Cradle of Nightmares is a PC Survival Horror RPG made in the RPGMaker engine available on Steam, probably somewhere else too, but it’s def on Steam
What follows are some basic tips to get you started on the game, things I had wished I knew when I had started the game. Some of this stuff wasn’t obvious since the game is originally in Simplified Chinese, and I’m playing it modded in Spanish/English
It began as a regular day for Le Qing, simply walking home with her beloved girlfriend. Little did she know that this ordinary moment was about to be shattered, marking the genesis of a global natural disaster and the unleashing of literal hell on Earth. Now, to be reunited with the girl she loves, Le Qing must fight her way through a series of grotesque nightmares. This harrowing premise is the foundation of the horror RPG Cradle of Nightmares, a game that has earned the apt nickname, “the Chinese Fear and Hunger.”
Built within the familiar RPG Maker Engine, Cradle of Nightmares openly wears its inspirations on its sleeve, drawing heavily from the grim atmosphere of Dark Souls and the unforgiving mechanics of Fear and Hunger. For many, that combination alone is a recipe for a winning, if punishing, experience. A few hours into the game, I can already attest to an intoxicating mix of intrigue and anxiety, eager to see the dark depths the narrative will explore.
Before diving into the horror, however, prospective players should brace for one immediate barrier: language. Currently, the game is only available in Simplified Chinese on Steam. Thankfully, a dedicated community has provided fan-made mods, partially translating the game into both Spanish and English. The Spanish translation is, by far, the more complete experience, covering most location names and status menus. The English mod primarily focuses on dialogue, leaving much of the menu and item text untranslated. In either case, be prepared to get comfortable with on-the-fly translation tools—a small price to pay for entry into this compelling world.
Once in the game, Le Qing is immediately joined by a fluffy, white spiritual companion. While naming him requires Chinese characters, you’ll soon find him to be an invaluable asset, functioning much like the supporting girl in Fear and Hunger. This small ball of light can cast offensive and healing magic, use consumables, and level up using special Soul Crystals. He is your persistent lifeline; if Le Qing falls in combat, you have a brief window to finish the fight, knowing your companion will simply respawn at the nearest “flower basket.”
The combat mechanics will feel familiar to veterans of turn-based RPGs, though a few meters stand out. Beyond the standard HP (Health) and MP (Mana), you must also manage TP, or “Time Points.” While HP and MP are self-explanatory, TP is the resource expended to use skills, regenerating each turn. In the game’s initial, “Normal” difficulty, MP regeneration is so generous that TP and HP are your main limiting factors. Speaking of difficulty, the game lives up to its pedigree. While not as immediately brutal as a first run through Fear and Hunger, it certainly presents a challenge, with rumored difficulty spikes lurking in the later game.
Like any good Souls-like, Cradle of Nightmares features a powerful healing system. Le Qing begins with two types of “insect bottles”—one for HP, one for MP—which function exactly like the Estus Flask. Starting with five charges, these automatically replenish whenever you rest at a flower basket, the game’s version of a bonfire. The game rewards exploration, too, allowing you to find items that increase both the potency of the bottles and the total number of charges you can carry.
The flower baskets also serve as fast-travel points to the game’s central sanctuary: the Ashes Cabaret, or “El Salon de Baile de Cenizas.” This hub is where you will upgrade Le Qing, spending earned “souls” to level up HP and other stats by speaking to the Demon Lady in the north. The graveyard to the left houses ghost merchants for stocking up on consumables, while a forge to the south allows for weapon upgrades. The ability to fast-travel to any flower basket from the Ashes Cabaret dramatically cuts down on the typical RPG grind, making exploration less tedious.
Beyond direct combat, Le Qing possesses a vital stealth mechanic. Activating stealth mode consumes MP but makes her difficult for monsters to detect and, crucially, allows her to land powerful backstab attacks. This is an essential tool for evading superior foes or simply managing a quick fight. While the stealth effect requires reapplication, MP regenerates quickly enough on normal difficulty to make it a sustainable strategy.
Finally, keep a close eye on the “Mind Meter” in the upper right corner of the screen. This meter degrades as you engage in combat and is replenished by consumables, often food items. While the full repercussions of a low Mind Meter are still a mystery, maintaining a level above 50 opens the door to invasions. In a clever twist for a single-player RPG, the game features red-spirit invasions and white-summon mechanics controlled entirely by the computer, providing unique, high-stakes encounters and valuable drops for those who prevail. Success in Cradle of Nightmares will ultimately rely on mastering all these systems, particularly the skills granted by both primary and off-hand weapons—a critical detail that new players often overlook. When you see a fog wall, save your game. You’ll need every edge you can get.
Taco Banana 