Interweaving Regrets: Unpacking the Surreal Horror of Fourth Time Around

A Glimpse into the Fragmented Mind

Fourth Time Around
enters the horror space as a striking character portrait, centered on a man drowning in his own regrets. Unlike traditional linear narratives, the game presents itself as a series of interweaving vignettes. This structure suggests a deep, psychological dive where the boundary between memory and dream remains perpetually blurred. The demo introduces us to
Henry Fletcher
, a protagonist living in Oklahoma whose reality shifts from a mundane kitchen to surreal, LSD-inspired hallways and frozen Siberian landscapes in a heartbeat.

Surrealism and Mechanical Friction

The game leans heavily into surrealism, effectively using sudden teleportations and environmental shifts to disorient the player. One moment you are hunting for eggs on a farm; the next, you are navigating a cornfield with a firearm. However, technical execution currently hampers the immersion. Extreme mouse sensitivity issues and inconsistent controller support create a layer of mechanical friction. These hurdles make it difficult to appreciate the visual storytelling when the player is struggling just to look around the room without spinning wildly.

Interweaving Regrets: Unpacking the Surreal Horror of Fourth Time Around
WHAT'S GOING ON?! | Fourth Time Around

Narrative Obscurity and Hidden Depth

Fourth Time Around
prioritizes atmosphere over clarity. While the narrative feels "bamboozling" at first glance, the environmental cues—like notes regarding
Nina
 and
Benny
—hint at a tragic family history involving loss and isolation. The dialogue is dense and often strange, demanding the player piece together
Henry Fletcher
's mental state through fragmented conversations with bartenders and mysterious figures in silos. It is a game that rewards those who enjoy deciphering abstract symbolism rather than following a straightforward plot.

Final Verdict: Potential in the Chaos

The demo serves as a promising, if chaotic, proof of concept. It captures the frantic, unpredictable nature of a nightmare perfectly. If the developer addresses the glaring technical bugs and sensitivity spikes before the full release, this could become a standout psychological horror title. For now, it remains a fascinating, confusing journey through a fractured psyche that demands your attention—even if you don't always understand where it's taking you.

2 min read