Weaving a dark story behind friendship, Indonesian local game developer RiMa Studio presents a horror game that is worthy of the spotlight. This is a one-person project, crafted through self-taught dedication, emerges not from grand studios or big budgets, but from sheer determination and a deep love for storytelling.
Despite its humble origins, Jurnal Malam: Bestfriend strikes a powerful chord. It doesn’t just scare, but it unsettles. The game weaves a narrative of grief, betrayal, and psychological breakdown, all under the guise of a once-pure friendship. It pulls players into a descent where trust crumbles and shadows whisper truths no one wants to hear.
A Friendship That Turns into a Nightmare
The story follows two childhood friends, Afdal and Rahmad, inseparable since high school. Their bond resembles that of brothers, surviving the storms of adolescence and adulthood. Everything changes the day Rahmad’s wife and young daughter are found murdered in their own home. The crime scene leaves behind a trail of blood and no clear answers. The police report no suspects and motive, only a house stained with sorrow and silence.
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Shattered and needing time away, Rahmad has an occasion outside the town. Before departing, he asks Afdal for a favor to watch over the house. Afdal agrees without hesitation, still unaware of the horrors that await him behind those familiar walls.
On Afdal’s first night as the controllable character, the house begins to breathe. Whispers echo from dark corners. Floorboards creak beneath footsteps that aren’t his. The home feels wrong, it’s alive and watching. Afdal tries to brush it off, but each passing hour draws him deeper into the abyss. The walls don’t just shelter memories… they trap something much darker.
As Afdal, players must navigate the crumbling line between reality and nightmare. Every room carries a presence. Every object hides secrets. And the closer he comes to uncovering the truth, the more he questions: was this ever about the house, or about Rahmad himself?
Guarding a House
Jurnal Malam: Bestfriend, players take on a simple-sounding task, “watch the house”. But nothing in this house is simple. The gameplay traps players in an escalating spiral of psychological torment. Objectives seem mundane at first, such as, check the lights, close windows, tidy scattered belongings. But each task opens a door, literally and metaphorically, to the terror within.
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Players must rely on sharp observation and a strong psyche. Objects must be inspected, patterns noticed. A music box that plays on its own, a door that won’t stay shut, or a mirror that reflects more than just your image. All become clues or warnings.
The horror doesn’t come from jump scares alone. It seeps slowly into the mind. The longer players stay in the house, the more distorted the world becomes. Shadows stretch. Walls breathe. And something, or someone, awaits.
A Breathing House of Terrors
RiMa Studio doesn’t rely on flashy visuals or cinematic effects. Instead, it focuses on the atmosphere. Every inch of Rahmad’s house has a story. Cracked walls whisper forgotten memories. Flickering lights guide the way through rooms drenched in unease.
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Textures feel gritty, almost decaying, reflecting the emotional rot that has consumed the once-happy home. No room feels safe. No hallway offers peace. The deeper players go, the more the house seems to shift, as if reshaping itself to trap them forever.
Terror Born from Trust
RiMa Studio proves that creativity doesn’t need a AAA budget to deliver a haunting experience. This project bleeds heart and fear. It captures the terrifying notion that the people we love most might be hiding something terrible behind their smiles.
In Jurnal Malam: Bestfriend, friendship becomes a key and the door it opens leads straight into darkness. Players who dare to enter must prepare themselves. Once the house accepts you, it never truly lets you leave.