The night is young, and the streets around you are dimly lit and empty.
An eerie ambience fills the area. Crickets provide the only sound as you set up under a lamppost.
You open your woven basket and call out, “Balut! Balut!” You hope to attract customers.
For a few minutes, you remain alone. However, a news reporter’s voice keeps echoing in your mind.
A string of night-time killings has recently gripped the area where you live.
You start to wonder if someone is watching you. You also wonder if you will ever make it home.
That is exactly what happens in the horror video game Hapunan.
‘Pinoy flavour’ horror game
The game has a simple premise. You sell balut, a popular Philippine street food delicacy. You also sell fried pork belly to earn enough money to make ends meet.
For many Filipinos, this scene feels familiar. Vendors often walk through the streets at night and sell different delicacies.
However, indie developer Josef Yenko turned this familiar setting into a terrifying experience.
Gamers from around the world can now experience this Filipino-inspired horror story.
The game’s Itch.io page describes Hapunan as a “story-driven horror game inspired by Filipino culture”.
Yenko developed the game at just 21 years old. He also goes by Yikon Dev and works as a solo indie game developer in the Philippines.
“There are so many indie horror games … So I thought, what if I created a horror game that was based on Filipino culture?” he said in an interview with Inquirer.
Interestingly, Hapunan does not rely on ghosts or otherworldly monsters.
Instead, the game places players inside a frightening situation that could feel disturbingly real.
Why has it gone viral?
Hapunan draws inspiration from Filipino culture, traditions and urban legends.
The game also uses chilling sound design and a pixelated visual style. Together, these elements create an unsettling atmosphere.
“I studied the sound design of horror games, how to make it creepy … When a horror game is quieter, it’s scarier … That’s why I didn’t overdo it. I just added ambience,” Yikon said.
Horror games remain popular among gamers worldwide. Both major studios and indie developers continue to release new titles.
YouTubers and streamers also play a major role in promoting these games.
At first, however, Hapunan struggled to attract players.
The game sat on its Itch.io page for weeks without a single download. Then Filipino content creator and game developer Murushii changed its fortunes.
Murushii posted a YouTube playthrough of the game. He also shared several clips on TikTok.
The videos generated half a million views within two days.
As a result, Hapunan started gaining attention, according to the Inquirer report.
Another boost came from Kristian PH. The popular Filipino gamer has 4.16 million YouTube subscribers.
His playthrough helped increase the game’s downloads even further.
Soon after, international streamers and YouTubers discovered the game. Popular creators such as CaseOh, Kubz Scouts and 8-BitRyan also played it.
Is this the Soft power fuel the Philippines need?
Hapunan puts “Pinoy pride” at the centre of its story.
More importantly, the game gives Filipino talent another way to reach audiences overseas.
The success of the title also comes as the Philippine government looks to strengthen the country’s soft power.
Last year, Manila’s Department of Foreign Affairs unveiled a new roadmap. The plan aims to improve the nation’s image overseas through soft power.
The Philippine News Agency describes soft power as a country’s ability to use attraction and persuasion to expand its influence.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo believes the Philippines can build a “formidable, global, soft power presence”.
He also sees the Filipino diaspora as an important part of that effort.
For Yikon, though, Hapunan represents only the beginning of his development journey.
He has already discussed the possibility of Hapunan Episode 2. He also plans to create more horror games under a series called Gabi ng Lagim.
Meanwhile, players looking for a 30–40-minute scare can purchase and try the game.
If you decide to play it at night, remember your in-game mother’s warning:
“Don’t stay out late. It’s dangerous.”
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