Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek crept out on 29th August 2025, bringing R.L. Stine’s world back to life in a brand-new story. You play as Sloane Spencer, a teenager who, along with a group of friends, sets out to uncover the creepy mysteries of the small town of Little Creek. From sneaking around the streets, to exploring a haunted theatre, an eerie museum, and a library filled with horrors, there’s plenty to discover.
As a 90s kid, I only have vague memories of Goosebumps. I never really read the books or watched much of the show, so I approached this game as a bit of a novice. What stood out to me, though, is the clear effort put into world-building. Scattered lore notes can be picked up as you explore, which I always enjoy. It reminds me of my first gaming love, BioShock, so I’ve got a soft spot for hidden pieces of story. If that’s not your thing, you don’t need to worry. The main plot is carried by voiced cutscenes and character dialogue, so you can still follow along without digging through notes.
Story & Characters
The storyline is simple but fun. Uncovering the mysteries of Little Creek kept me engaged, and the fact that there are multiple endings based on your choices is a nice touch for replayability. I haven’t seen them all yet, but it’s always great when a game offers that.
The dialogue and atmosphere do a good job of hitting that “spooky but not too scary” tone that fits the Goosebumps brand perfectly. For its target audience of tweens and young teens, it’s spot on.
Gameplay & Progression
Most of your time is spent sneaking past monsters and solving puzzles. The stealth reminded me a little of Amnesia, with one big twist: you actually get a weapon. Sloane’s slingshot is a surprisingly versatile tool. You can use it to solve puzzles, defend yourself, or distract enemies with different types of ammo. Special ammo is scarce, which forces you to think about when and how to use it.
You also get a magic book that requires runes to unlock new areas, which adds a nice sense of progression as you revisit locations later on.
Puzzles are given in riddle form, which I thought was a clever touch. They’re generally quite straightforward, which suits the younger audience, but I still found them enjoyable. Nothing had me stuck for too long, and usually the answer was just a matter of exploring more carefully.
Visuals & Performance
The visuals are pretty basic and cartoonish, which takes some of the edge off for older players but fits the Goosebumps style. Despite the lighter look, the monsters still managed to get a few jumps out of me. I especially liked that you can’t just hide in plain sight – you actually need to get away and break line of sight before finding a hiding spot.
On PS5, the game ran smoothly. No major bugs or crashes, just the occasional bit of clipping, which didn’t affect gameplay at all.
Final Verdict
Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek is a fun, spooky little adventure that nails its target audience. For tweens and young teens, it’s just the right mix of creepy atmosphere and accessible puzzles. For adults like me, there’s enough nostalgia to enjoy, even if the scares aren’t exactly nightmare fuel.
If you grew up in the 90s, the cartoonish style and reimagined monsters will probably take you back. And if you’re new to Goosebumps, like me, it’s still an enjoyable story-driven stealth adventure with some neat mechanics.
Available now on PS5 and other platforms. If you’re looking for a lighter horror game with charm, it’s worth checking out.
Score: 7.5/10
Creepy enough to entertain, simple enough to breeze through, Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek lands comfortably in the middle ground.