Controversial Horror Game 'Horses' Rides To The Top Of Gog'S Charts Despite Censorship Drama

A Dark Horse Gallops to Success

The unsettling horror game Horses has taken the gaming world by storm, topping the sales charts on GOG amidst a storm of controversy. Initially banned by industry giants Steam and Epic for purportedly inappropriate content, the game has found a home on platforms like Humble and Itch.io, where it's seeing remarkable success. The developers, Santa Ragione, shared that Humble temporarily delisted the game for a review but ultimately decided to keep it, acknowledging the intense but permissible nature of its content.

Despite its rocky start, Horses has resonated with gamers, leading to its current best-seller status on GOG and Itch.io. Itch has flagged the game as adult content, requiring users to have an 18+ enabled account to access it. Santa Ragione's persistence seems to be paying off, as the game climbs the ranks despite earlier setbacks.

The Origin of the Controversy

The controversy began when Valve, the parent company of Steam, barred the game in 2023. The company cited concerns over content that it interpreted as depicting sexual activity involving a minor. This decision was based on an early build of the game that featured a scene where a young girl rides a "horse" – a person in disguise. Santa Ragione has been vocal in clarifying that the scene was non-sexual and that the character's age was later changed to avoid ambiguity.

“We never intended for the scene to be interpreted in a sexual context," a representative from Santa Ragione stated, "and we've adjusted the content to reflect that more clearly.”

The final version features a woman in her twenties, revising earlier versions to eliminate controversial elements while enhancing the narrative's depth.

The Silver Lining

Developing Horses cost Santa Ragione roughly $100,000 and two years of dedication. The developers feared rejection from Steam, a major player in indie game distribution, could lead to their closure. However, the resulting buzz has increased interest rather than diminished it. While Horses thrives on alternative platforms, the situation highlights challenges indie developers face when confronting platform policies and attempting to handle delicate themes.

Ultimately, Horses serves as a testament to the power of controversy in the gaming industry – what could have spelled disaster instead fueled its success, making it a must-play for horror enthusiasts navigating the GOG marketplace.