events transpire, it pays off pretty well. If you’ve ever found yourself perusing the Wikipedia page for theKola Superdeep Boreholeand wondering what might be down there, then Descending is an essential play, especially since it’s free.

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