It’s hard to believe that balut and nightmares can actually coexist. From traversing the dark road with only a faint glimmer of light from the broken street lights to spine-chilling rumors shared by the townsfolk. This is just a gist of what horror awaits you in the Filipino Indie Horror Game called Hapunan.
As indie games become increasingly popular among gamers worldwide, it’s undeniable that Hapunan has resonated with Filipino and international players. Most significantly, Yikon, Filipino developer Josef Yenko, grounds Hapunan in authentic, local experience—close to home.
The game vividly mirrors Filipino culture, showcasing the bahay kubo, familiar faces, fainted streetlights, and child labor. Thought you knew the Philippines? Think again. This game will make you question everything you thought you knew and probably make you crave some lumpia or adobo.
Entering the game, you will play as Niko, a balut vendor who has yet to secure his business permit. However, things will take an ominous turn after spending nights investigating the shady side of the town. As the night breeze brings you closer to the truth, you must stand firm on who to protect and who to destroy.
DEVOURED
Not only do Filipinos eat the Hapunan that Yikon serves, but even non-Filipino gamers worldwide are curious to take a bite.
International streamers have embraced “Hapunan,” and their reactions and playthroughs have introduced the game to a broader audience and fueled its viral success. Some gamers commented that indeed, while playing, they immediately felt the strong Filipino culture depicted in Hapunan—a seamless blend of psychological horror and cultural immersion, which they believed was the game’s winning formula.
But for some, it feels lacking. Pointing out how vague the plot of the game was brings them dissatisfaction.
While the journey is gripping, the ending has left some feeling underwhelmed, with many expressing a desire for a more conclusive resolution. “Is that it?” is a common refrain among those who have reached the game’s end. Some suggests that the intriguing narrative could be improved to provide a more satisfying payoff.
MEAL COMA
Whether supernatural or artificial, Filipino horror stories are built differently. They don’t just serve but delivers.
Hapunan is a cultural phenomenon among the emerging indie games streamers play, and Filipinos should be proud of it. Curiosity bites; trust me. This game drags you, kicking and thinking, into Filipino workers’ real, raw lives.