A group of plucky kids v.s. the things that go bump in the night. It’s a tale as old as time. One that has become synonymous with horror author R. L. Stine and his legendary series of children’s books, Goosebumps. I’ll admit that I’m not a true fan. I’ve never read the books, and I’ve only seen the 2015 movie in passing. I’m familiar enough with the franchise to recognise some of its most notorious monsters though. I think a lot of people are. It’s one of those franchises that has extended past its primary medium. Goosebumps is primarily a book series, but there have been countless spin-offs across different mediums ranging from, but not exclusive to, tv shows and video games.
Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek is the latest video game based on the book series and is available on PC and consoles. It’s not based on any particular book or movie, but the inspiration is clear. Being a standalone story, you don’t need to be familiar with the series, but there are little nods and references scattered here and there. The Frightmare Edition, for example, adds five masks and slingshot skins based on classic Goosebumps monsters. These are a nice touch but purely cosmetic, so whether or not they (and the 3D character viewer and concept gallery) are worth the added money is going to be down to personal opinion.
Story
As I’ve already mentioned, Terror in Little Creek is an all-new story inspired by the Goosebumps books. Set within the titular town of Little Creek, it follows plucky protagonist Sloane and her friends as they try to uncover the truth behind the town-wide curfew and all the sudden but strange goings-on. It isn’t long before they discover that, not only do monsters exist, but they are out in force.
So, what do they do? Split up to investigate. Never a good idea, but hey, they have walkie-talkies. What could go wrong, right? I don’t want to go into too much detail regarding the plot since it’s a very mystery-driven game. I’d say it’s a little predictable, but I do think it’s something that a younger audience will enjoy, which is the important thing. They are definitely a key demographic.
Gameplay
Much to my relief, Terror in Little Creek didn’t conform to one particular style of gameplay. It actually reminded me a little bit of the Plague Tale games. Sneaking around is encouraged (and necessary with the bigger monsters), but you can take the smaller ones out with your trusty slingshot. You have an unlimited supply of rock ammunition – rocks don’t do an awful lot of damage, but they’re good in a pinch. Stronger ammunition, explosive pellets and more can be found throughout the town. These can be used to fight or to cause a distraction if you’re not a fan of stealth-based gaming.
For the monsters that you can’t beat, there are loads of places to hide. I’d argue that there are too many, but you have to keep in mind that this game is aimed at a younger audience. To that end, it is also very forgiving. It’s not an instant game over if a monster gets close enough to catch you. You can struggle free and slip away to heal, but even if you don’t, you can generally afford to be caught a few times before it’s a game over.
I did find that traversing Little Creek was a bit tedious. It’s not a massive map, and it’s quite linear until it opens up, but you have to revisit locations, which means a lot of back-and-forth. There is limited fast travel that allows you to travel between certain points, but this isn’t unlocked until near the end of the game, so it was a bit of a slog. I also found some areas a little difficult to navigate too. Not all routes are obvious, so I found myself stuck on occasion; not because of the puzzles or monsters, but simply because I didn’t know how to get where I needed to go.
Puzzles
My favourite part of Terror in Little Creek had to be the puzzles. None of them were overly complex, but there was a lot of variation. There are four main locations – the Library, Museum, Theatre and Graveyard. Within these locations, you’ll be faced with several puzzles, most of which are themed in accordance with their location. The Museum, for example, has a lot of Egyptian-themed puzzles.
Tools can be used to both aid exploration and complete puzzles. Some you’ll only use once, whilst others, like the screwdriver and crank, will be indispensable. Sloane also picks up a special book that allows her to interact with glowing symbols on the walls that reveal secrets and unlock hidden passages. This book proves essential to uncovering the mysteries of Little Creek.
Final Thoughts
Whilst I found that Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek was a little short for the price, I think that it’s a fun game for both fans of the Goosebumps books and younger players who are looking for something that’s spooky but child-friendly. The graphics are vibrant and cartoony, leaning into the genre with some pretty cool monster designs without being overly disturbing. The puzzles are thoughtful and engaging – nothing overly complicated, but I appreciated the variety.
It’s worth noting that there are two endings – a good ending and a bad ending – that you can receive depending on the decisions you make at key points in the game. So, if you’re a completionist and want all the achievements, you’ll have to play through the game twice. Aside from that, you can grab all the other achievements in one playthrough.
Developer: PHL Collective
Publisher: Gamemill Entertainment
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch
Release Date: 29th August 2025
Gaming Respawn’s copy of Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek was provided by the publisher.
