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Cursed Shorts is a compact puzzle-survival game set entirely on a subway train. The story unfolds while the player sits with a phone that begins to play an endless feed of short video clips. At first, these clips appear to be ordinary recordings of daily life, but gradually some begin to show strange or unsettling details. The central task is to decide which clips are normal and which ones are abnormal, all while conserving the limited power of the phone’s battery. The ride only ends safely if the player manages to maintain accuracy and avoid wasting too much energy before reaching the final station.
The mechanics are designed to be minimal but demanding. Each clip requires a simple swipe: up if the video looks normal, left if it contains something unusual. A third option is to pause, which allows the player to inspect the footage more carefully. However, every pause consumes additional battery life, creating a trade-off between certainty and efficiency. Mistakes also reduce the remaining power, meaning poor judgment can bring the run to an early end. With enemies replaced by subtle anomalies, the real challenge is in observation and timing rather than reflexes.
Cursed Shorts introduces several features that define its structure and keep players engaged:
Although a single run usually lasts less than an hour, replaying is encouraged because not all clips or anomalies appear in one session. On repeat attempts, new variations can be found, which challenges players to sharpen their skills at detecting irregularities. Multiple endings provide additional motivation, since they depend on how many clips were judged correctly and how well the battery was preserved. The combination of new content, different results, and achievements gives the game more depth than its simple mechanics might suggest at first glance.
Cursed Shorts demonstrates how a small design can create strong tension. The act of swiping through videos becomes meaningful when paired with limited resources and hidden differences that are easy to miss. Every decision matters because each mistake brings the player closer to failure. With its branching structure, short session length, and replay incentives, the game offers a focused experience where attention and judgment are constantly tested. For players who enjoy puzzle-like mechanics and survival pressure without complicated controls, Cursed Shorts delivers a memorable challenge in a minimal format.