Bernie's Nightmare

Bernie's Nightmare is a horror game about Bernie Janson, a 15-year-old whose mother died in a car crash while he was in the car. Traumatized, Bernie stays inside for days, then encounters a game called The Nightmare Machine. It scans a player's brain and turns their deepest fear into a pursuing horror. When Bernie plays, he sees his mother—but cannot tell whether she is really there, whether he is facing a sociopath, or whether it is all part of the game.

Bernie's escape

Bernie wakes in an unfamiliar house with a headache, a flashlight and a note welcoming him to the Nightmare Machine. He hears a familiar woman crying and finds a half-human, half-zombie creature with a burned face and a mouth full of teeth. Bernie believes it is his mother, but is unsure. The main door is locked and its key is missing, so he must search the house for a way out while avoiding the creature, which tries to kill him.

Search the house

You play as Bernie, exploring the house, finding objects and solving puzzles as you look for an escape. You can hold and drop objects, hide in designated spots, use a flashlight and operate light switches and lamps. The game also features a large map, doors, notes, and an enemy with smart AI and random patrols.

Difficulty modes

The three difficulty modes are Easy, Hard and Impossible. Easy lets you turn on the house lights. In Hard, the flashlight is the only source of light. In Impossible, Marny—Bernie's mother—always knows where you are, so you must know the map and adapt your approach.