Some horror games place players inside haunted houses, abandoned hospitals, or dark forests. The Mortuary Assistant makes an ordinary night shift terrifying by trapping players inside a mortuary with several corpses—and something demonic hiding among them.
Developed by DarkStone Digital and published by DreadXP, this first-person horror game combines detailed embalming procedures, occult investigation, and unpredictable supernatural encounters. Players must complete their work, identify which body is possessed, and perform the correct ritual before the demon claims them.
➡️ View The Mortuary Assistant on Steam
Working the Night Shift at River Fields Mortuary
Players take control of Rebecca Owens, a recent mortuary-science graduate completing an apprenticeship at River Fields Mortuary. After months of learning how to prepare and care for the deceased, Rebecca is unexpectedly called back to work late one night.
The assignment initially appears routine: examine and embalm several bodies before the end of the shift. However, Rebecca soon discovers that she has been locked inside the building for a reason. A demon is attempting to possess her, and one of the corpses may be serving as its host.
Escaping requires more than simply surviving a few scares. Players must continue performing their mortuary duties while watching for supernatural clues, identifying the correct demon, and preparing the ritual needed to banish it.
Embalming Meets Occult Investigation
The Mortuary Assistant stands apart from many horror games because its embalming mechanics are more than background decoration. Players must inspect bodies, record identifying marks, prepare embalming fluid, close incisions, and complete other steps associated with mortuary work.
That methodical process creates an effective contrast with the paranormal activity occurring around Rebecca. A quiet task can suddenly be interrupted by a moving body, an open doorway, a distorted reflection, or something watching from across the room.
Players must also:
- Identify signs connected to the invading demon.
- Determine which corpse has become possessed.
- Perform occult rituals while continuing their shift.
- Piece together the history of Rebecca and River Fields Mortuary.
- Unlock additional story details across multiple playthroughs.
Its supernatural system changes events between shifts, preventing players from knowing exactly when—or how—the next scare will arrive. (Steam Store)
What Players Are Saying
Steam players frequently praise the game’s unusual balance between relaxing procedural work and sudden supernatural horror.
One player described the embalming process as strangely soothing, highlighting the careful documentation and methodical rhythm of preparing each body. That sense of calm rarely lasts, however, as demonic encounters repeatedly interrupt the work.
Other reviewers praised the game’s replayability and unpredictable scares:
“Probably the scariest horror game out there.”
“Love the horror here. I was so scared the first few times I played.”
“It was interesting to go through all of the steps, but it was super creepy as well.”
Several players also mentioned returning for different modes, endings, and paranormal encounters. Even after learning the mortuary’s layout and procedures, the changing supernatural events help maintain the tension.
An Award-Winning Indie Horror Game
The Mortuary Assistant received the Indie Game of the Year award during the 2022 Gamers’ Choice Awards.
The recognition reflects what made the game stand out after its original PC release: a memorable setting, an unsettling gameplay loop, and a horror system designed to make each shift feel slightly different.
The Mortuary Assistant Movie
The game has also been adapted into a feature film starring Willa Holland as Rebecca Owens and Paul Sparks as Raymond Delver.
Directed by Jeremiah Kipp, the film follows Rebecca as she begins working the night shift at River Fields Mortuary and encounters the same demonic forces that inspired the game. The adaptation received a limited theatrical release in February 2026 before arriving on Shudder and AMC+ in March. (Wikipedia)
Rather than simply reproducing one playthrough, the film draws upon the game’s broader story, characters, mortuary setting, and themes of possession.
Let’s Play: Jacksepticeye
Jacksepticeye’s playthrough showcases the game’s unusual combination of professional mortuary work and unpredictable horror. His reactions also demonstrate how effectively the game can turn a repetitive task into a source of tension.
Even when nothing supernatural is happening, every sound, doorway, and unattended body feels suspicious.
➡️ Visit Jacksepticeye on YouTube
Is The Mortuary Assistant Worth Playing?
The Mortuary Assistant remains an easy recommendation for players who enjoy supernatural horror, procedural gameplay, and stories that reveal more with each playthrough.
Its embalming mechanics give the game a distinctive identity, while the randomized paranormal encounters ensure River Fields Mortuary never becomes completely comfortable. Some scares rely heavily on sudden appearances, but the quieter moments—when players know something is nearby but cannot see it—are often the most effective.
Just remember to keep working. The bodies will not embalm themselves.
Discover More Indie Horror Games
Fear Friday highlights indie horror games ranging from psychological nightmares and survival horror to experimental supernatural experiences.
➡️ Visit the Fear Friday indie horror game hub
Support No One Leaves the Field
Looking for another indie horror game built around an inescapable supernatural location?
No One Leaves the Field is a first-person folk-horror game from Digital Sagas. Explore a cursed wheat field, uncover the tragedy behind its creation, and survive a relentless scarecrow golem that reacts whenever you enter the crops.
➡️ Wishlist No One Leaves the Field on Steam
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